We haven’t done much besides have picnics and go on family walks for the past five months now, so if we find an opportunity to do something fun outside while maintaining a safe distance from others, we will jump at the chance. At the same time, my husband won’t have many days off, especially on weekends, for the next few months. That’s why we took a random Tuesday off together to have a family day out at Brookfield Zoo. It just so happened to be the most gorgeous day after severe thunderstorms the day before.
To visit Brookfield Zoo, you will need to reserve an entry time. I made the mistake of reserving parking, which was free (we’re members), but I forgot to fill out how many tickets we needed. We lucked out though because the worker let us reserve our tickets online while waiting at the gate. (Whew!) Be sure to correctly reserve the necessary tickets before you make the trek to Brookfield.
The parking lot was not nearly as full as it used to be before the pandemic. That was a relief. The zoo was not crowded, in my opinion, so social distancing was not a problem. In some places the zoo has signs warning of narrow walkways or congestion and asks visitors to put their face coverings on. While you don’t need to wear a mask the whole time you’re in the zoo, you do need to wear one when you’re within 6 feet of others. For the most part people abided by this rule, which applies to age 2 and older.
One fun happening at the zoo right now is the dinosaurs scattered throughout. There are 40, though we didn’t spot all of them. We did find a trail we had not previously walked on during our visits, and that was a nice surprise. It was a beautiful day.
The visit to the zoo didn’t last as long as it has in the past, though, because the indoor spaces are closed. The carousel and gift shops are closed as well. Some merchandise is set up outside for purchase. The shows are also closed. Despite this there is plenty to see and it’s a nice way to spend a day with family, especially those that have young kids.
Have you been to Brookfield Zoo recently?
