Georgia Aquarium
225 Baker St
Atlanta, GA 30313 (404) 581-4000
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Sun 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. - Good for Kids: Yes
81 Reviews for Georgia Aquarium
Beautiful building, great for private events, a few neat animals like sea dragons. But is it worth the headache of Atlanta traffic, paying for parking, and $37 a ticket? I don't think so, the Chattanooga Aquarium is better.
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It's okay, but it don't take all day.
I think if you did this place and the Coke Museum nearby it would be a fun trip. I think that the only reason others have taken all day to go through this may have been lines or just slownesssss.
Very impressed that it is the largest in the nation. Enjoyed the whales...guys like massive scary creatures.
Hope to see new additions. Maybe more education to go along with all the oohs and ahhs (IMAX?...or something).
Dafe
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I wish I was from Atlanta so I could come to the aquarium all the time! We had a blast at the World's Largest Aquarium. This place has got everything, even a food court for when you have the munchies. The exhibits are beautiful and there are a lot of areas where you can lounge and relax. There are so many photo opportunities, and for better photos of the fishes, be sure to turn off the flash to prevent a glare. My favorite part of the aquarium is the place where you can sit and just stare at the dozens of large and small fishes from the viewing room area. It's a must see!
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Great facility with lots of nice large windows to observe the aquatic life. It only took about an hour and a half to go through the whole facility, but there were plenty of opportunities to sit down and just watch the fish, if so inclined and if time allows.
My review is based on comparing the Georgia Aquarium to the Tennessee Aquarium. Granted it has been a couple of years since I've gone to the one in Tennessee, but to think that I was so impressed with it that I prefer it over G.A. should tell you something.
Visiting strictly to see the fish at the G.A. was a nice one time experience for me, the second time I visited the G.A was for the police ball and this was definitely a step up. Theme party, always love them =).
I feel that this aquarium is geared more for the youth as an educational experience and not for viewing and just enjoying the sea life. The Tennessee aquarium in my opinion was large, the walk ways were ceiling to floor glass to see the fish. You didn't have small holes packed with 30 other viewers to see the fish through. The Georgia Aquarium is just too packed for comfort. I can't really enjoy myself with the mass of non-chaperoned kids running around.
The best thing about the G.A was seeing the seals fight ;-) I say if you've never gone, it is definitely worth the trip, but I would highly recommend special event days, less children and you get to enjoy the scenery more.
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They say that size doesn't matter, it is the motion of the ocean. I live by this mantra (did I just admit to that?), and I think it applies to aquariums as well. Sure, it is the biggest, whoopty doo! We're talking fish, water and glass here. Want a cool attraction? How about give folks a fishing pole and let us try to catch one of those bigass groupers for lunch. Now you're talkin'. That would be more tasty than their poor excuse for a restaurant!
If you're from Atlanta, go here once to say you've been. Maybe bring your out-of-town friends too. I'd also suggest going in the fall, during the week, when the kids are back in school. That worked pretty well for us.
But in general, this place didn't live up to the hype for me. The Tennessee Aquarium impressed me more.
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For all the size they brag about, this is the shortest aquarium visit I've ever had. It takes about an hour - there's simply not much here. It seems very little thought went into the design, and there is very little originality. For the price, it should have a lot more.
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Am I the only who thinks that Deepo bears a VERY striking resemblance to another VERY popular animated orange fish? I mean, even the names sound suspiciously similar... Coincidence? I think not.....
We visited this aquarium a year after it opened. It was big, there were a lot of things to see, the exhibits were put together very nicely, there were a good number of interactive exhibits (always great for the kids), and overall, it was pretty neat. BUT, there were just sooooo many people. I really didn't feel like I was able to enjoy all the aquarium had to offer because there were just so many people crowding the tanks, trying to see what was inside.
An aquarium is a place for fish but it shouldn't make the people inside feel like they're sardines smooshed into a small tin can. =(
Minus 1 star for the overcrowding issue and minus another for the Deepo (a.k.a. blatant rip-off of Nemo) issue....
Cool, but spendy - $37 I think.
Went on a hot Saturday afternoon and the place was so packed that we couldnt even move.
The Georgia Aquarium is worthy of a 100th review.
The most simple review is...the aquarium is a must see if you are in Atlanta. But that is only if you are a person that enjoys seeing aquatic life. If it's not your kind of thing, why go AND take your whole family and then complain about it.
ANYWAY...
See the exhibits in this order..first see the Ocean Voyager. (REALLY AMAZING) Then the Cold Water exhibit (AMAZING) And then the Tropical exhibit (AMAZING)
If you still have energy after that I'd do the River exhibit and then the Georgia.
It's a huge aquarium, we were there 3 and a half hours, so it's important to see the MOST amazing stuff first.
AND! Don't be afraid to eat there. Pretty good food and non gouging prices.
Go on and see you some big fish. Some big crazy colorful will ass fish. I know, some of them are mammals. Go see you some magnificent marvelous dancing mammals.
Another important note - we were told the school kids groups are usually in the mornings. We went in the afternoon and it was lovely. You wouldn't want to run into those pesky "inner city kids" who probably didn't even buy their tickets. The nerve of those little animals.
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Fan-freakin-tastic aquarium... new and beautiful. I could have watched the river otters all day. Sooo cute!
Half a star down for Alycia's purse falling into the water as she attempted to pet a shrimp (not kidding) in one of the touch pools. No fault of the aquarium's, just sad that nasty shrimp water ruined her lovely new celly phone and camera. Boo.
The other half lost due to the ridiculous crowds. Prepare yourself!
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I'm torn between three and four stars. I love going to the aquarium. There's something so nice and soothing about being underwater. It's another world under da sea.
The Georgia Aquarium, however is more like fighting your way through a kindergarten of really big, mean five year olds. If you want to meet rude people, go here, they have a surplus. I've never seen so much pushing and shoving to get a look at a stingray.
OK-crowd aside, I think they have some really nice exhibits. I love the tidal coast where you can see all the colorful reef fish and coral. I'm a sucker for jellyfish cause they are just so strange! Of course, I like the big tanks where they have the whales, belugas, and sharks, but the penguins make me sad. It doesn't seem like they have enough space.
My neighbor works in the cold water husbandry area and I know how much she cares about those animals. If every employee is like her, then I know they are doing everything they can regardless of any bad press. They must feel tremendous pressure to keep these captive animals alive just for our viewing pleasure.
I love the main atrium with the fountains and sculptures, but I avoid the food court like the plague - it just never smells right. In the end, I'm glad we have the aquarium. I just need to enjoy it and not think about it so much.
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They bill themselves as the "largest aquarium in the world", and they are correct by the number of gallons of water held within those walls. Does that equate to BETTER?? I argue it doesn't. There are a couple of HUGE aquariums within that are really cool to see, and this place definitely has its moments. However, if you have been to the Shedd in Chicago or the National Aquarium in Baltimore, you'll probably call "Shenanigans" on anybody who says this is the best aquarium out there.
First, it may be huge, but I feel less awe-inspired here than when I have went to other aquariums. It seemed to be lacking. Sure, they have huge exhibits, but it isn't always correct that bigger is better.
Secondly...THE CROWDS. You'll hate much of humanity after going here. It's difficult to even get close to many of the "star" attactions b/c of the cramming of people against the glass. It really, really helps to ruin the experience.
And last...that admission price. For a little more than half of this, I could go to the National Aquarium and see a better collection of exhibits than this. What's more, I won't have to wait THREE HOURS to get in. I didn't go when it was brand new either, so I can only imagine what the wait times were back then. Luckily, we got there early enough so that we could even purchase a ticket for the day. Apparently, they sell out pretty quickly. The marketing machine has done brilliantly with this.
Overall, it's not a BAD aquarium, it's just way overhyped. Go to the other 2 I mentioned, you won't regret it.
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I had the pleasure of going to the aquarium during the week and it wasn't too crowded and it was awesome. The displays and how the entire place is laid out is extremely well thought out. The exhibits were easily accessible and displayed well (even when there's a big crowd). You can tell the fish are happy and healthy. The staff there is friendly and knowledgeable (and even some times funny).
If you have an morning/afternoon or both to kill I highly recommend swinging by the aquarium. It's truly a blast.I particularly like the beluga whale section but the entire place is excellent for all ages.
Me, my wife, my sister & my niece went there a while back. If it weren't so damned expensive, then it would have been absolutely great.
It's worth the money one time, but unless it can be cheaper, then I don't see myself going back.
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This is a nicely done aquarium. It doesn't feel too huge because it's well laid out. There is LOTS to do to keep the kids busy - many touch tanks - the kids got a kick out of touching sea anemones, sharks, rays, horseshoe crabs, sea stars and shrimp. My boys were thrilled to see the whale sharks. Very cool. The penguins and sea lions were almost, well, friendly. They swam next to our kids over and over. The best spot for kids is the Georgia Explorer area - there is a slide and climbing spot for the smaller kids.
We got there at 9 and left at lunchtime. That's about how long my kids can stay anywhere without a break. It started to get a little claustrophobic towards the end - and we went on a weekday. I imagine it gets quite packed during school breaks and on the weekends.
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minus one star for the crazy lines to the automated machines that were only operating at 50% capacity (ie 2 of the 4 machines were on), the crazy line to "get searched," that all of a sudden turned into a free for all to the green background photo op station, and then finally to the guy that scanned our tickets.
4 stars for capturing wild fish/animals from all over the world for our educational/viewing pleasure.
i love belugas, whale sharks, groupers, and the dragon fish.
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My experience with the Georgia Aquarium is probably a little different than most. I visited the aquarium as a member of a private function with catered dinner. The facility itself is huge, but I'm not sure that they've utilized their space well. With a place this large, I expected to see much more sea life. What was there was very nice, but I did feel it was a little lacking.
The food and service was very good. We had four buffet tables each with different styles of food (American, Italian, Asian, and dessert) and an open bar. The staff was very attentive and made sure that any finished plate or glass was taken away quickly.
We were in the Arctic Room of the Oceans Ballroom which gave us an excellent view of the Beluga whale tank. The one thing that I did not like about the Arctic Room is the colored cycling lights. At times, it made the room too dark.
In close, Georgia Aquarium is a good place for a corporate event. The food and service were very good and the exhibits where interesting. I was a little disappointed in that we did not have the aquarium to ourselves. They were operating on extended hours due to spring break. I give this place three stars just because I was expecting more marine life.
Pros:
Good Food
Good Service
Nice exhibits
Cons:
Not enough exhibits
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I been here six times in the past 3 months unfortunately. I've had alot of out of town family come and frankly their weren't much to show. You know the same touristy trap stuff, coke, CNN, 5 points, underground, stone mtn. and of course the aquarium. They said it would take a day to see the whole place but it really takes about 2 to 3 hours. Their cafeteria is small and their arent many items to choose from. It was ok, but it does get worse as you go their more often.
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Hmm, no thanks. The largest, blah, blah, blah. Like everyone else, I drank the kool-aid. My relatives from Korea were in town and thought, hmm what does one do to entertain a group of elderly Asians? Take them to a tourist trap, hope to get a free, overpriced bland meal out of it and an aquatic themed stuffed animal. Yes, I'm an adult and as a child have always abhorred stuffed animals but something about the psychological dynamics of being around your family that automatically makes one regress into an juvenile brat strangely in need of a stuffed animal.
I should have been lurking around in the corner wearing a black hoodie with my unkempt nails painted black commenting on how lame everything is. But instead I was an adult and wheeled around my grandmother who was the one muttering "this sucks. Enough with the fish." I couldn't agree more. There's something so soul depleting about walking around and around in man made rock wall circles that take the magic out of the beauty of the animals. After going from one tank to another, the fish and mammals all begin to look the same. Maybe my grandmother and I were reiterating the trapped animals.
It's no coincidence that two whales have died. I can appreciate the intention of trying to preserve the wildlife but I rather they live and die in nature rather than in a cage/tank for the amusement of mankind.
And no I didn't get a stuffed animal but damn if those stuffed manatees weren't darling. I locked eyes with one of them as I sat eating a hot dog in the food court. Something about the sad, big shiny black plastic eyes that can bring the small girl out of me. Oh manatee, sad, sad sea cow.
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As far as aquariums go, this has to be one of the best in the country. It is very well designed. The place can be jammed packed, but the design of the structure moves people along without ever feeling rushed. There is also an educational element to it, but it is not done in an over the top way. I really enjoyed going there.
You probably won't find a more kid-friendly place.
I didn't buy the one year membership. Without kids and not being central to other visitors (like when I lived in Hershey, Pa), it didn't make sense to invest in multiple trips. If you have kids, you'll probably be back.
One negative - I thought it was expensive - $30 a person seemed a bit high for an aquarium generally. It wasn't a rip-off though because it is truly a world-class facility.
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In a nutshell: this is a day care playground themed mall that sucks your wallet dry...and has a few fish to see...when you can actually get to a viewing window for two seconds.
We bought a year membership when it first opened. It was very pricey but we thought that it'd be a great aquarium and certainly is closer than Chattanooga Aquarium.
It's so friggin' glitzy -- what does that have to do with fish? Nothing.
There's very little educational content. I'm biased because I grew up with the New England Aquarium in Boston. They have a legitimate and established education program. All of the exhibits have a no-frills learning component that is more effective than GA Aquarium's style: a bright splashy two sentence description written for a 3 year old.
The food court tries to be upscale and as a result is INSANELY expensive. With a family of four, be prepared to fork out $60 for a decent lunch.
Bottom Line: I will never ever go there again.
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I always get a little queasy when I see beings out of their normal habitats and in structures for us to ogle them in mass gaggles. This is another one of those places. It may be of some interest to children who haven't yet learned that cows don't play kickball but there are much better resources for education than this aquarium.
I suppose it is one of those traps where you feel you must at least give it a try and I confess I am about to go back, but only because visitors have requested the outing. I can't abide those huge strollers that are bigger than my car, where every item in the house is hauled on monster truck wheels, leaving one to guess where the child is hidden. These strollers seem to block the length of the whale tank, leaving only the conveyance pusher a view of the actual tank and the resident. I certainly agree with those who say it is difficult to get much of a view of anything unless you have the patience to wait 10 minutes to get a glimpse of a fish.
Add to that, is the number of people who spend an inordinately amount of time oohing and ahhing at the exhibits, and you may end up feeling as your time is being wasted unless you plan to be there from opening to closing. I feel that these are major obstacles to the enjoyment of the aquarium as a whole. The mass did not move very quickly when I visited, and I probably missed half of it because I did not want to stand and wait any longer.
Normally this would not bother me as much but I did see several people in wheelchairs who were unable to see much of anything due to the lack of manners in the other visitors. Sorry moms, but the stroller wielders seemed to be the worst culprits. This could be solved by a few tactful staff members.
But in parts of the whole, it can still be a fun time. The hands-on opportunities are unique but I still get that queasiness thinking about how many hands are poking and prodding these creatures day in and out. Yes, I'm ultra-sensitive (I refuse to use the word uber unless I am in Germany) but there it is. Maybe if I were to develop the skin of a sea otter and the heart of sea horse, I might enjoy myself more at aquariums.
The price is probably worth it for many. I don't have an opinion on that one way or another as I rarely fix a dollar amount to much. The structures are Disney-esque and poor facsimiles of the real thing. It leaves one expecting the penguins to have happy feet and break into a dance. Watching March of the Penguins is much more educational and non-intrusive.
The movies were okay though. Again, I'm not the best judge as I will sit and watch just about anything legal on film. The wait to get in was short and seats were comfortable. I do think the movies should be all-inclusive in the ticket price. To me, that's like being asked if you want an appetizer or dessert when making reservations at a restaurant. Include it in the ticket price and then let visitors decide later what they want to do.
With my first visit, we went first thing on a Sat morning since we were staying across the street. I was taken aback at how many people were already in line. But this was just a few months after the opening and this could have changed now.
Would I recommend a visit? Not ordinarily. But if all the strollers in the US wanted to congregate there and leave museums alone, I would highly recommend that they do so.
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Don't get me wrong. I think it's cool that the world's biggest aquarium is in the city I live in, but I left feeling a little disappointed when I visited a while back.
It has a Disney feel to it. It just doesn't feel natural. I visited the Tennessee Aquarium right when it opened and I was way more impressed. Yes, I was probably 11 or 12 years old then but I think I'd still enjoy that one a lot more than this one if I were to go there today.
The aquarium in Chattanooga just seemed to put more emphasis on natural settings than the flash that the Georgia Aquarium invests in. The exhibits were tied more to the local area and that made it more interesting and relevent to me. The one in Atlanta just seems like it tries to cram as many fish as possible without regard to giving patrons an actual education in freshwater and saltwater settings
I got the same feeling when staring at an aquarium at the dentist's office as I did here.
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The aquarium is nice if you go REALLY early (8am) on a Sunday. Then you can actually see the fish you just paid an exhorbinant amount of money to look at. Otherwise, you will be completely over run by people. It is painfully over crowded and if you don't go early, you will never get to see some the fish that are in tiny little windows.
I like the way they break down the sections of the aquarium and I really like watching the belugas and the whale sharks, but the over crowding situation makes not want to visit there. I've been about 4 times and that's about all I can stand.
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i really enjoyed the aquarium. i was really afraid that i would be disappointed. but i had a very nice time. i loved the jelly fish, the whale shark, rays, sea horse... i was afraid to touch the sharks though. the rays feels a bit silky and slimey at the same time. i am curious by nature... so i got to touch and see everything. i love animals. so it was fun. $27.99 for adults... if you have AAA, buy tickets through them, i think you can get some discounts. but if you are at the ticket booth, you have to pay full price. take your camcorder... it is memories that you can replay over and over.
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The Georgia Aquarium was built and financed (I believe) by the founder of Home Depot, and it shows. Most of the building and exhibit material is straight from the shelves of Home Depot's "Sorry! I can't help you get the fill in the ______ blank, Sir/Madame/Yo!". Gift shop items are bad boutique knock offs. And, like Home Depot you're not really saving money or going on the cheap by paying the $27 entrance fee. My guess is that if the founder of Lowe's had built this aquarium the decor would be less cheesy and the lighting fixtures would be more fashionable.
Saying all this the aquarium isn't that bad in terms of what they present. Kids are prevalent but not obnoxious and I look for any reason to bad mouth children. Exhibits are diverse. You'll see forty five species of fish in the whale shark tank alone, and yes the whale sharks are very impressive even at a paltry 15ft long. My problem is that I have seen this in the NY Aquarium in Coney Island (sans whale shark) and I didn't have to pay $27. I also feel jipped in that I don't see where it's the biggest aquarium in the world. How? In volume? In number of fish exhibited? I can view all the exhibits within forty minutes in non-rush mode.
If you want to see a whale shark then by all means go. They're beautiful and impressive animals. Otherwise, go to Sea World and blow $60 to feel like a spendthrift, or hit the New York Aquarium if you're in the area and see some Beluga whales and sea turtles with NY Yankee logos branded on their skin.
NOTE: The Georgia Aquarium's mascot looks very much like a certain Disney/Pixar character. If latter companies decide to sue for copyright infringement I will be more than happy to testify for 5% of the judgements.
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It's the largest aquarium in the world, how could it not be amazing?
They have Whale Sharks, Beluga Whales, Giant Octopi, Penguins, Japanese Spider Crabs, River Otters and zillions of beautiful and neat looking fish. There's an awesome underwater tunnel that you can walk through were the Whale Sharks are. It feels like you're from the future when you're in there. And the huge fish tank with theater-like seating is awesome if you have your iPod with you. And I really liked the display of the coral reef with waves breaking every few minutes or so. Also they have a whole section that holds fresh water fish and creatures that are native to Georgia.
Minus 1 star for the mass amounts of kids and what I thought was pretty mediocre architecture and graphic design throughout the place. It doesn't have a really modern look and feel that I thought it might. And they use way too much Futura and Century Gothic fonts everywhere. Poor art direction. But it still doesn't take away from how beautiful the water life is.
And the cost of going here twice amounts to almost the same as buying an annual pass. Get an annual pass and go as you please!
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I thought this aquarium was great (and so did my kid-sister). The big tunnel that you walk through (as mentioned) really is awesome and the gigantic "wall" at the end of one of the exhibits made the whole thing worth it. Mesmerizing, tons of people just stopping, sitting and watching life happen in the gigantic tank. Its by far the best aquarium I've been too (even Baltimore's).
I thought this was a nice aquarium....but I wasn't in agreement with all the hype. It's surprising to me that this is the biggest aquarium in the world? Is it the world....or states? We went on a Tuesday, so it wasn't that crowded....that part was great....we could really take our time. I didn't get to see any big turtles though....and that was one thing I really wanted to see. The parking sucked only because it was quite a walk to the entrance....which I wouldn't normally mind except that it was sooo freakin' cold that day. I didn't wear my big coat because I didn't want to carry it around once I got inside....then I saw when we got inside that they had a coat check! The food here is ridiculously expensive...but why eat here anyway. You can get through the aquarium in 2 -2.5 hours and eat somewhere nearby. I think kids would find this pretty cool (depending on the ages - some might be bored)...and I think the prices are a little steep for a family outing anyway.....maybe for a birthday or special occasion.
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I became a season ticket holder before it even opened it's doors...and I wasn't dissapointed..yes, it's crowded, yes, there is too much going on...but sitting and watching the fish swim in the world largest tank calmed me like no other, since I was so far away from my pacific ocean...
The highlights?
1. the leafy sea dragons...these creatures will AMAZE you... please see them...it is worth the price in admission...
2. go at 8am on saturday/sunday morning...that is the quiet time...where you'll miss the cranky kids and crappy strollers...
3. pet the sting rays...it's awesome....
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I don't know how they can claim that they have "the biggest aquarium in the world." We went there thinking that you needed more than a day to enjoy the whole place. But, we were done in less than 3 hours. I think it's TOO COMMERCIALIZED, what with all the ads of Home Depot, UPS, etc. There was more info about the sponsors rather than the species in display. For a "biggest aquarium", they sure lack the capacity to accommodate large crowds of visitors. I found it difficult to maneuver a stroller around so I'm thinking it must also be difficult for folks in wheelchairs, too. There was something about the lay-out that makes you feel as if you're being rushed to finish viewing the marine creatures. It's impossible to stop and stand to appreciate because other guests just keep on coming and blocking the view. It's not their fault; it's the only way that they can get through toward the next exhibit. It certainly isn't a take-your-time kind of aquarium like Shedd Aquarium in Chicago or Monterey Bay Aquarium in California. Those were truly educational ones and clearly, one day isn't enough to soak up all the information they have to offer. Sure, the tunnel is cool but I've seen better tunnels in other aquariums such as the Shark Reef in Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas. They have this theater-like viewing room, which is unique but I still think it could be improved. For the hefty admission price that they charge, you'd expect shows, demonstrations or the lot. But no, once you enter, you'll find yourself spending even more on their food, souvenirs, and possible claustrophobia. Georgia Aquarium may have the largest species of fish but it has the smallest rating for aquariums from me.
Last visit: 4/07
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This Aquarium definitely has the wow-factor. Everyone comes wanting to take photographs, even yours truly. The lines do move quickly for the largest aquarium in the world, however - go during an off hour, because it can get packed and frustrating. On a more positive note though, Georgia Aquarium is spectacular. They have eight million gallons of both fresh and salt water and feature oceans, rivers, and tropical areas. Many of these animals such as the Belugas and the Whale Sharks have been rescued and are being rehabilitated. I love the huge aquarium with the grouper that like to greet the visitors, and seeing SO MANY fish in one giant aquarium is just amazing to me. You get another great glimpse of it when walking through the acrylic tunnel and seeing everything swimming overhead. It's definitely a must-see for everyone of all ages.
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When Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus announced he wanted to spend a portion of his millions building an Aquarium for Atlanta, something that would draw tourists from miles around, and a place for Atlantans to visit too, one of the largest Aquaria in the world, because some people just like things BIGGER and BETTER, I guess, I admit I was on the naysayer's bandwagon. Too much money, could be better spent on better things, and it didn't seem Atlanta needed an Aquarium, nor really wanted one.
Well, turns out Atlanta didn't need it, but it's a great place to visit, and I, not so sheepishly, admit that I'm a member, I have my little annual pass card, two years in a row now, and I've been for maybe ten or more visits - I have mixed feelings about animals held in captivity, but feel that once they're there, they "enjoy" visitors. I got on the Annual Pass bandwagon as soon as I jumped off the naysayer's bandwagon, and instantly compared the Georgia Aquarium to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which I first visited only two years after its opening, in 1986, and again later in 1990. Monterey has the added perk of being right ON THE OCEAN, so they can even add ocean water to their exhibits. Landlocked Atlanta has no such luck.
Thus making what Atlanta DOES have pretty special. Leave your comparisons at the door. Yes, there is a large atrium inside, just after you enter past those crazy silvery fish (are they tuna or what?) swimming like their lives depend on it on both walls surrounding your entry. But it's a nice atrium, as atria go. And beyond it, before you even get to the Galleries, is the Cafe Aquaria, where the food was all developed by Wolfgang Puck! This means it's good, trust me on this, and this means it's super expensive, but if you don't mind spending $5.95 for a Veggie Burger, and $2.95 for a side of French Fries, and another $3.95 for a yummy Seasonal Tart, and $2.25 for a Minute Maid Juice, well then... you'd be ME!
There are fancy deli sandwiches and salads, grill items (of the actual "meat" variety), other desserts, even Ben & Jerry's ice cream. But this is more than a restaurant, this is an Aquarium! After I take my tray with my goodies on it out into the atrium seating area (skip the Cafe tables, too crowded!), and eat while I watch the people of all different nationalities, shapes, sizes, and modes of transport, i.e. strollers, wheelchairs, and harnesses holding the toddlers to parents, I check out the viewing galleries.
You can pick and choose, of course. If you prefer colorful little tropical fish in relatively small tanks, aside from the re-created coral reef (outstanding, truly), there's the Tropical Diver gallery. Or if you want to see the kinds of critters you might find in the Amazon, there's the River Scout gallery (I love the Asian Small-Clawed Otters!). If cold water creatures are your favorite, there are still a few Beluga Whales (RIP, Gasper, you are missed), and penguins, of course, sea lions, and some rescued California sea otters in the Cold Water Quest gallery. New Age-y music abounds in front of these exhibits, which you can hear if you arrive at a quiet time. Be sure to check out the Leafy Sea Dragons in the Cold Water Quest gallery - they are amazing, and "No Flash Photography" means no flash photography, people.
The Georgia Explorer gallery has some interactive stuff for the kids, or kids at heart, i.e. touch pools where you can feel what a live shrimp feels like (they're not just for dinner anymore!), or a big horseshoe crab, and of course the cow-nosed rays and baby sharks. There is also a big sea turtle, but no touching.
My favorite gallery is the Ocean Voyager, the big tank which recently played a part in the deaths of the largest fish on Earth, two wonderful whale sharks named Ralph and Norton (after "The Honeymooners"). These are the statistics: It contains more than six million gallons of saltwater, with 4,574 square feet of viewing windows, a 100-foot-long underwater tunnel, 185 tons of acrylic windows and the second largest viewing window in the world at 23 feet tall by 61 feet wide and 2 feet thick. In other words, it's mighty impressive. And there is gallery-style seating where you can plant yourself for hours, if you like. Personally, I'd like to set up a couch with a mini-fridge, microwave, the bare essentials, and live in this viewing room.
If you're not inclined to buy the annual member's pass for some sixty dollars and change, the one day admission is $24/adult, $20/age 55 and up, and $18/children 3-12. I love the Aquarium, despite the recent animal failings, and I think the cost of admission (and food) is highly worth it. This has now become one of my Best of Atlanta destinations.
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The largest aquarium in the world...In Atlanta Ga...Wow, who would have thunk it?
I went here last week with work @ the company's expense...And all in all, I had a great time. It was my first time visiting...and so I didn't really have expectations...I quickly lost my group as I wandered off by myself to watch the sea lions outside. There was a guy out there that was full of fun facts! Like how to know the difference between a seal and a sea lion...
So basically, after realizing that I had separated from the group, I had my own little field trip... It didn't take long for me to find lots of interesting things to look at...I definitely forgot that I was alone.
The aquarium's layout is very efficient and ensures that the crowds keep moving. Some people call this crowd contol. Think Ikea, except there are like 4 or so areas...3 huge tanks house the beluga whales, whale sharks, and barrier reef...These account for the majority of the facility, and so once you've seen all of that...You pretty much have seen it all.
The Beluga whales are really amazing. They almost look like they are dancing to the music. Really relaxing to watch them swim.
The huge tank with the whale sharks is quite extraordinary....Those grouper seem to get right up to the glass and stare right at you. Makes you wonder what they are thinking about. Its really interesting to watch how all of the species interact...The schools of fish, the sting rays, the whale sharks...Its really beautiful.
This is a great place to take kiddies. They have a little discovery pool where touching is encouraged!! I was surprised to see that the animals took breaks. When I passed by the discovery pool...There was a sign that said "These Animals are On a Break, Please Do Not Touch" it was cute seeing the kids all silently waiting...It made me giggle.
This place was definitely designed for tourists...The Aquarium boasts being the largest in the world, but it seems to me that that is only because 50% of the space is devoted to marketing and crowd control (i.e. the large volume of central space where everyone stands and wonders what exhibit to visit next).
IMHO, the whale sharks, sea lions, penguins, and belugas were incredible and definitely worth the price of admission.... There is a large common area with 'alcoves' for the viewings. Once you were done with one area you were back in the common area and had to figure out where to go next.
In contrast, when you enter the TN aquarium, you go into the first viewing area and there is a progression between all exhibits. It seems to make more sense that way. And although the GA aquarium is billed as the largest aquarium, it seemed to me that the TN aquarium is actually larger.
Maybe the sq. footage at the TN aquarium is larger and because of the layout and the fact that there are such large viewing windows you see on more than one level it just seems as if it is larger. I'm not sure. I am sure, however, that if you are going to Atlanta you should go to the aquarium but don't make a special trip just to see it.
There are over 150,000 different species of fish available to view in the aquarium, so you are bound to be impressed by something!
They also offer a behind-the-scenes tour @ $50/person, and a 4-D Imax. I would allot 2-3 hours to enjoy your visit under the sea.
All in All: Seriously, A Great Place To Bring the Kiddies and Explore Sea Creatures!
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I didn't expect much from the aquarium, but I was still disappointed in it. The staff was rude, absolutely everything was crowded, the animals are in overcrowded or too-small tanks, and like someone below mentioned, the ambiance is of a mall food court on field trip day. It takes almost all your attention just to avoid tripping over children whose parents aren't paying any attention to them whatsoever.
There was apparently no actual planning in any part of the workings of this aquarium. The entry lines all go through a photo-taking area where you can get souvenir photos, but there is no line to exempt this option so if the folks in front of you want pictures, you get to keep waiting in line. The second time I was there my friend and I thought that we were in the picture line and that there was a different line for no pictures, so we gave a nudge and a wink to the folks in that line and skipped the ropes, and got yelled at by a huge beast of an employee who went on a tirade about skipping line. The funny thing is, while you're standing in the rope lines waiting to go through security, you will see at least 20 people ducking under ropes and cutting lines.
There is no real flow to the layout, so tourists often end up just standing around in the atrium trying to figure out where they've been and where they haven't. The information panels are extremely brief, which leaves you frowning at the fish wishing you had a more interesting tidbit about them.
Some of the tanks, especially in the river exhibit, are extremely overcrowded, which goes to show another lack of planning in that they did not stock the tanks to allow room for fish to grow and mature, but rather stocked them to look like there were a lot of fish. This will inevitably lead to a lot of dead fish. That annoyance comes from the aquarist in me, however, and most people won't care about that.
All in all, I would rather drive the hour to Chattanooga to go wonder over the amazing Tennessee Aquarium exhibits yet again. The Tennessee Aquarium is not as busy ALL THE TIME, and there is structure to it so that you move from one exhibit to the next in an orderly fashion. If you think the Georgia Aquarium is awesome, take a day trip to Chattanooga - even the bus system is amazingly efficient there!
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