One of the oldest exhibits at Shedd, the Caribbean Reef is fun, with small sharks, large fish, stingrays, and a large sea turtle. Younger kids enjoy running along the exhibit, although it’s open on every side so you need to stay close with them.
There will be diver presentations a few times each day, which are fun, though not worth scheduling around.
The most famous resident is a giant sea turtle named Nickel (for the nickel once lodged in her throat). Due to her injuries, she always swims at the top of the water (with her back end up). She tends to be more active in the morning (feeding time) and early afternoon; if she's active she likes to be the center of attention, but when she's done she likes to tuck away in hidden parts of the exhibit.
And an answer to a common children's question: the small hammerhead sharks are called bonnethead sharks. They are one of several types of hammerhead sharks, with the great hammerhead being the most famous (and generally what people mean when they say hammerhead).
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