The Georgia Aquarium
"Come and see things you've never seen before !"
Atlanta is enjoying its largest tourism boom since the '96 Olympics, thanks in part to the opening of the Georgia Aquarium.
With 8 million gallons of fresh water and marine water, the aquarium is home to more than 100,000 animals representing 500 species from around the world. It is an absolute "must see" when planning your trip to Atlanta!
Stop by and say hello to "Nico," the beluga whale in the Cold Water Quest Gallery. His smiling face and adorable personality are guaranteed to melt the hearts of your entire family.
Hop on the moving sidewalk for a scuba diver's view of Ocean Voyager Gallery, home of "Norton," "Alice," and "Trixie"—Atlanta's very own whale sharks, the largest fish in the ocean. This 6 million gallon salt water tank is the epicenter of the Georgia Aquarium.
"We literally built the Aquarium around this habitat," according to Bernie Marcus, founder of the Georgia Aquarium. "We wanted the biggest fish in the biggest tank with the biggest body of water, and the biggest window we could create for people to watch it all through."
Cubera snappers, groupers, hammerhead sharks, and graceful stingrays are just a sampling of what will enchant you as you watch them from 4,574 square feet of viewing windows. In fact, the Georgia Aquarium has the second largest viewing window in the world standing at 23 feet tall and 61 feet wide. So get ready to come and stand amazed!
See if you can "find Nemo" in the Tropical Diver Gallery, learn about Georgia's coastal marine life in the Georgia Explorer Gallery, and safely view piranha in the River Scout Gallery. You can take a break in Cafe Aquaria, the Aquarium's very own mini-food court. There's also ice cream for dessert or a sampling of the Chef's favorite daily selections. And don't forget to stop by the "Beyond the Reef" and "Sand Dollars" gift shops to take a little piece of the aquarium home with you.
However long your stay in Atlanta, the Georgia Aquarium promises excitement and wonder for all ages—and is sure to keep you coming back for more!
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The Georgia Aquarium is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Please check website for special extended hours.) Tickets may be purchased online or at the front gate. You'll want to utilize the online timed ticketing system to reserve your entry time to the Aquarium and ensure a speedy entrance. Ticket prices are as follows:
- Adult: $22.75
- Child (age 3-12): $17.00
- Senior (age 55+): $19.50
(Tax is included. Prices are subject to change. Group ticketing is available for groups of 15 or more.)
The Georgia Aquarium is located at 225 Baker Street in downtown Atlanta across from Centennial Olympic Park, Georgia World Congress Center, the Georgia Dome, Philips Arena, and the CNN Center. Call 404-581-4000 or visit online for more information. To view a list of area hotels located near the Georgia Aquarium, please click here.
(Information and photos courtesy of www.georgiaaquarium.org)
