zoomaniac goes to Chicago

Z

zoomaniac

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
Hi everyone

After another nice vacation in Florida this spring, I would like to come back to the US for another (Zoo-)trip (and also to exploit the ESTA permit;)).

But this time, my steps will lead me to a complete new destination: Chicago. And so I need a little help for my plans to visit Brookfield, LPZ and Shedd as well as Milwaukee (Zoo) from August 7th (Thursday) to August 10th (Sunday).

My plane is scheduled to arrive about noon on Thursday. My intention is to use the afternoon as good as possible and visit Lincoln Park Zoo right after arrival.
Next day (Friday) I want to visit either Brookfield or Milwaukee Zoo and on Saturday the one which is left.
Sunday should be used for Shedd until I have to move to O'Hare and return to Switzerland.

And here are my questions:
1. According to my plans, would you recommend me to use public transport or to hire a car or a mix between them? (I was told that parking fees in Downtown Chicago are very high and that many freeways are toll roads. On the other hand, I presume that the trip to Milwaukee Zoo from Chicago by public transport can be complicated and time-robbing)
2. What is the quickest way from O'Hare airport to Lincoln Park Zoo (by public transport and by car).
3. What areas/suburbs I have to avoid because of high crime?
4. How long does it take from Downtown Chicago to Milwaukee Zoo approximately (by car and by public transport). And what are the best times to avoid jams on the freeways?
5. Can the big bears still be seen at LPZ (although they announced construction)?
6. Is there a chance to get/buy a zoo map (and maybe other zoo literature) at LPZ?
7. Are there still Tayras at Milwaukee Zoo?

Also, it would be great to meet some zoochat members (specially locals) during my trip in one of the zoos. So everyone who's interested and has time is welcome.

Thank you so much in advance for your help.
 
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Hi zoomaniac. Unfortunately I cannot help you with the majority of the questions, but there are some things I can answer.

4. According to google, it takes 1 hour and 39 mins to get to the Milwaukee County Zoo from Chicago.

7. I went to the Milwaukee County Zoo last summer and saw a Tayra, so I would assume that the zoo still has them.
 
(Thank you MeiLover)

Anyone else? I deeply hope that someone from the Chicago/Milwaukee area can help.
 
MeiLover said:
Hi zoomaniac. Unfortunately I cannot help you with the majority of the questions, but there are some things I can answer.

4. According to google, it takes 1 hour and 39 mins to get to the Milwaukee County Zoo from Chicago.

7. I went to the Milwaukee County Zoo last summer and saw a Tayra, so I would assume that the zoo still has them.
Click to expand...

The Tayra was not there last week.
 
I begin my 20 day/54 zoo summer road trip in late July and I will be in the state of Illinois for 3 days in August. It seems unlikely that you'd be able to change your schedule but here is my personal plan for those 3 days in case you are possibly still in town.

DAY 11 (Wed. Aug. 6th) : Shedd Aquarium 9-1 (Chicago, IL) + drive 45 min. + Cosley Zoo 2-3 (Wheaton, IL) + drive 30 min. + Phillips Park Zoo 4-5 (Aurora, IL) + drive 2 hours

DAY 12 (Thurs. August 7th) : Niabi Zoo 9:30-11:30 (Coal Valley, IL) + drive 1.5 hours + Wildlife Prairie Park 1-3 (Hanna City, IL) + drive 30 min. + Peoria Zoo 3:30-5:30 (Peoria, IL) + drive 45 min.

DAY 13 (Fri. Aug. 8th) : Miller Park Zoo 9:30-11 (Bloomington, IL) + drive 1 hour + Scovill Zoo 12-1:30 (Decatur, IL) + drive 45 min. + Henson Robinson Zoo 2:30-4 (Springfield, IL) + drive 2 hours
 
Things i remember from my visits to chicago are:
shedd,lpz and brookfield are all in very safe parts of the city.
Shedd aquarium is really packed on sundays in vacation period. arrive early and take the mueseum bus. buses to lpz arrive outside the childrens zoo and botanical conservatory,clark st. i think. check the cta website of course. From o hare i would take the rail to the train station and then a taxi to lpz. Again check the cta website.
Public transport to milwaukee zoo from the windy city is again bus to the train station to milwaukee and then by bus to MZ.Cannot be done in an hour and ahalf. car from chicago to milwaukee is much faster.
fellow zoochaters have mentioned that tayras are off exhibit at milwaukee for now.
no idea about the bears at lpz.
i always enjoyed the field mueseum next to he shedd,it a world class institution. Sue the trex, and the tsavo lion maneaters and so much more under one roof.
oh, and have a chicago style hot dog at the cafe brauer at lpz.
 
Take the CTA blue line from O'hare into the city and then a cab to LPZ.Rent a car for Milwaukee.Take the BNSF Burlington Metra Line from Union Station to the Hollywood (Zoo Stop) for the Brookfield Zoo).We agree with Carlos on Field Museum and a Chicago Dog at LPZ.Also have a deep dish pizza at Giordanos its the best pizza in the world.Locations can be found throughout the Chicagoland area.Have a burrito at the La Gran Cocina at the Brookfield Zoo as its one of the best spots for food of any zoo we've ever been to.Its a great value.

Team Tapir223
 
I agree with everything TeamTapir says. Avoid rush hour traffic if possible -late mornings or after 7pm are your best bets.

I believe Anana (LP's polar bear) has been relocated to brookfield while her new habitat is being built. The LPZoo website still lists Sun Bears but not Spectacled Bears - I'm not sure of the status of either. There is also a black bear in the children's zoo (which doubles as the zoo's North American area and is worthwhile).
 
@Snowleopard: I have already seen your tour schedule for this summer but was indeed unable to change my dates (family goes first, you know what I mean;)). So sad, because it would not only been a pleasure but also a honor to meet you. Hope there will be another chance - in the US or Europe, let's see.

@Moebelle, Carlos55, TeamTapir223 and True Gharial: Thank you so much for your suggestions and tips.
 
TrueGharial said:
I agree with everything TeamTapir says. Avoid rush hour traffic if possible -late mornings or after 7pm are your best bets.

I believe Anana (LP's polar bear) has been relocated to brookfield while her new habitat is being built. The LPZoo website still lists Sun Bears but not Spectacled Bears - I'm not sure of the status of either. There is also a black bear in the children's zoo (which doubles as the zoo's North American area and is worthwhile).
Click to expand...

Anana is not at BZ, they have a polar bear of the same name. Anana will be at LPZ when you visit. So will be the black bears (not moving at all). Sun bear- maybe, maybe not. Spectacled- no.
 
1. Parking at Lincoln Park is brutal and worse than Brookfield due to it being further downtown. Five hours is around $30 on July 30th, and it should take you an additional hour or two if it's your first trip and you want to see everything. I can't give public transit tips as I lack proper experience. Aforementioned express bus might be your best bet for Brookfield. Shedd Aquarium is also very brutal on parking and probably worst on the wallet of the bunch.

3. The north side of Chicago is fairly safe, stay away from the south side. I'm sorry I can't be more specific. I live on the north side and both zoos are a half hour to an hour drive and we only briefly pass through 'bad' neighborhoods and they are not the violent ones seen on the news. The trip from Chicago to Wisconsin should be relatively safe.

4. As said, avoid rush hour traffic like hell. Can't stress that one enough. It's 1.5 - 2.5 hours between Milwaukee County Zoo and Chicago depending on traffic. If you leave early in the morning I think you'll have much better luck. The ride home will probably be much rougher :(

5. As of July 30th, there is still one polar bear and one sun bear. No sign of the others. I believe the exhibit should remain open until Macaque Forest opens. Signs are still up for the Hyena and Andean Bear but they are not on the website so I assume they are gone. As mentioned, there's at least two black bears in the Children's Zoo and it's a worthwhile exhibit. BZ has grizzly, polar and sloth bears, but I'm unsure the status of their Spectacled bear.

6. They are free at both zoos. I picked mine up at the gift shop (for free) in Kovler Lion House last time I was there while paying for an unrelated item. Brookfield should hand them to you at the admission booth.

I'll add another recommendation for the Field Museum if you have the additional time - the dinosaur and taxidermy collections are beautiful and that's just part of the museum. Two particular zoo stars are there - Bushman the gorilla from Lincoln Park Zoo and Mei-lan the Giant Panda from Brookfield Zoo.
 
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