Visiting Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Illinois

As the world's largest indoor aquarium, Shedd Aquarium in Chicago is really something to see. It's got a little bit of nearly all aquatic - and semi-aquatic - species around. You can view amazing creatures above, below and all-around you. Whether you're planning to visit for a few hours, or a full-day, here are some tips and other information to help you make the most of your visit.

About Shedd Aquarium

The Shedd Aquarium is a long-standing Chicago landmark, having been around since 1930. It was conceived of and funded by John Shedd, a retired president of Marshall Field. It was actually placed on land created by a landfill, and followed the city's plan that all cultural landmarks be located in the Chicago waterfront park area. Thus, if you have additional time in Chicago after your visit to Shedd, you can take a short walk to other attractions, like the Field Museum and Museum of Natural History.

The Best Time To Go

The Shedd Aquarium can get really - and I do mean really - crowded. And like most zoos and aquariums, that can mean big crowds at the best exhibits, leaving you and any little ones jockeying for the best viewing position. During our recent visit, getting my one- and three-year-old to a spot where they could actually see animals felt like tactical warfare! To avoid a lot of this hassle, try visiting on their least busy days: Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. On Sundays, it's best to visit in the morning. On the other days, you would do best to visit in the afternoon, when the crowds have dissipated some. This will give you the best chance at seeing your favorite exhibits.

Planning Your Visit

To make the most of your visit, try using the maps and guides available at the Shedd Aquarium's website to plan a "course of action". It may end up being only a rough outline once you get there, but at least you'll have an idea of which exhibits are high on your list of must-sees. With 450,000 feet of aquarium there, a plan of action will keep you from missing the aquarium's highlights and wandering around aimlessly (which you probably won't want to do unless you have an annual pass). For instance, my entire family wanted to see the shark exhibit, but we had a lot of trouble finding it because we were in the wrong wing of the museum. We would have saved a lot of time just by knowing the general direction we needed to be going as we checked out all the exhibits on our way.

Visiting Shedd Aquarium with Children

Shedd is an awe-inspiring place for kids, but there are a few things parents should keep in mind. First, if you think that you might in any way need one, bring a stroller. We were surprised, but Shedd does not offer stroller rentals, and you'll walk quite a lot during your visit. Although many areas of the museum are reached by stairs, there are elevators that the disable and those with strollers can take. Also, go during warm weather or bundle up if you're going early. We had to wait outside in freezing temperatures for more than half an hour just to get to the line inside the building.

Some Tips for Saving Money

Shedd Aquarium is many things, but cheap isn't one of them. Basic Shedd passes for adults are $28.95, and prices for kids aged 3-11 are $19.99. If you want to experience a 3-D featire or animal exhibit, it will cost you extra. Thus, just getting into Shedd Aquarium could cost a family of four nearly $100.00. Parking is another area where visitors can save money. If you are going to visit early in the day, park in the Adler Lot of Soldier Field for an early bird special of $11.00 - as opposed to the $19.00 you'll pay for 3 or more hours if you park later in the day. Another great idea: bring some (or all) of your food. You can eat food you brought with you in designated areas, and the Aquarium's food is super-expensive (and not very good). At one on-site restaurant, we paid $55.00 for three peanut butter and jelly kid's meals and three adult lunches. The lunches were overgrilled cheese sandwiches and a tomato soup that was not so good. You can pare down the spending considerably with these tips, and maybe even afford a souvenir at the end of your trip!

Shedd Aquarium is a wonderful place to visit. I'm glad we went, and am certain you will be, too. I can't wait to visit again, so I can put what I've learned to good use. Happy travelling, and I hope you enjoy your visit to the world's largest indoor aquarium.

Information obtained on March 31, 2011 via:

http://www.sheddaquarium.org/history.html

http://www.sheddaquarium.org/ticketprices.html

http://www.soldierfieldparking.com/Source/Default.aspx