Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in saint louis, MO

99 Kid Friendly Things to do in and around St. Louis

February 18, 2009

1. Go to a St. Louis Cardinal's Game at Busch Stadium. Gorge on peanuts, hot dogs and pretzels while waving a foam finger and singing along to "Take Me Out to the Ballgame".
2. Go sledding at Art Hill (outside of the St. Louis Art Museum in Forest Park)
3. Explore the City Museum
4. Spend all day seeing the animals at the St. Louis Zoo
5. Take in a kid's show at The Fabulous Fox. I took my son to see The Wiggles at The Fox and we probably enjoyed the beautiful, gilded theater as much as the entertainment (sorry, Wiggles). 
6. Rent paddle boats at the Boathouse Forest Park
7. Enjoy root beer floats at Fitz's in University City
8. Six Flags St. Louis- roller coasters, water park and a giant carousel!
9. Take a Mississippi River Cruise aboard the Tom Sawyer or Becky Thatcher River Boats  
10. Eat a bratwurst at Strassenfest
11. Ride the tram to the top of the Gateway Arch
12. Walk with the butterflies at the Butterfly House in Faust Park
13. Listen to the Taiko Drummers on Labor Day Weekend at the Japanese Festival
14. Tour the historic Old Courthouse where the Dred Scott Decision was made
15. Take a weekend trip to the Lake of the Ozarks for boating, fishing and shopping
16. Watch the gigantic fireworks display on July 4th at Fair St. Louis
17. Visit historic Main Street St. Charles during their old-time Christmas Celebration
18. Explore and play at the Magic House in Kirkwood
19. Ride bikes on the Katy Trail
20. Search for unique toys at the largest flea, antique and craft market on Memorial Day Weekend at The Gypsy Caravan
21. Climb aboard the trains at the Museum of Transportation
22. Look at the stars, watch an Omnimax film and learn about all things scientific at the St. Louis Science Center
23. Play at the Rocket Park outside the Science Center before heading home
24. Cool off on a hot summer day at Raging Rivers in Grafton, Illinois
25. Take a day trip to Hannibal, Missouri to see Mark Twain's Boyhood Home and Museum
26. Spelunk at one of Missouri's many caves
27. Take in the "real" St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dogtown on March 17th
28. Pick apples at a local orchard
29. Visit the world famous Clydesdale horses at Grant's Farm
30. Celebrate Earth Day at the St. Louis Earth Day Events, touring a recycling facility, joining a Stream Team or by picking up litter in your neighborhood
31. Play at the universally accessible Zachary's Playground in Lake St. Louis where kids with and without disabilities can play together
32. Visit the raptors at the World Bird Sanctuary
33. Ride the miniature 12 gauge steam engines at The Wabash Frisco and Pacific Railroad in Wildwood
34. See one of the Family Concert Series shows at The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
35. Drive through the neighboring Lone Elk Park and watch the buffalo and other animals roam from your car
36. Play video games or pool at Dave and Busters
37. Eat Imo's and teach the kids the wonders of St. Louis Style Pizza
38. Take a hike above Pere Marquette Park and watch the sun setting over the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers
39. Donate time or toys to sick kids at Cardinal Glennon or St. Louis Children's Hospital
40. Watch a unique local puppet show at Bob Kramer's Marionnettes
41. Watch the sea lions during feeding time at the zoo
42. Sit in the free seats or spring for pricey seats at The Muny on a summer evening
43. Stare at (and sometimes play on) the outdoor art at Laumeier Scultpure Park
44. Scamper up the giant turtle sculptures at Turtle Park in the Dogtown section of Forest Park
45. Drive through the winter wonderland of Tillis Park in December
46. Take a stroll through history at the St. Louis History Museum in Forest Park
47. Listen to a free summer concert at Tower Grove Park
48. Go on a float trip on a local river
49. Buy flowers or fruit at the Soulard Market or one of the local famer's markets
50. Take the ferries across the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers
51. Play miniature golf, ride go-carts or hit the batting cages at Swing-a-Round FunTown
52. Take a ride downtown on the Metrolink
53. Build a bear or other stuffed animal at a local business that went big- Build a Bear Workshop at local malls
54. Explain the stories behind the stars on the Delmar Walk of Fame
55. Learn about local history at Daniel Boone's Missouri Home and Boonesfield Village in Defiance, Missouri
56. Enroll in your school district's Parents-as-Teachers home based program to start your kids on the right path
57. Howl with the wolves at the Wolf Sanctuary aka The Wild Canid Survival and Research Center  
58. Go to story time at the library or at a local bookstore
59. Cool off in the water fountains at Creve Coeur's Millennium Park
60. See where Scott Joplin, king of ragtime music, lived at the Scott Joplin House State Historic Site
61. Enroll your child in a dance, theater, voice, fitness or visual arts class, school break camp or workshop at COCA
62. Also at COCA, take in a child friendly theater performance with the COCA Family Theater Series
63. Experience First Night St. Louis on New Year's Eve in Grand Center for family friendly fun
64. Visit the chickens, goats, pigs and other farm animals at St. Louis County's Suson Park and Animal Farm
65. Learn the history of the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Collinsville, Illinois
66. Enroll in a Missouri Department of Conservation Kid's Class like Introduction to Fishing
67. Tailgate then head inside the dome for a St. Louis Rams' Game
68. Hike paved trails at the beautiful Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
69. Go skating at Steinberg (Forest Park) or the Shaw Park Ice Skating Rinks
70. Visit a farm from the past at the William H. Fulkerson Mansion and Farm Museum in Jerseyville, Illinois which includes a brick Victorian Mansion, Civil War and Farm Artifacts
71. See stingrays, sharks, sea turtles and more at the World Aquarium, the former St. Louis Children's Aquarium, inside The City Museum
72. Take older kids to watch glass blowing demonstrations at the Third Degree Glass Factory
73. Just their size exhibits for kids at the Miniature Museum of Greater St. Louis
74. Let's Go Blues! Take your kids to a St. Louis Blues vs Redwings or Blackhawks Game and teach them team spirit and about hockey rivalaries.
75. Go swimming at an indoor pool like the St. Peter's Rec-Plex, your local YMCA or The Heights in Richmond Heights
76. Race go-carts or play games at The Nascar Speed Park in The St. Louis Mills
77. Run off with the circus or just visit for a few hours at The St. Louis Moolah Shrine Circus, Circus Flora
78. Explore the climatron, indoor and outdoor gardens at Missouri Botanical Gardens including the Doris Schnuck Children's Garden
79. Get thee to Wentzville's annual Greater St. Louis Renaissance Faire  
80. Visit dogs, cats, chickens, horses and other animals at Grey Summit's Purina Farms
    
81. Check out the limestone quarry in Defiance's Klondike Park  
82. Eat lunch at one of the many great Italian Restaurants of The Hill
83. Celebrate spring at the Valley of the Flowers Spring Festival in Florissant each May
84. Take a kid friendly cooking class at Dierberg's Cooking School or Whole Foods Stores
85. Go to Ted Drewes Frozen Custard on a warm summer evening and compare favorite flavors
86. Honor man's best friend at the Queeny Park Dog Museum
87. Get prehistoric at Mastodon State Park where kids can see a replica full sized Mastodon skeleton.
88. Celebrate St. Louis aeronautical history at the Greater St. Louis Air and Space Museum
89. Pick the perfect pumpkin in the fall at local farms
90. Walk the trail around Creve Coeur Lake and play on the playgrounds
91. Race to Madison Illinois' Gateway International Raceway
    
92. Go back in time at the Lewis and Clark Heritage Days in St. Charles where costumed reinactors tell the story of the great explorers.
93. Take a day trip by Amtrak train to Springfield, Illinois and visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum
94. Go to a free St. Louis Symphony Orchestra concert outdoors in Tower Grove Park in the summer
95. Take a weekend trip to Silver Dollar City or one of the many theaters in Branson, Missouri
96. Catch a concert under the stars at the UMB Bank Pavilion (formerly known as Riverport Ampitheater)
97. Play disc golf at Quail Ridge or many other local parks with facilities
98. Roller blade in Forest Park
99. Walk around the fountains at Westport Plaza