Best Things To Do In St. Louis According To Me

Saint Louis Zoo Takeaway. The Crown Jewel Of St. Louis Attractions. It's free!!! One of the best things to do in St. Louis. Get here early and park on the north side for easy access.

The Zoo and the Arch are the most prominent tourist attractions in the city. One of the best places to take family when they visit for a weekend. If you live here, take advantage of it being free by stopping by whenever you want for as long as you like. Our average trip here is only about an hour.

Penguins are my favorite, but they stink, literally. Polar bears are a big draw. Zebra, giraffes, lions, monkeys, and elephants round out the big event animals.

Train, carousel, and petting sting rays cost money. Parking in the dedicated lots is $10, but you can find free street parking on the North side, particularly if you get there early. It's important to note what parking lots are open during certain times of the year. Like everything in St. Louis, the hours can be weird, so check ahead.

City Museum Takeaway. A Stange, Creepy, Delightful Museum. Made for older kids and kids at heart. I'd recommend being at least 8 years old to fully appreciate the museum, although plenty for younger kids to do. A truly unique experience. They have an innumerable number of individual "attractions" to explore in one visit. My favorite exhibits include the five-story slide, outside plane, and outside tunnel. My younger guys liked the long indoor slide and various exploration points inside.

Unfortunately, it's expensive. One of the few private museums in St. Louis, it costs $20 for general admission tickets or $18 if you go after 5 pm. There's a convenience fee for buying online. Parking in the dedicated lot is $15, but you can find cheaper street parking. That makes it close to $100 for a family of 4 to visit, which is expensive for St. Louis.

With tons of tunnels and tricks, keeping track of little kids can be hard. You need to either be ready to follow them or install an Apple tag. Exhibits can stretch between levels and rooms in the building, so following kids can get tricky. Hours can be odd, so make sure it's open before visiting.

Gateway Arch National Park Takeaway. America's Amazing Arch and Other Gateway Glories. Check this one off your St. Louis bucket list. Two parts to the park.

Part 1 - Great park below The Arch for a family picnic or an adult walk. No playground equipment means you need to bring a ball, frisbee, or some outside entertainment for kids. Adults can take a long walk around the park.

Part 2 - $71 for a family of four to go to the top of the arch. A free museum below the Arch to take in the history without paying. The line + background + ride + view takes about one hour. Buy tickets ahead of time online. Pro Tip: Ask to be in a lower number group. You'll get an extra five minutes at the top in group 1 vs group 8. You also need to be able to walk up a flight or two of stairs.

You can park for free on the weekends if you get there early, but expect to drive around for five or ten minutes. You can reserve parking ahead of time for $10 with validation. Can cost more otherwise. I've parked on the street or in a lot around 4th and Pine the four or five times we've gone.

Missouri Botanical Garden Takeaway. Missouri's Botanical beauty absolutely blew me away. This place is, in my opinion, one of the best attractions in St. Louis, easily earning a 9.5/10. The Climatron is a legit indoor rainforest, the Children's Garden is massive and fun, and the sheer quality of the landscaping is just on another level.

Yes, it is 100% worth the trip. I've been to a lot of museums and gardens, even places like the Getty in L.A. or (on a different scale) Versailles, and I'm telling you, MOBOT holds its own. The quality per square foot is just amazing. It's a fantastic way to spend an afternoon, or frankly, the entire day.

Logistics are surprisingly easy. Parking is free, though it can get packed for special events like Garden Glow. We just parked in the neighborhood and it was fine. The staff is super informative, and the cafe is actually decent and not crazy expensive. They also have great options for locals to get in free on certain days, which is a huge plus.

Saint Louis Science Center takeaway. Great weekend activity. Family fun for all ages. Free basic admission. Easy parking. It is our go-to on Saturday mornings when my wife is working. Tip: bring some pennies if you have little kids.

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis Takeaway. Another Uniquely St. Louis Treasure. Appreciated by adults, not by kids. I stopped going to these kinds of museums after being dragged around by my parents. If you're like me and my buddies, you've driven past here hundreds of times and never gone in.

Go in.

It takes thirty minutes to walk around. It's an over-the-top, Trumpian display of ridiculous papal wealth, but it's pretty cool. Make sure to head to the basement for a quick tour of the Mosaic Museum to see how they built the Cathedral's ceilings.

You can stop by between 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. ith a lot in the pack and plenty of street parking.

Tower Grove Park Takeaway. The "Pavillion Park". A great park for adults. Not so great for kids. Excellent 3-mile loop for walking or running. Playgrounds surprisingly meh. Haven't been, but heard the Farmer's Market is great. So many little things to see add up to a really fun experience. Baseball fields, soccer fields, and even a clay tennis court. Parking is everywhere. A park worth being the neighborhood namesake.

Saint Louis Art Museum Takeaway. Great for adults, not so great for kids. Free admission, another St. Louis gem. I love the contemporary art wing. Older stuff is hit-and-miss. Got "yelled" at three times with kids in one hour. Planned kid activities on Sunday afternoons. Main exhibitions are free on Friday. Very helpful staff. Can't bring any food or drink. They check backpacks. Coat check for when it's cold outside. Sculpture garden is a dud. Parking in lots or a short distance away. Paid parking for $15 if you're really fancy. Free wi-fi. Cafe in the basement. On-premises restaurant called Panorama.

Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum Takeaway. A small, free museum that punches above its square footage. I took in the museum in about thirty minutes. Each of the museum's three levels offers a different type of art. My favorite was the main level, which includes more contemporary art and the main exhibits. The upper level combines more classical art with some big names like Matisse and Picasso. The basement displays Greek artifacts and more avant-garde art.

One of the best free things to do in the city for grown-ups. Not kid-friendly.

Located on the entrance quad to Washington University across from Forest Park, finding free parking turned out to be quite difficult. There's a paid lot available. Amenities in the museum include a small cafe, gift store, bathrooms, and free wi-fi. The cafe's location has a great view of the main exhibit and would be a good place to spend an afternoon working. No food and no backpacks allowed. Odd hours, so check ahead.

The Pulitzer Art Foundation Takeaway. The Pulitzer Arts Foundation feels like the kind of place you discover by accident. The quiet and concrete are surprisingly calming, with the art being surprisingly inspiring. I'd give it an 8.4/10 for its atmosphere and design alone. While the size of the building limits the scale of the exhibits, the architecture, light, and sense of stillness make it more of an experience than a gallery visit.

It's not flashy. But it's one of those spots that rewards a slow walk and an open mind. If you're looking for a low-key afternoon in St. Louis, especially paired with lunch nearby at Bowood or a visit to the Contemporary Art Museum next door, the Pulitzer is absolutely worth a visit.

Just know that "Foundation" doesn't scream "museum," parking can be a little sneaky, and there's no café or gift shop waiting for you at the end. But free parking, free admission, and open Wi-Fi make it one of the easiest, most peaceful cultural detours in the city.

The Magic House takeaway. A fun way to spend two or three hours with your kids on a Saturday. Doing an entire loop brings you through dozens of exhibits. $66 for a family of four over the age of one is costly. Located in Kirkwood, North of I44, in South County, it's not super easy to get to unless you're local. Didn't get five stars because of cost.

Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis Takeaway. Another Free Art Offering That Will ‘Blow' You Away. At least for the next six months while Paul Chan's "Breathers" blow around the gallery. A small but uniquely fun experience. They rotate the main exhibit through one artist each season. The current Paul Chan exhibit runs through the end of August 2024.

Did I mention that it's free?!? St. Louis is awesome. One of the best free things to do in the city.

The staff was super helpful with questions and directions. You have to wear your bag on your front or leave it at the front desk. No food or drink except in the cafe. Bathrooms available. Kid Playspace is available for drawing and doing arts and crafts. It's probably not ideal for kids, but they might last thirty minutes without getting too bored. It took me exactly thirty minutes to take it in by myself.

Park on the street. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Laumeier Sculpture Park Takeaway. Eyeball sculpture is one to remember. Fantastic way to spend a Saturday morning. It's free! Definitely better for adults than kids. There's a hiking trail that connects parts of the park. The park goes and goes and could be a couple of miles as a loop. Art exhibit at the entrance in a dedicated building with seating. Bathrooms in the front building. Even the parking lots have art exhibits. They closed the main building for our visit. Don't go in the freezing cold with kids.

Braeutigam Orchards Takeaway. Braeutigam Orchards brings a blissful, back-to-basics charm to the fall apple picking season. This spot is an easy 9.0/10 for me, with the absolute highlights being the fantastic kid's play area and the surprisingly amazing apple cider slushies.

If you're looking for the massive, Disneyland-style experience of its famous neighbor, this isn't it. But in my opinion, that's exactly what makes it great. It's the perfect low-stress, high-value alternative for a family outing.

Service is simple (it's an orchard, you do most of the work), and parking is a breeze if you get there early. It's a bit of a hike from St. Louis, but it's well-signed and a fantastic way to spend a morning without breaking the bank or your patience.

Missouri History Museum Takeaway. Free Museum In Forest Park. The Missouri History Museum is another St. Louis gem in Forest Park. It's not the biggest or best museum we've been to, but it's free, with plenty to do for a weekend morning. They have four or so exhibits that rotate over the course of the year.

Expect to spend maybe an hour here with small kids. The Kids Clubhouse is ideally aimed at 3 to 6-year-olds, so you can get more mileage if your kids are that age.

We spent most of our time in the Kids Clubhouse. They also had a Coloring STL exhibit set up. My kids got through that surprisingly fast. They then ran over to the Soccer STL exhibit and had a blast there for a bit. We missed the "Seeking STL" exhibit on the second floor because it was time for lunch. The St. Louis soccer was the highlight for the kids.

Helpful service and kid-friendly, there's less to do here than somewhere like the Saint Louis Science Center. Parking all around the museum, we went on one of the busiest days of the year, and it was only a five-minute walk away.

Up-Down STL Takeaway. Up-Down STL provides an undeniably upbeat atmosphere for arcade adventures, whether you're a kid or just acting like one. I'm giving this spot an 8.2/10, with its best parts being the incredible, nostalgia-fueled selection of games, the old-school token prices, and the sheer fun of the environment.

It is absolutely worth the trip. This place is a chameleon. It's a fantastic spot to relive your childhood with some buddies on a Saturday night, grabbing a few drinks. But it's also, surprisingly, one of the best places to take your kids on their special "family" mornings.

Entry is free, which you can't beat. You just pay for tokens, which are cheap. Service is standard bar service, fast and to the point. Parking is just what you'd expect from the Central West End: street parking that "isn't bad" at all, especially on a weekend morning.

Citygarden Sculpture Park Takeaway. A Hidden Gem In The Shadow Of The Arch. Adults will appreciate the sculptures more than kids. However, there are several water features and pools for kids to play in during the summer. My favorite exhibits include the fallen head, the pink man without a head, zipper, the security cameras, and the big white bunnies. Unlike other sculpture parks, you can (are encouraged?) to touch the sculptures.

It took me exactly 30 minutes to complete a loop of the park. Ten minutes of that were spent talking to Larry, the security guard. After working there for fifteen years, he's a living exhibit.

The cafe was closed, and they are constructing the center portion of the park. Parking costs money in this part of downtown to the tune of $2/hr. All the meters accept credit cards.

National Museum of Transportation Takeaway. The Museum of Transportation makes for a memorable, massive day out. This place is a solid 8.2/10. My search for the best family spots in St. Louis definitely found a winner here. The sheer scale of the train collection is the main draw, and getting to climb inside those old steam locomotives was the absolute highlight for me and the kids.

Unlike most of the museums in St. Louis, this one isn't free. You're going to have to pay, but in my opinion, it's worth it for at least one visit. It's a fantastic way to spend an afternoon with the family, especially if your kids love vehicles. I don't know if I'd go back regularly since it costs, but it's a must-do once. It could also be a great place for a birthday party.

It's a bit off the beaten path in South County, so you'll have to drive (about 20 minutes from Olivette or downtown). It's mostly an outdoor museum, so check the weather before you go. Parking is free and plentiful right at the entrance.

Myseum Takeaway. Fun indoor playspace for making memories with kids. It gets a solid 7.2/10 for being an affordable, no-frills spot. My kids can burn energy for a couple hours without me having to supervise every second. The speed slide with a radar gun and the forest of pool noodles are the big draws, plus some surprisingly cool hidden exhibits in the back.

It's not fancy. It's relatively dimly lit with the minimal amount of staffing they can get away with, but kids don't care about that stuff. They just want to run around and play.

Worth a 20-minute drive if you need to kill two to three hours with your kids on a weekday or over break.

Note, it's not free. $11 per kid and half price for adults made our trip $30 all in. Parking is easy in the strip mall lot, and there's a Starbucks across the parking lot if you're dropping kids off for a birthday party. Just remember to explore past the main area to find the better exhibits hiding in the back.

Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Takeaway. A quick tour covering the creation of high-quality chocolate chocolate chocolate. I'll give it a fun 7.1/10 for being free, but the tour itself is too quick. You get great samples and some genuinely cool behind-the-scenes views of industrial chocolate-making, but at under 30 minutes, probably not worth more than a 10-minute drive.

I came with my 5-year-old son, but the tour is better suited for adults who appreciate seeing how things are made. But kids will perk up for the free chocolate at the end.

Worth a stop if you're already in The Hill area and want to kill an hour on a weekday morning. The tour guide knows his stuff and makes it entertaining. Free samples, discounted "oopsie" chocolate, and a surprisingly good selection of candy apples sweeten the deal.

Make sure to reserve a ticket ahead of time. Parking is easy, it's free, and tours run every thirty minutes Monday through Friday. Just don't expect your five-year-old to stay engaged for the full 15-20 minutes.

Brentwood Promenade Takeaway. The Promenade at Brentwood is every St. Louisian's favorite place to hate. I'm giving this shopping center a 1/10, a score dragged down by the hell-scape parking lot.

While you have access to some of the best stores (like Target, Trader Joe's, and Micro Center), you have to get through this nightmare fuel parking lot. Still go for the stores, but make sure yo mentally prepar for the chaos.

The problem all comes from the fact that the square parking lot forces pedestrians to cross the main roads for cars in front of the stores. Come here enough and you'll develop your own coping strategies. I definitely have.