City: Chicago, IL

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (312) 742-2000

Description: What began in 1868 with a pair of swans from New York has grown into a 49-acre home to more than 1,200 animal species, from aardvarks and alpacas to leopards, flamingos, bears, and zebras—and it’s one of the few remaining free zoos in the nation. Stroller-pushing moms and dads appreciate the manageable size of the zoo and flock here during the summer. Be sure to visit the family of endangered African gorillas and chimpanzees—wave hello to Sai, the most recent addition to the white-cheeked gibbon family—watch the monkeys playfully swing from vine to vine, feed the cows at the Farm-in-the-Zoo, cheer the seals on as they show off their sleek moves, and take a ride on the hand-crafted carousel. The new half-mile Nature Boardwalk, made of entirely recycled materials, skirts the fully restored ecosystem of the zoo’s manmade pond where you might spot native fish, frogs, turtles, birds, and insects. In winter, the annual ZooLights celebration brings a festive sparkle to the zoo. Free; extra fee for some activities; parking on the east side of the zoo starts at $17 for up to 3 hours, but there’s free (hard-to-find sometimes) street parking, as well as several nearby CTA bus stops. Open 365 days a year.