The Lincoln Park Zoo can be reached by bus and is free to enter. Parking costs between $20-$35 depending on the season. The zoo was created in 1868 and is about 35 acres. It is open all year long however it usually closes by 4:30/5pm. So I suggest going early in the day so you can see as much as possible. In Spring the flowers are in bloom and it’s a beautiful time to visit. Last time I went almost all the animals seemed to be asleep and a lot of the houses were closed because of the time. It is still a fun place to walk around and see animals even if they are asleep, especially in the city where the majority of the creatures you see are pigeons.
There are a couple different houses, such as the primate house, lion (large cat) house, small mammal and reptile house and a bird house.
There are some cool statues in the area as well. The above statue is the Dream Lady, a memorial statue for the writer Eugene Field. The bronze statue was erected in 1922 by Chicago school children and other citizens in the city. There is an inscription along the base to check out.
The below statue is of Hans Christine Andersen and can be found in the picnic grounds of the zoo.
The zoo also hosts a wide variety of events, such as Zoovies where during the summer on certain dates they’ll play movies for free. They also have yoga and salsa lessons that require reservations.