Lincoln Park Zoo Archives

08/16/2018

Free in Chicago: Lincoln Park Zoo and Conservatory

I’ve wanted to visit Lincoln Park Conservatory since we moved to Chicago three and a half years ago, but I didn’t make it until this summer. My cousins visited for a week recently and I thought they’d enjoy Lincoln Park Zoo.

The Lincoln Park Zoo and the Lincoln Park Conservatory are both free. I would suggest both to visitors and locals looking for affordable things to do in Chicago, especially for families. You can pack lunches and enjoy your food just about anywhere, and you can save by either taking public transit or using SpotHero to find a lower-cost parking spot nearby. (Parking at the zoo is a bit expensive at $20-$35.) Use my SpotHero link and you can get a $7 credit!

There are upgrades happening at the zoo right now, including improvements to the lion enclosure. It was a 90-degree and humid day, so after strolling along and enjoying shaved ice, I suggested going into the conservatory for some shade.

I could have spent a lot longer wandering around the conservatory and the zoo if it weren’t too warm for the baby to be outside that long. I suggest that you have kiddos in strollers you bring a clip-on fan and plenty of sun protection during the summer. We took many breaks in the shade, too.

The conservatory is beautiful and peaceful.

You can find plenty of picnic and photo opportunities outside of the Lincoln Park Conservatory, too! I love finding new views of the city that I haven’t seen before.

Have you visited the Lincoln Park Zoo or Conservatory? Add it to your Chicago list!

Lincoln Park Zoo Visit

Lincoln Park Zoo, Take 2

Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago

07/31/2017

My Chicago Summer Bucket List & On-the-Go Photo Tips

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, Walmart Family Mobile. All opinions are mine alone. #SummerIsForSavings #CollectiveBias #WFM2

Summer is breezing past us, and we still have many items left on our Chicago summer bucket list. Some of these activities I would do as part of my own self-care, and some would be fun to do as a family! My goal for the next weeks is to do as many of my wish list items as possible. I’ve already tried kayaking on the Chicago River and a mermaid fitness class, along with countless beach days, so with about seven weeks of summer officially left, I have exactly seven activities left to do in the city. Sure, I’ve done most of these before, but they are certainly worth doing every year!

My Chicago summer bucket list for 2017:

1. Attend a new street festival. You can find a food, music or arts festival just about every weekend in the summer!

2. Embark on an architecture cruise on the Chicago River. These tours never get old!

3. Go stand-up paddleboarding on Lake Michigan. I have tried SUP before, but I want to master it while taking in city views!

4. Watch a movie in Millennium Park. I recently went to a concert at Jay Pritzker Pavilion, where the movies are screened, and it reminded me that I never actually watched a movie there. Movies in the parks are a fun way to spend an evening, and they’re free!

5. Practice yoga on the beach. Outdoor yoga is so much fun!

6. Send summer off with a cruise on Lake Michigan. We’ve done this every summer since we’ve lived here.

7. Stroll around Lincoln Park Conservatory. Taking photographs of plants is one of my favorite activities.

Ready, set, go!

In the past I’ve shared my ideas to save money for travel, but there’s one more thing I’ve done to help me pay for fun, whether it’s exploring Chicago or visiting a new place. I wanted to capture the memories we create this summer and save money while also investing in my myself and my goals for this blog. With that in mind, I turned to Walmart Family Mobile’s $49.88 PLUS Plan (Unlimited Talk, Text & Data Plan), which is powered by T-Mobile’s nationwide 4G LTE† network. I wanted to have a new tool to keep me connected, help me store and take photos, consolidate my photo and social apps in one place, and give me more flexibility. It was super easy and convenient to get started on Walmart Family Mobile’s $49.88 PLUS Plan and it includes up to 15 GB of 4G LTE† data, then 2G*. I picked up the LG L59 Grace from the selection of phones at Walmart and then getting activated took only a few minutes. There’s no contract and you can keep your phone number and even your phone.

Using the phone and the expanded 15 GB of 4G LTE† data helps me not only share my memories on social media and my blog more seamlessly, but it helps me keep more of a balance between my blog and my family life. It’s a plus that the monthly $49.88 PLUS Plan is easy on my wallet and has no activation fees or late charges, and you can pick from Walmart’s clear monthly plan options to fit your own budget.

Disclaimer: All prices for phones and plans included in this post are accurate as of the date of posting; however, these prices are subject to change. Please refer to this page or your local Walmart for current pricing.

Taking/sharing photos on the go this summer:

Don’t rush to get a shot. When you are in a hurry you are more likely to shake the camera or phone you are shooting with, which yields blurry photos. Take a deep breath and slow down. That means don’t worry about what other people think about you snapping a photo or getting your photo taken. Take your time.
Try multiple angles and poses. Instead of taking a phone at eye level with your subject, try getting down low or taking the photo from above. Step forward and back (while checking where you are stepping) to take the photo. Take the same photo at least three ways.
You can use either your camera and phone to take great photos. When using your phone, turn on the Pro or HDR setting and download photo editing apps to help you.
For the photos on my camera that I want to share instantly, I use a mobile adapter that was fairly affordable to send them to my phone and then upload them to social media using a Nikon app. It takes just a minute! The little adapter plugs into my camera and then I can see and download photos on my phone. I then share where I please.

Find the best natural lighting to avoid using the flash. I prefer photos without flash because they look more natural and better overall.
Use a tripod with a remote to take fun time-lapse photos (like when you watch fireworks at Navy Pier!). Tripods can be found in all price ranges, and often another object can act as a stand to keep your camera still as well.
Organize all your photo apps, social media and related apps in one folder on your home screen to make them easily accessible on the go. Don’t waste valuable time that could be spent exploring your city!

My home screen on the LG L59 Grace has folders for my social media, photography and other frequently used apps.

Besides offering the data to suit your needs, the $49.88 PLUS Plan also provides a free VUDU◊ movie rental credit valued at $7.00 each time you renew your service.

What’s on your summer bucket list? Share it with me in the comments!

*Please always refer to the latest terms and conditions at myfamilymobile.com.

†To get 4G LTE speed, you must have a 4G LTE capable device and 4G LTE SIM Card. Actual availability, coverage and speed may vary. LTE is a trademark of ETSI.

Disclaimer: ◊Limited time offer. Available for lines active with the PLUS $49.88 plan only. VUDU enabled device and account required for digital viewing. Customers must be 18 years or older to open a VUDU account. Movie rental only available in the USA. Free movie rental provided in the form of a movie rental code to the value of a $7.00 VUDU credit. Movie rental code allows for selection from available movies for rent. May not be readily redeemable on all new releases. Code will be delivered within up to 24 hours of the effective account renewal date. Must be used within 30 days of receiving code. Offer is non-transferable. Limit 1 per customer. Additional terms and conditions on VUDU’s website: http://www.vudu.com/termsofservice.html

Connect with Walmart Family Mobile:

Twitter: @FamilyMobile

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08/03/2015

Lincoln Park Zoo, Take 2

This weekend was one for revisiting a couple Chicago attractions. Both times I was pleasantly surprised to see things I missed the first time.

I walked a section of Lincoln Park Zoo that I skipped on my first visit. Walking a different route gives you a different perspective and can make it feel like your first time at the zoo.

Among the animals I missed the first time around was the Sichuan takin and the flamingos in one of the gardens. We stopped to listen to the zoo employees, who are set up around the zoo to share tidbits about the animals.

It’s a great place to take visitors with children, and, best of all, Lincoln Park Zoo is free! You do pay for parking, though.

07/08/2015

Lincoln Park Zoo

Chicago makes it easy to get all of your steps in. That’s what I thought when I took a stroll around Lincoln Park Zoo with friends over Fourth of July weekend.

All of Chicago seemed to be at Fourth Avenue Beach and the surrounding area. We rented Divvy bikes to ride along Lakeshore Trail before heading to the zoo, which has free admission. When I heard Divvy bikes are only $7 for 24 hours, I couldn’t believe it. Turns out that is in 30 minute increments, so if you ride over that at one time you pay a surcharge. The ride was much like a video game; we had to focus to avoid colliding with any pedestrians and bicyclists.

Our first order of business was to grab lunch, but we stopped to admire the lions on the way.

The majestic eagle was a must-see on the Fourth of July.

We made our way to the African animals exhibit, which is indoors. The indoor exhibits tended to be the most crowded, but I could still get a good look at the animals.

Next we checked out the rhinos. One rhino seemed to hang out by a gate, and when we saw the adjacent enclosure we noticed the rhino in there was directly on the other side. It was almost as if they wanted to be together.