In 2005, when the Georgia Aquarium opened, it was the largest in the world. Today, with eleven million gallons of water, it’s the largest in the United States (4th in the world). The land the building sits on was donated by the Coca- Cola Company. Home Depot Co-founder, Bernard Marcus, contributed $250 million to fuel the construction.
Research programs from Georgia Tech, Georgia State University and University of Georgia worked with staff to study ways to save endangered species prior to the Aquarium’s opening. The Georgia Aquarium has been featured on Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel. A Smithsonian Affiliate, it’s the only aquarium in North America that is home to manta rays and whale sharks. The Aquarium boasts the world’s largest team of certified Dive Masters and instructors with disabilities.
The Veterans Immersion Program began in 2008 “to support wounded heroes in Armed Forces – injuries seen and unseen.” Veterans are welcome to dive with the marine life 365 days a year. Through the Military Salute Program, the aquarium is “dedicated to impacting military personnel with positive experiences.”
Our Review:
Before we dive into the exhibits, I want to mention the bathrooms and the parking garage. The garage adjacent to the Aquarium is very spacious and easy to maneuver, allowing your adventure to begin on a positive note. There’s even a spot beside each elevator for you to snap a selfie with a pic of one of the animals so you remember which floor you parked on. If you’re anything like me, parking (especially in Atlanta) can set the tone for the whole trip. Clean restrooms are also at the top of our family’s checklist. The facilities were spotless, even at closing! This says a lot about the employees and their commitment to health and safety for their guests.
The Dolphin and Sea Lion shows require tickets. Be sure to start your day by visiting Guest Services to make your free reservations. The shows fill up fast and you do not want to miss them! The efficiency of the staff, layout, and handling of the crowds was reminiscent of Disney Parks. These performances were magnificent! Just like Sea World. Pro Tip: Signs at the Dolphin show warn that the first ten rows with gray seats are the “Splash Zone.” We carefully made our way past the tenth row to blue seats. Didn’t matter. The dolphins obviously didn’t get the memo. The Splash Zone reaches the first few rows of blue seats too. If you do not want to get wet, (we got soaked), sit higher up! There’s not a bad seat. You can see the show from anywhere.
As we made our way through the Aquarium, it was obvious much thought and planning went into making the building handicapped accessible. We were impressed.
Interactive stations are scattered throughout to enhance your learning experience. Several exhibits let you get up close and personal with the creatures, if you’ve got the knees for it. Crawl spaces lead to glass enclosures in some tanks – giving the appearance of being in the water. Phenomenal photo ops! Kids will love it.
In the Ocean Voyager exhibit, step on an autowalk (moving walkway) and glide through a tunnel of water. Here you’ll see giant sting rays and a whale shark. I can now say I’ve seen a manatee and a Beluga Whale!
There is a TON to see. When you’re ready for a break, dip into Cafe Aquaria for a grab-n-go meal. There were several school groups there the day we visited. Lines moved quickly. The cafe is downstairs, but seating is available on both floors – we were thankful for the elevator. You will not pay movie theater prices here, which was a welcomed relief on the wallet. There are plenty of combos to choose from.
Our experience from start to finish was exemplary. Out of all the aquariums we’ve been to, Georgia Aquarium is our favorite! We love them all, but Georgia’s is a step above the rest. We thoroughly enjoyed our time and look forward to going back!
Holiday Happenings at Georgia Aquarium
Get a photo with Santa through December 24th. He takes a break from 12-1 pm (even Santa has to eat). You can check out those dates and times here. Georgia State University’s School of Music will be on site every Saturday and Sunday from 11- 4 pm through December 23rd. Keep an eye out for Scuba Claus! Around midday every Thursday – Sunday (thru December 24th), you can find Santa swimming with the sea life in the Ocean Voyager Theater.
Now is a great time to drop in The Georgia Aquarium. The Christmas lights add to the festive feeling you get while exploring all the mysteries of the deep.