At first, the John G. Shedd Aquarium was just as I remembered it from childhood visits. Divers still hand-feed reef fish, rays, and sharks that circle endlessly in the 90,000-gallon circular Caribbean Reef aquarium in the main hall. Galleries jut from the tank like spokes of a wheel, each exhibiting an array of sea creatures from lake, riverine, and ocean environments. It was comforting to think that nothing much had changed, but also slightly disturbing because, like visiting a house where you grew up, what had once seemed huge now seemed so small. There must be more to this place, I mused.

John G. Shedd Aquarium in Grant Park, part of Chicago's downtown Museum Campus

Finally locating a map, I discovered a huge portion of the facility that I had overlooked. Down a short fight of steps I discovered the Polar Play Zone. Billed as a place that kids can call their own, this subterranean exhibit features penguins, beluga whales, and an ever popular touch pool. Rockhopper penguins, with their glowing red eyes and egg-yolk yellow eyebrows that swoosh upward into long yellow plumes, are always a hit, as much for their unique appearance as for their antics. They are the only penguins that enter the water feet first, then burst back out and grab onto any perch they can with their beak, flippers, or feet. After watching the penguins in their glass case, kids are invited to don a penguin suit and slide down rock chutes that mimic an arctic environment.

Divers feed fish, rays, and shark that circle in the huge circular Caribbean reef tank

At the opposite end of the Polar Play Zone I climbed back up to the main level, where I discovered the Oceanarium, an enormous pool where trainers conduct interactive shows with marine mammals. On one side of the pool semicircular concrete steps create amphitheater seating, while floor-to-ceiling windows on the far side provide breathtaking views of Lake Michigan. This was definitely not part of the facility when I was a child. Indeed, I later discovered that the Oceanarium opened in 1991 andrecently underwent a $50 million renovation, reopening just this summer. I grabbed a seat and squinted into the bright sunlight streaming through the windows, wondering how we would be able to see the performance with all the glare bouncing off the water. As if answering my question, a giant curtain suddenly descended, casting the theater into semi-darkness. Music came up, colored spotlights moved across the surface of the water, and the emcee stepped to the mike to make a surprise announcement: we would be seeing a preview of the new Fantasea show, scheduled to premiere later this fall. It was a fabulous Disneyesque romp with flying boats, fairies, divers falling from the ceiling, and stunning stunts involving Beluga whales, white dolphins, and penguins. I’d love to tell you more about it, but we were sworn to secrecy (all 5,000 or so of us). What I can say is that you’ll definitely want to see this show.

Fantasea, a new multi-media show featuring whales, dolphins, and penguins, will soon open in the Oceanarium

The Shedd Aquarium is one of the most-visited marine mammal pavilions in the world and a premier conservation and education facility. Summer hours (May 25 through Sept. 7, 2009) are 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Winter hours (Sept. 8 through Memorial Day 2010) are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. on weekends. A Shedd Pass, which costs $24.95 for adults and $17.95 for children ages 3-11, provides access to all areas of the Aquarium. On any of Shedd’s 52 Community Discount Days, general admission is free and includes the Waters of the World, Amazon Rising, and the Caribbean Reef. Packages including Wild Reef, Polar Play Zone and Oceanarium are available at a discounted rate. Upcoming Community Discount Days are September 21, 22, 28 and 29; October 5, 6, 12, 13, 26 and 27; and November 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24 and 30. The John G. Shedd Aquarium is located at 1200 South Lake Shore Drive in downtown Chicago’s Museum Campus.

Photo credits: Barbara Weibel

Article by Barbara Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travels