Brookfield Zoo
WHERE: Brookfield, Illinois – just west of Chicago
WHEN: Open every day – best in warmer months.
WHAT: Animals – lots of them – and interactive exhibits.
The Brookfield Zoo is packed with amazing animal attractions. You may want to go into it with a game plan just to make sure you see all your favorites before you collapse in an exhausted heap in front of the Dippin’ Dots (yep – they’ve got Dippin’ Dots!) Maybe you’re the lions and tigers type, in which case you’ll love the Fragile Kingdom with a delicate balance of three distinct habitats.
Apparently the lion’s roar carries pretty far from this exhibit in the afternoons. The Seven Seas is a beautiful oasis, its Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins showcased in daily shows and underwater viewing. The Pachyderm House is always a favorite – who doesn’t love elephants? And the Bear Grottos promise you’ll see these favorite fuzzy mammals up close and fully active. You’ll find several food and snack shops inside, and you know you’re going to want to browse the souvenirs. Plus, don’t think we’ve even begun to describe all of the animal attractions here. This zoo is a little outside of Chicago but definitely worth the trip.
