9,648Reviews76Q&A
Reviews
Traveler rating
- 4,684
- 2,935
- 1,440
- 388
- 202
Traveler type
Time of year
Language
More
Selected filters
- Filter
- English
Popular mentions
I took two elementary aged kids on a Saturday. It was a great experience from start to finish. We started with a 4D movie. It was excellent in quality and kept the kids intrigued. We enjoyed every exhibit from the seahorses to dolphins. Social distancing was enforced and masks. The staff that’s placed strategically throughout Shedd aren’t afraid to give gentle remainders. Hand hygiene stations throughout. Although, it was a typical busy day in Chicago I felt safe and protected. It’s worth packing a lunch with a beverage due to limited options at the cafe. I also was impressed with staff members throughout aquarium to help with way finding. Worth the money. We forked out $30 for Valet because parking is difficult for a novice in Chicagoland. 2 thumbs up to the StingRay exhibit. Definitely a place for the young and old. …
Read more
Date of experience: October 2020
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
We spent almost a whole day at Shedd, could watch the otters, penguins and dolphins for hours. We learned that the aquarium is offering free admission to Illinois residents during October on Mondays through Wednesdays. That did not apply to us so we went on Thursday and we practically had the place to ourselves. Very easy to social distance and everyone was masked. One cafe was open, my sandwich was marginal, but I did take it downstairs and ate in front of the dolphin tank which was very relaxing. There were lots of docents available to give additional info, just ask them! We've been following Shedd's penguins and other animals on Instagram since shutdown began, and it was really fun to see them in person. Tip: We used the SpotHero app and found discounted parking right across Michigan Ave, a short walk away.…
Read more
Date of experience: September 2020
Helpful
+1
Haven’t been here in years and it was pretty cool! Loved being able to touch the stingrays! I wish more stuff would have been available, but I totally understand with coronavirus concerns!
Read more
Date of experience: September 2020
Helpful
We spent a good 4 hours here. Didn’t eat before we came but thankfully they had a small cafe (has other restaurants but are closed due to COVID). We were able to get a hot dog and chips and eat outside overlooking the lake. 4-D movie was a disappointment. Not even 4-D. Other than that, lots to see!…
Read more
Date of experience: September 2020
Helpful
+1
If you are into aquariums, this is one of the best from the standpoint of scope and size. I have been to a lot of aquariums and a lot of Museums. It can be very easily to get bogged down in the quantity and size but what is important to think about is the overall story of the themed section as opposed to each individual tank. You will get searched from the outside so have your bags open as you are walking in. With tourist attractions only being allowed to operate at about 25% capacity, you should buy your tickets ahead of time. It will make getting in a lot easier. There aren't going to be maps so have a digital version on your phone ready. Trust me, this place is big and the layout is confusing. It is as if there was an original portion and then they built onto it. The big show is not taking place, likely because they don't want a lot of people crowding into the seated section. That being said, you can still go down to see the dolphins, beluga whales, sea lions, and otters. There are multiple levels to observe them. There are multiple wings to see special areas. I didn't go to the movie as I wanted to maximize my time seeing the animals. What is really cool is how much of the world you will see while going through the exhibits. If you are into the local ecosystems, they have a really good collection of animals of the Great Lakes. I was particularly impressed with the invasive species section. I had never seen Sea Lampreys before and after coming to the Shedd, it is no wonder they are such a pest. Next to them, they have one tank of the natural beauty and one with Asian Carp (another invasive species). They did a fantastic job showing how important it is to take care of our ecosystem. The Shedd is one of the finest aquariums in the country and for good reason. For quantity and display, very few other places can touch it.…
Read more
Date of experience: August 2020
Helpful
