Best Zoo in Elmwood Park

"An ape house, birdhouse and a working model of a five-acre Midwestern farm are just a few examples of what makes this zoo special. Founded in 1868 and known as America's oldest free public zoo, the Lincoln Park Zoo still manages to charge no admission and remains open year-round. Set on scenic park grounds with lush lawns and pleasant walkways, the zoo greets visitors with the beauty of Georgian Revival buildings and a spectacular greenhouse."

"Start your morning by visiting the Lincoln Park Zoo which has free admission and is one of the oldest zoos in the USA (opening in 1868). Plan to spend two hours (or more) exploring the zoo grounds."

"An alternative to Lincoln Park is Chicago Zoological Society's Brookfield Zoo, located in the nearby western suburb of (you guessed it) Brookfield. Brookfield Zoo is spread out over 200 acres and offers larger, cage-less exhibits such as Tropic World, a massive indoor habitat with three distinct environments, filled with primates from around the globe. 1st Avenue and 31st Street, Brookfield, Ill., 708-688-8000."

"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."

"A chic, brick-accented spot inspired by red-sauce joints of the 1950s The B. Hospitality guys (The Bristol, Balena, and Nonna's) opened the doors to their sprawling Randolph Street restaurant back in 2015 and have been serving up well-executed takes on mid-century, southern Italian cuisine ever since -- even with a menu overhaul leaning toward lighter, seafood- and veggie-focused fare a year later. The dining room's old-school vibe -- complete with crimson banquette seating, white tablecloths, and black-and-white photos -- invites diners to try pasta dishes inspired by the classics like rigatoni, in which the ricotta-topped pasta covered in a pork neck gravy is accompanied by spicy fennel sausage and fluffy meatballs."

"Situated in the hip and busy Fulton Market District in Chicago's West Loop, Formento's is, at its core, a homage to traditional Italian home cooking. Executive Chef Todd Stein features the light and bright flavors of Italy with the best ingredients he can get his hands on. Meanwhile, the recipes are all based on traditional family recipes from the owner's grandmother, while Chef Todd contributes new-age dishes to the menu as well."

"Restaurants Italian West Loop. When summer rolls around, the plant-lined sidewalk patio in front of this West Loop restaurant is populated by neighborhood folk sipping prosecco and piling prosciutto atop country bread. The interior of Formento's offers a different vibe entirely, with dim lighting, leather banquettes and tons of exposed brick."

"Sure, you could hang downstairs at Kerryman, where you'll find pretty typical Irish bar in River North setup. Or you can head to the upstairs bar where it seems like there’s always an impromptu dance party breaking out. Kerryman isn’t a dance club by any means, but that’s never stopped anyone here."

"This family-owned business has been slinging their California-style donuts in Belmont-Cragin since 2012. In the meantime, their sweet and savory provisions have made an appearance or two on multiple network programs including WGN’s Chicago’s Best and ABC’s The Hungry Hound. Donut-wise, you can pop by to choose from their Old Fashioned, Devil’s Food, Lemon Cake, Apple Crisp donuts and more!"

"Chicagoans really can’t be kept apart from their sandwiches. Trust us, ice cream was meant to be served in the middle of a doughnut. #SpoonTip: Firecakes will close if they run out of doughnuts, so make sure you don’t try to go too late."

"One of Chicago’s Many Great Donuts: Tahitian Vanilla Iced ($2.95). I’m not going to decide if it should be “donut” or “doughnut” so be prepared for me to write it interchangeably."

"Probably the softest donut I have ever had and they have endless donut combinations!!. I could not recommend going here more !!"

"Fountainhead is a bar that revolves around beer and also boasts a seasonal rooftop garden. The cozy second-story terrace is rife with Chicagoans clutching steins of German ambers and Czech Pilsners. Along with beer, the menu is replete with bourbon, scotch, whiskey, wine and cocktails, which can be paired with snacks from the kitchen downstairs."

"Simple and straightforward, Fountainhead is a North Center bar that opens up seasonally. There’s little in the way of signature cocktails, as beer and whiskey are the focus here, with lots of drafts on tap for the most refined hop-head, and a simple bar food menu that can hit the spot and soak up all those heady brews."

"With walls covered in blonde wood and decor accented in forest green, Hopewell Brewing’s taproom is lighter, airier and less industrial-feeling than most craft breweries. Long tables fit for communal sipping fill up quickly with large groups of friends and family (kids and dogs are welcome), so get there early. On tap, you’ll always find Hopewell’s Swift IPA (a citrus-y ale) and the crisp, refreshing First Lager."

"The Hopewell Brewing Co. brews, sells and self-distributes all their own beer. In doing so, they can connect with beer drinkers on a more personal level than some brewing companies. This fuels their mission to provide accessible, high-quality beer for all."