#FlyWashington Magazine Summer 2018 | Page 33

Atlanta mural in downtown
Credit: ©2016, Kevin C. Rose, Courtesy of ACVB & AtlantaPhotos.com
GEORGIA AQUARIUM
Including the Georgia Aquarium in a travel guide for Atlanta is akin to
telling tourists in Paris to check out the Eiffel Tower, but that doesn’t
mean you should overlook the wonders it offers. When opened in
2005, it was the world’s largest aquarium but was surpassed by
Singapore in 2012. Still, Georgia Aquarium houses a whopping 10 million
gallons of water providing home to thousands of marine life, including
whale sharks, beluga whales, California sea lions, bottlenose dolphins
and manta rays. Along with the permanent exhibits, there’s an ever-
changing calendar of events such as shark encounters with National
Geographic photographers, sleepovers under the sea (complete with
bedtime snacks, breakfast and cocktails for adults), a virtual reality
simulator taking you back to the prehistoric seas, or the chance to
MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM
Sponsored by Mercedes-Benz, how could the Atlanta Falcons’ stadium
not be luxurious? Having opened in September 2017, it is already
the flagship stadium of the NFL and will host Super Bowl LIII next
year. Among the many bells and whistles, it holds the record for the
world’s largest halo board and is one of few football stadiums with
a retractable roof. If you don’t make it see the Falcons and Atlanta
FC United play, or to a concert like Beyonce or Taylor Swift, opt for a
stadium tour that’ll take you to the locker rooms, the field, Window to
the City, Skybridges and 100 Yard Club. Mercedes-Benz Stadium even
has its own art collection, from sculptures and photography to mosaics
and murals that reflect the true passion of the fans that cheer on their
teams each week.
swim with whale sharks.
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
SUMMER 2018 31 FLYWASHINGTON.COM