The Georgia Aquarium

Now when you think of Atlanta something that pops into your mind is the famous Georgia Aquarium.  All the pretty sea creatures, exhibits, and shows that they offer are a must see! It is currently the largest Aquarium in the United States, and they are always growing and enhancing. When I was planning my trip to Atlanta it was #1 on my "Must Do" list, and for good reason. I truly enjoyed the aquarium, there were just so many different things to take in and see!

If you're planning a visit, be prepared to make it an all-day thing. At first glance it is a little pricey, but if you visit every section and immerse yourself in the experience, it is definitely beyond worth it. There are exhibits where you get to watch the animals in their habitats. However, there are also exhibits where you can actually touch and interact with the sea creatures. This section totally reminded me of Finding Dory, so I personally left the animals alone. Lastly, there are high energy shows throughout the day that are extremely captivating. There are just so many different things to do and see that you are entertained for hours.

Now, when I left the aquarium I had a pretty bad headache. I think all of the warped glass, crowds of people, and blue lighting got to me. So, this brings me to the bad parts about the aquarium. For one, it is pricey.  The food is SUPER expensive and definitely low quality. I couldn't bring myself to pay $15 for cold lack luster food. Especially, being in Atlanta you’re surrounded by so much good food so I was highly disappointed. That's one area of the aquarium they definitely need to step up, because if the food was actually appealing I would have had no problem buying it. We actually ended our visit earlier because I needed to eat something. I definitely recommend bringing snacks or something with you because the food there is overpriced and low quality.

Lastly, it will be packed! We went on a Monday in May and it was super full. Adults, kids, babies, strollers, service dogs, there was just an abundance of people and things circling throughout the aquarium. The aquarium is quite large so at times you don't even realize how many people truly are there, because you're all spread out. That is, until a show is taking place.

You begin to see a swarm of people all walking in the same direction. When you finally get to the destination you walk into a huge theater with over 1,000 seats, and that's not an exaggeration, the dolphin show has 1800 seats! Looking back at the swarm of people, the crowd still doesn't seem large enough to fill the area. You pick out a good seat, and see that more and more people are still coming in. Finally, 10 minutes in to when the show was supposed to start, the theater is full; everyone has been successfully packed in. Leaving you wondering, where the heck have all these people been hiding all day? Another fun fact, there is another show going on, almost simultaneously, on the other side of the aquarium. After you watch the show and smile at the entertaining animals, it's time to exit. Imagine how fun it is to get 1,800 people out of a two door theater.

I say these things not to deter you from visiting, but to give you a heads up. When you have the opportunity to look at 1000s of our beautiful aquatic animals, it surpasses any frustrations you may have had throughout the day. There's nothing like watching 5 gorgeous whales glide in front of you. Or, hearing how 3 sea lions were saved and nursed back to health. I highly recommend adding this aquarium to your bucket list. The experience that I had at the Georgia Aquarium was something that I will keep with me forever.

-FASHMIRA