2200 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago
lpzoo.org

Best part: It's free and open every day of the year, so this is ideal for anyone from the mom who wants to pop in for a half hour before naptime to those who want a cheap date night sans the kids.

Don't miss: They've got an adorable petting zoo area and small museum for tots called Farm-in-the-Zoo. Watch the cows being milked, pet the goats and pretend you're a chick while you climb into the huge egg for a fabulous photo opp.

Missing: Elephants. They used to live here, but they moved.

When you're done: Check out the Green City Market, at the southern end of Lincoln Park between Clark and Stockton Drive during the summer or at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum during cooler months.