On a budget, skip Shedd Aquarium — the spend outweighs the payoff.
$40–50 adult (all-access)
Shedd is a top-tier aquarium with a stunning lake-facing oceanarium and big-animal exhibits that genuinely delight younger kids. The honest catch is that it's one of the priciest museum tickets in the city and gets jammed — timed tickets and a weekday morning are close to mandatory in summer.