Best Zoo in Gold Coast

"Enjoy free admission to Lincoln Park Zoo, and while you’re there, explore the Nature Boardwalk to spot birds and other wildlife. Bonus: as you stroll the Lester E. Fisher Bridge that crosses the South Pond (also known as the Nature Bridge), you can take in beautiful Chicago skyline views — the perfect backdrop for your selfie."

"While in Lincoln Park for the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, don’t forget to visit the zoo!. The Lincoln Park Zoo is completely free (yes, you read that right) and is one of the top things to do in Chicago with toddlers. In addition to the wide range of animal exhibits, the zoo also offers:"

"At this urban enclave near Lake Michigan, you can face off with a lion (separated by a window, of course) outside the Kovler Lion House;…"

"However, for the admission, they should include some sort of souvenir or discount gift for next visit. On another note, the Zoo is pretty big and the parking lot is conveniently close by. Admissions process on a weekend was pretty quick."

"The second in the list of the popular zoos around Chicago is the Brookfield Zoo. It is also alternatively known as the Chicago Zoological Park. The zoo is located in the Chicago suburb of Brookfield from where it derives its name."

"Spend the day among more than 2,000 animals at this gigantic zoo. The highlights? First, there's the 7½-acre Great Bear Wilderness…"

"Lincoln Park Zoo is a renowned 35-acre zoo in Lincoln Park and a hotspot for tourists. It’s the zoo’s pavilion, designed to provide shelter for open-air on-site classes, that offers such a fantastically picturesque snap. With the design drawing inspiration from the appearance of a tortoise’s shell, the stunning curved wooden pavilion elegantly frames the Chicago skyline."

"The Regenstein Center for African Apes is also part or rather an extension of the Lincoln Park Zoo, where the visitors can come close to the apes, chimpanzees and the gorillas that have found their home there. It is home to some of the endangered species of western lowland gorillas as well as chimpanzees and exists to provide with the most realistic looking environment for them to live in comfortably. Location: 2058-2156 N Cannon Dr, Chicago, IL 60614, USATimings: 10 AM to 5 PMEntry Fees : –"

"The Helen Brach Primate House is yet another extension of the Lincoln Park Zoo and is home to primates of varying shapes, sizes and colour. The area is made in a way to imitate the natural habitat for the primates to make them feel safe and familiar at the place that they are residing in. It was opened back in 1927 which finally underwent an extensive renovation in the year 1992."

"Of the numerous buildings that Frank Lloyd Wright designed around Chicago, none is more famous or influential than Robie House. Because its horizontal lines resembled the flat landscape of the Midwestern prairie, the style became known as the Prairie style. Inside are 174 stained-glass windows and doors, which you'll see on the hour-long tours (frequency varies by season, but there's usually at least one tour per hour). Advance tickets are highly recommended."

"Named one of the 10 most significant buildings of the 20th century by the American Institute of Architects, the 9,000-square-foot Robie…"

"Your mouth is sure to drop to the floor the first time you lay eyes on this stunning structure, a nine-sided building that incorporates…"

"The aesthetics, with its dim-lit atmosphere, give off a “we’re not trying too hard” vibe that provides a welcoming experience. The beer list is full of local craft breweries, the sandwiches — while simple — are tasty. This bar has legions of fans who will take issue if you say something negative about their watering hole, and in the end, that’s the best endorsement."

"This event space and community center—home to a tech incubator, podcast studio, art gallery, and more—now welcomes visitors to its new rooftop patio. Brothers’ on the Wall has taken up residence in the kitchen to whip up platters of rib tips, jerk chicken, catfish steaks and more. Share an order of fries with your friends and do a show-and-tell of what you’ve brought to drink at this BYOB-friendly spot."

"Enjoy rooftop dining in your own enclosed igloo at The Woodlawn. The clear domes seat up to five people for two hours and includes a customized three course meal with beer or wine. Make the evening extra special with romantic add-ons like roses or a live musician."

"Lincoln Park/Wrigleyville Most hipsters may have abandoned Goose Island since it “went mainstream” with its much-maligned sale to InBev in 2011, but the brewery that basically started the Chicago craft beer scene continues to make high-quality beers worthy of your attention. Founded in 1988 and shut out of the Great America Beer Festival for the first time last year (it is no longer considered “craft”), Goose Island continues to forge ahead by opening new brewpubs across the globe in addition to its two Chicago locations. 312 is the beer most locals know best, but Goose’s food-focused offerings like Sofia and Matilda are steadily increasing in popularity."

"Goose Island Beer Company may have multiple locations in the U.S., but John Hall opened the first brewery in Chicago after returning home from a trip to Europe that inspired him to bring good beer to the states. The brewery has separate rooms for innovation programs and yeast propagation units. Barrel-aged beers have a 143,00 square foot barrel warehouse and dedicated stockroom."

"One of the most popular beers in Chicago and the one with most worldwide recognition is Goose Island. This acclaimed brewery offers a stunning selection of over 50 brews to choose from, with dark beer, light beer, and everything in between. Goose Island has two locations: one in Whitneyville and another in the center of Lincoln Park."

"If German-style lagers are your thing, then head straight for Metropolitan Brewing—they’ve been making this sort of beer since 2009 and they’re quite good at it. Krankshaft, the flagship brew, is made year-round and offered at Soldier Field, O’Hare and Midway International Airports, and at the home of the White Sox. Once a bit under the radar, the popularity of Metropolitan Brewing has increased since the addition of the Rockwell Taproom (listed on their website as dog, kid and freak-friendly) in Avondale, overlooking the Chicago River."

"Tucked down Rockwell Avenue in the Avondale neighborhood, Metropolitan Brewing’s Tap Room sits right on the banks of the North Branch of the Chicago River. They’re currently building a massive outdoor patio right on the river, but in the meantime, you can get a beer, order food from the rotating delivery partners, and gaze at the green views out the massive floor to ceiling windows. ➙ Need a place to stay?"

"Since 2009, Metropolitan Brewing has specialized in bringing Chicago German-style lager, like their flagship brew, Krankshaft. Krankshaft is a Kölsch style beer and uses lemon flavor to pay homage to the characteristics of beer brewed in Cologne. Krankshaft can be found year-round."