Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
lowland gorillas at the
Great Ape House
, which was completely rebuilt in
2004. The zoo has had remarkable success in breeding both gorillas and chim-
panzees, and watching these ape families is mesmerizing.
Regenstein African
Journey
is home to elephants, giraffes, rhinos, and other large mammals;
large glass-enclosed tanks allow visitors to go face-to-face with swimming pygmy
hippos and (not for the faint of heart) a rocky ledge filled with hissing cock-
roaches from Madagascar.
The
Small Mammal-Reptile House
is a state-of-the-art facility, housing 200
species and featuring a glass-enclosed walk-through ecosystem simulating river,
savanna, and forest habitats. The popular
Sea Lion Pool,
situated in the center
of the zoo and home to harbor seals, gray seals, and California sea lions, features
an underwater viewing area spanning 70 feet and an amphitheater.
The Park Place Café food court is located in a historic building that originally
was Chicago's first aquarium. And the Mahon Theobold Pavilion features a
sprawling indoor gift shop and a unique rooftop eatery called Big Cats Café that
opens at 8am (1 hr. before the exhibits do) and serves fresh-baked muffins and
scones, focaccia sandwiches, salads, and flatbreads.
Tip:
For best animal view-
ing, go on a temperate weather day—in really hot weather, the animals tend to
be lethargic (like human beings, I guess!). Allow 2 to 3 hours.
2200 N. Cannon Dr. (near Lake Shore Dr. at Fullerton Pkwy.).
&
312/742-2000.
www.lpzoo.com. Free admis-
sion. Buildings open daily 10am-5pm (until 6:30pm Sat-Sun Memorial Day to Labor Day); grounds open
9am-6pm (until 7pm Memorial Day to Labor Day and until 5pm Nov 1-Mar 31). Free trolley service from area
CTA stations and parking garages on Sat-Sun and holidays 10am-6pm Memorial Day to Labor Day; visit the
zoo's website for route information and schedule.
8 Gardens & Conservatories
Garfield Park Conservatory
All ages.
Designed by the great landscape
architect Jens Jensen in 1907, Garfield Park Conservatory is one of the largest
gardens under glass in the world at 2 acres in size. And it's open 365 days a year
from 9am to 5pm, with free admission. Surprisingly, it took a blockbuster
exhibit by glass artist Dave Chihuly a few years ago for many Chicagoans to “dis-
cover” the conservatory.
Chicago parents give the conservatory a thumbs-up for the special kids' area,
which features a slide, climbing equipment, and a big pile of dirt (and digging
tools), all within an environment that feels downright tropical. Educational dis-
plays such as plants, pods, and insects and staff members who work with kids
ensure that some learning gets done along with digging. Unfortunately, the con-
servatory is surrounded by a rather blighted neighborhood with a high crime
rate. I advise driving there and forgoing public transportation. Allow 1 hour.
300 N. Central Park Ave.
&
312/746-5100.
Free admission. Daily 9am-5pm. Free parking in an adjacent lot.
Lincoln Park Conservatory
All ages.
Just beyond the zoo's northeast
border is a lovely botanical garden housed in a soaring glass-domed structure.
Inside are four great halls filled with thousands of plants that, unless you're an
avid horticulturist, will take you perhaps a half-hour to explore. The Palm
House features giant palms and rubber trees (including a 50-ft. fiddle leaf rub-
ber tree dating from 1891), the Fernery nurtures plants that grow close to the
forest floor, and the Tropical House is a shiny symphony of flowering trees,
vines, and bamboo. The fourth environment is the Show House, where seasonal
flower shows are held.
Even better than the plants inside, however, might be what lies outside the
front doors. The expansive lawn with its French garden and lovely fountain on
