Shedd Aquarium: A wonderous world under the sea
Opened in 1930, Chicago’s John G. Shedd Aquarium has become a highly-regarded aquarium to get up-close-and personal with marine life from local and international waters. The museum’s stellar exhibits cater to both the young and old offering something for everyone.
To get to the Shedd, visitors must first walk through the striking Museum Campus and spend time marveling over the view of the Chicago skyline and harbor vantage point. Once being pulled away from that view, enter the atrium to discover the 360-degree tank which recreates a Caribbean reef housing fish shipped in directly from the warm waters of the Bahamas.
Bonnethead sharks, stingrays, sea turtles and fish whisk by and sometimes tap the glass frightening and enthralling curious onlookers. The museum is sectioned into reefs, rivers and an Oceanarium. The Amazon River room radiates humid conditions just like in the Amazon itself and even smells like a river bank. Waters of the world showcases tanks filled with snapping turtles, octopuses, catfish, sea horses, pike fish, frogs, piranhas, kelp forests (forests made of sea weed) and intimidating spider crabs.
Museumgoers can purchase individual tickets per exhibit or buy a pass which includes all of them. The Wild Reef allows kids and their family to get close to sharks and learn about corals and eels and the Oceanarium focuses on species of the Pacific Northwest such as dolphins, beluga whales and furry little sea otters. The Shedd’s amphitheatre puts on daily aquatic performances which entail dolphins flipping into the air and penguins waddling around.
The museum has free and discount days throughout the year but only part of the exhibits are ever free. Visitors can’t take an actual whale home, but browse the gift shop’s wide selection of stuffed animals, posters and books to find an unforgettable keepsake to leave with.
HelloChicago Tip: Residents of the city of Chicago receive a $3 discount on admission every day and must present a valid ID. Also, if a visitor presents a Bank of America/Merrill Lynch ATM credit or debit card along with photo identification, they'll receive a free all-access admission ticket on the first full weekend of each month.
Posted by Garin Pirnia
