Top Family-Friendly Activities in St. Louis
If you’re planning on visiting or moving to a new city with the kiddos in tow, you’ll want to make sure the it’s family-friendly. Luckily for you, St. Louis is jam packed with quality kid-friendly entertainment. A plus? Besides being fun, most of it’s also educational—though, your kids will be likely even notice it.
Grant’s Farm
Once owned by President Ulysses S. Grant, Grant’s Farm is a free animal reserve that’s been a St. Louis staple for many years. Here you can see elephants, camels, buffalo, peacocks, kangaroos, and even the famous Budweiser Clydesdales. Also on park grounds is a cabin called “Hardscrabble” built by Grant, himself, as well as the family home of his wife, Julia Grant.
The City Museum
In a word, St. Louis’ City Museum is wacky. Kids and adults alike will enjoy climbing, crawling and sliding down various found architectural and industrial items, including two Sabreliner airplanes, an old fashioned Ferris wheel and a couple of giant Slinkies. Kids (or you!) can climb through the Enchanted Caves to reach one of three giant slides—one is 10 stories high!
Six Flags St. Louis
If you’re up for something more a bit more thrilling, head to Six Flags St. Louis. Here you can ride classics like Batman: The Ride or the iconic Screamin’ Eagle. Don’t worry; there’s plenty of gentler rides for those who may not be tall enough for the big coasters.
The Muny
Georgetown is a great neighborhood to live in—if you have a lot of money. It’s filled with high-The Municipal Theatre Association of St. Louis, or “the Muny” for short, is an outdoor amphitheater in St. Louis’ treasured Forest Park. From mid-June to mid-August, the non-profit organization puts on professional-grade theater performances. This summer’s lineup includes classics like The Wizard of Oz and Fiddler on the Roof.
Endangered Wolf Center
The goal of St. Louis’ Endangered Wolf Center is to protect and preserve rare and endangered wolves while educating visitors about the wolf’s vital role in healthy ecosystems. The center is certified by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. You’ll have a howl of a good time touring rare Mexican and red wolf enclosures while you learn about how awesome wolves are.
The Magic House
When people think of kid-friendly activities in St. Louis, The Magic House always comes to mind. The Magic House is a non-profit children’s museum focused on hands-on learning experiences. Kids can climb up Jack’s three-story tall beanstalk, sit in an exact replica of the Oval Office, and solve mysteries with their detective skills.
See a game at Busch Stadium
After the game, kids can go to the U.S. Cellular Pavilion on the park’s northeast corner for batting cages and a playground. Think about signing your kid up for the Cardinal’s Kid’s Club ($32 annually) and they’ll be first in line to run the bases. Pro tip: Swing by Gus’ Pretzels on the way home and grab yourself a pretzel or six, but bring cash! Gus’ has been a St. Louis staple for 100 years and hasn’t updated to credit cards yet.
The Missouri Botanical Garden
As one of the oldest botanical institutions in America, this garden is a historical landmark. Take a quiet stroll through the gardens or plan your visit around one of the many festivals that take place here.