We consider Brookfield Zoo our home zoo. We probably travel to Brookfield 1-3x/month during the summer, and monthly outside of that.
Our overall view on Brookfield is that it’s a large zoo with a wide variety of animals, but this is a zoo that will nickle/dime you all day, and there’s a long way to walk in between exhibits. If you have an unlimited membership like we do, then the cost aspect doesn’t come into play. Even so, there are days where I feel like I’ve hiked the entire zoo, and only seen a few exhibits. Here are some highs and lows from us on the Brookfield Zoo.
Highlights:
- Dolphin Show – without a membership it costs $2/person, but it’s a 30 minute show with a lot of jumps and a chance to learn about the dolphins
- Okapis in the Kopje Forest – we like seeing the okapis because they’re beautiful animals…and also because this is one of the less crowded parts of the zoo
- Polar Bears – the polar bear/grizzly bear exhibit is probably 10-15 years old now, but if any of the bears are in the water, you’re sure to get some great pictures
- Seals/Sea Lions – Brookfield has a pretty nice area to view Seals and Sea lions, with a bridge at one point where they swim underneath you, as well as an underwater viewing station
- Animal Encounters – the newest section of the zoo (again will cost if you’re not a member) enables you to walk amongst wallabies, go inside and feed parakeets (recommend the $2 feed stick, unlike some other zoos these birds are always hungry), and even see some reindeer
Lows:
- Pachyderms – the zoo no longer has elephants, but the pachyderm house is in the middle of the zoo, takes up a lot of space, and has very few animals – just 2 rhinos, a pygmy hippo, and a tapir
- Big Cats – having seen all the space big cats have at other zoos, Brookfield’s “Big Cat” exhibit featuring lions, tigers, sloth bears, and leopards is kind of a let down
- Monkey/Ape House – again, it might just be that I’m comparing this to other zoos because some people like the monkey house – but there’s no outdoor exhibit for the gorillas which seems to be a staple at other zoos; also the views aren’t that great
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