A Chicago day trip done right
For Adam's birthday this past weekend, we took a day trip to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. He'd never been before and I had only been once, at least a decade ago. The place is fun — maybe not mind-blowing, but fun. Here are some tips for planning your own visit.
#1 Buy tickets in advance.
There was a huge line out the aquarium's front entrance — all folks who hadn't bought tickets beforehand. The line was super long when we arrived at noon and was just as long, if not longer, when we left around 3:30. To skip the line, all you have to do is buy tickets online ahead of time. You can print them at home or have your mobile device handy. For adults, tickets are $37.50 for the all-access pass.
#2 Get the all-access pass.
If you're going to the Shedd Aquarium, do it right. The all-access pass gets you in to all of the exhibits, including the sharks, beluga whales, and dolphins. You'll also gain access to the Aquatic Show and a 4-D experience (you'll choose times for both of these shows when you purchase your tickets in advance).
#3 Missed the Aquatic Show? Don't sweat it.
Okay, so it was fun to see the dolphins twirl, the belugas wave, and that little penguin trot along the sidewalk. But either get there early to get good seats near the water, or know that you'll be squinting a bit to catch all the action. If your show is at noon, they recommend arriving at 11:30, and so on. But like I said, if you happen to miss the show, don't sweat it. It really is geared toward kids, with staged dialogue between a couple of trainers and video montages promoting wildlife conservation. That said, if you do have kids along for the ride, don't miss the show! I'm sure they'd love it.
#4 Bring quarters and purse snacks.
Even better than a coat check: lockers. Just three quarters will get you a locker for the day, and they're plenty big for two winter coats and a tote bag. As for snacks, while there are some exhibits that forbid food (due to open water), other exhibits allow food and drink. There's also a cafeteria where you can chow down on your own brown bag lunch if you're so inclined. FYI: If bagged lunches aren't your thing, the Shedd offers a few cafés and concession stands.
#5 Expect crowds.
There's no avoiding it. The Shedd Aquarium is super crowded. Maybe going on a weekday would be better, but I would inquire with the Shedd staff as to when is the best time to go to avoid the crowd. If you're bringing kids, I suggest doing so sans stroller — they're cumbersome and awkward and some of the exhibits can only be accessed by flights of stairs. We saw more than a few families struggling.
#6 Hit multiple museums in one day.
Adam and I arrived at the Shedd around noon. We parked by the Planetarium for $19. There are multiple parking lots around the various museums, which are all in same general vicinity. Once parked, it would be easy to walk from the Planetarium to the Shedd to the Field Museum, and so on. I say, if you can get yourself out of bed bright and early, go park once and take in multiple museums in one day. The aquarium had us tuckered out after about 3.5 hours, but if we had gotten there earlier, we could have fit in the Planetarium or Field Museum, too — and without having to park again!
#7 Consider the City Pass.
Gonna be in Chicago for a few days or a week? Purchase the City Pass! It'll get you into all of Chicago's museums, bypassing lines, for one week. Given the cost of each individual museum, the City Pass is so worth it for both savings and convenience.
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