Georgia Aquarium ??

[ifirefight]

Thinking of going over the summer. Is it worth the drive from South Florida. I know I will like it,what about the wife and kids. Any advise/tips appreciated. Thanks

 

[sula]

Yes, it's something your family would love. There's an area that's designed for kids, with "hand-on" type displays - stick your hand under the water and touch the creatures, etc.
The huge ocean area - well, I don't know how anyone could go and NOT be in awe. You enter the exhibit by walking through an enormous acrylic tunnel - how often can you look overhead and see stingrays swimming above you?

 

[lobstergrabber]

Very awesome experience. We drove from the destin area(about 6 hours) and would love to go back. Do the behind the scenes tour of the reef exhibit. It was expensive compared to the entry fee but very interesting and I would still be mad about it if I had not done it. On that tour you also get too see the top of the beluga exhibit and actually got to walk out on the gang plank above the whale shark exhibit. Have seen these sharks in the wild but never been able to get that close. What an awe striking experience to have them swimming five feet below your feet. Amazing time. You will not be dissappointed. Do the zoo while you are there as well. Have not been to many zoos but the one in atlanta was very well done IMO and the baby panda was way interesting.
Rich

 

[jennythebugg]

someone said in another thread that you need to get there first thing in the morning cause by noon you will be elbow to elbow with hunrdeds of people they said they practically had the place to themselves before noon though
i wish i could go but texas to georgia is quite a drive with 3 kids and a sick man haha

 

[triga22]

You really want to go. I live in Georgia and the best time to go is early. Do not eat there. There isnt enough space for everyone to eat and youll end up on the floor. Unless you eat ealier that is. Also pay the extra for the behind the scenes tour.

 

[appaloosa1]

i've never had a problem getting a place to eat! just don't go to eat when the line is a mile long! i love the aquarium, i hope to be going soon again. give yourself at least 4 hours to look at everything. the kids will love being able to touch sharks and rays too. i love the river part where the river flows above you. you will not be disappointed!

 

[wangotango]

i went last month and it was just amazing. go on the behind the scenes tour if you can its just incredible standing at the top of the reef. when we went we got there when it opened and left around 2. it got kinda crowded around noon or so. i posted some pics a while back.
-Justin

 

[ifirefight]

Woo Hoo! Thats like 5 thumbs up

(positive reccomendations). Thanks for the replys. Looks like were Georgia bound in a few weeks!

 

[kogle]

I'm making the drive from Indiana this Friday night. We're hoping to get there when they open.

 

[vpotts28]

Originally Posted by ifirefight
Woo Hoo! Thats like 5 thumbs up

(positive reccomendations). Thanks for the replys. Looks like were Georgia bound in a few weeks!

ifirefight, if you plan on staying overnight, there are some good hotels in and around that area. You will be close to the Georgia Dome, Phillips Arena,CNN Center, and Olympic Park. It is a fairly safe area around there. I would also recommend you stay in the Buckhead area (great shopping for the wife, if she is into that) of Atlanta, which is about a 10 minute drive from the aquarium (depending on the god forsaken traffic here).
They have a volunteer program there I am thinking of enrolling in. You pay $60 and you volunteer four hours per month. You get two free year long passes, and free tickets for friends and family. Wish I was certified scuba, you get to clean inside the tanks, but there is a 3yr wait for that.