Shedd Aquarium
Located at 1200 Lake Shore Drive, the Shedd Aquarium makes for an unforgettable family day out. It boasts the largest variety of finned, gilled, amphibious and other aquatic creatures in the world. All the presentations are very clever and well thought out, with each one being linked appropriately to the ecosystems, food webs and marine biology. One of the more popular exhibits is in the impressive multilevel Oceanarium. This permanent show mimics ocean conditions off the northwest coast of North America. Here you can see the remarkable beluga whales, with their humped heads and natural smiles. You can also see Pacific white-sided dolphins, sea otters and harbor seals. To get an even better view, you can go below and see the mammals through the viewing windows. The Wild Reef exhibit is another favorite, with more than a dozen sharks in a simulation of a Philippines reef ecosystem. The Amazon Rising exhibit takes a look at life on the famous river and rain forest. It is advised to obtain tickets for this in advance if possible, as it tends to sell out very early. The aquarium opens from 9am to 6pm during the summer months, but closes earlier from September to May.
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