Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta

Built largely with a generous $250 million gift from Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus, this is the largest aquarium in the world. It houses 100,000 animals from 500 species in a staggering 8 million gallons of fresh and salt water. Distinct exhibits focus on tropical, cold water, ocean and river creatures, and there's a separate shark tank. Start at Ocean Explorer, which at 6.5 million gallons is the world’s largest fish tank, then see the specialized exhibits that interest you most. Great attention is paid to kid-friendliness at the aquarium, and the wee ones simply love it. General admission is $26 for adults and $19.50 for children, and parking is extra. Behind the Scenes tours, while interesting, can tack on another $40 or so per person. If you’ve ever wanted to get up close and personal with a penguin or a whale shark (the world’s largest fish), this is your chance and it’s a lot less than a ticket to South Africa or the South Pacific. The Aquarium’s African penguins (also known as “Jackass penguins” due to their loud braying) can be noisy, but they’re adorable! It's open every day of the year, though opening times vary. Check the Aquarium’s website for details.

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