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Kristie Ray, director of marketing and promotions for the Georgia Aquarium, is today’s featured guest on the Around Atlanta edition of Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio. Metro Atlanta residents who have visited the aquarium once may think they’ve seen it all. However, the Georgia Aquarium is ever changing, and visitors can enjoy something different every time they go.
One of the newest and most exciting attractions is Aquanaut Adventure, a high-tech gallery that allows visitors to learn and explore aquatic life in a unique way. Combining both entertainment and education, the gallery uses augmented reality, or a real-time digital world, to create a super cool and fun way to experience the world’s oceans and its inhabitants.
When visitors enter the adventure, they’re given an iPad and a series of challenges to complete. The adventure encompasses all of the crucial STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) related technologies. The adventure offers seven different routes that will change periodically, meaning frequent visitors can enjoy a new experience each time they come. The questions included in the challenge are geared toward different age groups, so younger children won’t get frustrated because it’s too hard while older children will enjoy the gallery without being bored.
The new Aquanaut Adventure gallery was born out of the Georgia Aquarium’s education initiative. Not only is the aquarium an entertainment venue, but it is also a research and conservation organization. The aquarium wants guests to have an appreciation for the oceans and what they mean to our environment.
The Georgia Aquarium also has an education program that allows under-privileged children to visit the aquarium using sponsor dollars. These children are given the opportunity to explore the Aquanaut Adventure gallery, exposing them to these crucial STEM-related technologies while also helping them to gain an appreciation for our oceans and environment.
For those planning to visit the aquarium, Ray recommends using the planning tool located on the website. With so much going on, visiting the aquarium unprepared can be an almost overwhelming experience. The planning tool allows visitors to purchase advance tickets for a discount, book additional tours or encounters, see the special events calendar, learn when feedings will take place at various exhibits and provide information on parking and eating at the café.
Named 2014’s Best North American Aquarium by readers of USA Today, the Georgia Aquarium is one of the world’s largest with more than 10 million gallons of water in five different galleries and more than 60 exhibits. The Georgia Aquarium is also the only place in North America where you can see, swim and dive with whale sharks and manta rays. Located in downtown Atlanta in the Luckie Marietta District, the aquarium is open 365 days a year. Ticket prices range from $29.95 to $334.95 for a full dive experience in the Journey with Gentle Giants program.
To learn more about Aquanaut Adventures and the Georgia Aquarium, listen to the full podcast above and then visit www.GeorgiaAquarium.org. You can also stay in touch with the aquarium on Facebook, Twitter.
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The “Around Atlanta” segment is designed to showcase the best of metro Atlanta – the communities, attractions and special events that make this city great. To submit your event, community or attraction to the Around Atlanta edition of Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio, contact 770-383-3360.
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