Travelschooling in Atlanta: The Atlanta Aquarium & More

Competitive cheer has offered our family the opportunity to build new opportunities for travelschooling into our homeschooling plan. Although many of our trips are short and keep us in our home state, others are longer and take us on new adventures. This year, we had the opportunity to compete at Cheersport in Atlanta as part of the cheerabilities category. Today I want to share how we spent our time there and how we were able to connect it to our learning goals for the school year. 

Great Places to Visit while Travelschooling in Atlanta

When I first got our schedule and discovered we’d be headed to Atlanta, I started my research into the best activities to do while we were there. While it wasn’t my first visit, it was my first visit with kids so I knew it would be a different style of trip. 

Here were a few of the places I considered adding to our itinerary during our time in Atlanta: 

1. Georgia Aquarium: Home to the largest collection of whale sharks in the world, the Georgia Aquarium is a must-see for any homeschooler interested in marine biology. Kids will be amazed by the variety of ocean creatures, from playful otters to gigantic whale sharks. The aquarium also offers educational programs and presentations that delve deeper into the aquatic world.
2. World of Coca-Cola: This interactive museum brings the history of Coca-Cola to life, showcasing its journey from a local pharmacy drink to a global phenomenon. Travelschoolers can learn about the science behind the fizz, explore marketing strategies, and even taste Coca-Cola varieties from around the world!
3. Fernbank Museum of Natural History: This museum offers a fascinating look at Georgia’s natural history, from dinosaurs to present-day ecosystems. Kids can explore interactive exhibits, learn about geology, and even participate in a dino dig. The Fernbank Science Center, located nearby, offers additional hands-on science experiences.
4. National Center for Civil and Human Rights: This museum explores the American Civil Rights Movement and its global impact on human rights. Through interactive exhibits, films, and historical artifacts, homeschoolers can learn about the fight for equality and social justice.
5. Atlanta Zoo: Take a wild adventure at Atlanta Zoo! While their giant panda program concludes later in 2024, there’s still a world of animals to discover. Observe enrichment activities that stimulate natural behaviors, attend training demonstrations showcasing positive reinforcement techniques, and learn about animal conservation efforts. Educational programs offer a deeper dive into the fascinating world of animal care and welfare.
6. Centennial Olympic Park: Explore the site of the 1996 Summer Olympics! Centennial Olympic Park is a beautiful green space in the heart of Atlanta. Homeschoolers can learn about the history of the Olympic Games, enjoy the iconic Fountain of Rings, explore the park’s gardens, and even participate in some outdoor activities.

Unfortunately, we were stifled by some cold weather during our trip, but we made the best of it and made it to both the aquarium and the World of Coke. We were also able to see some of Centennial Park on our way to and from the cheer competition each day. As such, I wanted to share a bit about each of these stops and how we connected them to our curriculum.

Diving Deep into Biology at the Georgia Aquarium

Both my daughter and I agree that the Georgia Aquarium was our favorite adventure of the trip. This awe-inspiring location is home to a staggering variety of marine life, and there were so many opportunities to connect to the ecosystem units that were part of our Noeo Biology curriculum. 

• The Penguin Exhibit: My daughter spent nearly 20 minutes just observing these creatures. We’d done a Mr. Popper’s Penguins novel study in January, so this was a perfect connection for her. I loved that the exhibit offered spots where you could pop your head up and observe from the middle of the habitat and see all the penguins going about their day. 
• The Dolphins: This was another spot where we sat for almost 30 minutes. Watching the dolphins play and blow rings in the water was so entertaining for my daughter. It was great to see them interact and just how smart they were while interacting with their environment. They had a great little viewing window, and my daughter (and many other kids) were able to sneak and sit below the grown-ups right at the glass to observe. 
• The River Scout Gallery: Okay, this was not the most interesting compared to the other exhibits, but it was a great opportunity to contrast the habitats of different creatures. Since this was a skill we’ve been working on, I wanted to toss it in here. I think it is important because for many learners a marine animal is a marine animal, but having an opportunity to observe and discuss these habitats so close together really let us dive into the differences and similarities and how the creatures adapted to both. Plus, we got to see alligators…which was somehow an unrealized lifelong dream of my child. 

What to skip at the Georgia Aquarium: 

• The Touch Tank: We truly wanted to love this. However, we just ended up feeling terrible for the poor rays. There were so many field trips and unsupervised children splashing their hands in the water and playing with the sand that the rays never approached the touch part of the tank, and I do not blame them. The staff repeatedly tried to give directions, but it was just an absolute mess. 
• The Bioluminescent Room: We weren’t that impressed with this. Maybe we just wanted it to be cooler than it was? 

Hints for a better experience at the Georgia Aquarium: 

Overall, the Georgia Aquarium was just a fabulous way to spend a day…and I do mean a full day. To experience everything, anticipate spending about 5-6 hours there.

From the jellyfish tanks at the entrance to the gift shop on our way out, my daughter and I had a blast exploring and making connections. Everything was well labeled, the staff was knowledgeable and friendly, and, despite the huge number of guests, we learned so many things and had a great time. 

Fizz, Pop, Science! At the World of Coca-Cola

Our other major stop on our travelschooling adventure in Atlanta was to The World of Coca-Cola. If you’re not familiar, this is a museum about the history of Coke that comes highly recommended. The museum itself is filled with interactive exhibits meant to teach the history of the iconic beverage and how it became a household name, the science of soda creation, and more. 

Highlights of the Coke Museum: 

Truthfully, that was about all we got from the World of Coke. The rest felt like a giant ad for Coke. Since my kiddo doesn’t typically drink soda, there weren’t a ton of other things to do besides shop. The lines for each of the exhibits were SO LONG. We’d already waited in a 45-minute line outside. By that point, it just didn’t feel worth our time,  so we ducked out after about 90 minutes. 

Cheers to a Winning Trip!

Do you have any tips for travel schooling with your learners? Share them in the comments below!