The Brookfield Zoo - Treasures Enough to Last a Lifetime!

The Chicago Zoological Society has blessed the city with two beautiful parks. If you grew up on the North side, you may have strong emotional ties to Lincoln Park Zoo. We West-siders will admit that Lincoln Park Zoo is wonderful in its own way but would add that you haven't seen anything yet until you've paid a visit to the Brookfield Zoo (Brookfield, IL), which is a treasury of 216 acres of beautifully landscaped and meticulously maintained land, buildings and special attractions designed to bring out the best in both the thousands of healthy, happy animals who live there and the millions of human visitors who come to see them every year. Some of my earliest memories consist of exciting visits to Brookfield with my parents, relatives, and friends. We all loved the Zoo and were fascinated by the creatures who lived there but ... as it has turned out ... back in the 40's and 50's, we hadn't seen anything yet either.

Brookfield Zoo has flourished since then!

Great fortunes and earnest, thoughtful effort have transformed Brookfield Zoo into a series of naturalistic environments designed to make the animals feel right at home, including (but not limited to): Habitat Africa!, Tropic World, Australia House (wait until you see those bats at the end!), the beloved Pachyderm House, The Living Coast, The Swamp, the Hamill Family Play (Petting) Zoo, the famous Seven Seas Panorama where the dolphins unapologetically lap up the crowd's attention and try to steal the show, and the newest animal domain which I haven't had a chance to visit yet -- the Great Bear Wilderness.

If you go into the woods today, you're in for a big surprise!

The 7.5 acre Great Bear Wilderness is the biggest exhibit which Brookfield Zoo has ever built and includes a safe chance to wander down a winding path through the next-best-thing to a wilderness home enjoyed by assorted bears and the other animals they would co-exist with in their natural habitat. Special features include an underwater view of the polar bears cavorting in their 80,000 gallon pool (instead of just pacing back and forth fretfully like some of them used to do in the old days!). Regenstein Wolf Woods is a special place where these wonderful animals can enjoy a home in a natural setting and a viewing gallery where one-way glass provides a unique viewing experience for visitors combined with an illusion of peace and privacy for the wolves. Also included here is a chance to get a bird's eye view from a bald eagle aviary and a look at herd of bison in their prairie home.

Feeding Time for Everybody!

Delicious food and refreshments range from carry-out snacks to die for sold at strategically located fast-food kiosks on up to sit-down lunches and suppers at Zoo restaurants which now include the Bison Prairie Grill (also part of the Great Bear Wilderness) serving up North Woods ambiance along with heaping helpings of luscious burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, barbequed chicken breasts, Corona-battered cod, an assortment of hearty side dishes, salads, desserts, and even beer for the adults. Just as important (to the adults anyway) are the many opportunities afforded visitors to the Zoo just to sit down for a few minutes and enjoy the feast for the eye which is Brookfield Zoo.

Souvenir Safaris also are encouraged!

Many gift shops abound here also and provide an assortment of lovely (animal-oriented) gifts and souvenirs for almost any taste or price range. Credit cards are eagerly accepted!

It's not just for Summer anymore!

The Brookfield Zoo is open 365 days of the year. Indeed, autumn is one of the best viewing seasons. Even as I write this, the animals -- along with plenty of beautiful Fall colors served up with widely available coffee, cider, or hot chocolate -- are waiting for you. Even during the dark winter holiday season, the Zoo offers up a big helping of holiday magic with their famous annual "Winter Wonderland."

How to Get There from Here:

The Brookfield Zoo, (8400 31^st Street, Brookfield, IL) is located at First Avenue and 31^st Street (roughly 14 miles west of the Loop) and is accessible by 304 or 311 Pace buses. The Zoo is near the Stevenson (I-55) and Eisenhower (I-290) expressways.

As of this time, general admission to the Brookfield Zoo is $13.50 per adult, $9.50 for seniors (over 65) and children aged 3-11. Children under two enter free and there is free admission for everyone on Tuesdays and Thursdays from October through February. There is always free admission for all active, reservist, and retired military personnel who present a valid I.D. badge. (For more information about Zoo ... including hours, parking, map and directions, memberships, admission to special exhibits, interesting facts about the animals or tickets which can be paid for and conveniently printed online for quick admission at the gates ... please visit http://www.czs.org or phone 708-485-0263.

A Few Words to the Wise:

Wear comfortable shoes.

During cool weather, wear something which is just enough to keep you warm outside but not too suffocating hot indoors. Because the Zoo is open even during inclement weather, many of the visitor viewing areas are inside.

Keep together. (Misplace somebody here and you may spend the rest of the day just looking for that person!)

The entire Brookfield Zoo is a no-smoking area.

The Zoo has asked that visitors don't bring domestic pets with them. For the safety of both Zoo animals and pets alike, visitors with pets will be turned away.

Most Important of all, don't try to see all of Brookfield Zoo in one day. Back when I was a kid, my Mom and Dad would have jumped at the chance to buy the type family memberships available today which include daily free admission and parking for one year, a quarterly newsletter, and discounts for gift shops and restaurants. Brookfield Zoo has enough treasures to last a lifetime ... and I speak from personal experience.

Sources:

Personal Experience

http://www.czs.org/czs