The Ultimate Guide to Brookfield Zoo ~ Chicago, IL

If you are planning to travel to the Chicago area, you should definitely spend a day (or two) exploring at the Brookfield Zoo! Located just 14 miles from Downtown Chicago, this zoo has something fun in store for guests of all ages. We recently visited, for the first time, and are so excited to share with you our “Ultimate Guide to Brookfield Zoo”, Chicago.

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Our guide is full of our favorite exhibits, activities and tips to help you explore Brookfield Zoo while on your own adventure. Currently, Brookfield is only one of two zoos in America where you can see on exhibit a creature which is considered the world’s most illegally trafficked mammal. Any guesses?! We’ll share the answer below!

A huge thank you to Brookfield Zoo for hosting us on our visit!

Let’s Get Started!

Brookfield Zoo is very well spaced out… which as moms we can tell you is pretty awesome when traveling with kids! Crowds can be overwhelming for little ones and the space provided at Brookfield Zoo makes for a very comfortable experience.

The first thing we actually noticed when we walked through the South Entrance were the beautiful green spaces, and pathways lined with tall trees. Plenty of spots to stop in the shade and enjoy the view.

The carousel is simply adorable and is a great way to either start (or end) your visit at Brookfield. It is one of the largest, hand-carved carousels in America and is full of colorful, wooden creatures from all over the world.

Many of the animals on the carousel can be seen at Brookfield Zoo. The best part though… the name of each animal is printed on the wooden beam directly above it!

The printed names make it easy for little zookeepers to identify any new faces and also helps them to find on the map if an animal lives at Brookfield (Tickets are required to ride the carousel).

Wonderful Water Fountains

Another thing we loved right away about Brookfield Zoo were the water bottle refill stations scattered throughout the park. We always travel with stainless steel, reusable water bottles, so this was a wonderful surprise!

Each station has a colorful sign, with quick facts about water for you to check out while you fill your bottle(s).

Between us, our five kids drink a lot of water when traveling (they eat a ton too… but that’s another story!). Not only are these water bottle refill stations good for the environment, they are good for the wallet too!

Brookfield Zoo is quite spread out and requires a lot of walking during your visit. When you grab your zoo map to plan out your day, be sure to take note of the location of fountains on your route… you won’t have to look far.

We highly recommend bringing your own reusable water bottle(s) and taking advantage of these fabulous fountains.

Bird and Reptile House

The outside of the Bird and Reptile House is just as beautiful as the creatures you’ll find inside (you know us and old buildings!) Brookfield Zoo opened to the public in 1934 and this is one of its original structures. Take a moment to stop and enjoy the lovely images in blue above the doorway!

The reptiles are first to greet you as you enter the exhibit. Keep your eyes open for things that slither and creep in the windows around you. Some of them are easy to spot because of their color and size, while others are more tricky and use camouflage.

Be sure to find the example of the original exhibit window cutouts, located near the west exit, in the corner. There are some interesting facts and it is pretty neat to compare things as they are today with how they used to be.

The avian exhibit will make you feel as though you are in a lush, tropical rainforest. It is open air and the birds are free to wander and fly where they please.

Our favorite birds were the Macaws. They were perched close to our overlook and their colors were just brilliant! Our kids were curious if they could talk, like a similar bird, we’d seen before in our travels, that had repeatedly kept calling for “Barbara.”

The two Macaws at Brookfield were quite peaceful and didn’t say any recognizable words when we visited them (FYI, we never found out who Barbara was either, and it still makes us smile)!

Pangolins, Hidden Gems in the Forest at Habitat Africa!

One of the first things we did when we arrived at the zoo was to make sure we located where the White-Bellied Tree Pangolin exhibit was. It is found within the Forest of Habitat Africa, and the sign below marks the path you will take to get to it.

There are so many creatures to see along the way to the Pangolin exhibit, including some adorable endangered Okapis.

“What is a Pangolin?” though, you ask? It’s ok, most people have never heard of one either… we hadn’t until about a year ago.

A Pangolin is a scaly anteater that can be found in parts of Africa and Asia. There are eight species of Pangolins and sadly, all are facing extinction. Some cultures believe their scales have medicinal value, and this has resulted in them becoming the world’s most trafficked mammal. They are trafficked at a higher rate than tigers, rhinos and elephants, COMBINED.

Although there are several zoos across America that have Pangolins in their care, Brookfield Zoo is currently only one of two (Memphis Zoo is the other) that has a Pangolin on exhibit for visitors to see.

Pangolins are a pretty big deal to Trisha’s oldest daughter. They are her favorite animal! It was love at first sight when she first saw Honeybun (a Pangolin) on a PBS Nature episode all about Maria Diekmann and her work with Pangolins at REST Namibia.

Trisha’s daughter was so moved by Maria and Honeybun’s story, that she decided to raise money to donate to REST to go toward the protection and care of Pangolins in Africa. Her dream is to visit Africa to see the Pangolins and she (and her siblings who accidently might’ve blown it!) did not know she would be seeing a Pangolin when we visited Brookfield. It was the most difficult surprise to keep!

Because the type of Pangolin at Brookfield is nocturnal, the exhibit is dark inside to mimic nighttime, in the hopes “Biggie” will be more active for visitors. Most of the time “Biggie” can be found curled up in a ball in the corner, sleeping. However, if you are lucky enough to stop by following one of his two daily feedings, you will simply be amazed at what is walking around in front of you!

This is SUCH an important exhibit to spend some time at, looking and learning. Pangolins need our help.

To learn more about Pangolins, how our love of them started and to read about our visit with two of their caretakers at Brookfield Zoo, please check out Pangolins, and Zoos, and Surprises. Oh My!

Meet the Wallabies

If there was ever a creature guilty of “stealing the show,” it would be the adorable, hopping Bennett’s Wallabies that live at the Hamill Family Wild Encounter area. We simply could not get enough of their sweet, furry faces.

The exhibit is set up with a walkway that winds through the wallabies’ habitat. Guests must remain on the pathway, however, the wallabies are free to roam wherever they choose.

There are members of the zoo staff present to help answer any questions you may have and to make sure, for the animals’ safety, that everyone follows the rules.

The wallabies were VERY fun to watch! They hopped about munching on the dry leaves that had fallen, sniffed at the wind and even managed to make napping look appealing to kids!

They were pretty quiet as they watched us too, and we made sure to return the favor. With big, fluffy ears like theirs, I’d imagine the sounds of excited visitors would seem quite a bit louder to them.

Our favorite wallaby was William, (cue the dreamy exhale)! We learned that William was hand-raised until he was around three years old and now calls Brookfield Zoo home. Because he had so much interaction with humans growing up, he is pretty comfortable around people.

If you see a wallaby on the pathway, or close to it, it is most likely William. We were so lucky to have him come close enough to see the detail in his little paws!

Our time at the Hamill Family Wild Encounters area was loads of fun! There are goats to brush, parakeets to feed, llamas to love and a Red Panda to adore!

If you plan on visiting the Hamill Family Wild Encounters area (which we highly recommend!), plan on spending at least an hour here. You will be glad you set aside enough time to meet everyone!

Sand and Sea

Desert’s Edge

The North African desert is a pretty tough environment to live in with its heat, sand and predators! Desert’s Edge takes you there to see several of the incredible creatures that call it home. If you like small, quick, furry animals then this is the place for you!

One of the coziest spots we found at the zoo, was peeking into the Bat-Eared Foxes’ den. Adorable little faces, topped with giant ears, all snuggled up together snoozing. Brace yourself if you happen to witness one yawn, it’s extremely sweet.

We definitely saw no signs of napping when we stopped by to visit the Meerkats! Each little creature was busily going about its work keeping watch, digging, or sitting in the food bin eating.

Our kids especially enjoyed watching the Meerkat that was keeping guard on top of the rock. It would stand on its tiptoes and pivot on its tail as it surveyed the area and its little friends below.

Giant Porcupines, Naked Mole Rats and wild African cats are among the other animals that can also be seen inside Desert’s Edge. When crossing the bridge walkway inside, be on the lookout for the some unbelievable rock climbers across from the Caracal.

Pinniped Point

During our visit to Brookfield, we actually learned a new word… “pinniped” (say it a couple of times, it’s fun!).

Pinnipeds are aquatic mammals, that have four flippers for limbs and are also carnivores. You guessed it, if you thought seals and walruses!

There is plenty to see and hear during your pit stop with the pinnipeds. We especially loved the overlook into the exhibits to see how these “fin”tastic creatures move on land.

Warning… the California Sea Lions make some pretty loud, and unique sounds when communicating, which kids (and dads) find very amusing. You will likely hear the sea lions, before you even see them, as you approach the exhibit area.

The underwater viewing area was also lots of fun, as the sea lions were VERY active and fast! There was tons of chasing, nipping and zipping to be seen beneath the surface and never a dull moment.

Seven Seas

Brookfield Zoo is home to a group of Bottlenose Dolphins and you can immerse yourself in their world at the Seven Seas exhibit located beside Pinniped Point.

Inside, the zoo offers a daily show, “Dolphins in Action” (tickets required), to introduce guests to these very smart and talented creatures.

We were amazed by all of the jumps and spins the dolphins could do! Seeing them shoot out of the water and into the air was very exciting… they can jump really high!

Throughout the show, we even learned some cool facts about the dolphins from their trainers. We never knew that teaching the dolphins to float on their backs actually helps the veterinarian when it comes time to do an exam. Pretty cool!

Our family really enjoyed the performance which was action packed from start to finish.

There is also an underwater viewing area (no extra fee) within Seven Seas, where you can enjoy taking a peek beneath the surface to see what the dolphins are up to. It was very calming to watch them as they swam and played in the shades of blue around us.

We recommend keeping the underwater viewing area in mind for a little “down time” during your visit. There are several rows of seating available and it made for a great way to spend time watching marine animals and letting the kids rest their legs.

The Living Coast

From the moment we walked into The Living Coast, we were immersed in a colorful, underwater world. Our families are kind of obsessed with all things ocean, so we knew this would be a top spot on our kids’ list of “must do at the zoo.”

There is no shortage of windows (big and small) to peek through to get an up-close look at the marine life inside the exhibit.

The coral reef is definitely a family favorite. Everywhere we looked, there was something bright swimming by! It is always fun to try to find the creatures hiding in the nooks and crannies.

Before exiting The Living Coast, we saw the lively, Humboldt Penguins. Lots of activity happening in this exhibit with plenty of playful penguins!

There is a large glass viewing area allowing you to see the penguins swimming underwater. They don’t seem to mind their human visitors and will swim and play right up against the window.

We recommend planning to spend a little extra time exploring The Living Coast. With so much activity, life and energy, it was hard for us to leave!

Tropic World

Get ready for a journey through the tropical forests of South America, Asia and Africa, in search of monkeys, apes, and gorillas. The exhibit is open-air and gives you the feeling of observing the animals in the wild.

Along the way you will also find other animals unique to these regions such as a Giant Anteater, a sloth and some adorable otters from Asia.

We were quite surprised to look up and see a sloth crawling along a rope, that was directly over our heads! When it reached the rock ledge, it carefully tucked itself into a hanging bed hammock. So cute!

There are so many sights and sounds surrounding you within Tropic World and several lush pathways to take on your journey. We recommend making this one of your first stops while at Brookfield, as it closes 45 minutes earlier than the rest of the zoo.

Farewell for Now

Our children definitely left their fair share of handprints on the glass at Brookfield Zoo! With so many remarkable windows into the animal world, it was hard to resist wanting to reach out and “touch” each creature.

We were thrilled to see (at numerous exhibits) so many platforms to step-up on and low windows for our younger children to be able get a good view too.

Brookfield Zoo has done an outstanding job bringing its guests up-close to some fascinating creatures, big and small. Our families are so thankful to have spent a day learning together at such an amazing zoo!

Know Before You Go

Brookfield Zoo is open year round, every day! Zoo hours vary by season, so be sure to double check while planning your visit. Tickets for admission can be purchased online and there is a parking fee payable when you park.

There are plenty of dining options to choose from throughout the park, with some open year-round and others seasonally. It’s a good idea to find out, before you go, if an option you are interested in will be open during your visit.

Brookfield also allows guests the option of bringing their own food items in, however, no glass containers are allowed. Obviously, alcoholic beverages are prohibited. For more information on this and other topics, check out Brookfield Zoo’s list of Park Rules.

Don’t forget to follow Brookfield Zoo on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to stay up-to-date on any upcoming special events and zoo news!

Be sure to check out our other animal inspired adventures:

• Bradenton Beach Marina Dolphin Eco Tour (Anna Maria Island, FL)
• Happy Paddler Kayak Coastal Island Tour (Anna Maria Island, FL)
• Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium (Sarasota, FL)
• The Ultimate Guide to ZooTampa At Lowry Park (Tampa Bay, FL)
• Giving Back on Vacation: Hawai’i Wildlife Center (Big Island, HI)
• Maui Ocean Center, Aquarium (Maui, HI)
• Outdoor Discovery Center (Holland, MI)
• SEA LIFE Aquarium (Auburn Hills, MI)
• Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies (Gatlinburg, TN)