The Largest Aquarium in America

When planning our trip to Atlanta, I knew we absolutely had to visit the Georgia Aquarium. The aquarium houses more than a hundred thousand animals and represents several thousand species, all of which reside in 10 million US gallons of marine and salt water. Making it one of the largest aquariums in the world (and the largest in the U.S.)!

This isn’t your typical aquarium, ya’ll. The Georgia Aquarium is so large that it deserves its own guide! So, I’m here to give you the run down and answer any questions you may have.

The Exhibits and Shows

After you enter the aquarium, you will notice there are multiple different exhibits. In total, there are six: Ocean Voyager, Cold Water Quest, Tropical Driver, Dolphin Tails, River Scout, and Georgia Explorer.

We started at Ocean Voyager, which is probably the exhibit you’ve seen in online pictures most! You step onto a human conveyor belt that takes you through an underwater tunnel. It’s super cool – keep an eye out for whale sharks, giant stingrays, and gorgeous fish!

I also really enjoyed Tropical Diver and Cold Water Quest.

Whale sharks, Belugas, Puffins

Viewing Portals

Another really awesome feature of the Georgia Aquarium is portal holes. These specially-designed areas make you feel as if you are in the encounter. In the Cold Water Quest, you can get up close with the penguins as they snack during feeding time, which also makes for a fun photo opp. Check out my picture below.

Dolphin Shows

Unfortunately, we did not get to see a dolphin show (My anxiety was extremely high at this point). However, The Dolphin Tales shows are a ton of fun and showcase the intelligence of bottlenose dolphins.

Just keep in mind… The arena is huge and attracts TONS of people. It is a widely populated, small area which may be difficult for others with social anxiety. Additionally, the showtimes vary so you kind of just have to keep an ear open for announcements or ask an employee.

The Fine Detail

Never in my life have I heard of an aquarium cost SO much! General admission tickets cost $32.95 for adults (ages 13 to 64), $28.95 for children (ages 3 to 12) and $30.95 for seniors (65 plus).

Quick tip: Get tickets beforehand so you don’t have to wait in an extremely long line.

They do have a parking garage as well. Parking costs an additional $12 but there are reduced packages for purchasing aquarium tickets and parking ahead of time. You can also park in the garage for the whole day, leaving your car while you explore nearby attractions!

You may also want to check their website for special offers.

What You Need to Know

Overall, I’m so glad we got to experience the Atlanta Aquarium and create memories that’ll last a lifetime. However, there are definitely things that I wish I knew beforehand!

As someone with social anxiety, the aquarium can get very overwhelming. The aquarium packs a lot of people into one place! It’s okay to take your time, find an out of the way space, and breath. You can get through the aquarium in an hour or six hours(especially with shows). Go your own speed, friend.

There is also a food court with a few different options in case you need to munch.

The best thing you can do if you’ll be in Atlanta for a couple of days, grab an Atlanta CityPASS! The pass gives you access to some of Atlanta’s best attractions at one great price and skip most main-entrance ticket lines. Spend less, experience more.

• Georgia Aquarium
• World of Coca-Cola
• CNN Studio Tours
• Option Ticket 1: Zoo Atlanta OR National Center for Civil and Human Rights
• Option Ticket 2: Fernbank Museum of Natural History OR College Football Hall of Fame

Extra perk: CityPASS travelers skip most main-entrance ticket lines. CityPASS tickets are valid for nine consecutive days, beginning with the first day of use.

Atlanta is one of my favorite cities, there is so much to do and places to see! The city is full of great culture and life. I cannot wait to go back soon.

What’s your favorite thing about Atlanta?

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