Brookfield Zoo - suburban Chicago, IL
Posted by: 
cldisme
N 41° 50.152 W 087° 50.077
16T E 430701 N 4631889
The Brookfield Zoo covers an area of 216 acres and houses around 450 species of animals.
Waymark Code: WM274M
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 09/15/2007
Views: 115
Brookfield Zoo, located in Brookfield, Illinois, just west of Chicago, is open every day of the year. The Zoo is located on 216 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, featuring over 2,000 individual animals.
The Zoo first opened in 1934 and became world renowned for its use of natural barriers, such as moats, rather than cages. Brookfield Zoo featured the first Giant Panda exhibit in the United States.
The exhibits, such as the Australia House, The Swamp, Regenstein Wolf Woods, Reptile House, Pachyderm House and the award-winning Living Coast exhibit, are sure to please.
Sure to be a favorite is the Tropic World exhibit, which simulates a tropical rain forest with monkeys, birds and more, even a simulated thunderstorm.
For an extra fee, there is also a children's petting zoo and the Hamill Family Play Zoo, where families can interact more closely with the animals. Children are also presented with the opportunity to pretend to be an animal, zoo keeper, veterinarian, or even the zoo director.
Another exhibit that costs an extra fee is the Dolphin Show. But if you time it right, you can watch the show from underneath the Seven Seas building for free. You cannot see anything above the water, but you sure can see everything that goes on underneath!
From May to mid-September, Brookfield Zoo also hosts a butterfly tent, again for an extra fee.
If you want to save on the admission if you want to do all the things that cost an extra fee, check the website to see when there is a FREE ADMISSION day. Oh, and service personnel on active service receive free admission with ID. However, parking is still $8.00.
Because this zoo is so large with so much to do, do not expect to do everything in one day. Pick and choose what the highlights will be for you. If you think you will return to Brookfield Zoo at least three more times in the next twelve months, ask about the family membership - where you can get passes or discounts to the exhibits with extra fees.
Wagons, strollers and picnics are permitted, but not in all buildings. Bicycles and rollerskates/blades are not permitted at all on the zoo grounds.
Zoo Website address: [Web Link]
Admission Cost: 11.00 (listed in local currency)
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Visit Instructions:
Please tell us a story about your visit to the zoo and the date of your visit. Additional photos, especially animals, are appreciated, but not required.