Atlanta’s Georgia Aquarium Reaches 1 Million Visitors Milestone

Travel Blog  •  Michael Yessis  •  03.02.06 | 2:14 AM ET

imageIt comes only 98 days after the Georgia Aquarium opened its doors, according to a CNN report today. Impressive numbers and a rousing success, yet I have to admit that I’ve never really understood the appeal of aquariums.

I get that they bring the underwater world to thousands of people who might never otherwise see a tiger shark or a clown fish or a platypus. But mostly I find aquariums sad. Not too long ago I visited the Shark Reef at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas and I couldn’t help thinking how abnormal it is for a shark to be hauled to the middle of the desert and surrounded by kids in stained T-shirts. You might say a casino curiosity isn’t comparable to a full-fleged aquarium, but the presentation is essentially the same: out-of-place marine life behind glass thick enough to stop a bullet.

The CNN story leads me to believe I’m in the minority when it comes to aquariums, so for anyone looking for a quick fix, check out the Mandalay Bay Shark Reef Cam and the interactive tour of the Georgia Aquarium on CNN. If you’re looking for penguins, try the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s feed at 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. PT.