Ack! We’ve been home from Atlanta for over two weeks and I just realized we never shared our other animal-filled adventure in ATL. This one was more of the aquatic variety…
Yep, in addition to the zoo, the Bowers took us to the Georgia Aquarium. And it was AMAZING. I haven’t been to lots of aquariums in my day so maybe I’m just easily impressed, but there was just so much to see and so many things for the kids to do that we walked around with our mouths agape for a good three or four hours.
You saw a few of these photos in this Young House Love post but we’ve added a bunch of new stuff (and surely Katie will post some superior pictures soon since she’s the photog of the group). But there was certainly no shortage of bubbles, tubes, and portholes for the kids (okay, and us adults) to peer into for an up-close-and-personal look at the sea life.
I give Sherry lots of credit for capturing this moment with the penguin, since Clara and I were only in there for a hot second before escaping the stampede of tweens that threatened to trample us.
Don’t believe me? Just look at the fear in Jeremy Bower’s face as he sees the relentless wall of children creeping towards us while we wait in a long plastic tube for our turn to pop up and see the penguins. Hello claustrophobia.
Like the Maui Ocean Center we visited back in March, there was also one of those large tubes you could walk through and be surrounded by fish (though based on this picture it appears to be “fish” in the singular). Clara was fascinated all over again. And we were infinitely grateful that this aquarium didn’t require a red eye flight.
You guys already saw this sequence of Clara snuggling up to her main man outside the dolphin tank.
But what you didn’t see was the disappointing end. Is this the face of rejection or what?
That’s okay. Will returned some affection when it came time to saddle up on this seahorse-ish thing.
But as cute as the kids were (and as tricked out as the aquarium was) the real show was the fish themselves. Some of the best exhibits were the simplest ones where you were just able to stand back and stare.
Heck, even the jellyfish were beautiful.
And Sherry thought these guys looked like Snorks.
Our last (and perhaps favorite) spot was giant tank with the whale sharks. We could’ve watched those giant (and beautiful) beasts forever.
Not Will apparently. The dim lights did him in and he was out like a light (Clara followed suit a few minutes later in the car ride home).
So that was the end of the visit. We’re no travel experts, but if you’re looking for something to do in Atlanta – we highly recommend the Georgia Aquarium.
You were at the aquarium and didn’t go to World of Coca Cola?!? You can try every type of Coca Cola product from throughout the world, see commercials through the years from all over the world, and so many other cool things.
Did you guys visit the touch-friendly spots at the aquarium? Would be fun to hear if the kids were into that.
Oh believe me, had I not had two tired two-year-old with me I would’ve been there in a heartbeat!
-John
The Georgia Aquarium is nice, but we like the Ripley’s Aquarium in Gatlinburg a lot better. It’s not as loud and it seems to be organized better. I guess it’s like the difference between Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach at Walt Disney World. At the first (in both occasions) be enjoy ourselves but come out feeling like we’ve been rung through the ringer. At the later (in both instances) we feel energized and ready to do something else. Middle on the list of aquariums is the Tennesee Aquarium in Chattanooga. It’s shaped like a pyramid. You ride a huge escalator up to the top and wind your way down through different wetland systems. The floor of the pyramid is water!
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who remembers The Snorks!
What an amazing aquarium! That picture of Jeremy looking at the kids coming in is priceless!
We’re going to Atlanta in a few weeks and I’m totally planning on us going to the aquarium! It makes me really excited. Any other Atlanta tips would be most appreciated! http://lollingabout.wordpress.com/2012/07/05/happy-belated-4th-of-july-2/
The World of Coca Cola looks like a fun little museum (right across from the aquarium).
xo,
s
Looks like fun! It is great that Clara and Will get along so well.
Would you be opposed to my stealing a couple of those pics to print and put on a wall? Seriously, the one with all the colored fish and the jellyfish are so neat!
Haha- go for it!
xo,
s
Yes! Snorks! I loved the Snorks and you are so right about the sea horse things! I was just trying to explain snorks to someone yesterday and they didn’t get it. Wrong generation I guess.
FINALLY! Someone else that remembers what a Snork is.
That picture of the jellyfish!!!! So good!!!!! If I had a room that color, I’d want to steal it and print it! (…with proper copyright permission, of course)
I love the GA aquarium! It opened when I was living in Atlanta and I was so excited to give my then 2 year old niece the tour. I knew she’d love the pop-up into penguins. I crawled in with her, stood up, picked her up and lifted her up – directly into the ceiling! She did the whole two seconds of silence followed by an ear splitting scream. Glad your tour was less painful!
Looks like a wonderful place to visit. So glad that someone else remembers who the “snorks” were!!
Love the whale sharks! Snorks haha I loved those.
Me and my babes love going to the Georgia Aquarium! We have an annual pass and find ourselves there once every 2 weeks or so.
Did you go see the Dolphin show?? Wasn’t it the strangest, most “fabulous” dolphin show you ever did see?? haha
We did! It was very entertaining, though once it got to the scary part with the sea monster we were very close to having a crying toddler on our hands!
-John
I’ve never heard of this aquarium in Atlanta! Looks fantastic. I’ll have to take a detour into on my next trip down from Canada.
If you ever make it to Sarasota County, Florida, another great aquarium is the Mote Marine Laboratory. It’s not only an aquarium, but a research facility as well, so they have lots of interesting species you don’t always see everywhere else. Lots of hands on exhibits for kids too.
http://smallhomebigstart.blogspot.ca/2011/03/travel-journal-mote-marine-laboratory.html
Sounds like so much fun!
xo,
s
Such awesome colourful photo’s! Initially, I was viewing them on my iPhone screen, but BLOWN UP on a normal size monitor, they’re fantastic!
I *love* the one in the penguin tunnel…look at Clara’s expression! :)
For some reason, all I hear is J-Boom channelling Steve Irwin (may the man rest in peace) and whispering:
Crikey, Clara! Look at those gorgeous penguins! :)
xox
Wow! What gorgeous pics! Thanks for sharing – no scuba lessons required.
I can totally see your pic of all those gold-colored-fish as an awesome shower curtain.
Looks like so much fun!
The jellyfish picture is amazing. This is like literally the first time I have ever not hated a jellyfish. I stepped on one when I was sixteen and in South Carolina and ever since then I’ve had this weird anger toward them.
Like if we’re out for sushi and there is jellyfish on the menu, I always order it and am all like “I’m eating you, you stupid jellyfish! Who’s tougher now!?”
My husband doesn’t take me out for sushi much….
That whale shark is named after my brother! Several years ago his tattoo artist “adopted” that whale. She told him that if he let her tattoo a picture of it on him, she would name it after him. So now he has a giant whale shark on his foot….and a giant whale shark with his name!
That’s awesome!
xo,
s
Snorks! Totally!
I would totally buy a print of that jellyfish picture – awesome!!!!
Love the picture of Katie and Sherry standing the porthole. And the look on Clara’s face in several of the pics – can really see her taking it all in.
The snorks!!! Thanks for the blast from the past. The pictures are too adorable. Love the Clara and Will sequence. x
What lens/settings did you use for these pictures? I always struggle taking good photos in an aquarium.
We just used our stock lens that came on our Nikon D3000 for all these pics. We like to shoot in A mode if that helps.
xo,
s
FINALLY a group of people who get Snorks references. Where have you all been all my life? Also, that jellyfish picture is TOTALLY frame worthy. Seriously. Gorgeous. I want to print it out.
Aw thanks Sayward! I referenced the snorks to my younger sister in law and she gave me the blankest look. Must be too young for them! Haha. Made me feel old.
xo,
s
Oh, no-it IS a fabulous aquarium! I think possible the best in the country… I have a friend that is a curator there. They have worked hard to make it one of the best! :)
LOVE the GA Aquarium! We drove all the way down from Ontario, Canada to visit that and fell in love with the whale sharks as well. I couldn’t bring myself to touching anything in the touch tanks though. And yes, those seahorse DO look like Snorks!! Does that make us old for remembering them? Hahahaha.
Glad you guys had a great time!
My 4-year-old is obsessed with all animals, but notable sea life. Yesterday, we visited the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT (really nice one!), and a few months ago, we did Jenkinson’s Aquarium on the boardwalk in Point Pleasant, NJ (small, but good). Next on tap is the Camden Aquarium, in Camden, NJ. She loves dolphins, and our next mission is to find a dolphin show for her…