I have fond memories of going to the aquarium as a child. Whether I was on a school field trip or just out with my family, there was always something new to explore. When my boyfriend came home with a certificate he had won for two free passes to the Shedd Aquarium here in Chicago, I was super excited to spend a day with some fishy friends. The passes included express entry to the aquarium, tickets to the special exhibits ‘Wild Reef,' and ‘Jellies,' as well as tickets to an aquatic show.
The certificate expired at the end of September, so we decided to go on a gorgeous Fall afternoon. When we arrived, I was disturbed to see a long line stretching down the front steps. Apparently, we were not the only ones who had the great idea to visit the aquarium on a Saturday. Luckily for us, our certificate allowed us to wait in the much shorter Will Call line, and we only ended up having to wait about 15 minutes before the fun could begin.
Our first stop was the 3:30 PM aquatic show, featuring dolphins, beluga whales, and even penguins! The show began with the dolphins jumping and performing tricks with their trainers. Then three beluga whales came out. I am not sure how many aquariums have beluga whales, but it one of the reason I love coming to the Shedd. One happens to be a baby that was born at the aquarium about two years ago. (Of course I hummed ‘Baby Beluga' for the remainder of the day). When the beluga whales waved goodbye with their fins, we saw two of the cutest penguins run across the arena right in front of the first row of people! The last part of the show featured the dolphins once again, and they impressed the audience with synchronized jumping and flipping.
After the show, we went to take on the jellies in a special exhibit. We wander through and gazed in wonder at what look like just brainless blobs floating through the water. Of course, we learned that they are much more than this and got to view many kinds of jelly fish I had never seen nor heard of. They were all very majestic, serene, and beautiful to watch.
Our final stop was one of my personal favorites: the Wild Reef exhibit. After taking an elevator down to a lower level, we walked through a whole section about the ‘oasis' of an ocean – a wild reef (think Finding Nemo). There was an abundance of colorful fish and anemone, which I learned are actually an animal and not a plant. Huh. The best part? The giant shark viewing tank, where a floor-to-ceiling glass wall is all that separates you and the sharks swimming in the gloom. It definitely gave you the sense of what it would be like to be swimming and see a shark approaching from out of the darkness. Creepy – but fascinating!
So what are you waiting for? Get to the Shedd – if only to see the baby beluga and experience the Wild Reef!
The Deal:
I Spent: $80 Free!
I Got: Express entry, two Shedd Pass tickets, including Wild Reef, Jellies, Abott Oceanarium, and an aquatic show.
Company Info:
1200 S Lake Shore Drive
Chicago IL 60605
(312) 939-2438
