Henson Robinson Zoo
http://www.hensonrobinsonzoo.org
1100 East Lake Shore Drive, Springfield
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Phone: (217) 753-6217
Hours: March through October: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends; November through February: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's days
Admission: Adults $3.75, ages 62 and over $2.25, ages 3-12 $2, ages 2 and under free
More than 300 animals -- including spider monkeys, river otters and an Asiatic black bear -- call Henson Robinson Zoo home. Concessions, gift shop and children's petting area available.

Lincoln Memorial Garden
http://www.lmgnc.org
2301 East Lake Shore Drive, Springfield
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Phone: (217) 529-1111
Hours: Grounds: Sunrise to sunset daily; nature center: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday; nature center closed New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day
Admission: Free
Located on the shores of Lake Springfield and designed by landscape architect Jens Jensen, Lincoln Memorial Garden re-creates the Midwest landscape that Lincoln would have known -- a rich mosaic of mature upland woods and lowland forests, interspersed with sunny openings of Illinois prairie wildflowers. Six miles of trails are open sunrise to sunset.

Washington Park Botanical Garden
http://www.springfieldparks.org
1740 W. Fayette Ave., Springfield
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Phone: (217) 753-6228
Hours: Noon to 4 p.m. weekdays, noon to 5 p.m. weekends; closed Christmas Eve and Day and Thanksgiving Day
Admission: Free
The botanical garden contains 9,000 square feet of greenhouse area and a conservatory that houses more than 150 species of tropical plants. A variety of gardens surround the conservatory.