Visitors to Chicago are spoilt for choice in terms of sightseeing options and places to visit. There are so many parks, museums, restaurants, shows, theatres and more to visit that tourists in Chicago have to make a list well in advance and decide between the multitudes of sightseeing options to pick from.

One of the most recommended and highest rated cultural attractions in Chicago is the Shedd Aquarium. This public aquarium was begun on the 30th of May in the year 1930 and has ever since served as a tourist attraction and a favorite with the locals over the years. More than 25,000 fishes live within this aquarium, which at one time held the honor of being the largest aquarium anywhere in the world.

The Much Acclaimed Shedd Aquarium

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shedd_Aquarium

the saltwater fish collection held within the Shedd Aquarium earns it the distinction of being the first of its kind in the inland aquarium category. It has been voted as the top number one cultural attraction of Chicago with as many as 2 million visitors recorded every year. The Field Museum of Natural History and the Adler Planetarium lie in the vicinity of the Shedd Aquarium, making the entire block an extremely tourist-oriented place in the city.

Learn More about the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago

http://www.aviewoncities.com/chicago/sheddaquarium.htm

The Shedd Aquarium in 2010 is opened to the public in three cycles. From the 31st May to 30th June from 9:00AM to 6:00PM. The second cycle is from 1st July to 7th September from 8:00AM to 6:00PM. The final cycle is from 8th September to 23rd December from 9:00AM to 5:00PM (6:00 PM on weekends).

Visiting the Shedd Aquarium

http://www.sheddaquarium.org/hours.html

With a history of more than 80 years, Shedd Aquarium is one of the premier aquariums throughout the country. The aquarium has an impressive collection of underwater life. It houses 1,500 species, like marine mammals, fish, birds, amphibians and snakes and more. These animals at Shedd Aquarium will connect you to the living world and inspire you to make a difference. A visit to the aquarium can be entertaining and instructive at the same time.

Dive into Shedd Aquarium

http://www.sheddaquarium.org/aboutshedd.html

Shedd Aquarium features many popular exhibits. Five permanent exhibits at the aquarium include the newest Wild Reef, Caribbean Reef, Amazon Rising, the Oceanarium and Waters of the World. There're also many fascinating temporary exhibits, like the Lizards and the Komodo King. When coming to the Shedd, you're sure to have much more to explore.

Explore by Exhibit at the Shedd Aquarium

http://www.sheddaquarium.org/explore_by_exhibit.html

Animal Exploration at the Shedd Aquarium

http://www.sheddaquarium.org/explore_by_animal.html

Situated on Lake Shore Drive, Shedd Aquarium provides convenient transportation for aquarium visitors. Public transportation, CTA bus and train, can be one of the quickest and most economical method to get to the Shedd Aquarium and nearby attractions at the Museum Campus, like the Soldier Field, Field Museum and Adler Planetarium. Of course, you can drive to the Shedd Aquarium. Ample parking spaces are provided for tourists.

Driving Directions and Map of Museum Campus

http://www.chicagotraveler.com/attraction-maps/shedd-aquarium-map.html

Soldier Field North Garage provides parking for guests of Museum Campus, including Shedd Aquarium. The garage has 2,500 underground parking spaces. Its nearby buildings include the Children's Garden, Gold Star Memorial Park, Veteran's Sculpture and Water Wall. You can enter the North Garage either through the main entrance on Museum Campus Drive or the second entrance from McFetridge Drive.

The North Garage entrance is open to visitors from 5 AM to 5 PM. First 4-hour parking at North Garage charges $16. You can pay $19 for parking from 4 hours to 12 hours. You can also reserve overnight parking at North Garage. The rate for overnight parking for 12 hours or less is $19. If you enter North Garage after 5 PM and park for 12 hours or less, you need to pay $19. Parking over 12 hours will cost $38.

Parking is also available in the East Museum surface lot. The entrance is situated on Museum Campus Drive. This small parking lot is open from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. You can always exit after closing hours. But overnight parking is not permitted unless you reserve in advance. Overnight parking rate at East Lot is $19. Evening parking is allowed at East Lot and charges $19 for museum and Soldier Field rentals.

Note: Handicap parking is available in both parking garages. There's another additional handicap parking at the East Museum surface lot that is open from 10 AM to 3 PM.

Aquarium guests can enjoy valet parking on weekends with a charge of $25. Just have your car parked at the guest drop-off area on the south side of the Shedd Aquarium. You can make the best use of the convenience offered to save your parking time. Remember this is subject to limited availability as well. It's better to be an early bird.

You may be charged higher cash-only special event parking rates when there's a game or some other special events at the Soldier Field or on the Northerly Island. Soldier Field North Garage and East Museum surface lot will charge $19 or more on these days. And you can only pay in cash. Credit cards will not be accepted. Don't worry! You can find ATMs in the garage.

Buses, campers and RVs can be parked at the Adler Planetarium surface parking lot on Lyn White Drive that is just northeast of the Soldier Field. You need to pay $22 to $32 for bus/RV parking on non-event days. Event day parking may vary. You can check the availability of bus/RV parking spaces. You cannot park your bus or RV in the Museum drop-off areas or on Solidarity Drive.

Events Parking at Soldier Filed

http://soldierfield.clickandpark.com

Shedd Aquarium Parking Driving Directions

http://www.soldierfieldparking.com/Source/ParkingDirections.aspx

Hotel parking is available if you enjoy room services at nearby hotels. For several days' visiting, you can rest at many nearby hotels, like Best Western Grant Park Hotel, Hilton Chicago and Renaissance Blackstone Chicago Hotel. Howard Johnson Inn Downtown Chicago even offers free parking for guests.

Map of Hotels near Shedd Aquarium

http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocalMaps-g35805-d103788-Shedd_Aquarium-Area.html

Can you imagine spending a day with otters, whales, dolphins, lizards, penguins, fish and other aquatic animals? Do not think that I have a bee in my head. It is totally possible at Shedd Aquarium. Believe it or not, come with us to find fun at Shedd Aquarium!

If you are into fish, you shall never miss Shedd Aquarium. If time allows, you can see all the exhibits there including Aquatic Show, Amazon Rising, Caribbean Reef, Oceanarium, Polar Play Zone, Waters of the World, Wild Reef as well as Holiday Fantasea. By the day, don't forget to watch the dolphins soar and belugas dance. You have to explore by yourself since the above is just tip of the iceberg. You can check their official web ahead of your schedule:

Plan a Visit

http://www.sheddaquarium.org/

Many people are complaining about the admission rates of Shedd Aquarium. You might want to ask: are there any coupons available? Yep, we will show you where to find. As a matter of fact, Chicago residents can frequently receive coupons from mailings or newspaper distributions. You can also go to the Chicago Public Library Branches to get Shedd Aquarium coupons.

With coupons, you can receive a great discount on the admission rates, sometimes as much as 50% off. Besides, you will get free access to some exhibits and performances and discounts in food court and gift shop. If you want to apply for annual membership, coupons can help you save 20% of the cost and get free Chicago movie tickets.

Don't worry if you are not a resident of Chicago or have not received a coupon yet.

Some printable coupons can be found online either. Just click, print and save, you are ready to have a dreamy tour to Shedd Aquarium. Shedd Aquarium will mail you printable coupons as long as you give them your Email and name. Here is the link:

Coupons from Shedd Aquarium Official Web

http://action.sheddaquarium.org/site/Survey?ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS&SURVEY_ID=3940

Or you can find coupons in the following sources:

Destination Coupons

http://www.destinationcoupons.com/illinois/chicago/activity_CityPASS/CityPASS.asp

Now you can order Citypass on Destination Coupons which allows free VIP admission to the Shedd Aquarium. Apart from exploring galleries and exhibits at Shedd Aquarium, you can get an additional 4-D movie ticket. What are you hesitating for? Order it right now!

Retail Me Not

http://www.retailmenot.com/view/sheddaquarium.org

Retail Me Not will mail you when the new Shedd Aquarium coupons are added. You can also share your coupons with other users by posting the code. You will be appreciated for your general offer. With coupons offered by Retail Me Not, you can get 20% off membership and two free 4-D movie tickets.

Chicago, best known as the Windy City, is the home of the largest indoor aquarium in the world. That is the Shedd Aquarium. The aquarium provides numerous exhibits. You will find yourself face to face with deadly sharks and eels.

If you do decide to visit the Shedd Aquarium, you need to have a clear understanding of its location first. The Shedd Aquarium is located at 1200 South Lake Shore Drive on Museum Campus in Chicago. If you are looking for the directions to the aquarium, you have come to the right place. We will help to get you going in the right direction.

Is there any public transportation to the Shedd Aquarium? Yes. The Museum Campus is severed year-round by the CTA #146 Museum Campus bus. The bus runs until 10:30pm every day. For more info or details, visit this website:

CTA Bus Tracker

http://www.ctabustracker.com/bustime/home.jsp

If you are traveling from State Street downtown, North Michigan Avenue, or the north side of Chicago, take the southbound CTA bus #146 Marine-Michigan to the Museum Campus. Or board CTA's Red / Orange Line train toward the Loop and get off at the Roosevelt Road / Museum Campus Station. Then transfer to the #146 Museum Campus bus.

If you are getting to the Shedd Aquarium from Midway Airport or the south side of Chicago, you can board CTA bus #6 Jeffery Express (daily). There is a stop across from the Museum Campus. You also can take the Orange Line train toward the Loop and get off at the Roosevelt Road or Museum Campus station. Then transfer to the #146 Museum Campus bus.

If you are arriving at the O'Hare International Airport, take the CTA's Blue Line train and take off at Washington station. Then take the southbound #146 bus on State Street. For more transportation info, call 312-836-7000 or click here:

Chicago Transit Authority

http://www.transitchicago.com/default.aspx

If you drive to the Shedd Aquarium, the driving directions and parking info may be very important for you. Drive on Lake Shore Drive and exit at 18th Street. Follow Museum Campus Drive around Soldier Field. Signs will direct you to visitors' parking. The Shedd Aquarium is located just north of the parking deck and the Field Museum. You'd better arrive before 9:30am to get the early bird parking rate and avoid waiting in long lines.

What to consider if you drive to the Shedd? The Museum Campus is the venue used for concerts, marathons and other various special events. Due to this, the traffic and parking will be affected sometimes.

There is the Bears game on Sunday Jan 16, 2011 at the Museum Campus. Between 8am to 1:30pm, the only parking available at Museum Campus will be at the Adler lot with a fee of $46. After 1:30pm, the Soldier Field parking lot and other Museum Campus garages will open to the public with a special-event fee of $46 cash, if the space is available. On that day, valet parking at Shedd Aquarium will be not available.

However, there are also inexpensive parking alternatives in the nearby areas. You can park your car at the Lake Side Center at the rate of $25, the 31st Street Surface Lot at the rate of $19 and the Millennium Park garage at the rate of $25. Shuttle buses parking may be available at the Lake Side Center and Millennium Park, but not available at the Museum Campus. Park your car there and take CTA's #146 Museum Campus bus to the Shedd Aquarium with a fee of $2.25.

The Shedd Aquarium is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Chicago where you will get to learn more about aquatic animals and their habitats. You will be amazed to see the 32,500 animals that live here. Animals like Asian arawana, Beluga Whales, Bonnethead Sharks, Dwarf Caimans, Frogfish, Giant Pacific Octopus, Green Anaconda, Green Sea Turtle, Parrotfish and many other can be seen in this aquarium.

- Amazon Rising:You will see anacondas, Piranhas, spiders, crocodiles, turtles and the fish that consumes fruits called tambaqui in this exotic tour.

- Caribbean Reef: This one is the 90,000-gallon award winning circular habitat of Shedd. You will see sharks, parrotfish, green sea turtle and moray eel out here.

- Oceanarium: You will see a large variety of fishes, sea lions, Pacific white-sided dolphins and sea otters here.

- Polar Play Zone: This one is a fun place for the kids. You will see Belugas and sea stars out here.

- Waters of the World: Enjoy watching the mantella frogs, blue iguanas, moon jellies, giant octopus and sea stars in this tour.

- Wild Reef: This one is an amazing award winning exhibit of the sharks.

- Fantasea: This special tour will start sometime in late summer. Its here you will see how these aquatic animals are supremely talented. Check out the dance moves taught by their trainers.

The tickets here are priced at $ 17.95 for children from 3-11 years and $ 24.95 for adults. Its open on summer's from 9am to 6pm everyday through May 25 to September 7. Enjoy a great meal at the Bubble Net, Deep Ocean Cafe and Soundings Cafe. Don't miss out the 4-D experience in the Phelps auditorium. School trips and group visits can be easily planned at the Shedds.

http://www.sheddaquarium.org/

What are the nearby accommodations?

You can check out the following Chicago hotels for a great stay:

- Four Seasons Chicago.

http://www.fourseasons.com/chicagofs/

- Hilton Chicago.

http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/CHICHHH-Hilton-Chicago-Illinois/index.do

- The Ritz-Carton Chicago.

http://www.fourseasons.com/chicagorc/

Located in the grant park museum Shedd aquarium has got several free days. You can easily get a free day and learn more about the aquarium. There are many free days offered in Chicago Shedd Aquarium every year. In fact, during these days whoever attends does not pay anything for admission. However, it is important that you be updated about these days since they are subject to change.

You can take advantage of attending the aquarium during these days and enjoy all the fun here. In these days you absolutely pay nothing for entrance. Parking too is available at a discount. Below is the list of these free days as planned for the whole year.

- June 14th to 19th,

- September 21, 22, 28, and 29

- October 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 13, 19, 26, and 27

- November 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, and 30

http://chicago.about.com/od/museumsattractions/p/SheddFreeDays.htm

These dates are subject to change and it is advisable for the individual to keep on checking for the changes. There are many Chicago hotels that you can stay in while visiting the aquarium.

http://www.chicagohotblog.com/shedd-aquarium-free