Fernbank Museum of Natural History
March 10, 2010 by Paul McParland
Filed under Fernbank Museum
If you want to spend a fun-filled day with family or friends, Fernbank Museum of Natural History is the ultimate place to go! Witness the world’s largest dinosaurs, explore the development of Earth’s natural history through Georgia’s present-day landscapes, connect with cultures from around the world, participate in an array of hands-on activities and exhibits, and more. Located just minutes from downtown Atlanta, Fernbank Museum offers a world of wonder for adults and children alike.
Fernbank Museum is home to a variety of permanent exhibits that educate visitors about Georgia’s natural history, human senses, world culture and early Native American inhabitants. Among the permanent exhibits is Giants of the Mesozoic, an incredible opportunity to stand among the world’s largest dinosaurs, Argentinosaurus and Giganotosaurus. Out-of-town visitors will especially enjoy a journey through the state’s diverse geologic regions on a voyage through the coast, swampland, mountains, valleys, caves, and more in the permanent exhibition A Walk Through Time in Georgia, which also explores some of the prehistoric inhabitants that once roamed our region.
In addition, Fernbank Museum hosts several special traveling exhibits that give visitors something new to discover throughout the year . Currently on view through May 2, 2010 is Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters, where visitors can learn about the science behind Earth’s most devastating natural disasters. Upcoming special exhibits include Geckos: Tails to Toepads (opening May 2010) and Water: H20=Life (opening October 2010).
After exploring the remarkable exhibits available only at Fernbank Museum, don’t leave just yet. Fernbank is home to the biggest movie screen in Atlanta in the IMAX® Theatre. Experience movie-watching as never before on a screen that stretches five stories high and 72 feet wide. Once you’ve witnessed the power and sharpness of an IMAX® film, you’ll be back for more on the big screen!
Interactive exhibits and alluring IMAX® films aren’t all that Fernbank Museum has to offer. Special family programs and events include Family Fun Days, weekend programming in the Naturalist Center, Scout Days, sleepovers, summer camps, birthday party packages and more! Check Fernbank’s web site at fernbankmuseum.org for what will be offered the day of your visit.
Fernbank’s not just for children and families. Young professionals and other adults can get their weekend started right at Fernbank’s Martinis & IMAX®! Join us every Friday night (January through November) for live music, tasty cocktails, thrilling films and delicious cuisine. Martinis & IMAX® is perfect for any occasion – a date with that special someone, a night out with friends, a birthday celebration, or a unique experience for visiting family and friends.
Exploring the cultures, prehistoric animals, wildlife, fossils and wonders of the world can work up quite an appetite. The Fernbank Café features pizzas, sandwiches, kids’ meals, salads, special entrees and more to keep your energy levels up for the adventure. After so many memorable experiences, visitors will want to stop in the Fernbank Museum Store for a souvenir. The Museum Store offers a variety of great gifts for every budget, including jewelry, minerals, games, toys, clothing, books, dvds, home decor and more. Whatever the day, whatever the occasion, Fernbank Museum of Natural History combines adventure, learning and fun for all ages!
Summer Events at Fernbank Museum:
May
Special exhibition Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters (closes May 2)
Special exhibition Geckos: Tails to Toepads (opens May 28)
Forces of Nature in the IMAX® Theatre (closes May 27)
Arabia in the IMAX® Theatre
Bugs: A Rainforest Adventure in the IMAX® Theatre (opens May 28)
Ride Around the World in the IMAX® Theatre—Showing exclusively during Martinis & IMAX®
Martinis & IMAX® presented by Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., Fridays from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
1 Archaeology Day
8 Storytelling
31 Memorial Day—Fernbank open during normal business hours
June
Special exhibition Geckos: Tails to Toepads
Arabia in the IMAX® Theatre
Bugs: A Rainforest Adventure in the IMAX® Theatre
Ride Around the World in the IMAX® Theatre—Showing exclusively during Martinis & IMAX®
Martinis & IMAX® presented by Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., Fridays from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
6 Geckos Family Celebration
7–11 Summer Camp: Junior Naturalists
12 Lost Oasis: A Museum Masquerade
14–18 Summer Camp: Junior Naturalists
21–25 Summer Camp: Discovery Team
28-July 2 Summer Camp: Discovery Team
July
Special exhibition Geckos: Tails to Toepads
Arabia in the IMAX® Theatre (closes July 29)
Bugs: A Rainforest Adventure in the IMAX® Theatre
Martinis & IMAX® presented by Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., Fridays from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
4 Independence Day—Fernbank open during normal business hours
10 Reptile Day
12–16 Summer Camp: Science Squad
19–23 Summer Camp: Science Squad
August
Special exhibition Geckos: Tails to Toepads
Bugs: A Rainforest Adventure in the IMAX® Theatre
Martinis & IMAX® presented by Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., Fridays from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
21 Dinosaur Birthday Bash
Descriptions:
- SPECIAL EXHIBITION
Geckos: Tails to Toepads
May 28 – September 5, 2010
Discover the amazing world of geckos in this collection of more than 15 live gecko species, from shadowy nighttime hunters with unbelievable camouflage to neon-colored nectar eaters that scamper around in daylight. Learn about their night vision, magnify gecko toepads, listen to gecko voices, watch video clips of geckos in action, try to spot camouflaged geckos and build a custom gecko for various environments.
- IMAX FILMS
Forces of Nature
February 6 – May 27, 2010
Join scientists as they follow earthquakes, tornados, volcanic eruptions and severe storms to determine what triggers these natural disasters. Presented in conjunction with the special exhibition Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters.
Arabia
March 12 – July 29, 2010
Travel to the exotic and fascinating land of Arabia. Explore the ancient tombs of a lost city; dive through the reefs of the Red Sea; and experience the Hajj — the largest gathering of people on Earth. Discover an extraordinary culture and experience modern day Arabia in the midst of monumental change.
Bugs: A Rainforest Adventure
Opens May 28, 2010
Get a bug’s-eye-view of the beautiful and sometimes bizarre world of insects. Bugs! will magnify the miniscule world of insects and uncover the secrets of their success—from metamorphosis to mastery, predator to prey and community to concealment. Presented in conjunction with the special exhibition Geckos.
- SPECIAL EVENTS AND PROGRAMMING
Fernbank Summer Camp
Don’t miss this opportunity for your child to experience a fun-filled week of activities, crafts, games and more. Fernbank Museum’s summer day camps consist of week-long age appropriate sessions for rising Kindergarten through 5th grade students. Educators will guide campers on an exploration of the scientific world: ecology, paleontology, entomology and more!
Cost: Members: $300/ week; non-members: $350/ week.
Archaeology Day
Saturday, May 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Dig in for a day of family fun and discover how archaeology works through hands-on activities, displays and demonstrations. Guests will also learn how archaeologists sift through the past to unearth our history.
Reptile Day
Saturday, July 10, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Slither like a snake to Fernbank Museum and enjoy up-close encounters with a variety of live reptiles and amphibians at this annual family fun day! Don’t miss this unique opportunity to interact with and learn more about reptiles and amphibians. An assortment of live specimens will be on display in the Museum’s Great Hall for the seventh annual Reptile Day. Members of the Georgia Herpetological Society will be on hand to answer questions and educate guests about the importance of these unique animals. Lizards, snakes and tortoises are scheduled to be among the 30–40 different animals that will be part of the program. Fernbank Educators will present select species and provide visitors an even closer look.
- ONGOING PROGRAMMING
Fernbank’s Martinis & IMAX®
Fridays, January through November, 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Shake it up with Atlanta’s perfect mix of culture and cocktails. Films, menus and music change regularly, so it’s never the same experience twice!
Weekends in the Naturalist Center
Enjoy a variety of family-friendly activities every weekend in the Naturalist Center. Activities vary from animal encounters to science explorations and more, and will be available every weekend. Check the activity sign when you arrive to see what’s happening.
Storytelling
Select Saturdays at noon
Enjoy exciting tales about the natural world with Fernbank’s storyteller-in-residence, Rob Cleveland. Suitable for children ages 3 and up.
Fernbank Museum of Natural History
767 Clifton Rd. NE
Atlanta, GA 30307
Phone: 404.929.6300
Tickets: 404.929.6400 or fernbankmuseum.org
Visitor Information: www.fernbankmuseum.org
Georgia Aquarium
March 5, 2010 by AtlantaGaToday Staff
Filed under Georgia Aquarium
The Georgia Aquarium is the world’s biggest, containing eight million gallons of water and more aquatic life than any other aquarium. Sometimes referred to as the Atlanta Aquarium, this is one of the top Atlanta Attractions drawing millions of tourists and locals each year. It is situated on a 20 acre site adjacent to Centennial Olympic Park in Downtown Atlanta, Georgia.
The Georgia Aquarium has over 100,000 aquatic animals from all over the globe that are housed in five different galleries. The first is the Georgia Explorer which is geared towards kids (with touch tanks) and shows wildlife related to Georgia’s coast. The next gallery named Ocean Voyager, contains most of the aquariums fish including the whale sharks. It also has an under water tunnel and one of the worlds largest viewing windows.
The second largest exhibit is the Cold Water Quest featuring animals from the polar regions of the world. This area contains the beautiful Beluga whales, sea lions, and the curious looking black footed penguins. The River Scout is a regional section that features an overhead river. One of the more fascinating fish in this exhibit include the piranha. The fifth gallery is the Tropical Diver and has many weird forms of aquatic life and includes a marvelous living reef with live coral.
Related Articles:
Discover Sharks at the Georgia Aquarium
Georgia Aquarium Says Hello to Old Friends
Georgia Aquarium Discount Tickets Here!
Location:
Georgia Aquarium
225 Baker St. NW
Atlanta, GA 30313
(404) 581‑4000
Hours: Generally Sunday-Friday 10:00am to 5:00pm Saturday 9:00–6:00pm (Hours Vary)
Open 365 days
For more information: www.georgiaaquarium.org
Centennial Olympic Park Becoming Tourist Mecca
December 21, 2009 by Paul McParland
Filed under Centennial Park
Travel to Downtown Atlanta and one of the first things to discover among the backdrop of lofty skyscrapers is an oasis called Centennial Olympic Park. The 21 Acre Olympic Park, famous for its festivals, events and Olympic Rings, is drawing tourists from all over the south and beyond.
Recently the Olympic Park has been transformed into a winter wonderland with its Holiday in Lights festival that displays thousands of glittery lights. Also featured is “Atlanta’s Only Outdoor Skating Rink” which is reminiscent of the eloquent Bryant Park in New York City.
Downtown Atlanta Attractions
Take a look around Centennial Olympic Park and observe the exceptional venues its surrounded by including the world’s largest aquarium — The Georgia Aquarium. Other notable downtown Atlanta tourist attractions feature The World of Coca-Cola and Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta. The CNN Center stands proud as it towers over Centennial Olympic park. The National Museum of Patriotism is the newest exhibition to open its doors to the public.
The list of major urban tourist destinations in the United States include San Antonio’s River Walk, New York’s Times Square and the Mall of America in Minneapolis. With the addition of three new venues over the next few years Atlanta hopes to be joining the list of vacation destinations that tourists flock to.
The new downtown Atlanta themed entertainment exhibits expected to open its doors over the next few years include the National College Football Hall of Fame, the Center for Civil and Human Rights, and the National Health Museum.
The National Health Museum, combined with other Georgia-based institutions such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CARE, the Arthritis Foundation and the American Cancer Society, marks Georgia as a major player of the global health industry in the 21st century. In fact The Coca-Cola Company was a key contributor in attracting the National Health Museum to the Olympic Park montage of venues.
Legoland is currently scouting the Centennial Olympic Park area for its Discovery Centre. Meanwhile, construction on the $100 million dolphin exhibit at The Georgia Aquarium has begun and is expected to the open to the public late 2010 or early 2011.


