12 Do’s and Don’ts When Visiting the Georgia Aquarium
When we told our friends we were moving to Atlanta they, of course, were bummed to see us go, but almost every single one (that had children) mentioned visiting and going to the Georgia Aquarium with us. The thought of having visitors is always appealing and I LOVE exploring my new city, so of course, I told them all the invite is always open (hint, hint, friends). Moving to Georgia was exciting for many reasons and one of the main reasons is all the extended family we have around. My dad's cousin’s daughter (so like my third cousin) has two young children close to Caroline and Ella Jaye’s ages. When we connected at the Georgia family Christmas party, our girls hit it off big time and we both decided to do our best to get them together now and then so they can grow up with young family nearby since neither of them have first cousins nearby.
They also had recently relocated to the Atlanta area, and downtown is a midpoint for us so we planned our first little adventure at the Georgia Aquarium. I personally love aquariums so I was excited to see what this place was all about. So many people mention it in and outside of Georgia, so I knew it would be a great experience.
However, I was not prepared 100% for the size and just sheer busyness that we encountered. I thought providing my readers with some do's and don’ts when visiting the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta would be helpful.
Don’t just plan on finding cheap parking when you get there.
Do purchase your parking online at a discount and print it out before you arrive.
Don’t purchase your ticket at the gate.
Do buy your ticket online; you will skip the long line and get a discount. They also give you an extra discount for entry times before 11 a.m.
Don’t go in the middle of the day.
Do avoid the full parking lots and traffic by arriving when they open OR arrive an hour or so after lunch. According to an Aquarium employee, the aquarium is least busy between 3-5 p.m. However, if you leave at 5 p.m. make sure you have dinner plans downtown so you don’t have to sit in rush-hour traffic.
Don’t go on the weekend if you can help it.
Do go on a weekday. It is less busy.
Don’t skip the shows! They are Disney-quality performances.
Do make sure you look at the attractions and shows ahead of time and plan your day. There is so much to do at this aquarium you don’t want to miss out on epically if you are only in town for a few days.
Don’t forget the camera! The shot of the shark swimming over your head is a moment that you won’t want to forget, so be ready the snap a photo.
Do enjoy every moment and take it all in! There is so much to do and see and they are only expanding. Enjoy yourself and your company during your visit. Crowds can be stressful, but I find it helpful and less stressful when I am prepared for it.
We loved our visit so much we are considering getting a family annual pass. I have never visited an aquarium of this size and this nice. There is so much to do and see at the Georgia Aquarium, you won’t want to miss it!