The American city of Atlanta is a proud home to many enticing tourist attractions, and one of them is the Georgia Aquarium. Considered to be the largest of its kind in the world, this massive aquarium houses thousands of animals that originated from around the word. It also holds over 8 million gallons of water to accommodate its sea creatures.
The Georgia Aquarium showcases five main galleries with distinct and outstanding themes to captivate its visitors. The Georgia Aquarium is perfect for visiting families with small children. And if you are fan of the ocean and marine animals, this is definitely one destination in the city you don’t want to miss.
One of the galleries visitors can look forward to is the mammoth viewing tank aptly named Ocean Voyager. This section also features a clear tunnel, which allows you to marvel at giant stingrays, whale sharks and hammerhead sharks up close. Another fascinating section of the Georgia Aquarium is the Georgia-Pacific Cold Water Quest gallery. The stars of this gallery is undoubtedly the four beluga whales. The River Scout gallery, on the other hand, focuses on the animals that usually live in rivers habitats all around Africa, Asia, South America, and in Georgia. Here, you will find distinct river dwellers like the Asian small-clawed otter and albino alligators.
Tropical Diver and Georgia Explorer are the other two main galleries maintained in the Georgia Aquarium. Tropical Diver is all about discovering the beauty of tropical coral reefs and the species that reside in them, while the Georgia Explorer is a highly interactive gallery, composed of touch pools. These pools are home to a variety of sea creatures like shrimp, sea stars and horseshoe crabs. This section also has larger habitats that are filled by loggerhead sea turtle and fish species from the Gray’s Reef.
Aside from regular galleries, this superb aquarium also conducts special exhibits and shows like the AT&T Dolphin Tales Show. The show highlights the dolphins’ endearing antics and strong bond with humans in a fun musical performance.
If you are a behind-the-scenes type of visitor, consider booking Behind the Seas tours. As the name suggests, this tour allows you an incredible all access backstage look at the aquarium’s exhibits and daily operations. You will get to know the team, the history and the initiatives behind Georgia Aquarium’s success. The Behind the Seas tour also gives you the opportunity to get closer to some of the animals. Another tour called Dolphin Encounter and Experience Program leads you backstage inside the dolphin theater to meet, touch and even feed the dolphin stars of the how.
The Georgia Aquarium is conveniently located in downtown Atlanta, just across from the Centennial Olympic Park, so it is difficult to miss it. The good news is it welcomes visitors all year round. Admission tickets can be purchased online and in advance. The aquarium offers a range of admission ticket options and packages. You may purchase a regular day pass or go for the premium one. The Premium Day Pass provides admission to not only the galleries but also to the thrilling “4D” movie theater, which is considered one of the most advanced in the world today. The CityPass Admission is another special admission ticket that comes with certain privileges like expedited entry to regular shows and special exhibitions.
You can learn more about the Georgia Aquarium by visiting their site here.
