shedd visit

[nixon125]

Headed to Chicago right now checking out Shedd Aquarium 2mro.

Hope to have lots of pix and stories to bring back. .

 

[Strider85]

Shedds

Shedds

Awesome place! Just don't waste time on Fantasea....

 

[_E_]

I could walk around Shedd for days and be happy! I really wish we had something like that around the Lou.

 

[reefergeorge]

I could walk around Shedd for days and be happy! I really wish we had something like that around the Lou.

I agree. The only place I know of around stl to even see sw fish is at the city museum. LFS don't count.

We want a lot of pics please.

 

[_E_]

There's supposed to be a behind the scenes tour...anyone ever went on it?

 

[nixon125]

So five hours and 119 photos later ... That place rocks
The only spot I had trouble shooting was the shark tanks. Only got a couple good videos there

Will post the best stuff I have when I get home and can edit
I highly suggest this place

 

[nixon125]

100 pound snapper, a little camera shy

 

[nixon125]

man and his fish

chain dog

he didn't like me taking his photo

smiling for camera

spotted ratfish

 

[nixon125]

this dude was about 2 1/2 - 3 feet long, really amazing

 

[nixon125]

sea horses

lung fish / one of these guys, or gals in the tank is called grandaddy because he's was donated to the aquarium back in the 1936 world's fair, and he was older presumed a pre-teen then

 

[nixon125]

this guy was pretty huge too, and had a weird look on his face.

this clam was about 36" long by about 18" - 24" wide. just massive

 

[nixon125]

eel far away

eel REALLY close up

 

[pewter_jean]

Looks like a good time, wish I could make it up there some day.

 

[nixon125]

It was amazing. the basement area (oceanarium) was PHENOMINAL. Beluga whales, dolphins, different sharks (saw, green or bowmouth guitar, black tip, etc) in the Wild Reef was super cool.

Other spots had seals, penguins, playing sea otters, and then the shark tank was worth the drive and everything else. i'd go back immediately.

next vacation spot will be a 3 or 4 day trip to the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga.
you can actually get a group of 30 or more (or join someone elses group) for personalized tours and sleep next to their ocean tanks (Sleep In the Deep).
Pricing isn't bad either.

 

[mcghee33]

Nixon, did they have a huge frag exhibit at the very end of the giant shark exhibit downstairs? I didn't see any photos of it so I wasn't sure if it is still there, but last year they had the most amazing frag tank I've ever seen!!!

 

[nixon125]

Yes - they had a HUGE frag setup at the end but my camera phone was DEAD after all the photos and movies LOL

 

[_E_]

Last time I was there, I really liked the frag tanks and the sea dragons in the cylinder tanks.

 

[Strider85]

Ripley's

Ripley's

Anyone been to Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg, TN? It was one of the most amazing aquariums I've ever seen. Didn't have as much as Shedd's, but beat it to a pulp in terms of presentation.

Most phenomenal walk-through shark tank I've ever seen, and the place was CLEAN. I don't know how they keep it all so clean. Not to knock Shedd's, I loved the heck out of that place especially the Wild Reef area. If I can ever get posting pictures figured out, I will throw up a ton of pics, or just give a link to Flickr.

 

[tall_jason79]

we are going to plan a trip here in a few years, which will hit TN and then Atlanta. We just have to wait for the youngest to hit that 4 year old mark or better.