 tart Part 1 of your tour at the foot of Canal Street, the widest thoroughfare in the country, at 151 feet, and the dividing line between the old Creole French Quarter and the new "American" sector. There are four points of interest at this location. The large colorfully-designed building with the tilted glass roof to your left as you face the river, is the:  Aquarium of the Americas. One of the premier aquariums in the country, it is run by the Audubon Institute, the same folks who run the Audubon Zoological Park in the uptown area of the city.
This popular family attraction opened in 1990, and houses more than 10,000 sea creatures in its one-million-plus gallons of water, spread throughout five major themed areas. These areas encompass the Mississippi River and the gulf of Mexico, North America, South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. The shark tank alone holds 400,00 gallons of water, and the Caribbean reef tank has a 30-foot tunnel running under it so that visitors can get a fish-eye view of a living coral reef. There are also piranhafish, white alligators, penguins, tropical birds, and newest to the aquarium, scores of jellyfish. The large building on your right leading to the river is the landing and passenger terminal for the: Canal Street Ferry. One of the city's
important public means of transportation, the ferry is part of the original state-run ferry system that criss-crossed the Mississippi River from about a dozen spots from Point a la Hache to just above Baton Rouge. Roughly half of the crossings have been phased out, but this one remains because it is still a popular means of getting from the downtown area to Old Algiers on the West Bank side of the river by both automobiles and pedestrians. It is also an excellent way to view the city skyline and the interesting river traffic that constantly plies the waters of the "Big Muddy". The round trip takes about 25 minutes. Turn to your right. The tall cross-shaped building just past the ferry terminal is the: World Trade Center F. Built in 1967,
it was a popular destination for locals and tourists alike due to its observation deck (now closed), and its revolving rooftop restaurant (still open). Originally called the International Trade Mart, the building houses many international trade offices and foreign consulates, and the plaza surrounding it contains statues of notables such as Winston Churchill and Bernardo de Galvez, Spanish governor of Louisiana in the 1780s. Keep turning until you face up the great wide expanse of Canal Street, and start walking up the French Quarter side of Canal Street. You will immediately be assaulted by the enormity of the structure on the left, across Canal, occupying a complete city block (and this is a large city block to boot): Harrah's Casino
was opened in its huge Beaux-arts building in 1999 after what seemed like ages of legal and political wrangling over the only land-based casino license allowed in the state of Louisiana. Having been previously housed in the Municipal Auditorium near Basin Street for a short time, harrah's finally moved into its permanent home, and controversy followed it close behind. After inking a deal to lower its tax burden with the city and the state, it started to report profits for the first time since its inception. The 100,000 square-foot palace is the largest such facility in the South, with over 2,900 slot machines and 120 gaming tables. Themed decor throughout the five differently-themed areas evoke the spirit and ambience of the Crescent City. The largest of these areas is the Jazz Court, with 55-foot ceilings,
a five-story live oak tree festooned with Spanish moss, and realistic stars and fireflies to complete the illusion. On this side of Canal Street is the: Canal Place Shopping Center, an upscale shopping mall located inside the same building which the highly-rated Wyndham New Orleans Hotel occupies. Topped by a soaring glass atrium, the 3-level mall contains such upscale stores such as Saks Fifthe Avenue, Brooks Brothers, Gucci, and Ralph Lauren Polo, and a 4-screen art film movie theatre that shows first-run movies.
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