NEW ORLEANS — From sharks and stingrays to butterflies and bugs, the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium offers visitors a chance to get up close with wildlife while learning more about the animals and their habitats.

The aquarium has been a New Orleans attraction since 1990 and features hundreds of animals, including sea turtles, jellyfish, colorful fish, sharks, and rays.

And no matter when you visit, Higinio Covarrubias with Audubon Nature Institute says the aquarium is a comfortable place to explore.

“No matter what time of year you come to New Orleans, come to the aquarium because when it’s hot we have air conditioning and when it’s cold we have heat.”

One of the exhibits bringing Louisiana wildlife into the experience is Down the Bayou.

Visitors can see a crawfish and Chompatoulas, a roughly 15-foot alligator.

The Gulf exhibit features nurse sharks, lemon sharks, a sandbar shark and southern rays.

For an even closer encounter, visitors can head to the touch pool, where they can reach into the water and feel the rays.

The experience goes beyond the aquarium, as the Insectarium features 55 vivariums and a butterfly garden with more than 1,000 butterflies from Central and South America.

Covarrubias says the butterfly garden is one of the experiences visitors can enjoy as they explore the Insectarium.

“People like to walk through see the butterflies; they’ll land on you, lots of fantastic memories are made in the butterfly garden,” Covarrubias said.

Visitors can also learn more about insects, including which bugs are safe to eat.

There is even a kitchen on site where visitors can see and taste treats made with insects.

Visitors can also build their own bug and see whether their creation could survive in different habitats.

While the experiences are designed to be fun, Covarrubias says there is a bigger purpose behind the visit.

"Make some connections with an animal, whether it’s a penguin, whether it’s a butterfly, whether it’s a shark so that you change some behavior when you leave here… that helps these animals in their natural environment” said Covarrubias.

The Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium is open seven days a week.