Categories: Chicago Architecture Chicago History Entertainment and Attractions

Zoos: Lincoln Park Zoo

Author: Jody Robbins

Wildlife in the Busy City

The Lincoln Park Zoo is set in Lincoln Park, just north of the heart of downtown Chicago . Its mission covers animal care, education, science, and conversation, while serving as an interaction point between the animal world and the public at large. The free zoo, founded in 1868 with only a pair of swans has expanded its home to a wide range of animals, more than 1,250 in all—the only zoo animals that are actually residents of the city of Chicago. Walk winding roads of the zoo and get your fill of the wildlife, or rent a paddleboat and tour the Lincoln Park Lagoon.

For hours and more info on the Lincoln Park Zoo,  click the link below: http://www.lpzoo.org/index.php

Animal Exhibits at the Zoo
Large and small, you'll look around the zoo and see set of set after eyes staring back at you. Mammals, reptiles, and insects all find a home here.

Natural habitats are the key to keeping animals in an urban area like Chicago, whatever their stripe. Natural grass and vegetation; water features ranging from small streams to the 266,000-gallon polar bear pool; and daily doses of sunshine are essential to keeping the family happy. Below is a listing of the must-see exhibits at the Lincoln Park Zoo. 

• Regenstein Center for Africa Apes—This exhibit is huge (29,000-square-feet of living space), and offers its denizens bamboo stands, larger trees, a waterfall, and even termite mounds. Three distinct habitats here include the Kovler Gorilla Bamboo Forest , the Strangler Fig Forest, and the Dry Riverbed Valley, and house separate populations of chimpanzees and gorillas.
• The Robert R. McCormick Bear Habitat—Bears from Malaysia to the Andes call this habitat home, which includes one of the largest polar bear exhibits in the world. The underwater viewing windows here let you get inches away from the mouth of a live polar bear, without you ending up as lunch.
• The Pritzker Family Children's Zoo—Anyone can visit, but this area of the zoo is really for the kids. They'll get a feel for nature, and some of the animals they might come across in the great outdoors: wolves, bears, otters, beavers, snakes, insects, and birds.
• For more info on the animal exhibits at Lincoln Park Zoo, click here.

Where To Eat
On a nice, sunny day, the options here are better than the typical fast food at zoos. The Park Place Café is a year-round food court serving pasta, tacos, burgers, and deli sandwiches. Enjoy the views on display at the Big Cat Café, or visit the historic Café Brauer, a beautiful facility that serves casual fare and has a nice beer selection on tap. Or, if beer is not your thing, visit the ice cream shop here, and get Chicago-style hot dogs at the Landmark Café. The newly opened Cafe at Wild Things! serves made to order sandwiches and salad made with fresh organic products so it isn't hard for the whole family to be healthy!

Where To Shop
One of the retail options here is the Wild Things! gift shop. There are plenty of options for the kids, including educational toys, books, and their favorite cuddly stuffed animals. Adults will admire the exotic apparel, hand-crafted bowls, and uniquely sourced jewelry. Most items have a story and a cause behind them, so find out what it's all about. You can also visit the Safari Shop in the Kovler Lion House for souvenirs.

How to Give a Buck (or Two)
Lincoln Park Zoo:Contribute

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Rainforest Cafe
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Hanig's Footwear
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Hanig's Footwear
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P.J. Clarke's
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Brookfield Zoo
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Lincoln Park Conservatory
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Lincoln Park Zoo
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Winner of the 2004 Days Inn Hotel of the Year Award!

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