I spent the most amazing day at the world’s second largest aquarium, Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta about a month ago as a guest of the aquarium and the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown.
The Georgia Aquarium is shaped like the bow of a ship. Can you tell?
This is the view from our hotel room at the Hilton Garden Inn, and it’s where we noticed the building’s ship-shaped design initially. Pretty cool!
When we arrived at the aquarium, we checked feeding and show times so we wouldn’t miss anything, and then we visited the Ocean Voyager exhibit. A moving walkway carries visitors through a giant tank holding thousands of swimming fish, four whale sharks and four manta rays. It’s pretty incredible!
After that, we were given a behind-the-scenes tour that I’ll never forget. It was amazing (thanks, Bailey!) and I gained such an appreciation for the incredible amount of dedication and care that goes into housing these remarkable aquatic creatures.
These lucky visitors signed up in advance for the Beluga whale interactive experience, and it was fun to see their reactions.
When you visit the Beluga whales in their exhibit, you’ll sometimes catch them playing like I did!
In the Tropical Diver exhibit, there’s a 6,000 gallon wave machine which dumps water every two minutes to simulate the back-and-forth surges that take place in actual oceans. It was so neat to get a peek at how it works.
It’s amazing how many different kinds of coral there are. These are growing in special tanks off display.
We even caught a starfish having lunch!
Touching (with two fingers) is encouraged in several exhibits throughout the aquarium, but it was so freaky for me!
We also got to see the baby African penguins. Look at the soft downy fluff still remaining on this little guy’s head.
Eventually, he’ll be on exhibit with the adults!
Our tour ended just in time for us to see the AT&T Dolphin Tales show. It’s a combination dolphin show and musical theater production. Honestly, it was my least favorite part of the whole day, but I’m sure most kids and families would really get a kick out of it.
After that, we just wandered freely through the aquarium’s exhibits to see everything, like this Giant Pacific Octopus.
How about lobster, shrimp and crab?
And of course, I always love watching the jellyfish.
And this lionfish!
There was so much to see in the Georgia Aquarium. I spent about 3 or 4 hours there, but I’m sure I could have spent more. If you’re ever in the Atlanta area, it’s well worth a visit and since it’s located right next to World of Coca-Cola and Olympic Park, you’ll want to make a day of it!
It’s a very popular destination, so get there early (opens at 9am daily) and buy your tickets in advance to save time in line.
Visit the Georgia Aquarium website for more information.
Comments & Reviews
I would love to visit this aquarium in Atlanta GA. There’s so much to see!
What a great visit! I had no idea it’s shaped like a ship. We went a few years ago and that whale shark is amazing!
Looks like a perfect day spent!
We really loved our visit to the aquarium and the Hilton Garden Inn was a great place to stay.
We love aquariums…your pictures are amazing. This is a must do when I visit Atlanta.
I love aquariums! Those beluga whales look very cool.
ha. i love the touching ones….we love the aquarium…we used to go to the baltimore one all the time…i have not been to the one in atlanta…
I love going to aquariums with my kids. We have a couple near me, but that one looks amazing. I would love to spend a day there!!
I keep hearing so much about the Georgia Aquarium! I really want to make a road trip up there one day to see it for myself!
I LOVE aquariums – possibly even more than my children! 🙂
I’ve never been to Atlanta, but it looks like a great city with lots to see and do. The aquarium looks beautiful, I will definitely keep it in mind once I visit Atlanta.
So awesome! I love aquariums and that one looks fabulous! I guess I need to get back to Atlanta!
🙂
Traci
Your pictures are glorious. I want to take my children to visit the aquarium. My nieces went last year and loved their visit. Now I am even more encouraged.
We love the Georgia aquarium! The beluga whales are my favorite! We’ve been there many times but I didn’t know about the dolphin tales show!
That is such an awesome aquarium! I absolutely love it! I want to take our kids to an aquarium. I think it would be so much fun! Plus educational at the same time.
Aquariums are so much fun and peaceful… The show animals are amazing! I could sit there and just watch the fish go by..
This looks fun to visit here,I love penguins so that would of been my favorite part.
I have had friends that have visited this aquarium, they made it sound like a great place to visit. Seeing your pictures, I wish we had gone when we had the chance. Hopefully we will get another chance soon.
What an awesome time. I would loved to see the cute baby penguin. Sharks are fascinating too. Thanks for sharing your pics.
What a view from the room! Fabulous! I follow the Aquarium on FB and love their updates about the fish. Its a wonderful place to visit.
What a gorgeous place! My kids would love it. The Beluga whales are just beautiful.
It looks so much fun there. I absolutely love aquariums. I could watch the sea creatures all day.
I used to live there. What a great place. We don’t have an aquarium here in Omaha, but we do have the biggest zoo in the US. It has an aquarium in it.
You got some great photos.
I visited this aquarium several years ago and had an amazing time. Now that my little boy is 4 years old, I need to take him for a visit!
I could spend hours just sitting watching the giant tank with the Belugas! Even though we lived in Atlanta for 7 years (moved to SC in November 2012) – I never noticed the boat shape! Not so sure about the octopus, but I did love the jellyfish – they looked so peaceful!
I love going to aquariums and this one looks awesome. I love the shape of the building!
Oh my goodness, these pictures are fantastic. I didn’t realize that the Georgia Aquarium had a Dolphin/Musical Theater Production. I absolutely love Penguins and the one you got could be on the front cover of a magazine. I think The Georgia Aquarium could sell Stuffed Animals of that little guy. The bracelet on his arm was just too cute. The Beluga Whale can’t help but bring a smile. Thank you so much for sharing this.
Such a cool aquarium. My kids would love to visit!
Such neat creatures. Looks really entertaining. Wonderful place.
I love the Georgia Aquarium. I can’t way to take Baby Mash to the it…dying to take a road trip!
Oooohhh they have an awesome aquarium. Looks like you had a great time.
Wow! How amazing. Your brave even two fingers I am not touching. I love to look only haha. I loved the bracelet on the penguin so stylish 🙂 We are heading to Atlanta in October and would love to take a tour.
What an amazing experience! I love that you could actually interact at that aquarium from touching them in the tanks to going in with that cute whale. We love going to aquariums – it’s kinda like going into outer space and seeing alien creatures the way they just float in the water!
That would be amazing to go to! My friend’s dad lives in Georgia. I will have to tell her about this for when she goes. You took some really great photos!
It must be fun playing with the Beluga whale. You have a lot of great photos here. It just show how amazing the aquariums are in Georgia.
Oh wow, I love that they offer a Beluga Whale interaction. I’m taking the kids to our local aquarium here in Texas this Friday. We love sea life and would love to visit GA to see this.
We love the aquarium… I had no clue it was shaped like fish, thanks for the info on that 😉
Love all your pictures!
That aquarium looks like so much fun. Tons of sea life and shows. I bet you had a blast!
We went to an aquarium in Cincinnati that my kids loved. I bet they would love this one too. Great photos. That baby penguin is adorable!
Now that is an amazing aquarium! I love how you get to touch in certain exhibits too. My kids would love to do that! We got to pet stingrays a few years back at Brookfield Zoo and they had a blast!
Wow that looks like an amazing aquarium!!!
The penguin was so cute! I’m hoping to go to the aquarium next month, they are always so much fun.
I love aquariums, they’re amazing places to go to!
Wow, that is one gorgeous looking aquarium! Looks like you had so much fun, I love all the interactive things you can do! I hope to get myself there soon!
I have never been to an aquarium. I don’t think we have any near us.
I haven’t been to an aquarium in a long time. This looks amazing.
wow, this looks like quite the place. its always interesting to see what everyone does during the summer!
This looks awesome! My kids would LOVE this (especially my son, who loves all things aquatic). Thanks for sharing all these great photos!
WOW…That is amazing.
We have lived near ATL for 13+ years and have never been there.
Your informative post makes me want to go there.
Thank you!
I love visiting aquariums, especially ones with walkways! You got some nice photos from your trip!
Jealous! I really want to take my daughter to the aquarium here in FL but the weather has been horrible. I am hoping it clears up before Summer ends because this will be her firs time going!
We visited there several years ago and I was astounded how beautiful it was. Glad you loved it too. We plan to revisit again soon.
How amazing! I always love to visit aquariums!
I didn’t know you could get in the pool with Beluga whales. They do look like a friendly. I saw them at Sea World and just fell in love with their always smiling faces.
This looks incredible! It’s been years since I’ve been to Georgia, I didn’t even know they had an aquarium. Maybe we will have to plan a trip!
You took some amazing pictures! I love that penguin!
Amazing!! Your aquarium looks much larger than the one here in Denver.
Looks like you had a great time, I haven’t been to an aquarium in quite awhile. I thought the wave simulating machine was a fascinating idea
YES. This aquarium in Atlanta is hands-down one of my favorite aquariums ever! We LOVED this place! Great post!
My gosh, that was quite the visit!! I love sea creatures so much and would love to check this out!!
What great photos! =) I really want to go now.
This is on my bucket list of places to go to this year, we are in Florida but Georgia is not that bad of a drive. Looks worth it!
You made it there! Red is SO bonkers for this place we became members! He’s been asking all week to see “his” whale sharks and “booga whales”. I’m glad you got the topside tour, too. 🙂 🙂 So happy you went!
We’ve been to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach as well as the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. I absolutely love them. I’ve heard wonderful things about the Atlanta aquarium and need to plan a visit there sometime.
Thanks for this review! I live about an hour and a half from there and have been wanting to go. I will be shortly now that I know that it is definitely worth it. I loved the pictures, they are amazing and the African Penguins my favorite! Thanks again!
Wow – I love the penguins! They are so cool!
Amazing photos from the Aquarium. If we ever get to Georgia we will for sure plan to make a visit. Im amazed at all that you can do there.
We REALLY want to go there! It’s been on our list since they opened up!
this looks amazing and like something i will definitely be trying!
This looks like such a neat place to visit! We are heading to Stone Mountain next summer so we might have to stop in at the aquarium on the way back.
Nice shots. The aquarium is such a great summer trip for the kids.
Looks like you had an amazing time! Looks like a wonderful place to go with my family!
I would love to go to an aquarium. Your photos are fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing.
great pics feels like I was there with you. I have heard great things about this aquarium
I love the Georgia Aquarium so much. I am glad you got to visit!
Looks like a beautiful aquarium. I would love to do that Beluga whale experience!
AHHH this place is on my bucket list! Someday I will get to Atlanta and see it!
I just love aquariums. Next time I’m in Atlanta I’ll make sure to visit this one.
Great pictures…I love the 2-finger touch…lol. I’m more of a zoo gal, but I think dolphins are intriguing and penguins are adorable.
Wow what a fun experience. That looks like a whole days worth of fun for the whole family. What a neat place!
Oh how stinking fun you got to touch a few, that is beyond awesome!!! I love how you got to see the starfish eating, too cute!!!! Looks like an amazing place, I would love to visit one day!!!
Awwww I love Aquariums.. and you had me at Penguins.. they are my favorite… aren’t they cute?? Sure is a great aquarium that they have…thanks for sharing.. perfect for a summer day
This looks so awesome, I’ve been to two different aquariums before, one in hawaii and one in s. carolina.. the kids would totally love going to something like this though.
What a beautiful looking aquarium! I definitely want to make a trip to Georgia and spend a few days in Atlanta!
There is a lot to do in Atlanta! The Aquarium is definitely a must see.
Wow, you got some really great shots. Looks like a great aquarium. Our New England Aquarium had renovations recently and we have to go back and check it out!
We love the Georgia Aquarium! They have so much to do. The touch pools are the kids’ favorite parts.
I loved the aquarium, it’s so beautiful but I have to say I would have been so scared to touch those star fish, lol. But it looks like you had a lot of fun. This would be the perfect place for me and my family to visit. Thanks for the presentation.
I would love to go to an aquarium. Looks like you had such a fun time!
Cool shots! It looks like you had a lot of fun. I love aquariums.
This looks like such a great place to go visit with the family. I love aquarium visits a lot. I think it’s neat that you got to get behind the scenes information too.
This looks like so much fun. I haven’t been to an aquarium since I was a young girl.
The outside looks just as neat as the inside !
looks like an awesome time. we have a great aquarium here, so i definitely can relate
What a great aquarium! I’ll have to remember to check it out if I’m ever in Georgia.
I wonder if this is bigger than the S.E.A. Aquarium in Singapore. I can see myself enjoying this tour that you had. I’ve always had this huge fascination with marine life.
Oh my goodness that octopus is incredible! I think this is an awesome place to take kids. These days they are so used to those animatronic displays that seeing actual aquatic animals so close up is almost surreal!
Wow what gorgeous pics. We recently visited the new Ripleys Aquarium here in Toronto, was a fabulous time.
Wow how fun my son would love this place for sure.
That looks like a fun trip! My son would love that
I don’t know how I missed that this building is in the shape of a ship! That’s too clever! You have some fantastic pictures and I agree with you – watching jellyfish is always enjoyable.
I really want a pet penguin. Wouldn’t that be the best? I’ve never been to the Georgia Aquarium. It’s one of our must-do things in the next couple of years.
What a beautiful aquarium! It looks like am must go when visiting!
I love the shape of the building – so cool! I definitely would love to visit the Georgia Aquarium!
oh my what amazing pictures.My kids would love to go there,seems like so much fun.
The tuft of hair on the baby African penguin is adorable. I could easily spend hours here myself.
Liz that looks like it was amazing! I love aquariums, I’d love to go there!
That’s beautiful! I’ve never been to Georgia, but it reminds me of when I checked out the California Academy of Sciences last summer. Those starfish are pretty cute; what did touching them feel like?
I have had the GA Aquarium on my bucket list for a long while now. I have family who live in GA so that’s a stop on the next visit.
This is such a gorgeous aquarium! I get jealous every time I see photos because I haven’t been there yet!
That’s the biggest starfish I’ve ever seen in my life! How neat!
Oooh! Thank you for the videos! I really love aquariums and I think this one is great. It’s nice that they even have shows.
That baby African Penguin is adorable! Is it bad that I would be tempted to snatch him and keep him as a pet? How sweet!
Looks like a fun place! I love aquariums
I have not been to an aquarium in quite a few years. Your photos make me want to go to our local aquarium!
This looks like such a fabulous time, what stunning ocean creatures! Very educational for the kids, too.
I went to the Georgia Aquarium several years ago, close to when it first opened. It is an impressive place. I don’t remember a lot of specifics, but the kids I saw seemed to be having a lot of fun.
Wow I love going to Aquariums and just exploring the whole place.
My son would go crazy here! He LOVES sea creatures. What a beautiful aquarium
What an amazing Aquarium. The wave machine, dolphin show and hands on experience makes this a great place for families to visit.
WOW! what fun. I want to say that I went to the GA Aquarium years and years ago and don’t remember it being just so awesome. Thanks for sharing, makes me want to go back
That Beluga whale experience would be amazing! Aquariums are so beautiful to jus take your time and explore.
I would love to go here! It’s looks like an awesome day. The penguin is so cute!
Looks like a great place to check out! Thanks for sharing this.
Looks like an awesome time and experience. So of these creatures are just amazing and unique. Thanks for sharing.
Oh wow! I love aquariums! What a fun time!!!
This place looks amazing. The kids love aquariums.
This really does look like an amazing trip and aquarium! I’ve never spent any real time in Atlanta, but seems like even the aquarium would be worth it. Those whale sharks look really cool 🙂 Thanks for sharing your pictures and adventure with us 🙂
We love Aquariums. This is now on my to-do list! THanks for sharing this great post and awesome photos.
I love the hands on exhibits! Amazing to be able to interact with the whales – I would love to do that.
I loved the penguin that looks like he has a mohawk, cutest thing I’ve seen in a while.
Wow, what an Aquarium! I love that it is shaped like a ship. How cool is that? This has to be one of the better Aquariums around. If we are ever in the area, we will make sure we check it out.
Those sea animals look so cute! My kids would love them.
Wow, that place is so neat! I went many years ago as a single person. I would love to take my kids!
I love aquariums! This one looks like it won’t disappoint!
Seeing the Beluga whale would be pretty cool. I am one of those people thought that have a lot of empathy and animal parks tend to make me extremely sad.
I did my thesis on Aquarium, and was totally blown off seeing the images.. thanks a lot for this..
That looks like so much fun. My kids love the aquarium and this one looks especially beautiful
I enjoy living 2 blocks from the aquarium, great way to spend an afternoon.
I haven’t been to Georgia since 1999 but when I return the aquarium will be on my list. Seems like heaps of fun.
This place has been on my list of places to go for a while now. I need to get myself to Atlanta soon!
I love the pictures…….. Marine life is always facinating and beautiful ! I love the Whale…………
I wish you had known you were down here! We live about 30 minutes from the aquarium!
That looks like soo much fun! Those penguins are too sticking cute.
I was going to say the same! They are some adorable penguins.
I’ve been through GA a bunch of times but I’ve never stopped. I didn’t really know there was anything to do… so glad to see these pics though, now I will!
The aquarium is one of our fav stops at our zoo. We love the touch tanks!
I love your pics girl! Looks like you had an amazing time! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
This looks amazing. I wish we lived closer. We have the Boston Aquarium so we’d love to compare aquariums.
I love the aquarium in Gatlinburg and this looks similar… can’t wait to visit this aquarium if I visit Atlanta. Looks like you have a lot of fun!
The family and I love to take trips to the aquarium. We should check this one out sometime.
That looks like a fun Aquarium!! Your pictures turned out amazing.
I love visiting aquariums so I’ll definitely have to visit this one next time I’m in Georgia! It would be cool to be able to touch some of the animals.
We love aquariums! Sounds like it was a blast!
What a beautiful aquarium. I really like the jelly and star fish they look so amazing
WE LOVE the Atlanta Aquarium!! Your pictures make me want to go back! Glad you had a great time!!
This is on our list for visiting this summer! Can’t wait now!
Wow, there are so many beautiful creatures to see. I’d love to go to this aquarium sometime.
Wow your pictures are amazing! That aquarium looks incredible! Sounds like you had a great time!
My son would enjoy something like this so much!
How fun! That baby penguin is killing me with cuteness. I wish I could take one home.
My husband raved about this aquarium! I’d love to visit with mu family one day — so cool!
We would love to visit! It would be such a great experience.
I love aquariums, I need to add this too my list.
Looks so fun! I love aquariums, and would have been so in for that whale encounter. My sister had season passes from the time the aquarium first opened, but we never did make it up to see it. One day…
Wow, those are amazing creatures. The penguin is so cute!
I am a big octopus fan but the penguins would probably be my favorite part of the experience. I need to ask my friend in Georgia if she has ever been here.
This place sounds amazing. I wish I lived closer I would like to take my kids here. I want to see the African penguins!