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Chicago Family Freebies: Lincoln Park Zoo

lincoln park zoo

Growing up, my family didn’t have much in the way of disposable income. Today, in the current economic climate, it’s wise to save versus spend. So, I have employed a tactic I grew up with – Free Fun.

My mother is savvy beyond compare. When it came to entertain two kids (and usually a few friends), she would dig into a bag of tricks to keep us happy. Free Fun wasn’t just a necessity, it became an amusing challenge. The goal was to find something fun to do for free or super cheap.

A few packed sandwiches and a trip to the airport to watch planes take off and land was a treat for us. Our airport also had a section that detailed the history of the airfield with cases of items like old newspaper clippings featuring the city during the times of WWII and Vietnam. Old flight attendant uniforms are mixed with bomber jackets, parachutes, gear soldiers wore and parts of planes that flew and fought. (Now, things are a bit different and you have to have a plane ticket to get to that area of the airport.)

Whether you are an Illinois native or on vacation – Chicago offers a free zoo! The Lincoln Park Zoo is open year round and doesn’t charge a dime for access. The zoo was founded in 1868, making it one of the oldest zoos in the U.S.

It sounded too good to be true, so I was skeptical. I had prepared myself and my children for a lackluster experience, but I was truly impressed!

Leopards, tigers, giraffes, monkeys, rhinos (my daughter loving describes as “dinosaur unicorns,” zebras, pygmy hippos, gorillas, camels, snakes, birds, beavers and many other creatures were all display. The zoo was celebrating Halloween at the time we went giving away candy, hosting craft tables and lots of entertainment all throughout the zoo. It was an amazing experience and I loved the price tag! FREE!

I would like to note there is a charge for parking. Just half an hour is free, but anything beyond that is currently at a $20 charge for the months of October 1–March 31. This could be avoided by walking to the park or taking public transit depending on your location.

I recommend packing snacks and treats from home. There are several opportunities through the park to purchase food, but bringing your food is more than acceptable.

Another highlight is the zoo constantly has something going on year round! Pumpkins were in various animal cages and one monkey feasted away on a Jack-O-Lantern while we watched. As I mentioned, candy was handed out to trick-or-treaters during out trip. November 29, 2013-January 5, 2014 the zoo will be offering ZooLights! It’s a free holiday celebration featuring luminous displays and fun, holiday-themed activities. November 29, 2013–March 2, 2014 you can take advantage of the Ice Skating program too!

Bundle up! Some of the exhibits are outdoors, but there are plenty of indoor animals too. There is also an area where kids can climb through a maze in the Treetop Canopy Climbing Adventure. With 35 acres to explore, allow several hours to make sure you don’t miss a thing.