Chicago zoo/aquarium recommendation...

wyldjaguar

wyldjaguar

Well-Known Member
This summer, one of our summer family vacations will lead us to Chicago for the first time. As a visitor of 30+ zoos & aquariums, I looked forward to finally visiting Lincoln Park, Brookfield and Shedd. Long story short, our time looks as if it will be severely truncated and I realistically may only get to one institution. As an ardent zoo fan, I've read the reviews, know of the size differences (which makes no differences, for we can-and-have spent an entire day at the smallest of facilities) and am aware of the rich histories. Other than horrible weather that might steer us to the aquarium, if my fellow ZooChatters had to pick just one, which would you pick and why? While I know many of you have particular things you each like/look for, I do value your collective opinions. Thoughts?
 
In 2008 my wife and I visited Lincoln Park Zoo and then actually walked all the way to Shedd Aquarium, thus seeing both places in one day. Why not consider that option if you are willing to set aside an entire day for zoological pursuits? (I would recommend taking a cab!) Brookfield is certainly a much bigger, better, more comprehensive zoo than Lincoln Park and for those reasons it deserves to be seen. More species, more exhibits, more visitor amenities, more everything and generally of a higher quality overall.
 
Definitely Shedd Aquarium or Brookfield Zoo. I think it would depend on what animals you would like to see. You could do Shedd Aquarium and Lincoln Park Zoo as Snowleopard suggested, but I found when I did that, I had to rush the second part of the day at Lincoln Park Zoo (however I took some time and saw the aquatic show at the aquarium).
 
Brookfield is definatively my pick unless you love great apes. It is hard too see Brookfield in one day so if I were you I would skip the Perching Bird House, dolphin show, The Swamp and the Feathers and Scales building. I would definatively see the dolphins underwater, both Habitat Africas (baby giraffe, baby aardvark, wid dogs pups, baby okapi, and hopefuly you can still see the forest buffalo), Great Bear Wilderness, Tropic World, and the Living Coast.

Lincoln park realy is nothing special other than the great ape exhibits. Most of the exhibits are indoors but have lots of vegetation. This zoo you could really see in 4 hours.
 
Not sure if they still do this but I recall Shedd having a day per week in the summer where they were open til 8 thus easily allowing LPZ and Shedd in the same day.Shedd is the must see attraction out of the 3 by the way.

1.Shedd
2 BZ
3LPZ

Team Tapir
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top