Visit Atlanta: Fernbank Museum of Natural History

Disclosure: Complimentary CityPASSes were received.  

The Fernbank Museum of Natural History is one of the attractions you can visit with the Atlanta CityPASS.

The Fernbank Museum of Natural History combines science, history, and nature, offering an enriched experience for all who visit.  

During our visit, Vikings: Warriors of the Sea was the special exhibit, and it was quite fascinating to see so many artifacts of the Viking Age.

They even had a replica of a Jelling runestone.

 

Other exhibits included Reflections on Culture, A Walk Through Time in Georgia, World of Shells, and Giants of the Mesozoic. 

My kids' favorite exhibit was Fantastic Forces, where there were numerous interactive exhibits through which the kids could experiment with the forces of nature and physics, and learn by building, pulling, spinning, and more.  

My favorite part of the museum was the WildWoods and Fernbank Forest.  It was so nice to explore the outdoors and learn more about the plants and animals that are native to the area. 

Fernbank Museum of Natural History offered all sorts of fun and interesting exhibits for visitors of all ages!  

For more information on the Atlanta CityPASS, click here.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History
767 Clifton Rd

Atlanta, GA 30307

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Atlanta CityPASS: Georgia Aquarium

 Disclosure: CityPASS hosted two of our tickets.

While planning our trip to Atlanta, one of the places on my must-visit list was the Georgia Aquarium, which happens to be one of the attractions included with the Atlanta CityPASS, which means we could visit Georgia Aquarium and several other attractions at a fraction of the cost!

There were so many sea creatures to see at Georgia Aquarium, including alligators, piranhas, dolphins, and a giant Pacific octopus.  

You can really see marine life everywhere - and don't forget to look up!

There are several shows you can watch at Georgia Aquarium, including a dolphin and sea lion show, and there is also a touch pool where you can touch rays!

In Sharks! Predators of the Deep, we of course saw numerous sharks, but what I enjoyed most was watching the False Pichards swim in a huge school to avoid the sharks. 

There are many interactive stations throughout Georgia Aquarium where you can learn so much more, and the kids especially enjoyed the Aquanut Adventure: A Discovery Zone, where they learned more about animals who live in extreme environments.   

My favorite exhibits were of the jellies (always so graceful), beluga whales (so fun to watch), and - believe it or not - the moray eel.  The eels look terrifying with their sharp teeth, slithering through the pipes, but I found them so intriguing.  

The smaller Splendid Garden Eel was simultaneously neat and creepy.

My favorite exhibit of all was the Ocean Voyager, where we got to see the Whale Shark and an enormous Manta Ray.

In this exhibit, there is a 100-foot-long underwater tunnel, as well as a 23 feet tall by 61 feet wide viewing window, where guests can sit and gaze at the magnificent ocean creatures as they swim on by.  I could've easily sat there all day!  It was so mesmerizing!

There is so much to do and see at Georgia Aquarium, and it's a great way to view and learn about the mysterious creatures of the ocean. 

Visit CityPASS to find out more about the Atlanta CityPASS!

Georgia Aquarium
225 Baker St NW

Atlanta, GA 30313

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Atlanta CityPASS: College Football Hall of Fame

Mahalo to CityPASS for sponsoring passes. 

On our last day in Atlanta, we decided to go to the College Football Hall of Fame (an attraction included with Atlanta CityPASS) at the last-minute.  And I'm so glad we went.  I had no idea how much fun it would be!

Upon entering, you are greeted by a wall of more than 775 collegiate helmets.  You then register a pass for your school (your favorite school, your favorite team, or the school you went to), and the helmet of the school you selected will flash.  Your pass is with you throughout your experience to make it more personalized and to capture memories.

Starting on the third floor, we were welcomed by a personalized gallery wall presented by Chick-Fil-A, that displays images based on the team you chose.  

There are many interactive stations and exhibits in the gallery, showcasing memorabilia, trophies, championship rings, and more. 

You can also watch a short film in the Game Day Theater, which will really get you revved up, no matter what team you root for!

The College Football Hall of Fame showcases the athletes that have been bestowed with the honor of being inducted, with video highlights of them. 

The upper level of the College Football Hall of Fame also had my favorite interactive exhibits, where visitors could put on virtual face paint, test their jumping and running (in place) capabilities, play trivia, and even do a mock broadcast.  We all had so much fun!

The second level had even more engaging and interactive exhibits.

As a Trojan, I enjoyed seeing so many USC displays, and I watched clips of one of the most popular games in the Notre Dame and Southern Cal rivalry.  

It was nice to see the University of Hawaiʻi represented!

This level also had a gaming area, where visitors could play football video games!

To end your experience, you test your skills on the Peach Bowl field.  Kick a field goal, throw a football to a target, and more.

Visitors who don't have a favorite college football team or don't watch college football could still find the College Football Hall of Fame very fun to visit, since there are so many hands-on experiences.  But if you do have a favorite team, you'll really find the College Football Hall of Fame engaging and educational, and you can really show your superfan status!

College Football Hall of Fame
250 Marietta St NW
Atlanta, GA 30313

You can save up to 44% on Atlanta's top attractions with CityPASS!    

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