Visit Brookfield, Illinois

Brookfield, Illinois is a mere 13 miles west of downtown Chicago and where you’ll find enough fun in an afternoon to fill a whole month.

When you think of Brookfield, of course the world-class Brookfield Zoo comes to mind, but there’s more than lions, tigers and bears to drive excitement in this lively village.  

Of course you can’t talk about family-fun without including the Brookfield Zoo, because family is baked into all their exhibits. They even take learning to a new level of excitement with their Hamill Family Play Zoo and Wild Encounters just to name a few destinations. But in Brookfield, you can enjoy trips to family-fun activities that extend beyond the cages. For instance, take the family to an arcade that touts over 700 games at the Galloping Ghost Arcade and their new Galloping Ghost Pinball Arcade. Everyone knows a family that plays together stays together. Or hit the Grossdale Station and learn about the history of Brookfield and how it got its name, both of them. You can even swing by the Compassion Factory and check out some cool exhibits ranging from photography, robots, and kids shows. They even run classes for adults and children.

You’ll even find family-fun in the number of outdoor adventures in the area. There’s hiking, biking, canoeing and a lot more. Check out the beautiful Salt Creek Trail, the exciting Zoo Woods, even the majestic Des Plaines River, and take in all the beautiful trails, waterways and nature paths Brookfield has in its midst.

There’s an abundance of dining opportunities too. Take the entire family to Tony’s Family Restaurant, or head to Mary’s Morning Mix-Up for help in starting the day. You can even take a date to Skardarliya, or if casual is more your thing head to the Loca Mocha Café for a spot of coffee and a treat. And for a night out, hit the Little Owl or join up with friends at Pub 78.

You can check out stores like Laura Atwood Studios for some creative one-of-a-kind jewelry, or Atwood Guitars if you have a different axe to grind.

Finally, you can’ talk about Brookfield without talking about their yearly events calendar. Not only does the zoo hold a ton of events from Party for the Planet, Zoo Brew, Community Tree Trimming, and Holiday Magic, but the village has its own event schedule too. Stop by the Brookfield Fine Arts Festival and discover a hungry artist before they become famous, pedal for a good cause at Bike Brookfield, gawk at the cars and bikes at the Classic Car and Bike Show, put on your best Irish face at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and shuck to your hearts content at Oyster Fest at Irish Times. The Brookfield Farmers Market even has its own events.