what Aquarium to visit in the country ?

[Kreeger1]

I've been to the Mandalay Bay one 3 times in the past 7 years. Each time it got worse and worse. I would now rank it really low on the scale of best aquariums in the United states now.
If I was going to take a driving trip to one it would be Atl or the shed.

There's a trick to avoiding the massive line at the shed though. PM me if that's were you choose to go I'll pass along the secret.

 

[Rhodophyta]

If you like seahorses, the Birch Aquarium had done a lot with displaying, studying, and propagating them. Maybe being located on the UC campus makes it unique. I can't think of another one located on a college campus.

 

[rbredding]

less than 2 hour drive can also have you at the Chattanooga aquarium..

I live near atlanta and it's a great aquarium.. (but plan on going during the week (tue-thur) those are the times that the crowds are easiest to handle..


or, of course, you could just drive here from OHIO and hit as many along the way as you have time for..

 

[Bambalam]

We went to Shedd several years ago and it was cool. Lucky for us it wasn't crowded that day, because I don't like crowds. I've heard bad reviews on Newport Aquarium from people I work with.

 

[Fdfiremedic]

Georgia is my vote. The Whale Sharks are amazing to see there.

 

[rbredding]

forgot to mention that I too went to the Shedd a year and a half ago.. it's a nice aquarium.. but I still prefer Atlanta

 

[Norm R]

We did the Georgia and Chattanooga in a trip over the holidays 2 years ago. The Georgia was great. Get there when the doors open...it gets crazy. Over the holidays, they open up the ballroom on the 2nd floor for the upper viewing of the "big" aquarium with the whale sharks and belugas...we interacted w/ the belugas right at the glas for about 45 minutes...way cool. My son has been to Shedd several times...and liked Georgia better FWIW.

 

[newsalt1]

If you drive to Atlanta you can hit the Newport Ky on the way down, do the Georgia Aquarium, and then come back another route and catch Rippley's on the way home. We did when we went to MACNA. Georgia was sweet.