Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
animals inside. It's worth sticking around to catch one of the daily feedings,
when a diver swims around the tank and (thanks to a microphone) talks about
the species and their eating habits.
The exhibits surrounding the Caribbean coral reef re-create different marine
habitats around the world. The best is
Amazon Rising: Seasons of the River
,
a re-creation of the Amazon basin that showcases far more than fish (although
you'll get to see some sharp-toothed piranhas as well).
You'll pay extra to see the other Shedd highlights, but they're quite impressive,
so I'd suggest shelling out for at least one. The
Oceanarium
, with a wall
of windows revealing the lake outside, re-creates a Pacific Northwest coastal
environment and creates the illusion of one uninterrupted expanse of sea. On a
fixed performance schedule in a large pool flanked by an amphitheater, a crew
of friendly trainers puts dolphins through their paces of leaping dives, breaches,
and tail walking. Check out the Oceanarium schedule as soon as you get to the
Shedd; seating space fills up quickly for the shows, so you'll want to get there
early. If you're visiting during a summer weekend, you may also want to buy
your Oceanarium ticket in advance to make sure you can catch a show that day.
The newest signature exhibit is
Wild Reef—Sharks at Shedd
, a series of
26 interconnected habitats that house a Philippine coral reef patrolled by sharks
and other predators. The floor-to-ceiling windows bring those toothy swimmers
up close and personal (they even swim over your head at certain spots).
If you want a quality sit-down meal in a restaurant with a spectacular view of
Lake Michigan, check out Soundings, right there inside the aquarium. There's
also a family-friendly cafeteria.
Allow 2 to 3 hours.
The Pride of Prairie Avenue
Prairie Avenue, south of the Loop, was the city's first “Gold Coast,” and
its most famous address is
Glessner House,
a must-see for anyone
interested in architectural history. The only surviving Chicago building
designed by Boston architect Henry Hobson Richardson, it represented
a dramatic shift from traditional Victorian architecture when it was
built in 1886 (and inspired a young Frank Lloyd Wright).
The imposing granite exterior gives the home a forbidding air (rail-
way magnate George Pullman, who lived nearby, complained, “I do
not know what I have ever done to have that thing staring me in the
face every time I go out my door.”). But step inside, and the home
turns out to be a welcoming, cozy retreat, filled with Arts and Crafts
furnishings. For an illustration of the Glessner House exterior, see
“Richardsonian Romanesque (1870-1900),” on p. 15.
Visits to Glessner House are by guided tour only. Tours are given
Wednesday through Sunday at 1, 2, and 3pm year-round (except major
holidays). Tours are first-come, first-served, with no advance reservations
except for groups of 10 or more. 1800 S. Prairie Ave.
&
312/326-1480.
www.glessnerhouse.org. $9 adults, $8 students and seniors, $4 children
5 to 12. Bus: 1, 3, or 4 from Michigan Avenue at Jackson Boulevard (get
off at 18th St.).
