20 Fascinating Things To Do In St Louis For Families With Kids

1. Visit The Adventure Valley

As a lover of activities, thrill is the most popular fun to have for which ziplining at the Adventure Valley of St.Louis is the place that screams enjoyment. Among the 10 choices provided by the ziplines, their speed and length can be a major reason for choosing them.

As an adventure lover who is unscared of heights should go for 1100 feet 1100-foot-long zipline that will fly across 50 miles in an hour making it a very entertaining journey. On weekdays when kids 12 years old or older visit this valley, paintball park can be the suitable option for them which might sound boring but it is so much fun.

2. Race Into Adventure At Victory Raceway

Kids of this generation loves racing karts whether its toy or the real ones therefore, Victory Raceway can be a fun space for them to ride electric go-karts. To add the extra level of thrill, the raceway has karts which everyone should ride on their own with no co-driver.

Unfortunately, Kids below 6 years old are not allowed to join this adventure to ensure their safety. Meanwhile the eligible kids who are quite hesitant to try it for the first time can take junior karts that races only 25 miles per hour.

3. Harvest Your Favorite Fruits At Eckert’s

For those who love supporting small businesses, the family-friendly activities in Eckert's are a perfect spot which makes the trip to St. Louis a memorable one. An amazing family owns this farm where they grow seasonal fruits and vegetables, which can be handpicked by the visitors to eat right there or to bring it home.

In spring they grow everyone's favorite strawberries on the farm which can be a little crowded on weekends to come for a harvest while in the summer blackberries and peaches can be found. After the summer is over, sweet pie craving starts to hit making it a perfect time to harvest apples and pumpkins.

4. Experience Riverboats At The Gateway Arch

Taking a ride on the riverboats at the Gateway Arch is one of the most popular activities for visitors who want to see the best views of the Gateway Arch and St. Louis' riverfront.

To witness the stunning view of the arch, book a one-hour daytime cruise. For a longer tour accompanied by dinner, a two-hour dinner cruise is highly recommended. This can be a fun activity for the family or a cozy yet romantic dinner date with a partner.

The surreal view while floating on the water and enjoying a delicious meal makes for an amazing experience, offering a welcome break from the everyday hustle.

5. Discover the Mysteries of Meramec Caverns

Learning is not just limited to school and books, it can happen anywhere, Meramec Caverns lying under the hills of the Meramec Valley is one example of it. Being the largest commercial cave in the state, it was famous for a long time since an episode of Lassie was filmed there making it more popular worldwide.

No matter the weather outside the cave, the underground oasis remains 60 degrees cold which can be refreshing to visit in hot summer. It is such a nice way to gain information about geology and cave ecosystems through various formations that are found underground such as stalactites, stalagmites, and stunning rock formations.

6. Explore Turtle Playground

Majority of visitors travel with toddler and the place they travel to, have very rare options to keep them entertained but in the Turtle Playground of St. Louis enjoying and learning go hand in hand. Kids who enjoy playing with mini toy turtles will be amazed by the size and structure of giant turtles when they climb on their backs.

Sentivite kids can play with softshell turtle to prevent themselves from getting hurt by other hard concrete ones, making this a fun and safe activity. Pictures and videos can be clicked by parents of their kids playing around to cherish this memory forever.

7. Engage With Nature At Missouri Botanical Garden

When travelling to any new city sightseeing in its botanical garden is a traditional activity to explore and engage in the beauty of it. Kids can be quite difficult to manage throughout the trip as they get bored very fast.

To avoid this from happening, Missouri Botanical Garden has built two playgrounds covering a large space of two acres which includes a treehouse and a Spelunker's Slide.

While the kids engage in those activities, adults can enjoy some me time by boarding a steamboat and visiting a Midwestern prairie village. 

8. Visit The Saint Louis Zoo

Most of the Zoo have entrance fees except for some and Saint Louis Zoo is one of them, making it a go-to place with plenty of parking space. A Rare view of bears playing in the plunge pool and the chaotic movement of monkeys swinging through the trees might scare some kids while entertaining the rest.

With the intention of providing educational displays and visually striking experiences, the Zoo has a separate section of sculptures of sharks, squid, and stingrays. This supports the learning urge of visitors about wildlife and its importance for conservation.

9. Experience Wolf Encounters At The Endangered Wolf Center

We rarely get to see wolves in real life, more specifically red wolves due to their endangered status. Fortunately, the tour at the endangered wolf center makes a dream come true for wildlife lovers who want to dive into the beauty and wildness of those wolves, making it a popular spot for a holiday escape or a school trip.

Throughout the tour, the coordinator Jimmy Parsons gives information about the behavior patterns of these species and also imitates their howls to give a glimpse of a thrilling experience to visitors. As Jimmy has mastered the communication technique of wolves, he can persuade the wolves to howl back.

10. Expore The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House

Everyone especially kids is so fascinated by butterflies, as they are always wearing butterfly dresses which might make them feel like in a Disney movie. One way to make them live this moment in real life is taking them to the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House which has more than 60 species of tropical butterflies.

Witnessing this fairytale moment where colorful butterflies surround them is truly satisfying for a parent. While the kids enjoy that, adults especially plant moms should have a look at the tropical plants that the place has in store.

Other special events such as Morpho Mardi Gras, the BOOterfly House, and Supper with Santa are also conducted by this place to entertain visitors.

11. Dive Into Adventure At The St. Louis Aquarium At Union Station

Almost every aquatic lover might tend to go on an adventure trip to the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station, as they are often seen having an aquarium at home, which acts as a small symbol of their love and appreciation for aquatic animals.

More than 250,000 gallons of water are filled inside the aquarium to keep more than 1,300 animals alive, which is a bit of a tough task to maintain.

Among all the animals that can be seen there, some are rare and beautiful, such as green sea turtles, paddlefish, sea dragons, and Lord Stanley, the blue lobster. Those who are willing to have an individual encounter with these species can attend a behind-the-scenes tour of the aquarium.

12. Participate In Fun Farm Activities At Purina Farms

Before adopting a pet dog or cat, it is highly recommended to visit Purina Farms to learn to connect with them on a deeper level so that it becomes easier to appreciate and understand their unique abilities.

Once learned, the chosen cat can be adopted from the Pet Center, while also witnessing The Incredible Dog Arena's performance where human trainers and their trained dogs perform tricks to showcase the dogs' impressive skills and agility.

Understanding their behavior patterns and recognizing their skills might take some time, but if understood carefully, it is not that hard to learn and give them proper training.

13. Explore Exciting Activities At Grant's Farm

To make the best utilization of the weekend, a short trip to Grant's Farm at St.Louis can be the perfect choice to dive into nature and enjoy feeding goats.

This might be the new favorite activity of kids where they get the option to choose between a camel ride or a tram ride to see around the farm, where animals like antelope, deer, yaks, and cattles can be spotted.

It's quite a lot to pay $15 for parking but the admission to farm is free and also the adults over 21 are invited to grab two free beers at the Bauernhof where you can enjoy lunch or a light snack.

14. Play And Climb At City Museum

As most of the museums have only an educational aspect, surprisingly, the City Museum of St. Louis is as much a playground as it is a museum. Kids can do many fun activities, like climbing into a bowhead whale's mouth, which might make them feel like they are in a crazy animal movie.

Those who like more adventure can go through an underground tunnel, rocket down a 10-story slide, or even pilot a plane that is suspended in the air.

Also, for art lovers, there is pancake art to explore, and they can use the world's largest pencil to test their circus skills. The gift shop inside the museum sells knee pads, which can be bought before taking a slide to protect the knees from injury.

15. Enjoy Interactive Art And Playgrounds At Citygarden

For outdoor fun and experiences in St. Louis, Citygarden is the perfect spot, especially for little kids who love playing with water. The dancing fountains and rain gardens are popular attractions at this location. Meanwhile, adults can enjoy cooling off in the 180-foot-long shallow pool during the summer.

It's recommended to carry a handy towel for drying off after a dip. This garden offers a range of entertaining and adventurous activities, making it a great pit stop between visits to the Gateway Arch and Busch Stadium.

16. Walk On The wild Side At The World Bird Sanctuary

Most birds, especially rare species, are in an endangered state due to a lack of proper care and conservation. However, at the World Bird Sanctuary, this issue is addressed, as they conserve over 200 birds.

A variety of birds can be found there, including a proud eagle, a colorful parrot, an emu, vultures, and owls, which amaze viewers when they fly at night and hoot to communicate with other owls. Providing proper protection is the main agenda of this sanctuary, while also educating and entertaining visitors.

17. Experience The Wonders Of The Magic House

Located just 20 minutes from downtown St. Louis, The Magic House is the favorite hub of kids who fantasize about magic. Placing a hand on an electrically charged ball is the most popular activity among visitors, which causes their hair to stand on end as if touched by a spark of wonder.

Kids can role-play as doctors or veterinarians to explore different sides of themselves, while adults can enjoy playing by surrounding themselves with an enormous bubble. Other attractions, such as a 3D printer and a child-size village, are also provided to entertain the kids.

18. Spend a day Raging Rivers WaterPark

Visiting St. Louis during the summer is the perfect time for a fun and relaxing experience at Raging Rivers WaterPark, where kids will stay entertained with water slides, wave pools, and lazy rivers. Parents who enjoy having fun can also join in on these exciting activities.

For quality family time and delicious food from the cafe inside the park, Raging Rivers WaterPark is an ideal spot. It is highly recommended to visit this park during your trip to St. Louis. Don’t forget to take pictures and videos of your time on the water slides to capture the memories.

19. Uncover The National Museum Of Transportation

Parents with kids who are fans of planes, trains, and automobiles should consider taking them to The National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis to explore and learn about vintage transport. More than 190 major exhibits are placed in this museum, creating a hub for all vehicle lovers.

The section featuring the Union Pacific 4006, known as Big Boy, the largest successful steam locomotive ever built, is the main attraction of the museum. However, another section showcasing a 1901 automobile, one of only nine such cars still in existence, is no less impressive.

20. Step Into The Enchantment Of The Fabulous Fox

Every kid enjoys watching animated shows like Frozen or The Lion King, so experiencing these plays in a theater would be an unforgettable event.

To make this happen, parents can take them to The Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis. Kids will be amazed by the theme of the play, the lights, costumes, and songs, which might make toddlers feel like they are part of the performance.

To make the experience more immersive and lively, the theater is decorated according to the play’s theme, and the artists wear costumes of the characters they portray. Taking kids to The Fabulous Fox is a perfect way to have weekend fun, instead of just watching these plays on TV.