Penguin encounters at the Lincoln Park Zoo

Lincoln Park Zoo, located in Chicago’s beautiful Lincoln Park just a couple miles north of downtown along the lakefront, is free every day of the year and offers plenty of exciting viewing — and learning — opportunities throughout its sprawling, tree-covered grounds.

Looking for a unique experience? Get up close and personal with the African penguins at the Malott Family Penguin Encounter, where you and your family can join experts behind the scenes at the penguins’ habitat to learn more about their lives at the zoo and on the southern African coast. Encounters last 60 minutes — approximately 15 minutes outside the habitat, 20 minutes in a behind-the-scenes area and 20 minutes inside the habitat with the penguins.

Tickets are $80 per person ($70 for Lincoln Park Zoo members). Each experience can accommodate up to eight guests, and participants must be at least six years old. 2200 N. Cannon Dr. LPZoo.org

The Henry Crown Space Center at the Museum of Science and Industry

Chicago’s world-renowned Museum of Science and Industry offers a plethora of vibrant learning opportunities about spacewalks, the science of storms and German submarines from WWII. The newly renovated Henry Crown Space Center presents the latest in space exploration and what it has taught us about our universe.

A new exhibit within the Space Center features the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, a flight-proven vehicle that played a pivotal role in two missions, delivering cargo and scientific experiments to the International Space Station. The new exhibition highlights its journey and SpaceX’s pioneering legacy. In addition to the Space Center’s most iconic artifacts, such as the Apollo 8 command module and the Mercury Aurora 7 capsule, the exhibit features new items like a prototype garment and biofeedback belt worn by Mae Jemison, the first American woman of color in space (and a Chicago native).

This Museum of Science and Industry is located at 5700 S. Lake Shore Dr. MSIChicago.org

Wonder Woods Mini Golf at the Morton Arboretum

This summer, the Morton Arboretum is teeing up a new interactive experience called Wonder Woods Mini Golf that offers an imaginative, tree-themed adventure on a course specially designed for the Arboretum with the help of their research scientists.

From giant mushrooms to larger-than-life bugs and acorns, see the Arboretum’s tree science come to life in fun and unexpected ways. Learn how tree rings can tell the life story of a tree, how trees support the ecosystems of bugs and wildlife, and other wonderfully engaging scientific concepts.

Wonder Woods Mini Golf runs through September 2. The course will be open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., seven days a week. Tickets must be purchased online (Mortonarb.org) for a specific time slot and must be purchased in addition to Arboretum general admission. 4100 Illinois Route 53 in Lisle.

Free family summer concerts from the Park Ridge Park District

The Real Park Ridge is proud to be a sponsor of the Park Ridge Park District‘s free family summer concert series this summer. The next concert is on Tuesday, July 30 from 6-7 p.m. at Prospect Park (733 N Prospect Ave.) with Nanny Nikki, who happens to be a Grammy-nominated artist who loves to bring life to classic children’s songs as well as her own original music. Join her for a high-energy, interactive musical show including sing-along songs, dancing, puppets and more! Either performing alone or with her band, The Dapper Dudes, Nanny Nikki’s show is sure to have audiences shouting for joy.