So, we were on a roll it seems- we hit the Field Museum and even Lincoln Park Zoo last week and the weather was awesome. But, now the weather has turned and I am fighting a cold.

With the cooler weather, the zoo is definitely a great place to go. Not only is it not very crowded, but the animals also tend to hang outside more. We always park a little further down from the main entrance and go in through the “school” entrance near the new ape exhibit. The route we’ll usually take is go through the Regenstein Center for African Apes and then make our way over to the other end of the zoo for the Regenstein African Journey which brings you out right by the polar bears (which were off exhibit last week), then back down to the penguins, sea lions, play at the Pritzker Family Children’s zoo and then head to lunch (we love the food court at Park Place Cafe- seriously the best panini).

After a break we’ll either to the Farm if we have time or back to the apes again on our way to the car.

I had wanted to head to the Shedd yesterday or today for the free admission but I’d rather be napping this cold off. So, we’ll try for next week maybe for Gray’s birthday on the 7th. I don’t think it’s a free day, though, so I better come up with something a little cheaper.

My friend Sarah is playing music on Oct 3 & 4 at the County Line Orchard so I am hoping for a nice day to maybe go out and see her and get cinnamon donuts. Not sure if I will even take the kids for that one! Ah, I probably will.

Stephanie is Mom to three boys & a baby girl in Valparaiso, IN and blogs daily at Adventures In Babywearing . Follow her on Twitter- she’s babysteph .