The Shedd Aquarium is a magnificent destination for those interested in exploring marine life without diving into the water. The exhibits and attractions have won numerous awards. The aquarium has five permanent exhibits: Amazon Rising, Caribbean Reef, Waters of the World, Oceanarium, and Wild Reef. It houses a diverse collection of animals and marine life, including over 1,500 fish species, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. The Shedd Aquarium houses around 25,000 fish and animals, including various fascinating creatures such as sea otters, beluga whales, sea turtles, penguins, sharks, octopi, and jellyfish. Additionally, you can also find Pacific white-sided dolphins, Australian lungfish, Grand Cayman blue iguanas, sea lions, cow-nose rays, dragon moray eels, moon jellies, red-bellied piranhas, sea cucumbers, zebra sharks, and sea stars at the aquarium.
The Wells Street Art Festival is an annual event on the second weekend of June. It is located in Old Town's popular Wells Street corridor and attracts around 50,000 visitors yearly. The festival showcases talented artists from across the continent specializing in traditional painting, sculpture, artisan woodworking, metalsmithing, jewel crafts, digital arts, and more. Additionally, there is a dedicated performance stage where local musicians, performance artists, and cover/tribute bands entertain the crowd throughout the weekend. Moreover, at the corner of Wells Street and Evergreen Street is a children's play area where kids can participate in arts and crafts, watch a performance, or have fun. The festival also has over 20 food and drink vendors who sell a variety of tasty treats. Visitors can try something from all the excellent Old Town restaurants participating.
The Kohl Children's Museum is a fantastic place for children to have fun and explore. Geared towards kids aged eight and below, it offers various activities such as science, art, math, technology, teamwork, and outdoor games. The Kohlights holiday event is now an indoor/outdoor experience, where you can enjoy Twinkle Train rides, meet and greet with Anna & Elsa, and stroll through the interactive lights of Habitat Park. Additionally, you can explore all the indoor museum exhibits. The Kohl Children's Museum of Greater Chicago boasts 17 interactive and hands-on exhibits, all carefully designed to align with the Illinois State Learning Standards and stimulate young children's love for learning. The Museum attracts an average of 300,000 visitors annually, and it has around 6,000 member families who enjoy the purpose-built facility, the interactive exhibits, and the easily accessible location.