Botanical Gardens

Lonely Planet review

The 12-acre garden has seen better days. But park workers are steadily restoring it after the near-total wipe-out wrought by Katrina's flooding. Parts of the garden were submerged for two weeks in three feet of toxic salt-water bath. Not good for the vast majority of native and exotic species lovingly cultivated here. For many of the native species, it was a cruel irony not to escape the fate of wild plants dying in Louisiana's disappearing wetlands.

Greenhouse species, such as orchids, bromeliads and gorgeous staghead ferns, perished when the electric-powered climate control and watering systems failed. As the gardens return to life, though, they'll be well worth visiting. Especially make a point to see the Conservatory, in which a simulated tropical rainforest includes hanging vines, a waterfall and a complement of snakes, geckos and tree frogs. A fossil exhibit includes dinosaur eggs and fossilized plants.

Also check out the New Orleans Historic Train Garden, a neat replica of old New Orleans through which G-gauce streetcars roll.