Brookfield zoo Chicago, huge Zoo, but easy to plan for

1. The easiest thing to do is pick exhibits that are close together to visit so that you can see them in a similar time block then make your way to the next group of exhibits.

2. Go in the morning or later in the day when it’s generally less crowded. Also the animals are generally more active at these times of day so you’ll get to see them do more.

3. Or grab a guided tour especially if you don’t have more than a day to spend at the zoo. There is even a motorized safari tour, which takes you to the different exhibits.

4. The Brookfield zoo Chicago has tons of fantastic exhibits, and activities for the family so you can even plan your visits around the types of exhibits or the activities so that you can pick and choose the ones you are most interested in. To best plan your day check out these fantastic Exhibits

These are a sampling of the exhibits as listed at the Brookfield zoo(The various exhibit types are in bold)

• Great Bear Wilderness
o American Bison
o Bald Eagle
o Grizzly Bear
o Mexican Gray Wolf
o Polar Bear

• Butterflies!
o Monarch

• Australia House
o Emu
o Western Gray Kangaroo
o Southern Hairy-Nosed Womba
o Rodrigues Fruit Bat


• Children's Zoo – yes here you can pet some of the animals, ummmm, with the exception of the bald eagle, that one may be kinda tough.
o Llama
o Domestic Dog
o Reindeer
o Groundhog
o Bald Eagle

• Feathers and Scales
o Sungazer
o Roadrunner
o Gambel's Quail
o Blue Poison Frog
o Andean Condor

• Fragile Hunters
o Amur Tiger
o African Lion



• Fragile Rain Forest

o Burmese Python
o Tree Shrew
o Clouded Leopard
o African Giant Millipede
o Binturong

• Habitat Africa! The Savannah
o Warthog
o Reticulated Giraffe
o Klipspringer
o Aardvark

• Pachyderm House
o Hippopotamus
o Black Rhinoceros

o African Elephant

• Perching Bird House
o Argus Monitor
o Crested Wood Partridge
o Micronesian Kingfisher
o Bali Mynah

• Animal Presentations
• If you’ve ever wondered about farm activities, like milking animals or wool spinning, be sure to check this activity out for the scoop.
• Zoo Chats
• If you’re like me occasionally you’re curious about interesting tidbits about animals or how they live, well here’s the perfect spot to ask questions.
• Suggested Tours
• There are a variety of tours to choose from so you can really spend time here getting to know the exhibits you’re most interested in.
• Wild Encounters.
• When you’re watching animals or zoos on Discovery have you ever wonder if you could see exactly how the Zoo Keepers interact with the animals? Well here’s your chance to see things up close and personal.
• Go behind the scenes to see animals in their off-exhibit areas, help keepers with feeding and other aspects of animal care, and spend some quality time with fascinating animals

• Hamill Family Play Zoo.
Kids love to dream of what they’ll be when they grow up, well if you have a kid that’s ever wondered what it would be like to work with animals, or even to pretend to be zoo animal this is the perfect spot for them.

Well after seeing lots of animals, at the Brookfield Zoo Chicago, and many of them eating mind you. I don’t know about you but I find myself getting a bit hungry.

The great thing is that there are lots of spots to eat here:
The Safari Grill for pizza, hamburgers and Vienna hotdogs.
La Gran Cocina Food Court has lots of options, from burritos, tacos, hotdogs, pizza, grilled Panini, salads, sushi and more.
Or even the…
Bison Prarie Grill with sandwiches including steak, grilled turkey, Italian beef, and organic roast beef. This grill also has ice-cream treats and cocktails and beer.

See the Brookfield Zoo Chicago is a great spot to spend a day or more seeing all the exhibits and all of this can be done easily with the steps above so that you have the best possible experience on your Chicago vacation. (see below for options for Chicago attractions including the Brookfield Zoo

Hours:
Monday–Saturday, 9:30 am–6:00 pm;
Sunday, 9:30 am–6:00 pm 
(except between Memorial and Labor Day, then Sunday, 9:30 am–7:30 pm).
Closed:
Brookfield Zoo is open every day of the year.

Address:
8400 West 31st Street
Brookfield, IL
60513

Phone: 708-688-8000

Admission Price:

With card below: Included
Without card:
Adult: $13.50
Child: $9.50

hours of operation, and prices taken from www.smartdestinations.com