Brookfield Zoo
8400 31st St., Brookfield; 708-688-8000, czs.org
On 216 acres, more than 3,000 animals live in walk-through settings that re-create their natural habitats, with different species sharing space just as they do in the wild. The Living Coast’s transparent water walls, squishy blue floor made to resemble the ocean floor and 60 animal species from the coasts of Chile and Peru give the illusion of ocean depths. In Tropic World, primates and other mammals and birds live together in a rain-forest environment (thunder rumbles regularly and rain showers down on the animals). There are dolphin shows daily, and many exhibits include hands-on activities to make the visit a genuine learning experience.
Ongoing: “Great Bear Wilderness”: Go inside the natural habitat of North American animals including grizzly bears, polar bears, bison, eagles and Mexican gray wolves with more than 30,000 new plantings that reproduce tundra, prairie and temperate forest landscapes.
Cantigny Park
1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton; 630-668-5161, cantigny.org
The 500-acre park with formal gardens, picnic spots and campgrounds also has two history-rich museums. Taking a tour of the Robert R. McCormick Museum, you can get a look at the life and work of the onetime Chicago Tribune editor and publisher. The historic country home was originally a farmhouse, built in 1896 by McCormick’s maternal grandfather, Joseph Medill. McCormick remodeled the home, adding two large wings and a brick facade.
Friday: Veterans Day Luminaria: The parade field will be covered with luminaria to honor soldiers who have died in combat. The Veterans Day program also includes “Veterans Voices,” readings by historical re-enactors of letters sent home by soldiers. 6-9 p.m.; free; for more information: 630-260-8187.
Chicago History Museum
1601 N. Clark St.; 312-642-4600, chicagohs.org
Ongoing: “Chicago: Crossroads of America”: The exhibition chronicles the city’s cultural history. Multimedia presentations, interactive galleries and more include the first “L” car and locomotive operated in Chicago, a replica of a jazz club and fashions that would have been displayed in Marshall Field’s windows.
Field Museum
1400 S. Lake Shore Drive; 312-922-9410, fieldmuseum.org
The museum educates and entertains visitors with exhibits about nature and culture, prehistoric to present. One of the most popular attractions is “Sue,” the world’s largest and most complete T. rex dinosaur skeleton. You can also take a trip back in time in the Western Hemisphere, moving through the Ice Age, Aztec empire and more in the 19,000-square-foot “Ancient Americas” exhibit. Then travel around the world with exhibits on Egypt, Asia, Africa and China. , where you can learn about animals like the man-eating lion of Africa and the giant pandas of Asia.
Through Jan. 8: “Chocolate Around the World”: The museum’s 2002 delectable exhibit is back with expanded programming, events and demonstrations that explore the history of chocolate and how it is part of culture and celebrations. Visitors will learn how the seed of the cacao tree was once used as currency; how the ancient Maya of Central America made a spicy drink that was used for royal and religious ceremonies and more.
Through January: “Whales: Giants of the Deep”: Science and storytelling bring visitors into the underwater world of whales. The exhibit includes whale skeletons that are larger than a school bus, and audio of whale songs.
Morton Arboretum
4100 Illinois Highway 53, Lisle; 630-968-0074, mortonarb.org
A world-renowned leader in tree science and education, working to save and plant trees, the 1,700-acre outdoor museum features an expansive collection of more than 4,000 kinds of trees, shrubs and other plants from around the world. The arboretum’s natural landscapes, gardens, research and education programs, and year-round family activities support its mission — the planting and conservation of trees and other plants for a greener, healthier and more beautiful world.
Through Nov. 27: “Nature Unframed: Art at the Arboretum”: Visitors can see how the climate and the change of seasons have affected a collection of artwork displayed among the trees.
Submit information to ctc-ent-events@tribune.com
