More about Chicago...

By my last post, you would think that the only reason we went to Chicago was the Cubs' game. Truth is, we both love that city, and can always find something else to do there. (But every trip MUST center around a trip to the Friendly Confines... I can't imagine being in Chicago during the season without catching a game.) I just love the museum campus and its setting on the lakeshore. Since I hadn't been to Shedd Aquarium since my 6th grade class trip and Cory had never been, we decided to make it our secondary destination.

We visited the Oceanarium first, kind of a version of Indy Zoo's dolphin pavilion with more ambience. Within the pools of the Oceanarium were the dolphins, sea otters (so cute!), Beluga whales (including two babies... one of which we actually saw nursing on its mother while swimming about) and an amazing tide pool where you could peer right in and see live starfish, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, and many other bizarre creatures. The dolphin show wasn't as spectacular as Indy's, but entertaining nonetheless.

We spent several hours wandering through the exhibits. My favorite was probably Wild Reef, a special exhibit underground with sharks and rays and innumerable species of fish swimming all around and overhead. It was amazing. We also enjoyed the seahorses, seeing a Komodo dragon, and the Caribbean Reef where a human diver in the tank was actually feeding the fish.

Oh, and we also saw lots of children on leashes. Yes, I said CHILDREN on LEASHES. It seems this trend is making a comeback. Nothing says "I can't control my kid" like a tethered child. Wow.

We exited the aquarium at about 2:30 pm to find threatening skies. Not wanting to waste a minute in the Windy City, we risked the weather and boarded a water taxi to Navy Pier where we ate lunch as the rain poured. I was hoping the rain would let up so I could ride the flying swings ride, but it never did. Reluctantly, we headed back to our car and hit the highway for home, and back to reality. What fun!