Adler Planetarium + Shedd Aquarium

Adler Planetarium Featured Shows: Planet Nine -  In July 2015, the New Horizons spacecraft gave us our first close look at Pluto, the most famous dwarf planet in the outskirts of our Solar System. The New Horizons flyby was big news, and the pictures it continues to send back to Earth reveal a world far more complex than anyone realized. ​Destination Solar System -    WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER The year is 2096. Space tourism is booming, and you’ve signed up for a quick trip around the Solar System with Space Express Tours! In this live show, your guides are Jesse, a lovable rookie tour guide who can’t wait to show you the wonders of your celestial neighborhood, and Max, the much more experienced—if slightly grumpy—shipboard computer. With Max steering the ship and Jesse chattering excitedly about each place you visit, you’ll soar through the Asteroid Belt, explore the moons of Jupiter and Saturn, and hover over the roiling surface of the Sun. Hold on tight! Cosmic Wonder -  WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER Ever since the first curious person looked up at the night sky, people all over the world have challenged themselves to uncover its secrets. What are stars? How did they get there? Why does our view of the sky change throughout the year? What holds the Universe together? Skywatch Live -  WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER The Adler’s view of downtown Chicago is magnificent, but the lights of the city make it a little tough to see the ones in the sky. What’s a stargazer to do? Join us for Skywatch Live! In this show, your live presenter will turn down the city lights and crank up the stars to show you the night sky over Chicago like you’ve never seen it before. You’ll learn how to navigate by starlight, get to know the stars behind your favorite constellations, and witness the incomprehensible vastness of the Universe without ever leaving your seat. Earth, Moon & Sun -  WHAT YOU WILL LEARN With the help of Coyote, an amusing character adapted from Native American oral traditions, kids will laugh and learn as they explore the relationship between the Earth, Moon, and Sun. Coyote has lots of misconceptions about our world, the universe, and well… just about everything. Coyote’s humorous mistaken ideas about the universe help the audience understand how the Earth, Moon, and Sun work together as a great big system. Undiscovered Worlds -  WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER Until very recently, the only planets known to us were the familiar worlds in orbit around our Sun. In the last two decades we have confirmed more than 1500 new planets, called exoplanets, orbiting other stars; thousands more are awaiting study. Undiscovered Worlds tells the tale surrounding this explosion of discovery and examines what will be required to determine which, if any, of these new exoplanets can support life. Welcome to the Universe -  WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER In Welcome to the Universe, you’ll get a clear picture of your place in this jaw-dropping cosmic landscape. With the guidance of a live presenter, you’ll explore the Pleiades star cluster, sail past the Andromeda galaxy, navigate the galaxies of the Coma Cluster, and discover hidden wonders of the Universe. One World, One Sky:  Big Bird's Adventure -  WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER Join Big Bird and Elmo on an unforgettable journey to the Moon and back! When Elmo’s friend Hu Hu Zhu stops by Sesame Street for a visit, he notices that Sesame Street is a little bit different from his home in China. But when he looks up at the sky, he feels right at home. Elmo and Hu Hu Zhu may live in different cities, but they share the same sky! Featured Exhibits: (Temporary) - What is a Planet? -  What You’ll See And Do: Witness how astronomers and the media reacted to Pluto’s reclassification in 2006. Learn what the current definition of a planet is and hear what Adler Astronomers think of the current definition. Voice your opinion about Pluto alongside skeptics and space enthusiasts through an interactive voting poll in real time. Explore artifacts from the Adler collections that illustrate the ever-evolving definition of a planet. This temporary exhibition, which is included with general admission, will be open to the public from March 19, 2016 through January 8, 2017. Mission Moon -  WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER Mission Moon invites you to experience America’s first steps into space through the eyes of NASA’s Captain James A. Lovell Jr. and his family. You’ll find out how the United States became the first nation to put a man on the Moon, what it’s really like to be an astronaut, and why it takes a team to explore uncharted worlds. Community Design Lab -  In the Community Design Lab (CDL), you can test different materials to find out which ones will survive the journey to 100,000 feet above the Earth’s surface. Your discoveries may find their way into a future flight with Far Horizons, the Adler’s high-altitude ballooning program! If you could photograph an object in space, what would it be, and who would you share it with? In the CDL, you can build a DIY telescope-mount for your smartphone and become an instant astrophotographer! Test it out on one of our ’scopes and share your photos on social media. Our Solar System -  WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER Our Solar System is much more than a star and eight planets; it is home to a set of diverse and amazing objects that we are only beginning to understand. Pilot your own adventure in Our Solar System and explore the variety of objects currently orbiting our Sun. The Universe - A Walk Through Space & Time -  WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER Transport yourself to the distant corners of the cosmos and witness how the Universe evolved over 13.7 billion years, from the Big Bang to this morning’s sunrise. Follow the Universe from its meager beginnings and see how galaxies, stars, planets—and all the atoms in your body—were created as the Universe grew. Explore regions farther than our Solar System, billions of light-years from home. Zoom from one wondrous location in the Universe to another and investigate the most diverse and beautiful objects in deep space in ultra high resolution from the world’s most advanced telescopes. Planet Explorers -  WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER Are you interested in going to space and exploring other planets? Prepare for your out-of-this-world adventure in Planet Explorers. Begin by exploring your home, your backyard, and the sky above. What you discover will prepare you for your mission to space and the mysterious Planet X. Telescopes:  Through the Looking Glass -  WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER Astronomers have studied the cosmos for thousands of years, but until about 400 years ago, they did it without telescopes! In Telescopes: Through the Looking Glass, you’ll find extraordinary beauty and technology in some of the world’s most important telescopes and learn how these clever light-catching devices helped us discover our Universe. Clark Family Gallery  WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER This futuristic, constantly changing environment features a one-of-a-kind architecture with vibrant lighting and video presentations. It was created using approximately 13,000 linear feet of aluminum tubing and 20,000 square yards of fabric. The gallery also has 125 LED lights, each capable of producing sixteen million different colors and over two billion different lighting combinations. Astronomy in Culture -  WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER Go back in time and learn about some of the people and societies who have challenged themselves to understand our place in the Universe. This exhibition features spectacular astrolabes, armillary spheres, and sundials to illustrate the medieval European and Middle Eastern conception of the Universe. Visit our medieval classroom to find out how much different school was back then. Learn how to use early astronomy tools including astrolabes and sundials. Atwood Sphere -  WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER Experience the night sky over Chicago as it appeared in 1913 in the Atwood Sphere – Chicago’s oldest planetarium. Although the star positions have not changed since then, we can see only a small percentage of these stars in our current night sky due to light pollution. The sphere is seventeen feet in diameter and has 692 holes drilled through its metal surface. These holes allow light to enter and show the positions of the brightest stars in the night sky. Take a live guided tour of the Atwood Sphere and identify stars and the constellations they form.

The newly renovated Orlando Odditorium showcases hundreds of unbelievable exhibits including dozens of amazing new exhibits including: - An actual human shrunken head - A Peel Trident car (the smallest production car in the world) - A portrait of singer Beyonce made entirely from candy - A “Wall-E” robot replica made from car parts - A 25-foot high mural of Jimi Hendrix made from more than 8,500 playing cards - A very rare fossil of a T-Rex foot and lower leg - Multiple miniatures that visitors can view through a magnifying glass - A stuffed Alligator Gar that measures more than 8 feet long - A balloon-powered chair that flew over the Rocky Mountains - A dog sculpture made entirely of clothes pins - New optical illusions, word puzzles and brain teasers - Several new wax figures that visitors can take photos with - A new shooting gallery for visitors to take aim and fire at different odd targets​

Explore the magic, beauty and wonder of San Francisco Bay at Aquarium of the Bay.  Your visit will take you through three main exhibit areas that display the amazing riches that lie beneath the surface of the San Francisco Bay and surrounding waters.  Aquarium of the Bay partners with The Bay Institute to protect, restore and inspire the conservation of San Francisco Bay and its watershed, from the Sierra to the sea. Their passion and their work are locally-focused, but have a broad impact that touches upon every major challenge facing our global environment. They focus on water, beginning at the heart—the very depths—of San Francisco Bay.  The facility boasts 300 feet of crystal clear acrylic tunnels holding 700,000 gallons of carefully maintained bay water that sustains approximately 20,000 animals, from octopuses to eight-foot native, sevengill sharks.  Visitors are also treated to mesmerising walls of jellies and a chance to touch bat rays, skates and “splash zone" animals. In their fifteen year history, over seven million guests, including more than 100,000 school children, have visited the Aquarium.   Anyone yearning to geek out inside a multimillion-dollar science museum with the added bonus of booze should head to Golden Gate Park on Thursdays for Nightlife at the California Academy of Sciences. Since 2009, the Academy has stayed open late once a week to give the 21+ crowd full run of the place, with an ever-changing series of themed events and several temporary bars spread throughout the gigantic building. Entertainment / Music Multiple DJs and/or live bands performing in a variety of styles tied to the night’s theme, from house to swing to everything else under the sun. One hundred thousand square-foot museum packed with incredible exhibits, aquariums, a replica of a rain forest, and the largest all-digital projection screen on the planet in the planetarium. Food / Miscellaneous Food stands offer a handful of snacks and entrées that can change weekly but usually include items like pork buns, chicken with fries, and vegetarian dishes. Private lounge available for rental. What to Wear / Dress Code Casual to trendy: everything from white t-shirts and jeans to dolled up duds. Hot Nights / When to Go Only open on Thursdays, but patrons should arrive early to avoid the lines and to check out the rainforest, which closes at 20:00. Connect With NightLife #CASNightLife Facebook Twitter Flickr  

Tour Highlights Numerous stops for photos The five mile (8 km) tour route explores the eastern section of the 1017 acre (411 ha) park on winding trails and bike routes. The transformation starting in the 1870's of a bleak sand dune area in into the lush park you see today. The Music Concourse and Temple of Music The California Academy of Sciences and the deYoung Museum The California Academy of Sciences and the deYoung Museum William Hammond Hill and John McLaren's vision for the park The Conservatory of Flowers San Francisco Botanical Gardens Stow Lake and Strawberry Hill The Dahlia Gardens Pioneer log cabin and many other hidden gems!   Rider Requirements: Rider must be 12 years or older and weigh 100lbs – 250lbs (45-113 KG) No pregnant guests. Not recommended for some guests over age 70 or with mobility, motor control or recent surgeries. Under 18 with parents or guardian. No backpacks or bags can be worn on the tour.      Enjoy riding an eco-friendly Segway, see more sights than you could cover on foot, and have lots of fun! Help keep the park less congested with bus traffic!

As you soar above the famous Hudson River you will fly right by the magnificent Statue of Liberty in all of her glory. View Governors and Ellis Island and see Manhattans Financial District before cruising past the cavernous landscape of the NYC skyline. Sites include the Empire State Building, Chrysler, Woolworth and Met Life Buildings and the USS Intrepid to mention a few. You will even catch a glimpse of the George Washington Bridge and the world renowned Central Park before heading back to the heliport. Why You Should Choose NY’s Liberty Helicopter Tour Service?
#1 IN EXPERIENCE - They have been in business and flying safely for over 28 years
#1 IN SAFETY & SECURITY - They are the founding members of the Tour Operators Program of Safety and the only helicopter company in NYC that is a member.
#1 IN CUSTOMER SERVICE & SATISFACTION - Liberty Helicopters is committed to providing its customers with the safest and most enjoyable experience possible.
THE LARGEST FLEET IN THE NORTHEAST - Liberty Helicopters has a fleet of 10 state of the art American Eurocopter helicopters.
AMERICAN EUROCOPTER IS THE INDUSTRY LEADER - Pilots choose American Eurocopter over Bell and others for their ease of maneuverability, more comfortable and quieter ride, less vibration, better visibility for pilots and passengers. All seats face forward allowing customers to see where they are going, not where they have been.
Liberty Helicopters continuously receives the annual Safety Award from the Helicopter Association International, along with being a multiple recipient of the 5 Star Diamond Award and the ERHC Fly Neighborly Award.
Many of Liberty's highly trained pilots are ex-military or NYPD. All receive regular recurrent Eurocopter factory training, specifically the requirement of the Federal Aviation Administration part 135 air carrier standards giving you an assurance of safety aboard the helicopters.
All of the aircraft crews are certified and inspected to meet the demanding standards of the Federal Aviation Administration.
Liberty Helicopters have their own 24 hours 7 days a week maintenance facility to service and maintain our fleet. All of their highly experienced aviation maintenance technicians receive updated Eurocopter factory training on a regular basis.
Liberty Helicopters have a new premier space at the redesigned Downtown Manhattan Heliport located at 6 East River Piers NY NY 10004 with their own souvenir and light snack shop for your convenience.
Multilingual staff.
No minimum passenger requirement on any of our tours.

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY Come experience these unique and amazing Exhibits:   Explore the power of play with giant Lego built structures and building challenges. Coal Mine - Descend the mine shaft, take a ride on the rails and learn the technology of coal mining. U-505 Submarine - Experience the real U-505, the only German submarine in the United States. Future Energy Chicago - Collaborate in a fast-paced simulation to create a more sustainable city. Genetics and the Baby chick Hatchery - Discover the complex interplay between genes and environmental cues that produce new life. Numbers in Nature:  A Mirror Maze -0 Discover the mathematical patterns that abound in the natural world. Science Storms:  Feel the physics and consider the chemistry of nature phenomena like tornados and avalanches. The Great Train Story:  Travel from Chicago to Seattle in intricate detail on this massive model railroad. YOU! The Experience:  Examine the experience of life itself and the connection between mind, body and spirit. All Aboard the Silver Streak:  Pioneer Zephyr:  Step aboard one of America's first diesel-electric streamlined passenger trains. Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle:  Experience the enchantment of fairy's dream home in Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle. DARPA:  Redefining Possible:  (through Sept. 6):  Meet the agency behind some of our favorite technologies. The Idea Factory:  Young children can splash, stack and spin their way to testing scientific principles. Transportation Gallery:  Explore how humankind has flown, soared, sped and chugged throughout the years. Farm Tech:  Step into a modern farm and explore the innovations that bring food to your table. Fast Forward Inventing the Future:  Immerse yourself in a world of tomorrow's inventions and today's visionaries. Henry Crown Space Center:  Recapture the excitement of the Space Race and learn about the future of space exploration. The Art of the Bicycle:  See the art and function of rarely displayed historic bikes alongside new cutting-edge bicycles. Earth Revealed:  Get an up-close and near "real-time" view of our planet Earth. Materials Science:  Explore the history and future of materials that impact our lives every day. Ships through the Ages:  Follow the store of man's quest to travel the seas with the Museum's collection of model ships. Swiss Jolly Ball:  See the world's largest pinball machine right before your eyes. ToyMaker 3000:  An Adventure in Automation:  This assembly line of robots manufactures fun while assembling custom toy tops before your eyes. Whispering Gallery:  Investigate the reflection and focus of sound by sending the tiniest whisper across the room. Yesterday's Main Street:  Journey back in time and experience America in the early 1900s. The following additional experiences can be purchased at the Museum.  They require an additional timed-entry ticket:  $9 Adult, $7 Child (ages 3-11). Subject to availability.  Brick by Brick Future Energy Chicago Coal Mine  The WOW! Tour U505 Submarine On-board Tour     Skydeck Chicago  At 1,353 feet and 110 stories above the streets of downtown Chicago, The Ledge at Willis Tower's Skydeck will transform any visitor's--or local's for that matter--experience with the Windy City. In January 2009, Willis Tower owners began a major renovation of the beloved Skydeck, which originally opened in 1974, and served as a premier tourist attraction throughout the skyscraper's tenure as the Sears Tower. When ownership changed hands, the fresh blood added a fresh look--and adrenaline rush--to the 103rd floor in the form of retractable glass balconies extending about 4 feet over Wacker Drive and the Chicago River below. Still the 8th tallest building in the world, and the absolute tallest in the Western Hemisphere, Willis Tower's Skydeck will reward anyone brave enough to step onto its Ledge with unparalleled views of Illinois' enthralling metropolis. Willis Tower, Skydeck, and The Ledge Fast Facts The hundreds of forehead prints visitors left behind each week on Skydeck windows served as this inspiration for The Ledge. The Ledge boxes can each bear about 4-1/2 metric tons of weight, and adventurers who trust that statistic enough to prove it can often be found jumping and bounding around the entirely translucent enclosures as Chicago's heavy traffic and infrastructure bustle below. The Ledge’s glass panels weight 1,500 pounds apiece, and each box is comprised of three layers of half-inch thick glass laminated into one seamless unit. In addition to serving 1.3 million tourists per year in its 4.5+ million square feet of space, Willis Tower is home to more than 100 companies, including prominent law, insurance, transportation, and financial services. The Ledge's glass boxes retract into the Skydeck main floor for easy maintenance, probably mostly cleaning off the 974 dead birds that must fly into them every month. The Moonwalk is the most popular dance performed on The Ledge, followed closely by the Running Man. Riverdance clocks in at a distant third. Bringing people who are afraid of heights to The Ledge is not recommended, unless you are mean-spirited or really don't like them. In which case, you should probably just take them here. Willis Tower was known as Sears Tower for decades, until the 30th anniversary of Diff'rent Strokes, at which point it was rightfully renamed.