Screaming kids, walking through a viewing tunnel, pointed at an enormous whale shark gliding through clear waters. “I’m glad I came,” a young boy piped. And if you decide to visit, you’ll be glad too. The largest aquarium in the world, you can’t go wrong with a visit to the Georgia Aquarium. You can easily spend all day, walking through the aquarium’s indoor exhibits (called galleries). The Georgia Coast Gallery will be a hit with your kids. Children can touch horseshoe crabs, shrimp, sting rays, and sea stars (softly with two fingers). There is also a play area; the kids will have a good time sliding down the whale slide and climbing on the jungle gym in this section of the aquarium. If you and your kids need a little down-time while in the Georgia Coast Gallery, you can watch a short educational film about the endangered right whales and learn about efforts to protect them.

 The Ocean Explorer gallery is incredible. This gallery features huge whale sharks and nearly 100,000 fish in more than 6 million gallons of water. You will feel as though you are surrounded by fish while you are in this gallery, and to me, the experience is better than snorkeling. You don’t have to get wet, and you can get close to a whale shark without swimming for your life.  Another favorite is the 25-minute 4-D movie at the aquarium. Not only do the characters in this cartoon jump out at you, but you also get wet once in a while. No. You won’t get drenched; you’ll only feel a few sprinkles; but trust me. It’s entertaining. Your children will also learn about the importance protecting our underwater animals, thanks to Deepo, the aquarium’s mascot (who stars in the film). The movie is definitely worthwhile, and you shouldn’t miss an opportunity to watch it with your children.  You can’t bring food into the aquarium, but you won’t go hungry. There’s a food court there with real food. Of course, you’ll find the usual fast food. Pizza, chicken fingers, cheeseburgers, and hotdogs are sold. But I was surprised to find fresh fruit, grilled chicken in spinach wraps and pasta. The prices are reasonable, about $6 for an entrée.  Anytime you are visiting Atlanta, finding a good parking space should be a top priority. The good news is that finding a space near the aquarium is a piece of cake. There is a parking deck right next to the aquarium ($8 for four hours) or you can park in private lots for $5 and up. I found a $5 spot close to the aquarium.  Get there early. I arrived at about 11 a.m. and the place was packed. An aquarium representative told me that that 9 a.m. is the best time to visit. You can also plan a late afternoon visit. Apparently, the last ticket is sold at 4:45 p.m., but a representative also told me that the aquarium sometimes has extended hours until 8 p.m.; you should definitely check the aquarium’s website or call ahead to verify.  Hours: Monday – Sunday 8 a.m. thru 6 p.m. 

The aquarium is located at 225 Baker Street, next to Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta. General Admission Ticket

Price including tax: $22.75 (Adults), $17.00 (Children 3-12), $19.50 Seniors (55+)

Post from: The Atlanta Traveler

The Atlanta Traveler went to Plains, GA over the weekend for the annual Peanut Festival. Highlights of the event included a book signing for both President Jimmy Carter and his wife Mrs. Rosalyn Carter whose hometown (and current residence) is Plains. I stood in line under the scorching heat for over an hour to get my book signed. Politics aside, how many times does one get an opportunity to be thisclose to a president, former or current?

Here are other photos…

Post from: The Atlanta Traveler