City: Chicago, IL

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (800) 201-0784; (708) 688-8000

Address: 3300 Golf Rd.

Insider Pick:

Description: Chicagoans do adore their local free zoo, but when they want to see even more wild animals of the world, they head about 14 miles west of downtown to this sprawling park that opened in 1934. There’s a lot to see, so pace yourself and then put your roaming on pause to watch a dolphin presentation (there are at least two every day). Or jump aboard the narrated Motor Safari (available early spring through late fall for an extra fee) for an on-and-off trip that rolls you to four prime stops throughout the zoo (great for tired feet). At the Great Bear Wilderness, there are plenty of big bears, but also bison and bald eagles. Jump over to the Australia House for a chance to see creatures from Down Under—a Southern hairy-nosed wombat, an emerald tree boa, emu, and kangaroos of course. There’s also a Hoofed Animals exhibit with Bactrian camels, Grevy’s zebras, and antelope; a seasonal butterfly exhibit; a play zoo; an African savanna; and a children’s zoo where you can watch milking and wool-spinning demonstrations. General admission $13.50; seniors and children 3 to 11 $9.50 (some activities have extra fees). Open most of the year from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, zoo hours are 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and on Sun from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the zoo stays open until 7:30 p.m.