As you know from one of our previous updates, we recently completed a fantastic new pool for the Shedd Aquarium’s Stingray Touch exhibit.

So, now that it is finished and open to the public, we wanted to share it with you.

The Stingray Touch exhibit is located outside in a large tent, just north of the museum. As you walk from the parking areas to the museum, you can’t miss it.

It is not included in the base admission ticket, but if you get the Total Experience or VIP packages, you’ll have admission to it as well as the Aquatic Show, Jellies etc. Shedd Aquarium members pay $3 and the cost is $5 when added to a City Pass. It is well worth the price.

Once inside, there were a variety of stingrays that are circling the tank, as well as a few that would prefer to bury themselves in the sand and hide.

The stingray pool was designed so that visitors could easily walk up to it and lean over to touch the stingrays.

Lifeguard / guide stations are located at either end of the pool making sure everyone stays safe as well as offering a bit of background about the exhibit and its inhabitants.

At one end of the pool is the waterfall which also disguises the filtration and aeration functions of the pool.  During our visit, we also noticed that the stingrays liked to play a bit under the waterfall too.

And of course, this is the reason why you came here in the first place – to actually touch the stingrays!

The guide instructed me to put my hand out and into the water with fingers closed and they would simply “come up to me”.  That is exactly what happened and it was a pretty cool experience!

If you get a chance to visit the Stingray Touch exhibit at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium let us know what you think …