Chicago, Illinois: Underwater Explorations Around the World at Shedd Aquarium

Located right by the aquarium’s entrance is the Caribbean Reef, a 340,000-liter habitat featuring a 360-degree view of a tropical coral reef. Watch stingrays and schooling fishes glide by. Catch a glimpse of a passing shark and take a walk around the exhibit to see if you can find Nickel, the aquarium’s flagship green sea turtle. Stay to see the dive presentation, when a diver feeds the fishes and answers visitors’ questions.

Showcasing 76 fresh and saltwater habitats with hundreds of aquatic species, the Waters of the World galleries take you from the rivers of Asia to the lakes of Africa to an island in the Bahamas – and more. You won’t need a passport, just bring your curiosity as you take a self-guided tour of the planet’s diverse aquatic life. Look for seahorses, freshwater turtles, deep-sea fishes and even alligators. Explore the Great Lakes exhibit, where the ecosystems of Lake Michigan and surrounding wetlands have been recreated to highlight a wide range of local animals.

Sharks, sharks and more sharks – there’s no shortage of these fascinating predators at the Wild Reef exhibit. Inspired by a real island in the Philippines, Wild Reef replicates a tropical Pacific ecosystem, complete with an expansive, colorful reef of live corals. It also houses the largest collection of sharks in the aquarium. If watching the sharks swim isn’t enough, check out the exclusive Feeding Tour, where you get a behind-the-scenes look at how – and what – these ocean carnivores eat.

Underwater and coastal gems of the Pacific Northwest are featured at the Abbott Oceanarium. This is where you’ll find the aquarium’s marine mammals, including beluga whales, dolphins, sea lions and sea otters. Stick around for an aquatic presentation to learn about the animals. If you have children with you, head over to the Polar Play Zone – an Arctic-inspired interactive playground. Here, find a kid-sized submarine, a sea star touch pool and an underwater viewing gallery where you can get eye to eye with the dolphins and whales. Even if you don’t have children, you’ll still want to visit Polar Play Zone to see the penguin habitat, home to colonies of Magellanic and rockhopper penguins.

Shedd Aquarium is located in downtown Chicago. The city is easily reached from international destinations via Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW).