The Best Aquariums in the US

"The extraordinary experiences at the Shedd are many. There's fun free ones, like the scuba diver in the Caribbean reef exhibit who talks while he feeds the fish, and animal encounters that allow you to safely touch. Visitors willing to splurge on a $200 ticket can partake in behind-the-scenes activities including training belugas and meeting penguins and sea otters. Some 32,000 animals live here. Big draws include Pacific white-sided dolphins, beluga whales, sharks, and stingrays. Regardless of how you choose to spend your visit, you'll have the entire marine world—from Caribbean reefs to Arctic waters—before you on the banks of Lake Michigan."