I booked tickets for my significant other and I on their website. It was $85.90 for both of our tickets together, so it wasn’t cheap. The website had me choose a date and a specific time to visit, so you should be cautious of that if it doesn’t change. I chose 1/20/2023 at 9 am for our visit. I chose that time, so we were able to get in early in the day. Once I completed the purchase online, I was given an E-Ticket with a scannable code that displayed the Date for my visit. That was convenient. I also downloaded their app.

This aquarium was located relatively close to me, for being what it was. There was a small walk before the entrance. Unfortunately for us, the weather wasn’t too friendly. After we entered the aquarium on the Ground Level, our tickets were scanned almost immediately. We took an elevator up to the Main Level after that.

There were plenty of displays to see at almost every turn. I really enjoyed the Pacific white-sided dolphin display. Of course, I also had to check out the Beluga whale display, which was just as pleasant to see! It was such a unique experience to see them. They were beautiful and they seemed happy in their environment. I was glad to see that! They had a Rockhopper penguin and Magellanic penguin display. That one was definitely my favorite. As we went along, we stopped at the Underwater Beauty area. There, I checked out the Spotted jelly, Lagoon jelly, and Blue blubber jelly area. They were so vibrant and each movement they made was astonishing! To switch things up, we checked out the Common musk turtle and Western pond turtle area. Close to them, we got to see more than one American Alligator in the Alligator Lake display. That was a real treat for me! I’m now an Alligator fan! There was also a Golden Shiner, Midas Cichlid, and Red-Eared Slider display within the Alligator Lake display.

Besides viewing displays all day, we did get to sit down for a bit at the dolphin show. This show was included at no extra charge, so with that being said, it was a must-see show! The dolphins seemed to have a high level of training and they were entertaining.

We stopped at Soundings Café for a break from all of the beautiful scenery. It was located on the Ground Level. I purchased a Strawberry Fruit Smoothie, a Peanut Butter Cookie, and a Monster Energy 16 Fl. Oz. to get some energy. The prices were a bit steep, but not intolerable for me. My order was completed relatively fast. We sat down at a table that they had there. The smoothie was thick, fruity, and tasty! The cookie was a good size and just as tasty! That was a relief, as it was rather pricey. The Monster was crisp and refreshing! This was a convenient stop.

Before we headed out, we stopped at the shop on the Main Level of the facility. It was large with a variety of items to choose from. To give insight, I purchased a Shedd Aquarium mug, a Shedd Aquarium magnet, and a Shedd Aquarium keychain. The keychain came in a little bag. The prices at this store were definitely not the best. I didn’t expect them to be. I’d say it’s worth it to purchase at least one item if you have the chance, so you have a physical memory to take home with you.

The whole place was tidy and clean. That was impressive to see a busy place still kept up with.

The customer service I had throughout my visit was friendly. I didn’t have any issues or encounter anyone with a bad attitude, so that was a plus!

Overall, this was a relaxing experience for my significant other and I to do together. The displays were put together nicely and there was a variety of living things to admire! I loved all of the displays in a special way. I’m almost positive I’ll return here again someday.

Date of visit: 1/20/2023