Don't miss the City Museum. It's like no other place in the world. Created by visionary scultptor Bob Cassilly and housed in a converted shoe factory, it's full of wonders inside and out. It's not really a museum -- it's a work of art and an amusement park for the body, mind, and imagination. Plan to spend most of a day here.
Kids and parents will love the Saint Louis Zoo. Set in Forest Park, it’s home to over 9,000 animals and is one of the most visited zoos in the country. Admission is free. It even has a special Children’s Zoo for the young ones. On a nice day, enjoy a picnic in the surrounding park or climb around on the giant sculptures in the nearby Turtle Playground.
Six Flags in Eureka has been providing thrills for all ages since the early 1970's. For one admissioni price, you can experience both the great rides and Hurricane Harbor water park.
The St. Louis Science Center is located at the edge of the park. Although it has some outdoor exhibits surrounding its planetarium, most of them are indoors, so it is a good choice on rainy or very hot days. Admission is free, as is parking near the Planetarium building and around Forest Park.
The Magic House, also known as the St. Louis Children’s Museum, is very popular for young children. Its unique exhibits will keep kids entertained for hours. A recent Zagat Survey has found it to be the nation’s top attraction in terms of child appeal, surpassing even Disneyland. Admission is $7 for adults and children.
Families may enjoy ice skating together at Steinberg Skating Rink, a popular outdoor rink in Forest Park. Admission is $6 for adults and $5 for children, and skate rentals are available for $2. Winter hours are from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm, with Fridays and Saturdays staying open until midnight. Concessions are available.
The Missouri Botanical Garden, the world class botanical garden and research facility just south of Interstate-44 in the Shaw neighborhood (the Botanical Garden is locally called 'Shaw's garden' , after its founder, Henry Shaw. Do not confuse this with Shaw park in Clayton, which is a city park for the suburb of Clayton), is not only an oasis for nature lovers and gardening fans, but has a recently opened Children's garden. This garden is open during the spring through fall. The Botanical Garden is free for members, with a reduced rate for city residents, and free for children. The children's garden has an additional fee, but is free for children under 2. For more information on current exhibits (such as the yearly orchid show, the Christmas floral display, Japanese Festival, etc), visit the garden website www.mobot.org.
Grant's Farm, the ancestral home of the Busch family (of Anheuser-Busch brewery fame) and onetime homestead of Ulysses S. Grant, is an especially good activity for families with young children -- and it's free! (parking, however, costs $11 per car). Begin with a tram ride through a wildlife preserve (Deer Park) where hoofed animals such as elk, deer, and exotic cattle roam. Then, visit the small, beautifully landscaped zoo (Tier Garten); take in an animal show and feed the sheep and goats. Over lunch, relax at the Bauernhof, where the adults can enjoy free samples of Anheuser-Busch products (two beers per person). End your trip with by viewing the magnificent Clydesdales at the Clydesdale Barn. This is a great attraction for small children -- you can get it all in before naptime -- plus the adults can enjoy a slight beer buzz in the sunshine with happy children!
The Butterfly House, just west of St. Louis in suburban Chesterfield, is an incredible destination for families. You'll be amazed at the collection of butterflies that thrive in this beautiful hothouse. It's also a great place to warm up on a chilly day. While you're there, the kids can ride the carousel, built in 1921.
If your family is travelling to St. Louis in the summer, visit Fair Saint Louis (Fourth of July weekend) or LIVE on the Levee (weekends in July and August). The free festivals under the Arch have a variety of hands-on children's activities plus concerts from national bands and fireworks.
Take a trip back in time and visit Crown Candy Kitchen in Old North, about a mile from downtown St. Louis. Crown Candy is an old-time soda fountain featuring sandwiches, soups and salads, homemade candy, and a variety of ice cream desserts.
For live children's theater, check out COCA, the Center of Creative Art, in University City. The Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra has terrific family concerts on Sunday afternoons in the school year. Also many of the cultural institutions, e.g. Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis Art Museum, and more offer free classes and activities on weekends.
If you are looking for a good playground for an hour or two, you'll find many to choose from in St. Louis. Suggestions include the universally accessible playgrounds (fun for all kids) at Forest Park and Tilles Park.
Family Day Trips:
Early in the year (January and February), along the Mississippi just north of St. Louis, you'll find hundreds of bald eagles on their annual migration from the frozen north. Two notable towns to view eagles are Clarksville, Missouri and Grafton, Illinois, each about an hour north of the St. Louis area.
A great day trip for families is to visit Elephant Rocks and/or Johnson's Shut-ins in Iron County, about two hours southwest of St. Louis. At Elephant Rocks, you will enjoy climbing on hundreds of huge boulders, pricariously dumped here millions of years ago by glaciers. It is an amazing phenomenon. Johnson's Shut-ins is about 20 miles down the road. It combines rock climbing with waterfalls and swimming. It may well be the best place in the state to spend a hot summer day. (check to make sure the shut-ins are open - they were damaged by floods in 2007).
Another great family destination is Hannibal Missouri, about two hours north of the St. Louis area. Here you can tour the boyhood home of Mark Twain, explore Mark Twain cave and take a riverboat cruise.