Spanning more than 87 hectares to the west of downtown Chicago, the Brookfield Zoo is a popular attraction where all age groups can come and typically spend a whole day observing the site’s diverse collection of animals, including grizzly bears, kangaroos, big cats, rare parrots and so much more.
Among the highlights at the zoo are the big cats and seal enclosures, where the crowds gather to marvel at the animals. Impressively natural looking habitats have been created: in the Australian Outback enclosure you’ll find kangaroos, emus and ostriches, whilst in the African Savannah, you can see giraffes, hogs and aardvarks or spend some quality time with the polar bears in the Great Bear Wilderness.
There’s a dolphin presentation twice a day, a spectacle not to be missed. You’ll have to pay a little extra for the privilege, but getting to see the dolphins playing and performing their tricks is a real treat. You can also see the gorillas being fed or listen to one of the interesting zoo chats on offer, all detailed on Brookfield Zoo’s website.
Take younger members of your party to see the armadillos, horses, lemurs, reptiles at Brookfield’s two petting zoos, located close to each other in the park’s south west corner.
The park is a stunning place to spend some time, and you could easily lose a whole day in its peaceful embrace. If you need refreshments during the day, there is a food court onsite and snack vendors all over the park. You can of course take your own picnic to enjoy at specially designated spots.
When you arrive at Brookfield Zoo, you’ll head to one of two entrances, located on the north and south side of the park. At the ticket booth, grab a map of the site to help you find your way round. You may be spending a lot of time on foot, so appropriate footwear is a good idea – but motorised safari trams are available for scheduled tours if you prefer a more leisurely way of getting around.
