Ranking: Value - 5 out of 5 Dad Fun Factor - 3 out of 5 Kid Fun Factor - 4 out of 5
Good evening from Chicago. Elgin actually. If you know where that is you are likely to know where the rest of the places we'll talk about are as well. My first post is going to be about one of my favorite places here in Chicago-land: Brookfield Zoo. I know people say to go to Lincoln Park Zoo but I live in the NW Suburbs and I avoid downtown like the plague. It's just not a friendly place for the fam for a day trip. We go to Brookfield about 6 times a year. That warrants a membership. We buy the Family Plus because it get's us and guests in the gate for the best price. We also dig the Hamill Family Play Zoo. For little guys (I have two if you didn't read what this Blog is all about) you can't beat the play-learn combination. It's where they've learned to nicely touch small animals and that's great. Brookfield is not just about the animals. There are two large play areas for working off steam. The zoo also allows coolers full of what ever you elect to bring in. We bring most of our food and drink so it's a cheap day. They also sell lots of beer so dads can enjoy (I do).
Two pieces of advice. Firstly, if you don't have a wagon or a stroller, even if your kids can run marathons, bring one or rent one at the front gate. The wagons are cheap insurance that you won't have to carry the exhausted little one. They also have cool dolphin-shaped push carts. Kids love them but beware; they aren't for kids over about 38" tall. Secondly, get there early for a good parking spot. And you avoid Soldier Field traffic if you are coming in on I-290.
That's the generic. Now this weekends trip. We went during "Boo at the Zoo". It's a fun, Halloween themed event. It's great for seeing Mom's in costume as well. Not that that's the reason to go. But it's nice. If you don't take your kids in costume expect to be asked why about a thousand times and deal with tears. I know from experience. All in all, a great reason to go to Brookfield. They also have nice goodie bags on the way out. One thing I noticed this year that I didn't like is the complete sell out to Fisher-Price toys. They had stuff all over the place but I suppose it helps to pay the bills.
If you want more info on Brookfield Zoo check it out at http://www.brookfieldzoo.org/.
Good evening from Chicago. Elgin actually. If you know where that is you are likely to know where the rest of the places we'll talk about are as well. My first post is going to be about one of my favorite places here in Chicago-land: Brookfield Zoo. I know people say to go to Lincoln Park Zoo but I live in the NW Suburbs and I avoid downtown like the plague. It's just not a friendly place for the fam for a day trip. We go to Brookfield about 6 times a year. That warrants a membership. We buy the Family Plus because it get's us and guests in the gate for the best price. We also dig the Hamill Family Play Zoo. For little guys (I have two if you didn't read what this Blog is all about) you can't beat the play-learn combination. It's where they've learned to nicely touch small animals and that's great. Brookfield is not just about the animals. There are two large play areas for working off steam. The zoo also allows coolers full of what ever you elect to bring in. We bring most of our food and drink so it's a cheap day. They also sell lots of beer so dads can enjoy (I do).
Two pieces of advice. Firstly, if you don't have a wagon or a stroller, even if your kids can run marathons, bring one or rent one at the front gate. The wagons are cheap insurance that you won't have to carry the exhausted little one. They also have cool dolphin-shaped push carts. Kids love them but beware; they aren't for kids over about 38" tall. Secondly, get there early for a good parking spot. And you avoid Soldier Field traffic if you are coming in on I-290.
That's the generic. Now this weekends trip. We went during "Boo at the Zoo". It's a fun, Halloween themed event. It's great for seeing Mom's in costume as well. Not that that's the reason to go. But it's nice. If you don't take your kids in costume expect to be asked why about a thousand times and deal with tears. I know from experience. All in all, a great reason to go to Brookfield. They also have nice goodie bags on the way out. One thing I noticed this year that I didn't like is the complete sell out to Fisher-Price toys. They had stuff all over the place but I suppose it helps to pay the bills.
If you want more info on Brookfield Zoo check it out at http://www.brookfieldzoo.org/.
2 comments:
Lincoln Park Zoo is not downtown. And what is it in the city that frightens you and makes you want to live out in the country?
Lincoln Park Zoo is 2 miles north of Navy Pier, about a close to Downtown as you can get. Nothing downtown frightens me besides the $20/day parking. I live 12 miles from work in Hoffman Estates so I live where I work. It's just a convenience thing. We just spent the day at Shedd and it was great.
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