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John G. Shedd Aquarium
Rating Details »
Category: Aquariums
Neighborhood: Near Southside1200 S Lake Shore Dr
(between Field Plaza Dr & Roosevelt Dr)
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 939-2438
- Hours:
Mon-Thu. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
227 reviews for John G. Shedd Aquarium
What can I say about this place that has not yet been said before? This is a Chicago must see for everyone, and all I can offer is the suggestions below:
PARKING: Is $16 at the lot closest to the planetarium. This is for all day parking. The lot closest to that spaceship some call Soldier Field is around $18 for around 4 hours and goes up from there. Note that you can easily spend a whole day in here if you want to see every exhibit thoroughly.
ADMISSION: Expensive if you want to see everything, but you might as well, since, how often do you come here? If you're a tourist, get the CityPass. If you're a resident, go to the library and see if they have free tickets. If you want to come here often, invest in the membership that will save you long lines and money. I think it's $75 for a single person pass, and $150 for a family that includes up to 2 adults and 4 children.
GENERAL TIPS:
- Come in EARLY (as in 9AM), or you will be stuck in lines that can be hours long, no exaggeration.
- Bring your ID, as you can get discounts for things such as being a Chicago resident, a teacher, etc.
- If at all possible, avoid free days (I'd rather pay to be able to SEE the exhibits), and weekends, or come early on a weekday. This will let you get up close and personal with the fish.
- If you hate children, this is not the place for you. There will be hundreds on the weekend, hogging the exhibits, screaming, strollers, and driving you insane.
-Wear comfy shoes...it amazes me I see people in heels. Again, you can spend a whole day walking in here.
-They have new major exhibits, such as the whales and Fantasea. They also redid the place where the dolphins used to do "shows."
The reason I took off a star: While I love this place, it always stresses me out when I come here. It is usually packed (I cannot make it unless it's a weekend) with rude, obnoxious kids and tons of people. I've not yet seen fantasea, but their prior dolphin "show" only lasted 15min and was not too great -- I hope Fantasea has improved this, and will provide feedback once I go. A lot of the floor space is occupied with common fish and marine creatures...the kind you have in your tanks at home. However, I still love fish and still recommend this place as a must see in Chicago
The aquarium is one of my favorite Chicago museums. Don't miss the divers cleaning the tank and the Wild Reef exhibit. The beluga whales are my personal favorites; I have seen them pose for pictures.
Run far far away from the faux-Disney merchandising gimmick known as "Fantasea" and just watch the whales and dolphins at play. Or better yet, attend one of the animal chats regularly hosted by trainers, etc. You get actual interesting information and education without the Lord of the Rings-esque schmaltz.
As a first time visitor to Chicago I was very excited to visit this place. It was not a let down. To keep it short:
- The city pass got me into everything. The Oceanarium is great, even though Fantasea hasn't started yet. Beluga whales, dolphins, penguins, sea lions...awesome! Wild Reef (sharks et. al.) was good too.
- The exhibits on the ground level are great. There is a lot to see.
- We got there at 9AM on Saturday. It started out slow but got crazy busy by the time we left at 1 PM.
- The 4-D was "eh." Kids'll love it.
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When tourists ask what they should do in Chicago, this is my #1 suggestion. If you only have one day in Chicago, this is a must. If you live in Chicago, make a visit once a year. Use the museum pass so you and your family get in for free.
I've been to a few "world renowned" aquariums in my time... and all have paled in comparison to the Shedd Aquarium. I've been coming here since I was little, and there is still something new and amazing to see every time. Some of their exhibits change regularly, and they are always exciting and kid friendly (even for the more impatient kids). The staples, like the dolphin show, are great time and time again.
It is a little pricey, but if you live in the city you can get in for free (sans dolphins) with the museum pass. Otherwise, if you are an educator you get a sweet discount. Either way, it is definitely worth it. It isn't cheap taking care of penguins and whales!
It can get busy on weekends, so be ready for a little line. This place is great for kids and can take anywhere from one to four hours to explore. They have several food options inside, but I recommend making/buying a sandwich and eating on the lake. It is so beautiful in the summer--it is my little "ocean."
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Another Chicago must-see.
The only thing that really bugs me about the museums and aquarium is they charge extra to see certain exhibits. For example, you have to pay more here to see the dolphins. Unless you really want to see dolphins, there is more than enough to keep you occupied for most of a day.
Everything is laid out very nicely, with labels and signs explaining what all the fish and sea life are. The entrance fee includes everything from salt and freshwater fish to beluga whales.
They make animals do tricks for food, so I'm happy. You can watch Shamu jump through hoops then grab sushi on the way home.
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First off, the Shedd is quite expensive to get in to, and the free passes you can get at the library always seem to be out, but for around $30 you can get in and see all the exhibits.
It does have some pretty cool exhibits though. The Wild Reef, for example, is excellent. You see many many tanks of many many fish and other creatures of the reefs. There's even a tank with a bunch of sharks and other fish in it. When we came upon that tank, a shark chat was about to begin and the gentlemen giving it was both entertaining and informative. There are other tanks about the aquarium where you can find fish and other animals that live in or near water from around the world, including an area where you can learn about the different invasive species in the great lakes and local rivers. I found that pretty interesting.
The 4D movie thing was cool except for the sharp poke in the back you get at the beginning. (Lean forward at the beginning.)
The biggest disappointment was the Oceanarium. They are previewing their new show called "Fantasea" which has no educational value whatsoever and would probably be a lot more fantastic as a five-year-old than as an adult. It held no educational value whatsoever and very little entertainment value.
An almost as big disappointment was the food. It was overpriced and had no flavor whatsoever. I got significantly better food in my high school cafeteria.
Overall, the Shedd does have some cool displays, and the chats are definitely worthwhile, but don't pay the full price of admission if you can avoid it. Between the free passes you can get at the library (if you can find them) and the other coupons you might find in various books (like the Entertainment book) and the multi-day museum entrance cards (Go Card and CityPass), you really should avoid the full cost as I have a strong feeling you'll be largely disappointed if you don't.
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I love aquariums. I don't know when it started or why, but I do. Well, perhaps it started when I was just a wee little one at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Ahh, yes, but I do believe my love was truly solidified during a brief stint in Chicago as a slightly older little one. I had a blast at the Shedd as a 9-year-old and I had every bit as much fun when I visited last weekend.
The Caribbean Reef exhibit is just as awesome and beautiful as it was back then... It is the first thing every visitor to the Shedd sees, so it ought to be. The 360° views of sharks, rays, and eels are enough to leave any aquarium fan breathless.
I could go on to eagerly explain the rest of the exhibits in torturous detail, but I'm sure the Shedd website and the 212 other reviews do a more than adequate job of that. I will say that my favorites were Amazon Rising (they have an anaconda!) and the Wild Reef (I got to see the sawfish!).
Also thoroughly enjoyable was the "4-D" movie theater, in which I saw Planet Earth's "Pole to Pole" short. The movie was in 3-D and the mysterious fourth dimension involved all sorts of sprayers and blowers and rumblers built in to your seat and the back of the seat in front of you... Though since the movie was primarily about the poles, this consisted of cold wind and water for the entirety of the film.
Possible frostbite aside, my experience at the Shedd was an excellent one... I got in at a discount since I will never let go of my USC ID (and it doesn't have an expiration date) and, once I was in, I had a wonderful time observing sharks, rays, frogs, dolphins, whales, sea lions, otters, and lobsters... Oh my!!!
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I am going to write the shortest review ever.
Great for kids, bad for adults with no kids. Its literally screaming children everywhere. Just beware.
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I don't know how to compare this place to other aquariums, because I don't know if I've been to any others. I just don't really like fish, so this place has no real appeal for me, and is kind of expensive.
But hey, if I wanted to buy a gaudy shirt with a bunch of fish on it, now I know where to come.
When I was a kid growing up in Chicago, I would often have a recurring nightmare. I would be standing alone at night in the Shedd Aquarium (this was in the early eighties, back before the renovations) and the whole building would be sealed. It was almost completely dark, except for the moonlight peeking through the windows above the main entrance, creating a kaleidoscope of visible places, none of them large enough to be of any comfort.
Suddenly, all the tanks would break open at once, flooding the whole place. I could even feel the water as it pooled at my feet, cold even in my dreams. The water quickly moved upwards, and I was floating, vulnerable, amid the sharks, rays, pirahna...never mind that it was nearly impossible for all of these fresh and salt water fish to be swimming together...they were all hungry, and they all wanted me!
Now, I would always wake up before I ever actually SAW the fish, but it stuck with me. I would always go back, marveling with great respect at these ancient creatures, swimming seemingly for our amusement, but too possessed of their own longevity to give us scarce notice.
I have always been in awe of Shedd Aquarium, even as an adult. From the moment I visited with my class on a field trip and saw those giant stuffed octopus and squid on the ceiling (I doubt they still remain today) to my later visits in the middle of this decade, I have been fascinated with the exhibits...from the tiniest exotic fish to the largest...and now the addition of dolphins and whales? Wow!
The preserved architecture is also something to marvel at - the classical Gothic facades in the front and interior molding are remarkable...and I love the wrought-iron fencing and grating that are a staple of early-century Chicago style...
Forgetting a trip to the Shedd Aquarium on any trip to Chicago should be a criminal offense - it is easily one of the most memorable experiences that you can have in the city, and the beluga whales alone are worth the price of admission!
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Overrated, I'd heard about this "huge" aquarium in Chicago, had a day off and decided to check it out.
First off, in typical Chicago fashion, they try and squeeze every dime you've got before you're allowed in, $16-19 if you park and $25 for the cheapest ticket.
I thought, this place better be awesome.
What was awesome, was how little aquarium they managed to fit in that huge building. Few paltry exhibits, tiny tanks, shows that cost extra inside and no squid, sharks, bottlenose dolphins, sea lions, seals or large octopi.
For $5, cool
For $41, LAME
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Easily my favorite tourist trap on Lake Shore Dr, the Shedd never fails to amaze. Whether it be the reef exhibit or the sea star exhibit, you will find that one exhibit that strikes your fancy. For me, it was a toss-up between the seahorses and the reefs. Both were dually impressive. As for my top 3 favorite fish at the aquarium? Frogfish, pufferfish, and knifefish.
I was a smidge disappointed to find that the beluga whales were nowhere to be seen, but that simply means that a second visit is in order sometime in the near future.
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I've been a scuba diver for years, and I enjoy aquariums. There are at least five I've visited on the west coast that enjoy proximity to the ocean and, for purely logistic reasons, that is a great advantage. The Shedd Aquarium is a great place to visit if you have any interest in marine or aquatic life, and they've accomplished a great deal with available resources. Entry fee for adults was $25. While that is expensive for a family, understand that it is VERY expensive to adequately support an aquarium of this size and its research efforts. I'm was pleased we made time for it in our brief visit to the city of Chicago, and I'd recommend it to others. It was a stroll of less than two miles from the Navy Pier on Lake Shore Drive.
After waiting a week and a half roaming around Chicago, I finally got to check out the aquarium. It was the last thing on my to do list before I got the hell out of there. Ms. Indecisive had made her decision(or so I thought) and we had some time to kill.
The Beluga whale exhibit was pretty cool, and so was the penguins. I liked the Phillipine one as well. Most of the other ones were the typical ones you see in all aquariums. I have to mention the Jellyfish one since its her favorite sea going creature(see, I didn't forget).
What was pretty cool was the 4-D movie thing they had. It was a short film during which they poke, blow air, shake your seat and squirt you with water. I thought it was pretty fun. Bella did get scared at one point where the shark ate the seal. HAHA..
Honestly, for a famous aquarium, the Shedd was a bit of a let-down. Most of the first floor is dedicated to small tank exhibits, many of which are filled with very common, home-aquarium sorts of fish -- you will see lots of tetras, gouramis, etc. The saltwater tanks in the basement are somewhat disappointing as well, although some of the reef tanks are nice. The only really noteworthy exhibits are the dolphins and beluga whales.
Also, a pet peeve: the staff at the Shedd have made squeezing dollars out of patrons a fine art form. If you come any later than 10am, you will have a wait of anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours to get into the aquarium. During this time, you will be constantly reminded by staff that you can just skip the whole line if you buy a CityPass or an aquarium membership. Once inside, you have to pay $25 per adult for admission, plus more for the movies or special exhibitions. And, as you move through the aquarium, you will come across gift stores and food kiosks every 20 steps. For an aquarium that is light on exhibits, it's really irritating to see so much space dedicated to retail sales.
TIPS:
(1) Arrive early, within the first hour of opening, to avoid long lines.
(2) Chicago residents, students, and teachers get discounts. Teachers get in free -- just bring an ID card!
(3) The wheel-accessible gate line is MUCH shorter than the main entrance line -- like, 10 minutes versus an hour. If you have a stroller, bring it!
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Fabulous, but go early - it's critical to enjoying the place.
Shedd Aquarium opens at 9am. We (my 7 year old grandson and I) arrived at 9:30 and spent 15 minutes in line getting our tickets. With only 20 people in front of us, it was a very slow system. When we left at 11:45, the line went out the door, down the steps, and 70-80 yards further. Those 400 people had to be spending over an hour just getting in. Not good.
Being there before the crowds meant no waiting to get up close to the tanks. My grandson stood by the big tank for a while, but then ran from small tank to small tank, checking out each without having to wait for a place in front. It worked great. I enjoyed being able to stroll from tank to tank while only occasionally having to look around a person or two.
Their organization of exhibits is terrific. You can explore by regions, like the Amazon exhibit or the Caribbean exhibit, and see what sea life exists together, as well as changes over time. I loved the old Australian lung fish that has been there since the 1933 World's Fair - the oldest fish in an aquarium anywhere in the world.
While you can enjoy full days at the Museum of Science and Industry and Field Museum, 3 hours is enough for Shedd. We taxied there, which worked great, taking us right to the door. Plenty of taxis were waiting when we left.
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You would think free automatically equals a five star YAY! experience right? not exactly.
Stopped in here today after hearing about the week of free entry. So me and 500 hundred of my closest friends all showed up at the same time. Holy hell the line was insane! I feel like this was made worse because you had to actually get a ticket. Why? It's free! I understand that they have other shows but it would make sense to have only those people purchase tickets right? Makes sense to me.
And speaking of other shows, apparently the part of the Shedd that was free isn't really much to write home about. True, I saw a few amazing creatures but some of the others look like something from the local aquarium dealer. If you're going to make it free for a week and have such long lines then at least make it worth our while.
You get what you pay for though so if you're looking to wow out of town guests or entertain the kids with water shows then spring for the paid entrance. I'll have to go back and see what the Shedd really has to offer...not anytime soon though.
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I was really, really, really excited about coming here today - the Shedd is something I've wanted to do in the 7+ years I've lived here, but had just never gotten around to it. In the end, I was really disappointed with our visit today.
I came with my friend and her 2 year old to take advantage of the free days this week. We arrived right at 9am when they opened, and still stood in line for 20 minutes to get in* (see end of review). Then we get up to the ticket counter to find out that yes, general admission is free, but that really only lets you look at some fish tanks (which you can see at any pet store) and the gift shop. Everything else is extra. So what turned in to a free day actually ended up costing me $21 just to walk through the front door. When I inquired about getting the Chicago resident discount (advertised on their website - and hey, every little bit helps), the girl snapped at me that I was already getting free admission so they weren't honoring that this week. Wow. My friend is a teacher, and her admission was only $4. Should have had her get mine. Sigh.
The exhibits were cool, but not worth the admission price. The polar play area for kids was nice and very interactive for them, but whatever genius built that setup with stairs needs to be fired. Kids typically ride in strollers (duh), so we had to lug our stroller up and down the stairs each time. That was the only area we didn't see elevators, and the only area that truly needed it.
The employees here all generally looked miserable. I think I saw MAYBE 2 or 3 smiling and looking like they loved their jobs. Good service and happy employees just make the experience better and can even turn a bad experience into a good one - sadly, that was not the case here today.
*Now - a tip for anyone going the rest of this week while it's "free" - get there early. We left a little after 11, and the lines to get in were so long my jaw just dropped. There had to be *at least* a 2 hour wait. And they don't advertise anything about the fact that you have to pay something until you get to the counter. So imagine waiting in line all that time with small children, paying for parking, only to get to the front and be told yes, the exhibits cost money. I would be PISSED if I were a parent with kids in tow. Maybe some signs up on the sidewalks would lessen the blow, Shedd.
Also, the areas that were 100% free were so crowded you could barely walk. And the sound of kids shrieking echos really well off their walls. I'm going to go take some Advil now.
So to sum it up, skip it. ESPECIALLY this week. It's just not worth it.
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I had several people recommend this place to me before going to Chicago, so I decided to check it out. It's a very nice aquarium, but ther are some bad things too.
They've got a great collection, and if I had kids I think they'd love it. However, I got there just after they opened, and it took me an hour in line to get in (so get there EARLY!). The cost was $22 for a student ticket, not too bad. I didn't get to see one of the dolphin shows because there were no times posted anywhere, and after the show starts they put up curtains so you can't see what's going on. When I asked when the next show would be it wasn't for 3 hours, which was outside the 1.5 hours I had to spend there.
It is a beautiful building though, and I got all of my souvenirs for family from there. Just be prepared to deal with long lines and not the best of scheduling.
My only comparison is Monterrey Bay Aquarium out in California. Maybe I am spoiled by the Pacific Ocean, but this aquarium was like child's play.
The only wow factor is their dolphins and Beluga whales. Everything else was not worthwhile. It seriously felt like I was walking through a big fish store looking at "exotic" fish in tiny tanks. They don't even have a shark exhibit or sections dedicated to jelly fish, octopus, etc.
They had a bunch of other creatures from amazon such as frogs and spiders. But this is an aquarium, I expect to see fish of all sorts.
The building looks big from the outside, but once you get in, it's relatively small and packed. Hot and stinky, not enough ac.
Not worth the money. BTW, they do offer student discount ($3 cheaper) but they dont' post it. So just ask!
Pros:
Wild Reef shark exhibit is very cool, and better able to handle the crowds than the other exhibits since they stagger small-ish groups in.
The building's old decor is gorgeous and very stately.
The membership benefits are well worth the tiny bit extra you pay (the individual membership - good for you and a guest - costs just a little bit more than two tickets, you get to come as much as you want, you get discounts on food and souvenirs, and you get to skip the lines and get invites to members only events where the aquarium is open to members only and they serve snacks - the aquarium is much nicer when it's shared by only a few dozen other people).
The 4-D theater is pretty nice, although it costs extra (even with a membership) and is sort of hit-and-miss... the Polar Express was incredible, really an awesome experience, yet Shallow Seas had mismatched 3-D layers and didn't have much to speak of in the 4-D department.
Cons:
Exhibits are mostly aged and boring.
The crowds on the weekends are absolutely ridiculous, complete with crying and screaming children... I never want to go there on a weekend ever again (we've had memberships for the past 3 years, but didn't renew this year because the crowds are getting much too wild).
The admission price is quite hefty, especially considering how long you have to wait just to see one tank... and that's not even including the parking or food.
You have to claim a seat about 45 minutes early in order to see the dolphin show, which isn't that impressive... in the three years we had a membership, I think we bothered to see the show maybe twice because it just wasn't worth it.
Most of the staff that aren't employed in caring for the animals are pretty rude and completely unhelpful. They try to squeeze more money out of you by doing that stupid picture-taking thing in front of a blue screen when you walk in, and they try to talk you into it if you tell them you don't want your picture taken, which of course just holds up the line more.
Bottom line: It's not really worth it. The Ripley Aquarium in Gatlinburg, TN, (yeah, I know) is way cooler and the crowds aren't nearly as bad. Ditto for Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans (although I was there before Katrina).
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Opening day for the Oceanarium - return of the dolphins and whales.
1) One register wasn't able to print, which meant our line took 5 years longer than the other lines. Poor girl, she was in hell.
2) Dolphins had just returned, and were not yet at the peak of their performing prowess...so the dolphin show consisted of the staff showing us dogs and dog training techniques ( no lie) while kids squirmed impatiently in their parents' laps. Two dolphin tricks made up this show. Booooo!
3) Cool exhibits. This place is great, but not as great as I remembered it as a kid. So it goes...
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AMAZING!!! I have been to many aquariums, J.G.S.A by far blow's away any one I have been to. It is such an experience. My daughter (21 months) lasted hours having fun and soaking everything in. The show is a must see. I missed one show and made sure to get a front row seat for the next. Granted we waited 40 min to get our front row seat's but worth every second. I could have touched the penguins if I wanted to. They walked across my feet and up the stairs I was sitting on. Dont miss out on this...
Jazzin at the Shedd - Thursdays - Through Aug 27
Jazz, fish, wine it all sounds like a nice relaxing after hours event to wind down the work week. The Shedd has jazz on the patio with wine and beverages for purchase on Thursdays in the summer. The exhibits stay open until 10pm so you can stroll with your drink, listen to music and watch the coral reef fish being fed. All good stuff. The only draw back for singles is that families have now heard of the event and are starting to take it over. Now, unlike years in the past, there are groups of children running around, pushing, yelling, crying, screaming and probably not truly appreciating the wonderful jazz being played in the background. Their numbers start to diminish as the event comes to a close but it is still a distraction. Personally I wish an age limit of 10 years old would go into effect to keep the noise level at a minimum. The patio is also an option but it fills very quickly and seating is at a premium. The view there is stunning and worth arriving early to get a table. If you plan ahead, you can get a pass to the aquarium at the library, arrive before 5 and get in for free, making the event an even better value when you pay $8 for a glass of wine.
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Hint: get the city pass if you're visiting. That way you can bypass the HUGE line outside! This seems to be one of the really popular attractions in Chicago. LOTS of kids but if you navigate through all the good stuff first you won't have to deal with the crowds.
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I've been to many aquariums across the country but nothing beats the Shedd Aquarium. It is more than aquarium, it is a classroom. The exhibits are very 'learner-friendly' with both their information cards and staff that linger around to answer any questions. I had a wonderful time viewing the many fish tanks as well as the 'underground' exhibits with the penguins and seals. The dolphin show was amazing as was the setting for it! The stadium is gorgeous as it overlooks the lake!
The only downside is that they close at 5pm so make sure you get there early and make a day out of it. It is so worth it!
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I love aquariums. Second only to actually being under the sea, they are my favourite place to be. Consequently, I have been to quite a few.
Someone told me this was the biggest one in the world and granted one big part of it (the shark part?) is closed at the minute but it felt quite small.
I am really not a fan of those exhibits that are just models of 'polluted rivers' and 'a lake with a rusty bicycle in it' to demonstrate how we shouldn't pollute waterways, but I suppose they're necessary for the kids and the education aspect. However, the tents and props they had set up to actively encourage children to run screaming around the place kind of did my head in.
Anyway, the fish were ok. I liked the large tropical tank you see as you go in, with the turtle etc. etc. I liked the disgusting fish that suck the other fish until they die and have to be electrocuted. I liked the frogs. The coral bit was uninspiring and I nearly walked past it - you have to jump in a lift which sometimes involves a queue (stairs, people?). There was a 7/10 moray eel.
I eagerly await the finishing of the refurb works. I bought a years' membership because I know I'll be showing a lot of visiting friends round this year and it's free entry for 2 on every visit - plus an extra month free atm because of the construction work. But - this was 2 weeks ago and my membership card has not arrived yet which is disappointing.
There are better aquariums but it's a decent way to spend a couple of hours, with a fantastic city view from the front of the building.
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This place totally makes me feel like a kid and I love it! I've gone to aquariums in a lot of different cities and this is by far the best one I've seen yet. The one in New Orleans was crappy, at best. Can't wait to go to the one in Tokyo in a few weeks... Heard it rocks!
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I don't know... I mean, I've never been too much of an aquarium person, and I didn't think this place was that big of a deal, unless you are five years old. The ticket was really expensive, and most of the exhibits seemed geared for the elementary school crowd that runs all over the place. There is nothing wrong with that, in fact, I am glad that they are working on getting the next generation excited about sea life and conservation. I am just writing from the perspective of a college student.
Strengths:
1.) It is probably the largest and most diverse aquarium I have been to. I really enjoyed the exhibits on the Amazon and the Philippines.
2.) The building is very nice, and does a great job at getting kids excited about going in from the moment they enter the museum.
3.) Does a great job at conveying the importance of the relationship between human beings and the sea, showing real life examples of the tolls that irresponsible humans take on marine life.
4.) Their gift shop is really fun and large, and has several eco-friendly souvenirs and home decor.
5.) The exhibits are clear and easy to understand.
Areas for improvement:
1.) The staff members in the cafe areas were terribly rude.
2.) Tickets are very expensive, and there is no student discount.
P.S. If you have an averse reaction to the sights and sounds of running and screaming children, I'd go to the Field Museum next door instead.
The boyfriend and I visited this spot yesterday for three reasons:
1. I have lived in Chicago for nearly 6 years and never been.
2. It was the last Community Day for 2009 (eg: free)
3. It was our 2-year anniversary and we wanted to do something fun.
We completed a thorough walk-through of the main exhibits in about 2 hours, and by that time I realized I hadn't had lunch so I had food in the cafe area. I like that they let me order the kids menu. Hey, sometimes it's enough, and cheaper at that!
Speaking of kids: it's kids-friendly Tuesdays, so no go for the chidren haters on that day. And even if you like little ones, it may be a lot even for you. You go to an aquarium to see an array of sea wildlife - not necessarily an excess of childlife.
Three stars, just because being from LA and having had the marine biology bug when I was a kid, I attended an ocean conference held at the Aquarium of the Pacific (including a sleepover in the aquarium), and there is absolutely no comparison whatsoever.
But the Shedd is nice and worth a visit. Some highlights - Blue Iguanas, Sharks and a ton of interactive exhibits/games to help spread the word about some environmental concerns around. Thanks once more to the Pritzker family and various other patronage for their financial support...I now know that there is an electrical current running through the canals to prevent invasive species from entering the Great Lakes from places like the Black Sea.
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Yay! All the animals are back home!
I went here for the second time as part of my annual "tourist day" where I pretend to be a tourist and go to touristy city things. So let me start with this...aquariums are great. I love them. Is this the best one I've ever been to? No? Did I still enjoy it? Yes.
While the shark tank is lame and the "fancy" restaurant leaves a lot to be desired (FYI - no table cloths anymore...it's all casual now). My two favorite parts are first, the Caribbean reef, giant circular thingy in the rotunda with the super awesome turtle, Nickel, and cute little puffer fish that hovers by the diver. They do narrated dives, which are cool. The second best part, the gift shop! A super awesome gift shop with all sorts of useless but cool treasures. I love the stuffed pink penguins and awesome bags. I just got a tote bag made out of an old exhibit pvc banner for $29. And museum members get 10% off everything.
It doesn't beat the national Aquarium in Baltimore, but it's a great couple hours and worth a visit if you're here, and definitely worth a trip once if you're a local. Don't forget to look up Jazzin' at the Shedd in the summer months on Thursday. That's a really fun time.
I came here to do the touristy thing while my sister was in town. I'm not a huge fan of aquariums, but she is, so we had to stop in. I remember there being two different prices for admission, based on how much you wanted to see, but that was gone. There was only one price, and luckily for me, I got the resident discount.
They were also showing Planet Earth in 4-D which I would have loved to check out, but I just didn't have the time.
The museum is pretty small, but they seem to have a nice variety of fish. I took an elevator down into the Coral Reef exhibit, and that was the only thing that I really liked.
I also got free tickets to a dog show. Except the dog show was more about how to train dogs than it was an actual show. The dogs were cute and all, but since I don't own a dog and don't care how to get it trust me enough to clip it's nails, I was a little bored.
Also, the bigger attractions, like the whales, were gone. I forget if they're renovating or what, but it made an already small museum even smaller.
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Chicagoans are going to hate me. I just know it, but I have to be honest. And by being honest, I am going to say that Shedd ranks as the 3rd best of the 4 aquariums I've been to in this country. But don't feel so bad, you have some stiff competition. For instance, the National Aquarium in Baltimore. That's the NATIONAL Aquarium!! You didn't expect to beat that did you?? Then there's the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta...it's the largest in the world. No shame in losing that one. Rest assured though Shedd, I still think you're better than the Aquarium of the Smoky Mountains. That's probably not much of a consolation.
The reasons why are pretty simple. I think most of the exhibits are rather boring. The coral reef exhibit downstairs is the best thing Shedd has going for it, and that's because it's actually set up in an interesting way. It has huge tanks, and a great theme. The rest of the aquarium is just so...bleh. If you've been to the National Aquarium in Baltimore, you'll know that the tanks are generally pretty huge and the setup is more interesting. It also has the tropical bird habitat on top. The GA Aquarium is much bigger, but has better themed exhibits as well. This one doesn't excel at anything, and that's the problem. It's also really not that large. There's nothing here I haven't seen at other aquariums, while there are certainly things missing here that I could find at others (beluga whales and electric eels, anyone?). They didn't even have their octopus out!! I love octopi!!
If you're in Chicago and have an aquarium facination, then go. If you're on a budget and have to choose attractions, go to the Field Museum instead. Better yet, just wait until you're in Baltimore or Atlanta and go to one of those.
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The last time I was at Shedd Aquarium, I was probably 10 years old, and just awed by the place. It's thirty years later, and I figured it was time to find out if the place still has the magic. It does, but as an adult, there are definitely some things that tarnished my experience. First, the good: we loved watching the beluga whales, dolphins, and sea otters, especially from the basement level when you can watch them swim underwater. And I really liked the electronic interactive displays next to some of the aquariums (aquaria?) that gave you more information about the creatures inside.
On the minus side, the ticket booth seemed poorly managed. Our line moved very slow. Granted, we were visiting on a Saturday afternoon, so it's bound to be busy, but c'mon. I think we were in line OUTSIDE the aquarium for twenty minutes, and once we got inside - just when you think you're home free - we waited at least another 20-25 minutes. The ticket prices are a bit high in my opinion, at $25 a pop. The Art Institute is $18 for comparison. And finally, the crowds - holy moly. If you have claustrophobia and/or a fear of crowds at all, do NOT go on a Saturday afternoon. You'll either need the patience of a saint, or a strong shoulder, to see some of the exhibits. That's all I'm sayin'.
All in all, I'm glad I went, but I'm in no hurry to go back. Maybe in another 30 years I'll enjoy it again.
So I meant to write this review months ago when I was still stewing. This place has made no attempt to keep up with other aquariums in the last few years. Not only that, its overpriced to enter (even for chicago residents), they charge you extra for every possible 'exhibit', and they have poor management of the entrance.
It was in the middle of the winter and we had to stand outside in a line for 45 minutes to buy tickets to get into the building. Of course we were offered the chance to bypass this if we bought season passes or other passes that cost even higher amounts of money.
In all, the experience was very disappointing due to long waits, large crowds, empty tanks, high prices, hefty amounts of construction, and nothing very special.
I see no reason to ever return here and I can not recommend it to anyone visiting from out of town.
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I actually did not think this place is worth paying money for.
Also the dolphin show, Pretty LAME
Would not recommend the visit
Maybe growing up 30minutes from Sea World spoiled me, but I was a little disappointed with the Shedd Aquarium. When I went there was hardly any room to walk, let alone enjoy the exhibits, and the whole outdoor part was closed for construction, so I may not have gotten a true experience here. My mom got suckered into buying a family pass since she was too cold to wait in the long line outside, so I can go back for free whenever I want in the next 14months, so I need to head back out on a slow day, so I can better enjoy the fishies.
The big thing I was disappointed by was how few sharks there were. Sharks are my favorite!
Oh well. I'll be back.
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5 stars based on the quality and quantity of puffer fish and seahorses alone.
I can sit and stare at the Caribbean reef for hours. And mock the gigantic fat asses with sticky children in front of me pounding on the glass screaming, "MOMMMMYY! MOOOOOMMYYY!!! WOOK! WOOK! STINGRAY!!!" And I sit there daydreaming of the tank cracking and some stingray sucking on the kids brains.
I wish they had a poking station. There really isn't any thing to poke... unless...
... you go behind the scenes for just $10 extra. OK, this was AWESOME. Especially if you are a huge bio nerd like me -- or else this will just not interest you. I saw some bored Eurotrash on the tour with us, and they were just as nearly enthused as I was to see an auto-titrater in the labs or learn how they anesthetize fish for surgery. Oh oh, and the best part? Is you conclude the tour by poking one of those tumor cichlids on the head. Totally worth the $10.
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Somehow I have been to this aquarium four times even though I don't much care for zoos or aquaria. Most recently was last September when my parents visited. A few years ago, I was dating a girl who is afraid of fish. We were planning a trip to Hawaii and wanted to include snorkeling...so she had the brilliant idea to come to the aquarium in an effort to inure herself to the scenario of being surrounded by fish. It worked! If you are the same boat (ichthyophobes and the people who love them), try it.
The best part of the Shedd is the old sea turtle, Nickel. He was injured by a boat and rehabilitated by the aquarium. He is a different species than the noble and beautiful "honu" that we saw in Hawaii, but seeing that poor bastard swimming lopsided around the circular central tank always gives me a twinge...but also a smile. Keep on truckin', Nickel.
It's pleasant to walk around the facility; being surrounded by swimming fish is very soothing. But I don't take particular interest in any specific types or regions. The marine mammals are much more my speed, but half the time they aren't in their tanks.
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