I have been to the Adventurer Aquarium (formerly the NJ State Aquarium), the Baltimore Aquarium, and years ago we visited the Mystic Aquarium in Conneticut as well as multiple SeaWorld trips. This one in Atlanta has a very different ""spokes on a wheel"" type of layout which brings you back to the center before entering a new area. Similar to most other reviews, it was extremely crowded! But it was a very nice experience. The whale sharks were amazing to see, though I thought that they would be bigger (I'm sure they'll grow) but even at the size they were, they commanded attention and had great presence. We all enjoyed the glowing jellyfish that kept changing color but the biggest homerun with the kids was with the penguin encounter area where the kids were given the chance to enter the penguins habitat through a thick acrylic tube and get up-close and personal with these curious creatures who seemed to love the attention and the cameras! I was so glad that this was free--if we had been in Orlando, there would have probably been a fee for that. I also enjoyed the cafeteria desserts provided by Wolfgang Puck and the Buckhead Bread Co. My layered chocolate mousse was to die for, the colorfully decorated fish-inspired cookies as big as our children's faces were adorable.
Pros: Whale sharks were beautiful, Penguin encounter was fun for the kids, really good desserts in cafeteria!
Cons: EXPENSIVE/WATCH OUT FOR HIDDEN COSTS!! Over priced gift shop! Over priced food! $10 parking fee, 3-D movie additional $5.50 adults $4.00 ages 3-12--give me a break!
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