Things to do with kids in St. Louis

Things to do with kids in St. Louis

1. See

   Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis

   This Roman Catholic church contains the most mosaic art in one site in the world—83,000 square feet, installed by a family of artists who used more than 41 million tiles with more than 7,000 colors.

   7AM-5PM, daily. Mosaic Museum: M-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su noon-4PM

2. See

   City Museum

   For the young, the young at heart, or anyone who thinks a five-story playground made of salvaged materials sounds awesome. Don't let the name fool you; this place is a blast! The City Museum is a huge playground built in an old 11-story warehouse made largely out of architectural artifacts from around St. Louis collected by an eccentric millionaire. There are concessions inside the museum as well as bar service by local brewery Schlafy. While there are plenty of artifacts on display, it's not so much a museum as it is a collection of mazes, obstacle courses, tunnels, airplanes suspended in midair, and chutes and ladders. There's a Ferris wheel on the roof, a ten-story spiral slide, an enormous pipe organ, and lots of ways to get lost. Take care when parking; lots of nearby lots tout the "City Museum" on their signs, but only the one on the east side of 16th street (guarded by huge snake sculptures) is officially associated with the museum. Expect to stay here for 3-4 hours.

   Mon-Thu 9AM-5PM, Fri Sat 9AM-midnight, Sun 11AM-5PM; closed Mon Tue in winter·$12+tax ($10+tax F-Sa after 5PM), under 2 free; roof access +$5 (weather permitting)

3. See

   Citygarden

   Citygarden gives kids fountains to play in and sculptures they can related to (Pinocchio, big heads, etc.); art lovers the chance to experience 24 sculptures by some of modern art's great masters (Leger, Herring, etc.); and everyone an award-winning garden in the midst of the city where you can relax and beat the heat. If you'd like to eat in the gardens, there is a cafe that is open for lunch or you can pick up something from the many takeout places nearby.

   Sunrise to 10PM·Free

4. Eat

   Das Bevo

   The Bevo Mill

   August Busch, of the Busch family and brewery, built this giant windmill as his private dining room in the early 1900s. Today it serves traditional German cuisine and amazing breakfast. Look for the giant windmill—you can't miss it if you're in South City. This restaurant closed abruptly in March 2009, reopening in early 2016 in time for Mother’s Day. Don’t miss the your chance to join the Beir-choir the First Thursday of each month.

5. Eat

   Fitz's Rootbeer

   American Bar and Grill, Family friendly, watch the bottle factory go to work as you dine.

6. See

   Forest Park

   One of the nation's largest city parks, with 1,293 acres, is open to the public for golf, tennis, baseball, bicycling, boating, fishing, handball, ice skating, in-line skating, jogging, cricket, rugby and more. The park is also home to the St. Louis Science Center, the art museum, the zoo, and a history museum, all with free admission. Forest Park is really at the heart of St. Louis. It was also the site of the 1904 Louisiana Purchase World's Fair, which lays claim to serving the first hot dogs, hamburgers, and ice cream cones. You cannot visit St. Louis without hearing about, driving by, or exploring Forest Park.

7. See

   Missouri Botanical Garden

   You will never believe that you are in the middle of a very urban scene when you step behind the walls of this site. A place of serenity, beauty, and relaxation amid the bustle of the city, the Missouri Botanical Garden is open every day except Christmas Day (Dec 25). Stroll the grounds, explore the home gardening resources, or enjoy one of the many events throughout the year. This is a "must see." One of the main features is the Climatron, a very large geodesic dome that houses a good portion of the Garden's 80 acres of horticultural offerings. 2006 featured hundreds of glass sculptures around the park by glass artist Chihuly.

   9AM-5PM daily·$8; children 12 and under free

8. See

   Saint Louis Zoo

   Recognized as one of the top five zoos in the nation. The zoo has both indoor and outdoor exhibits. There are several centers for in depth exploration and learning.

   9AM-5PM daily·Free; fees charged for certain attractions

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to St. Louis (CC BY-SA 4.0).