Nestled in the heart of Atlanta is the incredible Georgia Aquarium. With more than 10 million gallons of water, it is the worlds second largest aquarium and the largest is the US. It’s also the only one outside of Asia to house whale sharks. No matter your age, the Georgia Aquarium is a magical place to experience. An average visit will run you about 2.5 hours, lunch included, so be sure to plan your day accordingly. Parking will be $10 ($9 if you pay online) and there will also be lots surrounding the Georgia Aquarium as well. We parked in the deck to limit the walking time with the kids since we knew we’d be spending a few hours walking the aquarium. The early bird tickets are $30.95 and they have an after 4pm special of $26.95 per ticket. Otherwise tickets run $35.95 (and a tad less for children). The design of the aquarium guides guests through dark, narrow tunnels filled with smaller displays, which empty into larger viewing rooms with immense, floor-to-ceiling tank windows.
The touch and feel area with the sea stars, sea anemones, urchins, baby rays and other sea creatures was the kids favorite part. They loved being able to touch them and feel their different textures. A petting tank featuring bonnethead sharks and cow nose stingrays was also a huge hit for all of us. There is a huge ice wall which of course they loved and would have contests to see who could keep their hands on the longest. It’s so hard to pick one thing but my favorite is definitely the moving walkway. Standing underneath all the sea creatures, especially the whale sharks, makes you realize how amazing these animals are. I could spend all day watching the belugas but whale shark does take your breath away. My husband and I definitely want to experience a date night here soon and check out one of their many events.
Henry (who is almost 5) and I stayed for the Dolphin Show just before lunch. The staff recommends getting into the theater about 30 minutes prior to the show so you can find good seats because it does fill up quickly. Unfortunately Evelyn didn’t have the patience to wait and see the show. Since she is only 2 her attention to things is limited so my husband took her to walk around the moving tunnel while Henry and I watched the show. The dolphins are so cute and smart and we loved hearing from their trainers about their daily lives. Another thing worth highlighting is the cafeteria. The food is delicious and there are tons of options: pizza, salads, hamburgers, pasta, fruit, vegetables, treats, etc. My husband and I enjoyed it as much as the kids did. It was a nice break for everyone to have some lunch and rest before exploring the rest of the aquarium and there are plenty of tables and highchairs. Thank you so much to the Georgia Aquarium for hosting us! We have the best time and continue to be blown away by all the amazing exhibits and the beautiful animals!
