Next year the Georgia Aquarium will celebrate 25 years; has it really been around that long? It’s a testament to the aquarium’s staying power that it’s ranked #7 in the list of attractions you must see in Atlanta, but we beg to differ. The biggest aquarium in the United States should be right up there at the top. It’s a phenomenal look into an underwater paradise, home to more than 10 million gallons of fresh and salt water and more than 100,000 creatures. Not only is it awe-inspiring, it’s also meticulously maintained with the aquarium is committed to goals of research, conservation, education and animal care.
An African butterfly fish. Photo: Georgia Aquarium.
Getting Around
First, prepare yourself. There will be crowds, there will be strollers, there will be people that you’d like to hiss at to move away from the observation windows. Don’t. Give yourself over to the experience and if you will be strolling a child, be sure to spot that duty with someone else or risk burnout. Wear comfy shoes — there are nine galleries to explore!
Also know that the child in the stroller needs to get out and see. If you find yourself scooting past windows, take a break. There’s kid fare in the Coastline Café, a two-story café with a digital ordering system and plenty of seating. See a map of everything here.
GALLERIES INCLUDE:
Aquanaut Adventure: fresh water and marine habitats where you can learn about aquatic life.
Destination Dolphin: bottlenose dolphins in daily presentations in an 1,800 seat theater ($5 preferred seating).
Explorers Cove: Opened this past summer, this gallery includes hands-on experiences and touch pools for rays, guitarfish and sturgeon.
Southern Company River Scout: the only freshwater gallery in the aquarium, and newly renovated this year, see a wide variety of fish, mammals, reptiles including the giant African puffer, piranhas and ropefish.
Tropical Diver: coral reef exhibits including 90+ species of fish, invertebrates, sharks and rays.
Truist Pier 225: the home of the social California sea lions.
The gigantic whale shark — the biggest fish in the world! — at the Georgia Aquarium. Photo courtesy of the Aquarium.
Kid Favorites
COLD WATER QUEST
The beluga whale exhibit, filled with subarctic-temperature water is a treat to behold. These giant precious mammals swim about, sometimes with a toy, up and down, all around. You can stand, staring forever as they interact. Our family loves the Raffi song, “Baby Beluga.” Play if for your little ones before you go!
OCEAN VOYAGER
The massive offerings will boggle the mind: how on earth did they put the whale shark — the largest fish species in the world — into the tank in the Ocean Voyager gallery? How is it possible that you can stand there observing the giant manta rays, goliath groupers, sharks and sea turtles separated by a mere two-feet thick glass? It just is. And you can experience this through viewing windows and a 100-foot-long underwater tunnel.
SHARKS! PREDATORS OF THE DEEP
The newest gallery, get face-to-face with hammerhead sharks, silvertip sharks, tiger sharks and more. One of the largest shark exhibits in North America, take your time here and let your kids stare to their heart’s content.
The Georgia Aquarium is constantly adding and improving and is nothing short of world-class. If you like, you can take a guided tour, although kids like to be their own guides. Or try the free app that gives exhibit maps and animal information. On top of viewing amazing creatures, you can experience behind-the-scenes animal encounters for a premium ($85.99 for the Beluga Encounter, for example) or reserve your spot for the dolphin or sea lion presentation.
The Georgia Aquarium — currently highlighting “Haunted Seas” with Halloween experiences and displays through Oct. 31 — is located at 225 Baker Street in Atlanta. Entry to the parking ($20) garage is at 357 Luckie Street, NW Atlanta, GA 30313. The Aquarium is open 365 days a year; hours are subject to change. General admission tickets start at $39.99. Travel to Atlanta from Nashville takes 3-and-a-half hours with a time change to eastern time, so plan accordingly. Explore hotel packages here.
