25 Reasons To Visit The Georgia Aquarium In Atlanta

1. The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is roughly a 2 hour drive time from the CSRA. This makes is a terrific option for a day trip or even a weekend getaway.

2. The Georgia Aquarium is close to 600,000 square feet and is home to tens of thousands of animals including whale sharks, bottlenose dolphins, manta rays, beluga whales and California sea lions.

3. The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and the Georgia Aquarium makes it possible to see it up close and personal. The sheer joy and amazement when my kids spotted this creature made the entire day worth it. It truly is an amazing sight to see and I can see why the aquarium was built around this dramatic attraction.

4. Have you ever seen a sea dragon? This intriguing fish is highly protected and is spectacular to see up close.

5. The Dolphin Coast is home to 13 bottlenose dolphins. The aquarium does live training demonstrations and is included with general admission. Learn about the Aquarium’s mission in preserving the bottlenose species.

6. Watch one of the various 4D movies the Aquarium offers. This virtual reality simulator helps guests experience each movie in a different way.

7. Do your little ones love Happy Feet? The African Penguins that are on display are a guaranteed fun time. Our kids loved crawling through the tunnel under the penguin exhibit.

8. Spend some time checking out the social Beluga whales! These playful creatures are so fun to watch interact. For an additional fee, you can have your very own beluga interaction where you get to suit up with a wet suit and see the whales up-close in an intimate setting.

9. Watch the Ocean Voyager experience. This dive show allows guests to watch divers swim with hundreds of animals while also interacting with the audience. This show is available daily and is included with admission.

10. Let your littles run across the rope bridge in the middle of the aquarium! The Aquanaut Adventure has tons of STEAM activities to engage your kids!

11. You could spend an entire day at the Aquarium. There are endless opportunities of experiences. We personally spent 4 hours exploring and still had plenty more we could have seen.

12. Watch the sea lions show off their tricks during the Under the Boardwalk show! If you are brave enough, sit in the splash zone!

13. The Georgia Aquarium is a Certified Autism Center. They offer expedited entrances, sensory bags, and designated quiet zones. Read more about this amazing resource here: https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/certified-autism-center/

14. The Georgia Aquarium is THE largest aquarium in the United States.

15. If shopping is your thing, there are plenty of gift shops with adorable plushies and souvineers for the whole family.

16. Check out their events calendar. From yoga to holiday tree lighting, they always have something fun planned for the entire family throughout the year. 

17. The underwater tunnel is amazing. Step on the moving conveyor belt and gaze at the fish above. This area is also a great photo opportunity!

18. The mobile App makes navigating the aquarium a breeze. You can pull up maps, check out show times, and get information about each exhibit right on your phone!

19. For an additional fee of $15 per person, you can receive a behind the scenes tour. Guides take you backstage to the most popular exhibits, see vet facilities, and also check out the filtration room!

20. Watch the otters eat fish! Trainers are available to answer questions about their daily feeding schedules and teach you facts about the Asian small-clawed otters.

21. Visit the hands on touch pools. Your little ones can have hands on interaction with sea stars, shrimps, anemones, sharks and rays! Our daughter loved touching the slimy anemones!

22. There are volunteers throughout the exhibits. These people are fantastic resources for learning many fun facts about the animals.

23. Early bird specials! Every day until 11am, you can purchase your tickets online at a discounted rate. The discount is about $8 off per ticket. You can also print your tickets ahead of time and bypass any lines. We arrived on a Sunday by 10am and there was hardly a crowd at all!

24. Food courts for your convenience! There was a wide variety of food selections available for purchase. There are no outside food or drinks allowed inside the aquarium.

25. The World of Coca-Cola is within walking distance of the aquarium. If you are looking for additional places to see while in Atlanta, this is also a great stop. 

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