Capcis Travel

This list is the personal favourites of a Chicago fence contractor who shares them with us today. With so much to do in Chicago, Illinois, it was hard for him to choose his top picks. But here they are. What do you think?

Chicago is a big city, not what you think of when it comes to getting close to animals. But “Surprise!” – Chicago has several wonderful attractions for the animal lover in you.

To begin, one of the most prestigious aquariums in the world is the John G. Shedd Aquarium, part of Chicago’s famous Museum Campus. In addition to the incredible displays of fish from around the world, you can watch jellyfish bob around and even sea dragons as their lacy parts drift and float. In all, there are 22,000 aquatic animals – fish, reptiles, amphibians, invertibrates, and even birds and mammals. This non-profit foundation, open since 1930, is dedicated to both public education and conservation, helping on a number of projects to protect endangered species and bringing people into contact with an undersea world that might just as well be another planet to most of us. It is impossible to spend an hour in the Shedd Aquarium without being filled with wonder and awe. It is just that spectacular.

Not many cities have two world-class zoos, but Chicago does. The larger one, is just a little out of the way, but well worth the detour. The Brookfield Zoo stretches across 216 acres, including both interior and exterior exhibits. Since it first opened its doors in 1934, (when it rewrote the rules on keeping animals in cages by using moats and ditches) the Brookfield Zoo has grown to include over 450 species of animals. Some of the more intriguing exhibits now on display are Feathers and Scales, Tropic World (including animals from rainforests of three continents), The Swamp and The Living Coast. There are also two different African habitats.

The smaller zoo is in Lincoln Park, along the north Lakjeshore, and well worth the visit if you don’t want to travel as far.

Dolphins, dolphins and more dolphins. At the Brookfield Zoo you can watch “The Seven Seas Dolphin Show”, a popular attraction where dolphins show off their clever tricks and dives and jumps that never fail to thrill the audience. Meanwhile at Shedd Aquarium, you can take in “Fantasea”, an amazing show with dolphins, belugas, and penguins. The Oceanarium’s amphitheater is home the coolest show ever that adults and kids will love. And the dolphin show is particularly geared to education about this most intelligent species.

Chicago’s Field Museum is also about animals, to a large degree. In fact, it is one of the world’s top museums of natural history, science, environment, and even culture. It’s collection includes over 20 million objects, including many animals, such as the”Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age” display and a whole evolutionary walk-through exhibit. The Field Museum is most famous for “Sue”, the most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton ever found (not a plastic replica; this one is 100% for real!) Take in the Dinosaurs Alive! 3-D show at the Ernst & Young 3-D Theater, and if you really want to get close to the ancient creatures, try the “Dozin’ With Dinos” sleepover.

As we said earlier, there really are so many things to do in Chicago, Illinois, that it is hard to choose just those few. We did not even mention…

- Soldier Field
- Buckingham Fountain
- Chicago Blues Festival
- Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
- Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament
- The Hancock Observatory
- hundreds of delicious restaurants

If you want to do more than just visit, you might want to find a nice little home and get a nice little fence, such as a dog fence or a Chicago pool fence, as well as a little flower garden. Why move to Chicago, you ask? So that you can keep visiting these awesome Chicago landmarks and attractions every day!