With Extra Family Fun

Today is our last full day in the Windy City. And today, the nickname is more fitting for the weather conditions. It’s a bit cooler than the day before, but still tolerable for a late October walk. We left the comfort of our warm hotel and made our way to the Shedd Aquarium.

Our family-friendly Chicago vacation aquarium will be Benson’s third experience with a marine exhibit. His first experience was such a hit that we are making it a point to include it in our future travel experiences.

Shedd Aquarium

Once through security, Benson was eager to escape the confines of the stroller to stretch his legs. Our first exhibit to see were the dolphins. Benson would let out a laugh and scream of excitement with every leap and splash the dolphins made. In fact, he let us know of his displeasure with not allowing him to put his hands in the water.

The next sight to witness was the sea lion show. We were able to sit in the front row of our section. From there, Benson found it very entertaining to watch the sea lion jump in and out of the tank. Between making his entrance and exit appearances, he would swallow fish whole. Benson shared his enthusiasm with yells of “yay” and clapping with excitement as the sea lion and trainer performed.

Of all the new animals and fish I got to see, I was most excited to see the Beluga whales. I had never seen one before, and seeing one swimming in a large tank was an exciting experience on our family-friendly Chicago vacation.

We didn’t understand the size of the Shedd Aquarium. In part, our confusion was the result of the construction taking place. Our disappointment with the aquarium changed when we saw a wing we were not previously aware of.

This new wing includes many displays with fish from around the world. It also included a large shark tank with curved glass. It left nothing up to the imagination. The glass allows for a clear view out and up to the surface of the tank. As much as I enjoy seeing the various fish exhibits, the sharks always get my attention.

Navy Pier

The second destination for the day was the Chicago Children’s Museum at the Navy Pier. While we traveled via the Chicago Big Bus Tour, Benson fell asleep. We were torn on whether to stay on the bus and continue the tour as he slept or get off. Ultimately, we chose to get off and eat at Harry Caray’s Tavern. Half of our Chicago family would have been proud, and the other half would likely have given us grief.

Benson ultimately woke up as we finished our meal. Thankfully, there were other options for him to eat at before entering the Children’s Museum. To say that Benson loved the museum is an understatement. They have various areas and interactive exhibits for him to play with and keep him engaged. This was one of Benson’s favorite things he experienced on this family-friendly Chicago vacation.

Trunk-or-treating

Following our time at the Navy Pier, we hopped on the bus and then the L to go see family. We knew about the trunk-or-treat even before we left and thought it would be a wonderful experience to share with cousins. Under his winter jacket, Benson was dressed as Boss Baby in a suit with a briefcase in hand. It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience for him to go trick-or-treating with cousins who live 400 miles away.

Did you miss day one? Read about our first day of Chicago family travel. Read about our second day of our fall Chicago family adventure.