Shedd Aquarium
4.5(30,491)4.5 out of 5 stars, 30491 reviews Chicago, IL
About Shedd Aquarium
Shedd Aquarium offers a unique blend of interactive exhibits and live animal shows, making it a captivating experience for families interested in aquatic life. Its focus on education and engagement through touch pools and live demonstrations enhances the learning experience for children.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families looking for educational outingsChildren interested in marine lifeWeekend family activities in ChicagoBest suited for children aged 4-12, as younger kids enjoy interactive exhibits and older kids can appreciate the educational aspects
Why families love it
- Dolphin show is a delightful highlight despite its brief duration
- Interactive elements like touch pools with starfish
- Beluga whales and penguins are standout attractions
- Interactive touch pools
- Dolphin and beluga shows
- Diverse aquatic life including Amazonian species
Insider tips
- Ask for the dolphin show schedule as soon as you arrive to plan your visit
- Arrive early to avoid crowds, especially on weekends
- Allocate at least half a day to explore the aquarium thoroughly
Good to know before you go
- Visiting during peak hours on weekends when it gets busy
- Expecting all sections to be open without checking ahead
- Some sections of the aquarium were closed during visits
- Inconsistent experience with the 4D movie due to equipment issues
- Perceived high cost relative to the experience, especially with parts closed
- Crowds
- Aquarium gets busy on weekends; visiting early is recommended to avoid crowds
- Value
- Free admission days for Illinois residents provide significant value. Regular pricing was not mentioned, but perceived value may decrease if sections are closed.
- Food
- No specific food and drink rules mentioned; check venue policies for outside food
- Accessibility
- No specific accommodations mentioned in reviews, so check directly with the venue for special needs support
- Safety
- No specific safety measures mentioned; inquire directly for current protocols
What parents say
"We visited Shedd Aquarium during the free admission days for Illinois residents and had a wonderful time. The staff was incredibly helpful and welcoming throughout our visit. We especially enjoyed the dolphin show, even though it was brief—it was a delightful highlight. Most importantly, my kids had an amazing time exploring and learning about the aquatic life. A great experience for families!"
a month ago
"I went to Shedd Aquarium last Saturday amazing place for kids and adults to gain some knowledge on aquatic animals.I suggest this place takes half day to cover each and every place in detail. There is dolphin show which is amazing but the time duration of show is short.We can see some animals which are grown near amazon river like Anaconda,Poison frog,Amazonian giant centipede etc.A wonderful experience MUST VISIT place in Chicago do not forget to visit Ground floor we can see penguins, jellyfish and beluga whales."
in the last week
"I feel bad for saying this was a bit disappointing, but it was. Perhaps it’s because my children have grown? But it just did not seem magical. I came several years ago, when I was in college, and it was magical then, but now it doesn’t seem as if they have grown that much. Of course, there are amazing parts, but quite a few sections were closed. I think we should’ve received a discount since there were sections that were not accessible. But we did not. We also experienced one of the 4D movies, and my husband and son were enjoying elements that I did not (some of the wind blowing, etc) because"
2 months ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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