Trip Overview
Date: November 28, 2025
Who: Me, Michael, Frankie, and the grandparents
Where: Audubon Zoo, New Orleans, Louisiana
When Frankie turned three, we knew a zoo trip would be a hit. We were right, but one thing we quickly learned is that toddlers move fast. We would spend weeks talking about seeing elephants, giraffes, and monkeys, only for Frankie to glance at an exhibit for a few seconds before announcing she was ready for the next animal.
Even with her short attention span, our family had a great day exploring the Audubon Zoo.
Why We Chose Audubon Zoo
We are fortunate to live in Louisiana and be only about an hour away from Audubon Zoo. Consistently ranked among the top zoos in the country, it’s an easy day trip for families looking to get out of the house and spend time together.
The zoo is large enough to fill several hours but manageable enough that you don’t feel rushed trying to see everything.
What Frankie Loved Most
The Playground
To absolutely no one’s surprise, the playground was one of the biggest highlights of the day.
Every time we walked past it, Frankie wanted to stop and play. While we came to see the animals, the playground ended up being one of her favorite attractions.
Monkey Hill
Monkey Hill was a special stop for me. I have memories of climbing and rolling down that hill when I was a kid, so it was fun getting to experience it again with my own daughter.
The zoo has added a large slide since I was young, which made it even more exciting. Watching Frankie run up and down the hill brought back a lot of memories.
The Aviary
Our favorite exhibit was the aviary.
Frankie got up close and personal with so many different birds. Unlike some exhibits where animals can be difficult for little kids to spot, the birds were easy to see and often very close.
The highlight was spotting a bright pink bird, which completely made her day.
Lunch at the Zoo
One thing we appreciate about Audubon Zoo is that there are several food options available throughout the park.
We ate lunch at Cypress Knee Café and enjoyed red beans and rice, gumbo, fried catfish and shrimp, and a Caesar salad. As Louisiana locals, we’re pretty picky when it comes to food, but we were pleasantly surprised by the quality. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and exceeded our expectations for a zoo lunch.
For Frankie, we packed a bento box with familiar foods from home and supplemented it with a few French fries. Bringing our own lunch for her made mealtime much easier and avoided any pressure of eating after an overstimulating day.
Our Toddler Zoo Tips
- Bring All the Snacks
Even if you plan to buy lunch, pack plenty of snacks. Walking around the zoo can be tiring for little ones, and snacks can help prevent meltdowns between exhibits. - Bring the Stroller
Even if your child doesn’t use a stroller much anymore, bring it. It’s helpful for longer stretches between exhibits, provides a place to rest, and doubles as storage for jackets, water bottles, snacks, and souvenirs. - Check Restaurant Hours
The zoo itself is open most days, but not every restaurant or food stand is open every day. Check ahead if you’re planning to eat inside the zoo. - Don’t Overplan
Toddlers don’t experience the zoo the same way adults do. They may spend five minutes watching a squirrel and five seconds looking at a tiger. Follow their lead and enjoy the day at their pace.
Final Thoughts
We arrived right when the zoo opened at 10:00 a.m. and spent about three hours exploring, stopping for lunch, and taking plenty of playground breaks.
By around 1:00 p.m., we were heading toward the exit, but not before making the mandatory stop at the gift shop. Frankie picked out a few unicorn-themed treasures, and we headed home with tired feet and happy memories.
Audubon Zoo made for a fun, low-stress family day trip. While the animals were great, the real highlight was simply spending time together and seeing the zoo through our daughter’s eyes.
