John G. Shedd Aquarium
- Address:1200 Lake Shore Drive, South Loop, Chicago
- Hours:Open daily 9am - 5pm (until 6pm on weekends). Hours change quarterly.
- Admission:Adults: US$27, Children (3-11yrs): US$20
Good for Families, Good for Kids, Must-Do Experience, Nature & Wildlife, Animal Park, Zoo
8:31 PM Friday, May 25
Partly sunny. Mild.
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The world's largest assortment of finned, gilled, amphibious, and other aquatic creatures swims within the marble-clad confines of the John G. Shedd Aquarium. Though it could simply rest on its superlative exhibits - like beluga whales in a 4 million gallon (15 million liter) aquarium - the Shedd makes a point of trying to tie concepts of ecosystems, food webs, and marine biology into its presentation of super cool animals.
Permanent exhibits include the multilevel Oceanarium, which mimics ocean conditions off the northwest coast of North America. The beluga whales inside are remarkably cute creatures that come from the pint-size end of the whale scale. Their humped heads and natural “smiles” make them look eerily human. You'll also see Pacific white-sided dolphins, harbor seals, and sea otters.
Don't linger only on the main floor; you can go underneath the cement seats and watch the mammals from below through viewing windows. The “Wild Reef” exhibit will have sharkophiles and sharkophobes equally entranced; over a dozen sharks cut through the waters in a simulation of a Philippines reef ecosystem. And the “Amazon Rising” exhibits offer a captivating look at a year in the Amazon River and rain forest.
Latest Reviews All John G. Shedd Aquarium Reviews »
I booked this trip for myself and four other friends -we are between 50 - 70 yrs old. None of us had ever been on a Segway before and were a little nervous. We had an absolute blast and what a fun way to see the city ! Staff was so welcoming and helpful ( I got lost on my way to the tour location and they stayed on the phone giving me- literally- step by step directions!) Being a Safety and Risk Supervisor, I was impressed with their attention and commitment to safe operations. Our guide Meadows was patient and knowledgable making the tour fun and comfortable for everyone. We all had such a good time and talked about it so much after that the other 12 ladies in our travel group were sorry they didn't take the tour too!! I enjoyed it so much my husband and I will be taking the tour with this company again in San Fransisco next month. I highly recommend this tour-Fun, Fun, Fun.
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Great tour with Amy who was wonderful and friendly. The segways are easy to operate and I'm 64. Great value and fun. I love Chicago. Also do the Chicago Greeter tour with a free guide. Ask for Bob.
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The John G. Shedd Aquarium is located on the Museum Campus in the South Loop, just off Lakeshore Drive. Both buses and El lines get you here. Nearby attractions include the Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum and the Field Museum of Natural History, which are all within walking distance.
Some of the newer and special exhibits sell out early in the morning; consider buying tickets on the website beforehand to ensure entry. The whole place can be easily covered in two to three hours.
