Brookfield Zoo

We had the chance to take the girls to the zoo a couple of weeks ago, we really lucked out, the weather turned out to be just perfect! I haven't been there in a while so I was quite surprised at some of the changes that have transpired. They now have a giant carousel to ride (additional cost), and a lot of extra exhibits and new animals! We went to see the dolphin show (additional cost) and had a great time watching the the show that they put on, afterwards we went down to the observation area and got to see one of the 'new' baby dolphins! The kids got a real charge out of making and collecting their 'molded plastic animals' throughout the whole grounds. We were a little disappointed with the amount of animals that were'nt available to see, I'm thinking that it must have been the time of year we went, but it was still well worth it! http://brookfieldzoo.com more

I always loved this Zoo, I went here often as a child. As soon as you arive you get a map that tells you where all the exibits are and how to get to them. Brookfield Zoo is beautifully decorated for Christmas too. Something everyone should see. In case you are visiting from out of town here is the link for the driving map and directions http://www.brookfieldzoo.org/0.asp?nSection=9&PageID=248&nLinkID=22 Here at the Zoo you can see all kinds of animals, they also have a petting zoo for the little ones to enjoy. My favorite part of the Zoo was their Dolphin Show. Here is their 2006 Events Schedule Fall Lecture Series: The Great Outdoors: Exploring Nature’s Reserves "Living with Wolves” Jim and Jamie Dutcher Tuesday, November 7 Experience the inner lives of wolves through Jim and Jamie Dutcher. They will present an evening of images and stories of the wolf pack they lived with for six years in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho. The Dutchers call for preserving wild spaces as a way to preserve wolf populations and avoid the confrontations with ranchers and encroaching civilization that continue to threaten wolves with extinction. Register online. Veteran's Day November 10 (Friday) To honor those who have proudly served our nation, Brookfield Zoo will be offering free general admission to all visitors on Veteran's Day, Friday, November 10. (Parking and attraction fees will apply.) Everyone is invited to attend a special recognition ceremony which will include special presentations from the Rickover Naval Academy, USO vocalist Alison Ruble, and Barbara Hunt of the Veteran's Administration. Afterwards, meet Leah, the zoo's bald eagle. A Children's Zoo keeper will be on hand to talk about our national symbol and answer any questions. Nights in the Wild: Bijou Break, The Swamp November 17 Community and Corporate Tree Trim November 18-19 (Saturday-Sunday) Begin your holiday season at Brookfield Zoo's Community and Corporate Tree Trim in preparation for the zoo's annual Holiday Magic. Get in the holiday spirit by purchasing and decorating a community or corporate tree. The trees are decorated with animal-safe ornaments and are displayed on the zoo's malls and around Roosevelt Fountain. Purchase your Community Tree Trim package online Purchase your Corporate Tree Trim package online Wines in the Wild at Brookfield Zoo Sunday, November 19, 2006 Wines in the Wild, presented by the Women’s Board of the Chicago Zoological Society, combines wine tasting and a live auction. Proceeds support our conservation and education programs. The event, lasting from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m., costs $75. Guests will receive a commemorative wineglass. Tickets available online. Dolphins on Parade in Hinsdale November 24 to January 14 (in Hinsdale) Auction on January 28, 2007 (at zoo) Last year, 30 penguins were let loose in Hinsdale. These fiberglass birds -- part of the village’s annual holiday event -- were displayed throughout the downtown area. At the end of the event, the penguins were auctioned off at Brookfield Zoo, raising more than $34,000 toward upkeep of The Living Coast. It is dolphins’ turn this year. Thanks to a partnership with the Hinsdale Chamber of Commerce and the Village of Hinsdale, fiberglass dolphins will be displayed throughout the village for a six-week run, beginning on Friday, November 24, and ending on Sunday, January 14. The five-foot-high fiberglass figures will be auctioned off at the zoo on Sunday, January 28. Fall Lecture Series: The Great Outdoors: Exploring Nature’s Reserves “Bringing Back Our Great Lakes” Cameron Davis Tuesday, December 5 The Alliance for the Great Lakes is the oldest independent Great Lakes citizens’ organization in the United States or Canada. President Cameron Davis will talk about the re-emergence of these lakes as a national and international treasure, the politics of water, and what ordinary people are doing to bring back the health of our HOMES. (Find out what the acronym means at the lecture!) Register online. Breakfast with Santa December 9, 10, 16, 17 (Saturdays and Sundays) Enjoy breakfast with Ol' Saint Nick and his friends at Brookfield Zoo. The all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet is served at 9:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m., followed by a photo opportunity with Santa. Afterwards, bundle up and visit the zoo's animals, including the polar bears, brown bears, and reindeer. Breakfast with Santa will feature a performance by the Banjo Buddies. The cost is $31 for adults and $21.50 for children 3-11 (zoo members pay $21 and $15.50). Children 2 and under eat for free. Seating is limited. For reservations and more information, call the zoo's Catered Events Department at 708-485-0263, ext.355. Holiday Brunch December 3, 10, or 17 (Sundays) Bring the family to Brookfield Zoo for its annual Holiday Brunch at Bocaditos restaurant. The all-you-can-eat buffet includes carved meats, omelets, seafood, and holiday treats. Santa will make an appearance along with BZ Bear, the zoo's popular costumed character. Seatings are offered at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The cost is $43 for adults and $29 for children 3-11 (zoo members pay $33 and $23). Children 2 and under eat for free. Seating is limited. For more information and to make reservations, call Brookfield Zoo's Catered Events Department at 708-485-0263, ext. 355. Holiday Magic Saturdays and Sundays in December All week December 26 - 31 (except for Christmas Eve) Celebrate the holiday season with family and friends at Brookfield Zoo's 25th annual Holiday Magic, featuring nearly one million twinkling lights illuminating the zoo's walkways. Festive activities include ice-carving demonstrations, carolers, family entertainment, visits with Santa and costumed characters, "Sing to the Animals," photo opportunities with Children's Zoo animals, a special "Zoo Year's Eve" celebration, and much more! Of course, many of the zoo's animal exhibits are open, as are gift shops and restaurants. During the event the zoo grounds will stay open until 9:00 p.m. (exhibits and restaurants will close 30 minutes earlier). Dates and times are subject to change without notice. Brookfield Zoo is open every day of the year from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day zoo hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $6 for children 3-11 and seniors 65 and over. Children 2 and under are admitted free. Admission to the zoo is free on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays in January and February; and from October through December, admission is free on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Parking is $8 for cars and $10 for buses (a Cook County parking tax is included). The zoo is located off First Avenue between the Stevenson (I-55) and Eisenhower (I-290) expressways, just 14 miles west of downtown Chicago. The zoo is also accessible via the Tri-State Tollway (I-294), Metra commuter line, CTA, and PACE bus service. Here is the link for the Brookfield Zoo http://www.brookfieldzoo.org/ more

I don't enjoy this zoo as much as the Lincoln Park Zoo but the zoo itself is great. The fact that they charge for admission and parking is understanable for what they are offering and the many acres of land this zoo covers. It's an old zoo but is a legendary place in this area and is the main attraction of the town of Brookfield. There is no street parking so you have to use their lot or take public trans here. more

Brookfield Zoo is huge. I think it ranks as one of the larges zoos in the entire US! There's tons to see here and you can spend an entire day here just strolling the grounds and checking out their numerous exhibits. This zoo is also very geared towards getting and educational message out about safety, recycling, and animal care. Its a great place to take kids because there is really so much to learn and see here. They do charge addmission at this zoo, but I think it is a small price payed for the amount of zoo and the experience you get here. Make sure to check out the monkeys here. They really are the star attraction here! more

This is a very nice zoo. We took the kids last year and they absolutely loved seeing all the different kinds of animals. Their favorite was the monkey habitat. We took a ride on the tram around the zoo which was a great way to catch a glipmse of all the animals. Be prepared for a lot of walking though. Be sure to catch the dolphin show! more

What a fabulous place to view animals in captivity. I mean, if we must hold them hostage, at least they get a gorgeous decently comfortable environment at this zoo. It's a really beautiful place full of all kinds of exotic and domestic animals. I've known some of the zoo-keepers and do feel that they have the utmost respect for the lives of their inmates. Brookfield has a wonderful Dolphin show which is sure to be of fun for kids of all ages. They also host a number of holiday events and parades to attract families. You can picnic on their flowered gardens or take a stroll through their numerous interpretations of foreign continents. It's educational and enlightening. In fact, it sort of makes me feel sorry for those animals who are not part of the zoo society. more

I love the Brookfield zoo. Last year we decided to get a membership for our family and it is such a great value, I can't beleive more people don't sign up for it. There are lots of animals to see and the Hammil family play zoo is our kids favorite part. The dolphin show is also a great attraction. This is a great place to go in the summer and if you have the membership you can go multiple times, even if it's just to walk around in the outdoors. more

What do you think the animals do at night? Do they party it up when the lights go out? Do they head over to Lincoln Park Zoo and have a "battle of the beasts" competition? Hmmmm, these are things I wonder. This is such a wonderful place to visit. A great selection of animals, cool exhibits and my favorite, the petting zoo area. I love those llamas and the reindeer! They're so cute. The Living Sea is also a sight to behold. more

They take excellent care of the animals and the grounds here. They give the animals a decent amount of space and try hard to recreate a a natural looking environment. There is usually plenty of space for everyone to roam even on a crowded day. There are some free days offered during cooler months, otherwise I believe it is $10 for adults. The parking is always $8. They also have a petting zoo, gift and snack shops. more

I was thoroughly impressed with the Brookfield Zoo during my first trip there this summer. The zoo isn't the largest I've visited, but you can tell that this zoo pays attention to detail and provides both an educational and entertaining experience. I loved the interactive walkthroughs and some of the theming in the African habitat. I think the reptile house could use a little renovation, though. more

My wife and I were really impressed during our last visit to the Brookfield Zoo. Though the zoo was rather crowded, we found ourselves completely alone at a few of the animal habitats. The zoo tries really hard to put the animal displays in context, so there are a lot of opportunities for reading labels and participating in hands-on activities. There are several food courts, all of which offer reasonably-priced hamburgers, pizza, and hot dogs. We spent an entire day there, and I'm sure we missed a few things. It's well worth the price of admission, and we can't wait to go back! more

Whether you have children or not, I always find that the zoo is a wonderful place to go for a walk. They have clear paths, and holiday scenes. Brookfield Zoo charges for parking and admission (where Lincoln Park does not), but you'll notice the difference - it's significantly less crowded, and there's much more room to walk around. The Burlington Northern Metra goes within blocks of the zoo, so if you're going there, the Metra is definitely a great option. Throw on a backpack with water & some snacks, and you've got a wonderful day planned! more

This is the nicest zoo I have ever been too! It is huge! Has lots of great animals...tigers, lions, bears, zebras, plus it even has farm animals! The dolphin show is so cute, although they need to change from time to time, it's been the same for 5 years! They have a play zoo center for the kids, with activities, and crafts. Even a petting zoo where they can pet farm animals. more

Huge natural environments for your whole familys viewing. Comfortable seating throughout the zoo. Handicapped friendly. Great shows such as the dolphin shows. Several nice gift shops to pick up some souveniers. The animal figure wax machine is always a family favorite. A great way to tire out your kids and create lifelong memories. Check out the monkey exhibit with no glass between you and them it's very cool. Our favorite family destination hands down. more

Brookfield Zoo is the largest Zoo in the Chicago area. They have almost every type of animals you can imagine and what I like most is they are open 365 days in the year. It has over 200 acres of land for all types of animal to roam. They also have free admission on Tuesday on certain months of the year. They also have a petting zoo for kids and they also have exhibits for animals of Africa to the Savannahs. Parking is plentiful and my only complaint is the smell but it is usual in a Zoo. more

I would highly suggest getting a yearly membership to this place. It's big and if you have kids, you'll have a hard time cramming everything in during one visit. It's fairly reasonable, includes free parking and various other freebies they toss in. My favorite exhibit is the Living Waters. It is an indoor exhibit that features a giant wave, jelly fish, other large fish in tanks, and many other exhibits. I also heard they just installed a water play area just outside. There are a LOT of things to see at this zoo. Many outdoor and indoor exhibits to check out. I would take the map and plan out your day. You are allowed to bring in a picnic lunch and eat on the grounds (there are lots of places for this). They also have restaurants and food vendors, but they are quite pricey. There are many little gift shops with cute little items to buy. There is a special play zoo for kids (costs extra) plus a petting zoo. There is a trolley, dolphin shows and a butterfly exhibit (cost extra). There are plenty of bathrooms, a park for the kids to play on, magnificent grounds, those cool mold-a-rama things, and a place to rent strollers, wagons and wheel chairs at a reasonable price. Definitely plan on this being a day long excursion if you don't have a season pass. If you've got the pass, you can spend just a few hours, poop out and know you can come back another day. more

The Brookfield Zoo is the best zoo around (even better than Lincoln park). It is a little bit pricey with admission and parking so a family pass is the best way to go. The children's secition of the zoo is wonderful. You can spend the whole day just in that area letting your kids paint their faces or take care of stuffed animals like vets. The zoo has every kind of animal of course and the apes are especially cute since several of them have babies right now. more

Brookfield Zoo is a very interesting place to visit. It is larger than the Lincoln Park Zoo, also in Chicago, and has a larger selection of animals. Like any other zoo, you will be able to see animals from all over the world at Brookfield Zoo (aside from the panda and other endangered species). All in all, this zoo is excellent. more

The Brookfield Zoo is everything that you could hope for in a zoo. There are literally thousands of animals at this very large zoo, and the exhibits are creatively done, which makes for enjoyable viewing. There are always new shows and attractions, so you can come several times in a year and not get bored. Overall, it's a wonderful place for families to spend time together doing something that is both fun and educational. more

There are two zoos in the Chicagoland area and Brookfield Zoo is the larger of the two. I have gone to this zoo for a few times now and i like it a lot. there are tram rides for the people who like guided tours. The zoo is divided by habitats and my favorite is the great apes habitat. They made the habitat to look like the jungle and did a great job in having the walkways to circle the enclosure. I highly recommend this zoo to families with kids. Be prepared to pay for both parking and admission. more