S H A R K !!!!! (WHALE SHARK, that is)

This post may contain affiliate links and I may earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you.

Hey Friends!

Guess where I visited this week?  Nope, I haven’t made it to the CNN Center yet – that’s coming soon. This week, I visited the Georgia Aquarium.  They are doing some renovations, but that did not detract from any of the exhibits.  I went on a Wednesday and it was not crowded at all.  As a matter of fact, at one point, I looked around and  saw only 2 other people in my direct vicinity.  (Hint-Hint: Go on a weekday to avoid a big crowd.)

Now, on to all the spectacular exhibits.  The main attraction is the huge 6.3M gallon saltwater tank called the Ocean Voyager Gallery.  This tank contains Whale sharks as big as a school bus and Manta Rays with wing spans that look like they could cover a whole house.  Do you know the difference between a Manta Ray and a Sting Ray?  If you do, give yourself a high five, because that was a tough question for me. While they both have flattened body shapes and wide pectoral fins that are fused to the head, the Manta Rays do NOT have a tail “stinger” or barb like the Sting Ray.  A Sting Ray was the creature that killed the Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin.

What I also found  intriguing in the Ocean Gallery  was the smaller schools of fish.  It was almost like I was on an exploration with Jacques Cousteau in the deep realms of the pacific ocean.  At one point as I rounded the corner,  I came face to face with a huge Grouper staring directly at me from the tank.  If y’all watch Harry Potter and remember the scene when he first talked to that snake at the zoo.  That is exactly what it felt like.  I almost asked him a question to see if he would answer. (I didn’t, honest 😊)

Over on the other side of the Aquarium was Cold Water Quest. Nothing but cuteness overload in this location.  From the Beluga whales to the African Penguins, I was in awe of these amazing creatures.   There was a lot of interaction among themselves and we really got to understand how they actually live in the wild.

The tropical coral reef section of the aquarium epitomizes “Beautiful but deadly”.  The coral reef wall was amazing and all the fish that swam  throughout it were  amazingly beautiful. Amazing must be my word for the day because that is the only word that could describe what I saw.

The bigger sections of the aquarium are quite remarkable, but my favorite areas were the smaller enclaves, such as the tranquil sections with jellyfish.  You can see a small glimpse of the beauty of this area with an added special touch of tranquil music, much like a soundtrack for your listening pleasure. 

Currently, the aquarium is decorated for the holiday season and when I first arrived there was a puppet show going on.  There were a few kids seated and laughing at the antics of the puppet master on stage. 

For those of you interested in the parking situation, be encouraged.  There is a parking garage attached to the aquarium which made it so convenient.  You still have to walk a short distance, but it wasn’t a terrible distance.  The traffic surrounding the aquarium was busy, but flowed well.

Speaking of Christmas decorations, it was evening as I was leaving, and the outside area of the aquarium has “photoshoot” written all over it.  There are holiday lights and decorations along the sidewalk area leading to the front lawn of the aquarium.  There were a few benches scattered around, but I wasn’t sure if they were permanent or until the renovations were complete. 

If you’re visiting Atlanta for the first time or you’re a native ATLian, you should put the Georgia Aquarium on your list to visit.  You won’t be disappointed.  If you have company visiting for the holidays, this should be on the top of your list for sight-seeing, especially when the temperature drops.  To make things a little more convenient and more economical, purchase the City Pass and really impress your family with Atlanta’s magic.