The aquarium atlanta is a magical place where you can spend hours ogling sea life, watching the dolphin shows and enjoying all the interactive activities. The aquarium features 6 exhibition zones based on various marine habitats and has a total tank capacity of 10 million gallons. Some of the top exhibits include Ocean Voyager, Dolphin Celebration, Cold Water Quest, Tropical Diver and Pier 225.
There are many different types of sea creatures to see at the aquarium including a huge assortment of sharks, rays and fish. The newest exhibit, Sharks: Predators of the Deep features 1.2 million gallons and includes tiger, sand tiger, silky and silvertip sharks along with massive whale sharks. There are also a variety of other marine animals to see in these aquarium atlanta including a loggerhead turtle, giant grouper and squadrons of small and large sting rays.
One of the most popular things to do at the aquarium is to visit the touch pools with rays and sharks where you can hold and pet them. This is a great activity for kids but be careful as you can only use two fingers and it’s important to keep your hands away from the mouth of the animal.
The aquarium also offers a number of behind the scenes tours and experiences to allow you to get close to the action and learn about all the amazing things going on at the aquarium. Some of these tours include a Behind the Seas tour and a Behind the Glass encounter with a trainer. These programs are not included with your admission ticket but you can purchase them separately.
If you are planning to attend the aquarium with children, be sure to download the aquarium app which is loaded with interesting information and audio tours for all the different exhibits. This is a free app that can be downloaded on your iPhone or Android device.
When visiting the aquarium make sure to check the daily schedule as presentations may be canceled due to weather or for other reasons. If you want to guarantee a seat for the dolphin or sea lion presentation then reserve your seats early on the day of your visit.
The Aquarium also has a gift shop where you can purchase the usual branded tee shirts, hats and stuffed aquatic animals. You can also find a few unique gifts here as well.
The aquarium is located in Pemberton Place which is a complex that also houses Atlanta’s Center for Civil and Human Rights and World of Coca-Cola. The aquarium is a short walk from Centennial Olympic Park. There is also a free parking lot on Luckie Street. The aquarium is open 365 days a year but be aware that the hours do vary from day to day so check the website before your trip. They offer a variety of discounts including for educators, birthday admissions for Georgia residents and City Pass holders. You can also become a member to receive annual passes for unlimited visits to the aquarium.