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WIN 4 Tickets to The Georgia Aquarium

November 19, 2014
The Georgia Aquarium is one of Atlanta's most popular attractions! It's no wonder with so many awesome things to see and do! Amie Esposito, the Macaroni Kid Publisher in Canton, Woodstock & Cumming, recently spent the day at the aquarium with her kids and was kind enough to give us this first-hand tour:
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We started off making our way to the Georgia Explorer Discover our Coast area where the kids were able to pet the stingrays and sharks. My daughter, as many of you may know, is a Stingray Allstar so she was absolutely thrilled to see them! The kids spent quite a bit of time excited, yet building up the courage to actually get their fingers in the water to touch the stingrays and sharks. They weren't really scared but more unsure of what to expect. It wasn't their first time petting the stingrays, they had spent the first 4 years growing up in Florida and visiting Sea World. 
 
Then, we let the kids run around the play area inside Discover our Coast where they were able to climb the tall tubing to run through a maze and down a slide. Centered around a tugboat that also is beside other tanks with starfish, shrimp and horseshoe crabs, they could've played there for hours!
 
Our next stop was the Tropical Diver area to view the seahorses and jellyfish.  We even saw "Nemo"! You can experience the largest living reef exhibits of any aquarium in the world. Living corals and thousands of colorful reef fish are up close to see. 
 
In Cold Water Quest we were mesmerized by the Beluga Whales and Penguins. The kids loved crawling through the tunnels underneath the Penguin exhibit. They also had a blast rubbing their hands on the glass to get the penguin to "follow" them. It was cute and playful interaction. 
 
By this point in our visit we were all hungry, so we headed to the Cafe Aquaria for some quick bites. We indulged in pizza, a cheeseburger, some fries and a berry tart dessert. Keep in mind outside food and drinks are not permitted so prepare to spend a "few" bucks on snacks, meals and beverages. 
 
After lunch we got lucky and Deepo was arriving for photo opps in the main court area. Lucky enough to get first in line, we snapped a couple quick pics and headed on our way to the Dolphin Tales Show we had scheduled. 
The Dolphin Tale Show incorporates the beauty and agility of dolphins, live human actors, dramatic costuming and amazing effects. This memorable story is narrated by the StarSpinner, a mysterious seafaring adventurer who leads the way through an interactive journey across the oceans and through an epic battle against villains of the ocean. It's a timeless tale of good against evil, with exhilarating performances and a powerful, enlightening subtext of the importance of caring for and about aquatic creatures.
 
Afterwards we were able to meet and "high-five" the trainers who were part of the show. 
 
The River Scout area was unexpectedly where we had the best laugh. Admiring of the albino alligators my son asks what they are. To which my mother-in-law replies "That's an albino alligator" My son, excitedly says "Oh I know those!" My mother in-law asks him "Do you know what albino means?" He says "Yeah it means it's a female!" We couldn't help but laugh and then let him know the real meaning of an albino. For those of you who don't know, "The white coloring is due to a very rare genetic mutation that affects the production of melanin, a skin pigment. The albino alligator’s eyes appear pink or red because the underlying blood vessels in the iris can be seen due to the absence of pigment."  Also in the River Scout area we saw piranha's. Creepy fish with lots of teeth. Luckily, they didn't make an appearance. 
 
Last we saw Deepo's Undersea 3D Watershow.  Deepo leads an educational experience, revealing the interconnected lives of underwater creatures and the destructive impact of pollution on the ocean and its inhabitants. You get to wear those crazy 3D glasses and even might get a few "sprinkles" on you as you explore the deep sea.  
 
We had a great day! Some of our other favorites were the eels, otters, sharks and snakes!!! 
Visit the Georgia Aquarium website to plan your visit. There's plenty of info on the site to prepare you for your day. I would allot at least 5-6 hours for your first visit. That will include visiting each area, seeing the Dolphin Tales show, Deepo's 4D Theatre and 3D movie, lunch, playtime and of course grabbing a souvenir as you head out the exit through the gift shop. 
 
Macaroni Kid offers a discount through our partner link with Georgia Aquarium HERE.  Plan your visit and purchase your tickets now for your family's next visit. Or better yet, get an annual pass and enjoy the aquarium as much as you'd like all year long.
 
Want to Go?
 
Here's How to Enter To Win 4 Tickets to the Georgia Aquarium:

1. Use your email address to enter HERE.

2. Comment below that you entered.