Tag Archives: aquarium

Dive right in! Penguins, otters, whales & more at the Shedd Aquarium!

SheddAquarium

The John G. Shedd Aquarium, a not-for-profit institution dedicated to public education and conservation, cares for more than 32,500 animals representing nearly 1,500 species from around the world. Beautifully situated on the shores of Lake Michigan, Shedd Aquarium welcomes more than 2 million guests annually.

Animals connect you to the living world, inspiring you to make a difference. From whales to snails, tarantulas to turtles, you’ll meet creatures from aquatic habitats around the world. Explore Shedd’s Abbott Oceanarium, where you can get face to face with beluga whales, dolphins, sea otters, sea lions and penguins. Polar Play Zone is a permanent exhibit where kids and their families can play, pretend and discover through hands-on activities. See the aquatic show, starring the dolphins, belugas and more, and don’t miss the “Jellies” special exhibit. Then meet some of Shedd’s critters up close during live animal encounters in the Waters of the World galleries, talk to a diver in the 90,000-gallon Caribbean Reef, take a walk through a flooded forest in Amazon Rising and watch sharks overhead in Wild Reef. And visit Granddad, the oldest fish in any aquarium or zoo! Two million annual visitors can’t be wrong: Shedd Aquarium is the “must-sea” destination in Chicago! Click sheddaquarium.org for more information.

New England Aquarium’s Shark and Ray Touch Tank: The Largest on the East Coast

If you have ever wanted to get up close and personal with some sharks and stingrays, the New England Aquarium has the exhibit just for you.

The largest Shark and Ray touch tank on the East Coast has just debuted at the Aquarium allowing visitors of all ages to get a hands-on experience gently touching cownose rays and bonnethead sharks as they swim around in a mangrove-themed tank. The exhibit also discusses the importance of conserving essential coastal habitats, including mangroves and lagoons. Check out the website for the Aquarium at neaq.org for more information.

Whales, Seahorses & Dolphins Oh Shedd!

aquarium

Not only does the Shedd Aquarium play home to some of the most beautiful and exotic sea creatures humans could ever lay their eyes on, but it also is home to one of the best views you’ll find in the entire city of Chicago.

Located on a peninsula jutting out in Lake Michigan, from outside and within its dome-like windowed walls, the entire city of Chicago is laid out like a panoramic postcard from within the museum. The view aside however, kids and adults alike ooh and ahh over the amazing array of sea life. From teeny tiny seahorses of all colors and shapes majestically fanning around their world, to dolphins jumping and baby beluga whales being born, the Shedd Aquarium provides top notch entertainment day and night, all year round.

Visitors learn about sea creatures from every crevice of the world and can catch specially scheduled shows to see the dolphins and whales in action. After hours, the Shedd hosts plenty of parties and mixers so be sure to check their schedule to see if a cocktail hour at the Shedd is happening (always a blast!). Jazzin’ it at the Shedd happens Wednesday nights and serves as the perfect place to catch the nightly fireworks shooting from Navy Pier.

5. Sea Winter Nights & Lights 12/19/09-1/2/2010

It even snows in Miami for the holidays- albeit fake snow. At the Miami Seaquarium in late December, the annual Winter Nights and Lights Celebration will be celebrating this special time of year. Complete with a nightly snowfall, extended park hours and holiday themed shows and exhibits, this is the perfect place to grab the family and get in the spirit of the season in a unique way.