Don’t hibernate this winter. Gather the family and head to Brookfield Zoo, where admission is free on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays during January and February (parking fee still applies). In addition, admission is free to the Zoo’s Hamill Family Play Zoo and Hamill Family Wild Encounters.
During your visit, be sure to see some of the animals that seem to really enjoy the cooler temperatures like the polar bears, snow leopards, bison, Amur tigers, and the Zoo’s 1-year-old brown bear siblings—Tim and Jess. If a more tropical climate is your preference, many of Brookfield Zoo’s animal habitats replicate regions that are downright balmy, including Tropic World, home to western lowland gorillas and orangutans; The Living Coast, where Humboldt penguins reside; and The Swamp, where the Zoo’s flamingos can be seen.
About the Chicago Zoological Society
The mission of the Chicago Zoological Society is to inspire conservation leadership by connecting people to wildlife and nature. The Chicago Zoological Society is a private nonprofit organization that operates Brookfield Zoo on land owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County. The Society is known throughout the world for its international role in animal population management and wildlife conservation. Brookfield Zoo is the first zoo in the world to be awarded the Humane Certified™ certification mark for the care and welfare of its animals, meeting American Humane Association’s rigorous certification standards. The Zoo is located at 8400 31st Street in Brookfield, Illinois, between the Stevenson (I-55) and Eisenhower (I-290) expressways and also is accessible via the Tri-State Tollway (I-294),Metra commuter line, and CTA and PACE bus service. For further information, visit CZS.org.