Shedd Aquarium Chicago, IL |
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Rating |
Excellent |
Age |
3 and up |
Lockers |
Available |
Restrooms |
Available |
Food |
Available |
Closest Coffee |
All over town, but there is good coffee in the cafeteria. |
Recommendation |
This is an excellent aquarium with a lot of beautiful exhibits and a great dolphin show. |
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Review: by Will
This was one of the first places I visited when I was a baby. I can't remember it, but I've heard the stories. Since then, though, I have been here three times. It is a great aquarium, and it is in our second home, Chicago.
Shedd is a really good aquarium. The animals come really close to you and many are very playful. I love the belugas. There is a place to view them at the top of their tank, which is really cool, especially when they surface and take a breath through their blow hole. What is really amazing though is to go downstairs and look through the windows below the surface. The belugas love to swim along the glass so it seems you could touch them. They are very acrobatic, and even like swiming upside down.
Right in the same area are the sea otters which also have an upper and lower viewing area. It is really fun to see them play. One time a few years ago I got to dress as a sea otter, and be part of an educational program the Aquarium was doing.
Speaking of shows, the dolphin show is really interesting. They don't just show off the dolphins and make them do tricks. The purpose of the show is to explain how the staff works with and cares for the dolphins. It is really interesting, but don't worry, the dolphins still do some really cool tricks.
The oldest part of the aquarium has a huge center tank that you can go all the way around.The coolest things in this tank are the huge moray eel, and Penny the sea turtle. (You will have to find out yourself why she got her name) If you are lucky, a diver will be in feeding the fish. The divers have a microphone and you can ask them questions while they are under the water and they will answer.
The new reef exhibit is great. When you enter it, the tank is all around you so the fish can swim over your head. It is bright and colorful, and has many, many interesting fish. I really did not spend much time at the shark tank in this exhibit. There are many different sharks, and they are easy to view, and a lot of people are there watching, but it was not even close to as interesting as the ray tank. This is in the room with the sharks, and a lot of people miss it when they rush to the sharks. The tank is under the floor, and you can sit there and stare down on the rays as they swim over the sand in the really clear water. It is amazing, I could spend an hour here alone.
If you are in the Chicago area, make sure you go to the aquarium. You will be amazed by the great variety, and colorful species. Just make sure to plan a lot of time. Two hours will not be enough!
Other Reviews:
Mom: I am a huge fan of the seahorses. I love their camoflage and the miniscule babies when they hatch.
Sam: The fish in the rainforest exhibit are exotic and very colorful.
Dad: I love this aquarium. It is one of the first places we took Will. He was about 9 months old, and stayed awake for hours to see all of the attractions. When we wre finally done, we parked his stroller by a wall to get our coats on, and he went out like a light. Shedd Aquarium is part of the Museum Campus of Chicago. Also within walking distance are the Adler Planetarium and The Field Museum.