Brookfield Zoo
8400 31st St, Brookfield, IL 60513 * 708-485-2200
Spread across more than 216 acres, this zoo houses thousands of animals from around the world. Zoo residents live in specially designed, walk-through environments so visitors can view them in natural settings. Highlights include the Living Coast, which showcases 60 species in recreated waterfalls and ocean depths reminiscent of the western coasts of Peru and Chile. You also don't want to miss the dolphins at Brookfield's Seven Seas Panorama.
John G. Shedd Aquarium
1200 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605 * 312-939-2438
This aquarium houses both seawater and freshwater exhibits and is the largest aquarium of its kind. The facility is also known for the Caribbean Coral Reef that the Shedd has expanded. When you go, you'll want to see the Oceanarium, which showcases marine mammal sea life from the Pacific Northwest and includes sea otters and beluga whales. The colony of penguins in a Falkland Islands naturalistic environment is also a highlight. Other exhibits include an Amazon riverbank display, which showcases sloths, iguanas, and piranhas.
Lincoln Park Zoo
2200 N Cannon Dr, Chicago, IL 60614 * 312-742-2000
An ape house, a birdhouse, and a working model of a five-acre midwestern farm are just a few examples of what makes this zoo special. Founded in 1868 and known as America's oldest free public zoo, the Lincoln Park Zoo still manages to charge no admission and remains open year-round. Set on scenic park grounds with lush lawns and pleasant walkways, the zoo greets visitors with the beauty of Georgian Revival buildings and a spectacular greenhouse. Prominent zoo residents include elephants, giraffes, sea lions, gorillas, reptiles, and an endangered Siberian tiger.
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
2430 N Cannon Dr, Chicago, IL 60614-2773 * 773-755-5100
Featuring such permanent exhibits as the breathtaking Butterfly Haven and the C. Paul Johnson Family Water Lab, this family-friendly nature museum is a pleasant surprise in the heart of the Windy City. Among the newer displays is Ameritech Environmental Central, an interactive exhibit that challenges patrons to grapple with such environmental crises as droughts and floods. After enjoying the exhibits, stop by the gift shop and pick up one of the museum's signature butterfly t-shirts or sweatshirts.
Robie House
5757 S Woodlawn Ave, Chicago, IL 60637 * 773-834-1847
This is one of the last and best examples of Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie-style architecture. Horizontal lines, stained glass windows, and balconies define the structure. Wright designed the rooms to be energy efficient, keeping out direct sunlight but allowing enough light in to keep the room from growing too dark an ingenious concept in 1909, or any year for that matter.
