Day Trips: Just Chicago Things

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A photo of the Garfield ParK Conservatory

We had a few weekends without big plans, so we decided to use our time to expose Suveera to the city a bit more. The plan was just to start with the Shedd aquarium, but a rogue Bears game threw Garfield Park into the mix as well.

Like so many of my ideas for things to do with Suveera, it started with me seeing a Tik Tok. A video of a baby absolutely enraptured by the water of an aquarium, light from the tank dancing on her face.

Since Chicago has a pretty great aquarium, it became an easy decision. Unfortunately said aquarium is basically right across from Soldier Field, where the Bears play their home games (for now.) We were going on a Saturday so I didn’t even think anything of it. But I hadn’t factored in the preseason and as we got downtown I started to see Bears jerseys and knew I was screwed.

Ok, after some terrible traffic, we had a pivot: the Garfield Park Conservatory! Built in 1908, the conservatory was one of the first of its kind with plants built into the landscape of the buildings themselves. This was from a time when most conservatories were just greenhouse rooms filled with individual potted plants. It’s one of my favorite spots in Chicago, my cousin got married there and Shaila and I took some of our engagement photos there.

Yellow flowers on a sea of green leaves
A red, fuzzy, blossom on a tree
Turtles on the edge of a small pond, surrounded by ferns.
Koi fish in a pond
Suveera and I
Suveera looked a little unimpressed here, but she was curious the rest of the time
A pink flower
Suveera reaching out for the flower from the previous image
Quizzical.
Amma and baby

We held up Suveera for most of the time as we walked through, letting her reach out and touch as many of the leaves as she could, making sure she was as gentle as possible and didn’t take any home with her or get any in her mouth. She really seemed to enjoy seeing and touching it all. The trip was a success.

When the next weekend rolled around, we were ready to tackle the Shedd with nothing getting in our way. We got there, grabbed tickets and enjoyed a simple stroll along the lake until our entry time.

Shaila and Suveera
Checking out the lake
Shaila and Suveera
It was a hot day, the air conditioned Shedd was calling to us

By the time we got in it was lunch time, so we grabbed a bite to eat while she had a bottle. Next up was a diaper change she decided to make extra messy for Amma, but then it was time for dolphins!

Or, at least, their tanks. She really seemed to enjoy the light coming through the water, but struggled to pay attention to the giant mammals swimming in it, preferring to people watch everyone else.

Shaila and Suveera bathed in blue light from the dolphin habitat, looking up to the surface
She really loved the way the light played on the top of the water.


We looked at the penguins next, but it was more of the same. After another quick bottle, we made it upstairs to the main lobby where their large round aquarium is. Or, rather, was. Turns out it was under construction and blocked off. At this point, she’d also fallen into a nap and we didn’t know if it was worth it to wake her up or just call it a day. I’m glad we didn’t.

We woke her up and first she saw some of the smaller tanks, but seemed to really register the fish this time. She reached out to the glass to try and touch them as they flitted by.

Shaila holding Suveera as she reaches out for a fish in a tank

Last up was the Wild Reef, an even more immersive area that she really loved. We stood there for a good 20 minutes as she watched all of the fish swim by her. I got some good videos as well.

Shaila and Suveera looking at an aquarium
Another aquarium shot, this time with a big fish

Overall it went really well. She had a good time and we spent a Saturday not stuck at home. There’s some more new firsts coming up in September including Riot Fest. But first, camping for Labor Day — fingers crossed.