Quick Stop in Chicago

Chicago was really easy for getting around fast and getting in a bunch of excitement. We were able to take the shuttle train to from the airport rather quickly to the train station, lock up our things and explore the aquarium. We had an awesome day trip to say the least.

Quick Tips:

If you are going to be leaving Chicago by Amtrack train, but want to explore the city before hand... take the CTA train from the O'Hare airport to the Amtrack station and lock up your bags. (Breakfast is available at the train station.) It's a short walk to take buses around town and the taxi drivers are also very friendly. You can go to the bathroom and pick up your bags right before boarding the train.

Best Way To Get Around:

The CTA trains are efficient and are a cheap way to go longer distances.

If you don't mind walking a little bit, the buses are good and give a discount for children.

Taxis are the most expensive way to go, but every driver we had was very friendly.

We arrived at the train station early (7am) and were hungry after a red-eye flight. We were happy to see this little stand at Union Station offering cheap hand-cooked breakfasts. (If I recall, a plate of eggs, toast, and potatoes was $1.99.) They also served bagels, muffins, juice, water, and coffee.

The atmosphere was cozy with many people in a small restaurant and I wouldn't recommend a booth if you have long legs or just aren't a smallish person. There is a bar and a TV with the football game showing, but it really wasn't that distracting. The waitresses were very friendly and the drinks were cold.

This pizza was wonderful! I had never tried Chicago pizza before, but it was worth the 40 minute wait at the restaurant. I cannot educatedly say that this is the best Chicago pizza you'll ever find because this was the first Chicago pizza I ever tried, but, I would definitely recommend it, and when we asked the native Chicago citizens at the aquarium they told us this was the only place to go for good Chicago pizza.

Take a short bus ride to the beautiful coast of Lake Michigan. Outside of the Shedd are some great gardens which, we learned are managed by a biologist at the aquarium who doesn't use any chemicals on the plants and cures all of the pests with ladybugs and other natural resources.

Inside Shedd is a full day or more of adventure and abundance of every aquatic habitat imaginable. The staff are great, and would love to answer any questions and all the plants and animals are kept in top notch condition. There is something for every age at this aquarium.

As you walk past the ticket counter, you end up in the first part of the aquarium that was ever built: a large dome room with beautiful architecture and a circle under the sea habitat. The sea turtle named Penney is the top attraction in this exhibit along with the sharks and a million different kinds of fish. A couple of times a day, there is a presentation about these animals, and a diver goes in to feed them. Children love this.

The dolphins are also a "must see." The tricks that these dolphins can do with their trainers are amazing, and what makes the show even better, is the attitude that the show portrays by making it the opposite of a circus, and emphasizing how the trainers train and the real purpose for the training. For instance, one dolphin will put her tail up on the trainers shoulder while the trainer sits on a rock in the habitat. They say this is important for when the dolphins need a to have blood drawn for medical reasons, and they don't have to be stressed out about it. The whole show gives a great impression of the animal humaneness at Shedd.

Other great exhibits include: a sea lion named Ty, a mother beluga and her baby, lizards and the great Komodo dragon, Alaska, and the Amazon. If you have a chance to go to the 4D theater, (I never normally go to those kinds of things) that was even cool too.

There is food for sale in the food court with tons of tables for everybody to sit down at, and even a fancy restaurant if you're that kind of person.

The only thing that I didn't like about this place was the penguin exhibit, where it seemed like they were just placed together in a tiny room and they looked very bored. I felt sorry for them.

If you want more information about prices and current exhibits, the Shedd website at www.sheddaquarium.org is very helpful. I would definitely recommend this aquarium.

If you have the choice between riding the train to wherever you are going from Chicago, or taking another airplane ride, the train is a lot more cost effective and very comfortable.