UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium

The UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium on Skidaway Island is one of those Savannah-area finds that doesn't get the attention it deserves — a working university marine science facility that happens to be open to the public with affordable admission and genuinely educational exhibits. It's not a commercial aquarium; it's a research center that lets families in.

That distinction matters for the experience. Unlike commercial aquariums that maximize spectacle, UGA's facility emphasizes authentic science. The exhibits focus on coastal Georgia marine ecosystems — the marshes, estuaries, reefs, and sea life that make this part of the Southeast uniquely rich.

Staff are marine educators connected to actual research, which means questions from curious kids and parents get real, substantive answers.

The touch tank is the centerpiece for young visitors. Horseshoe crabs, sea urchins, starfish, and other coastal creatures are available to handle under staff supervision — the kind of sensory, hands-on experience that creates lasting memories. Kids who visited as children often remember the touch tank specifically when they think about the aquarium years later.

Admission is remarkably affordable for a marine attraction: roughly $8-10 for adults, $4-6 for children, with the total for a family of 4 landing well under $40. This is significantly less than commercial aquarium equivalents.

Logistical notes: the aquarium is on Skidaway Island, about 30 minutes south of downtown Savannah. Closed Sundays. Limited dining nearby — bring a packed lunch or plan to drive back to Savannah afterward. Combining the aquarium with a visit to Skidaway Island State Park makes for a full day of coastal Georgia nature.