This zoological park in Lincoln Park, Chicago, is open to all visitors free of cost. It was founded in 1868 and is among the oldest zoos in the United States. Different animal exhibits originate from almost every part of the world, with some fine examples of herbivores and carnivores represented by various species like lions, gorillas, and penguins.
You can sit and have a day of enjoyment in the gardens and picnic areas on offer. This zoo is open all year round and hosts special events and educational programs. Find out 20 amazing things to do at Lincoln Park Zoo when visiting below:
1. Explore The Animal Exhibits
There are many different exhibits with animals from all parts of the world in Lincoln Park Zoo, Illinois. Experience lions, giraffes, and zebras coexisting in the African Journey. Also visit the Regenstein Center for African Apes, with chimpanzees and gorillas. Don't miss Penguin Cove with playful penguins and the Kovler Seal Pool with playful seals.
The Pritzker Family Children's Zoo boasts of wildlife from North America, bears, and wolves. To the south in Illinois, the Lincoln Park Zoo contains a section in its parameter known as Farm-in-the-Zoo. This is a set-up that exposes children to various domestic animals like cows, goats, and chickens at close range.
2. Visit The Kovler Seal Pool
One of the things to do in Lincoln Park includes visiting the Kovler Seal Pool at Lincoln Park Zoo. The exhibit features lively seals gliding gracefully through the water, which can give you a close view of how agile these creatures are in terms of their ability and their natural behaviors.
The pool will give you an underwater view so that you can watch the seals swimming and playing from different angles. This is one of the favorite areas for children and adults alike, being an opportunity to learn about these amazing marine mammals.
If you're a local or just a visitor to the events at Lincoln Park, then the Kovler Seal Pool should not be missed.
3. Walk Through The Nature Boardwalk
The Nature Boardwalk with its native plants surrounds this scenic boardwalk surrounded by a pond, creating a habitat for many wildlife creatures such as birds, turtles, and insects. It is quite a good place just to have a slow walk, do bird watching, or just be outside amidst nature.
There is also an ample amount of educational signage that covers the boardwalk, teaching the visitors about the ecosystem. For those who are taking a visit, be forewarned that there is indeed parking at Lincoln Park Zoo, but their lot fills up, especially on the weekends.
The zoo is very easy to get to and from the boardwalk a quick addition to your day at Lincoln Park.
4. Experience The Regenstein Center for African Apes
The Regenstein Center for African Apes is one of the exhibits that shouldn't be passed by, sheltering chimpanzees and western lowland gorillas in a newly refurbished, first-class habitat.
Guests will get the opportunity to witness this wondrous primate up close in an expansive setting that simulates their natural habitats while they engage in social interaction or play and manifest other natural behaviors.
It also hosts conservation efforts and educates the public on protection matters for these species. This is helpful if you are going to visit, as although it is a year-round facility, the hours vary seasonally. The Regenstein Center for African Apes is one of the jewel items of the zoo and would be considered a must-see when one visits the zoo.
5. Enjoy Picnic On The Zoo Grounds
The zoo has nicely nicened picnic areas where guests should enjoy their meal while relaxing in the surroundings. You can pack your lunch and find a place to relax near one of the beautiful gardens, the Nature Boardwalk, or any other calm place within the zoo.
It's a great option if you have a family or just a group of people looking to get away for some fresh air. There is no charge at the entrance, Lincoln Park Zoo is free, thus able to offer an affordable and fun time for everyone. Planning a day out with the family or a laid-back lunch with friends, a picnic at the Lincoln Park Zoo is a beautiful add-on to your visit.
6. Enjoy The Night Watching Zoo Lights
ZooLights at the Lincoln Park Zoo is enriched with holiday magic, transforming the zoo into a winter wonderland. The zoo is embellished by millions of lights annually, creating views that are breathtaking to people of all ages.
In addition to dazzling light displays, ZooLights encompasses other seasonal activities like ice carving demonstrations, photos with Santa, and amusement park rides thematically decorated for the holidays.
This event normally happens during holiday times, and it is one of the best events in Chicago. If you are going to come here, do not forget to get the schedule for Zoo Lincoln Park Lights, since most of the time, it has specific event dates and hours of operation.
7. Take A Ride On The Endangered Species Carousel
The Endangered Species Carousel is a wittily informative pleasure both for kids and adults visiting the Lincoln Park Zoo in Illinois. Beautifully crafted, this enchanting carousel depicts hand-carved animals representing endangered species from all over the world, providing a fun experience while bringing about sensitivity to the preservation of wildlife.
This will be a perfect stop for families, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to your visit. Another reason Lincoln Park Zoo is so accessible is that admission is free, with the only small fee being for riding the carousel. One fun way to help the zoo while experiencing an ageless attraction is through the Endangered Species Carousel.
8. Meet The Penguins At The Robert And Mayari Pritzker Penguin Cove
The Robert and Mayari Pritzker Penguin Cove is one of the most electrifying exhibits that brings visitors up close and personal with an active colony of African penguins. This state-of-the-art habitat is reconstructed to imitate the rocky shores of South Africa, providing ample space for the penguins to swim, dive, and waddle around.
The exhibit combines both above-water and below-water views, so it is always fascinating for visitors of all ages. For those who want to drive, there is available Lincoln Park Zoo parking, but once more, visiting early in the day would be quite beneficial, especially on busy days when parking may be limited.
The Penguin Cove forms one of the highlights of the zoo, offering fun and education for everyone.
9. Visit The Farm-In-The-Zoo
The Farm-in-the-Zoo is a fun, interactive experience for kids and families alike at Lincoln Park Zoo in Illinois. This part of the zoo brings the country to the city, offering farm animals like cows, goats, pigs, chickens, and some that one can even pet. There are agriculture demonstrations, daily activities like cow milking, and gardens where children get to observe the growth of vegetables.
If you're going to be traveling from the city center area of Chicago, the train is a great way to get to Lincoln Park Zoo. You can get to the zoo via public transportation, which visits this urbane farm, a family day out easier to deal with.
10. Explore The Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House
The small mammal-reptile house, a part of Lincoln Park Zoo in Illinois, is very exciting for every person who loves animals. On exhibit, there are various species of small mammals and reptiles: lemurs, ocelots, several kinds of snakes, lizards, and many more.
This house aims to introduce visitors to the study of lesser-known animals, showing their particular behaviors and way of life. Visitors can see various enclosures with details of adaptations and conservation efforts attributed to these species.
The Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House is an excellent place for those seeking to learn more about lesser-known wildlife across the globe while having a good time at the zoo.
11. Attend Animal Enrichment Sessions
Enrichment sessions at Lincoln Park Zoo are the type of stimulus intended to mimic natural behavior in animals and help them remain interested and active. These sessions range from a variety of activities and toys to different puzzles with which the zookeepers present the animals to test and exercise their instincts and problem-solving abilities.
It might be a primate trying to work out how to get food out of a puzzle feeder, or a big cat playing with a new enrichment item. Such sessions are positive not only for the animals but also give an excellent opportunity for visitors to understand the behavior and enrichment practices.
Also, many of them are carried out over the day, so it is well worth looking in the zoo's schedule to catch them as part of your visit.
12. Enjoy The McCormick Bird House
The McCormick Bird House is another pleasant exhibit, housing different species of birds from around the world. Visitors get the chance to walk through an aviary where they can get up close to vibrant parrots, elegant flamingos, and several other very interesting birds.
The Bird House is recreated to mimic its natural environment for the birds to make visitors feel part of the activities around them. The hours will vary for the Bird House according to when the zoo opens or closes, so remember to check hours in advance if you're visiting.
The McCormick Bird House is a quiet yet informative stop that contributes to the wide array of experiences at Lincoln Park Zoo.
13. Participate In Family Programs
Join any of the many family programs at Lincoln Park Zoo and get involved with their educational yet fun activities. Activities have been specially tailored to be interactive and enriching for families and include guided tours, animal interactions, and hands-on activities.
These programs can include such special activities as animal feedings, behind-the-scenes tours, and craft sessions dealing with the conservation of wildlife. These activities are fitted for children and adults by being divided into different age brackets.
If you want to fully enjoy the experience, you can look through the schedule of the zoo and check in advance which family programs you would want to participate in.
14. Watch The Two-Toed Sloth Closely
The two-toed sloth is truly a special and exciting species. Carrying the signature of a laid-back attitude and a slow pace, the sloth will tenaciously offer visitors a unique image of the life of one of the most intriguing mammalian species across the globe.
This two-toed sloth is generally arboreal, hanging upside down from trees, moving slowly in the habitat, and feeding on leaves. Many behaviors can be seen at the zoo, in person, and so much more is learned from informative displays and keeper talks concerning the natural history and conservation status of the sloth.
The Sloth is one of the prime attractions making the visit worthwhile and will keep the visitors enjoying and leaving a great memory of the Lincoln Park Zoo.
15. Visit The Camel And Goat Barn
Camel and Goat Barn at Lincoln Park Zoo in Illinois is an amazing location for fun and interaction for every age of visitor. The animals put up in this barn are of a variety including camels and goats; thus, one has a chance to get to know these interesting creatures practically one-on-one.
The camels, with easily recognizable humps, would be everyone's favorite viewers, as they shall be showing unusual adaptations and behaviors. Playful and frolicsome by nature, goats love children who want to spend some quality time with these animals by feeding and petting them.
The barn is designed mostly in an educative and entertaining manner, with detailed information displays on the animals, their natural habitat, and what can be done for their conservation.
16. Watch The Giraffes Closely
Giraffes are one of the most exciting animals in the African Journey exhibit at Lincoln Park Zoo. This exhibit provides a very naturalistic viewing experience for everyone who comes by the exhibit and can stand face-to-face with these towering, large-necked giants. You'll find them at the zoo while browsing through the foliage, which is primarily located high in the trees.
The exhibit contains interpretive displays of giraffe behavior, diets, and conservation. One of the most popular experiences is feeding the giraffes, which happens at scheduled times, bringing guests closer to the gentle giants.
The giraffe exhibit at the Lincoln Park Zoo avails a special chance to learn so much and fully appreciate these wonderful animals while having a memorable and engaging experience at the zoo.
17. Explore The Pollinator Garden
The Pollinator Garden represents one of the most vibrant and vital parts of regeneration planning at Lincoln Park Zoo. Made to attract pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to support their populations, this garden with native flowering plantations serves to support the necessary food sources and habitats for the pollinators and, in turn, enhances biodiversity.
This is not only beautiful but also educative, for through the garden one learns the importance of pollinators to the setting and the plants that support it. Visitors will enjoy the beautiful flowers in bloom and can watch the for its busy pollinators at work which makes this place one of the serene and educative features an addition to a visit to Lincoln Park Zoo.
18. Dine At La Crosta Woodfire Pizzeria
La Crosta Woodfire Pizzeria is another very popular Italian restaurant near Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Known for great wood-fired pizzas, a warm atmosphere, and friendly service, this place is perfect for dinner before or after visiting the zoo.
Their menu includes a great selection of various pizzas topped with fresh, quality ingredients, but it also carries pasta dishes, salads, and some Italian-inspired appetizers.
The pizzas cooked in their wood-fired oven seem to be peculiarly flavored, smoky, and with a crust raved about by many. Craft beers, types of fine wines, and other beverages complement your meal.
19. Enjoy The Lionel Train Adventure
The Lionel Train Adventure provides an experience for the visitor with a miniature train going through some of the most magnificent scenic vistas around a good portion of the landscape at the zoo, across gentle hills, through tunnels, and over bridges.
The train is enjoyable and cushy; it goes all over the zoo while delivering thrilling experiences to children with the sensation of being on a train ride; it thereby becomes an excellent included extra on a day visiting the enumerable educational exhibits in the zoo.
For out-of-town visitors from other parts of Chicago, public transit service to the zoo is assured, as well as to the availability of the park, if they partake of a train ride.
20. Walk Along Foreman Pavilion
Foreman Pavilion is an all-purpose event space that sits amidst the Lincoln Park Zoo in Illinois. Events commonly held here are educational programs, workshops, and even private events. With the zoo's natural surroundings, the Foreman Pavilion provides a serene atmosphere with scenic views that sprawl, perfect for hosting any type of event.
The open design of the pavilion lends itself to flexibility with any type of event, whether a family reunion corporate meeting a community event. Its proximity to other attractions within the zoo enables guests to easily couple their event with a visit to the zoo and enjoy all that Lincoln Park Zoo has in store for one.
