Missouri Botanical Garden - - 4344 Shaw Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63110

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.

Missouri Botanical Garden Summary

I'm just going to say it: the Missouri Botanical Gardens are "pretty freaking fantastic." That was my main thought walking around.

I've been a few times now, for all different reasons. We've done birthday parties, we've gone just to let the kids run wild, and I've even done the holiday "Garden Glow" thing. Every single time, I'm struck by how unbelievably well-maintained this place is. It's impeccable.

This last trip, we spent a lot of time in the Children's Garden. My kids love it. It's not just some tiny playground; it's this huge, enclosed area with treehouses, rope ladders, nets to climb... it's super fun. In the summer, there's a splash pad. I will say, you have to keep an eye on your kids. It's all gated, but it's so spread out they can zip from one area to another. But honestly, we spent several hours just in that one section.

But the gardens aren't just for kids. The "whoa" moment for any first-timer is the Climatron. It's a giant geodesic dome that's a literal indoor rainforest. You walk in from a 30-degree St. Louis winter day and... boom. It's 80 degrees, humid, and there are tropical plants and even a waterfall. It's very, very cool.

After that, I really just wanted to walk. The whole property is broken up into different themes, like an Asian area with a pagoda, but my favorite spot is the big lake. It's maybe a half-mile walk around it, with beautiful vantage points and docks.

On the far side, there's this big outdoor waterfall, even bigger than the one in the Climatron. I'm not exaggerating when I say I just sat on a bench in front of it for a good ten minutes. I love the sound of moving water, and it was so nice and quiet right there. Just took it all in.

The kids' favorite part of the lake, though? The bridge. You can get a handful of duck food for about a dollar and just toss it in. A whole gaggle of ducks and a ton of fish come right over. They went crazy for it.

You will be walking, by the way. Expect to clock a couple of miles easily. But it's worth it. From the big, beautiful central axis with its fountains and statues to the older nurseries, everything is just top-notch.

We've done the special events, too, like Garden Glow at night. My verdict? It's very pretty, but maybe wait until your kids are older, say, over seven. My younger ones got bored and cold pretty fast. For adults, though, it's a totally different and beautiful experience. But for a regular day trip? It's hard to put into words how great it is. This is a must-see in St. Louis. Period.

Missouri Botanical Garden Things To Do

The Climatron (Indoor Rainforest)

This is the icon. It's a huge dome, and inside it's a full-on tropical rainforest. It's amazing in the winter when it's freezing outside and you can walk into an 80-degree oasis with its own waterfall. A total "whoa" moment.

The Children's Garden

This area is massive and, in my opinion, worth the price of admission alone if you have kids. It's all enclosed, so they're safe. It features tons of treehouses, rope ladders, climbing nets, and a splash pad in the summer. We've spent hours here for birthday parties and just regular visits. Be warned: it's big, so while it's gated, you still need to keep your eyes on them as they run between sections.

The Lake and Waterfalls

I love walking around the big lake on the southwest side of the property. It's a beautiful half-mile loop with docks and great views. There's a big outdoor waterfall on the northeast side that's just fantastic. I sat there for 10 minutes just listening to the water. It's peaceful.

Themed Gardens (Japanese Garden, etc.)

The whole park is broken up into sections. There's a central axis with beautiful fountains and statues, an Asian-themed area with a pagoda and different types of plants, and historic structures housing different nurseries. It's all just impeccably manicured.

Feeding the Ducks

This is a huge hit with the kids. On the bridge over the pond, you can buy duck/fish food for about a dollar. The kids love throwing it in and watching the gaggle of ducks and fish swarm over to eat it.

Special Events (Garden Glow)

MOBOT hosts events all year, like Garden Glow (holiday lights) and Halloween fests. A quick note on Garden Glow: it's beautiful, but in my experience, it's better for adults or older kids. I tried it two years in a row with kids under seven, and they just got cold and bored pretty quickly.

Missouri Botanical Garden Details And Info

The Garden is huge, so plan on walking a lot. I'd say we easily walk two miles every time we go. Wear comfortable shoes.

There's a cafe on-site with seating that overlooks the main part of the garden. I've grabbed coffee there, and the food is good and, for an attraction, relatively reasonably priced.

For tickets, it's about $5 or $10 a person if you're not a local or a member. But if you are a St. Louis local, you can get in free on certain days, which is amazing. You can also become a member, which gets you in any time. All the staff we've ever talked to have been super helpful and informative.

Parking At The Missouri Botanical Garden

Parking is free in their main lot. This is a huge plus.

Now, when we've gone for huge events like Garden Glow, it gets incredibly packed. The lot fills up fast. But we've always been able to find parking in the nearby neighborhood streets and walk over. We've never had an issue with it.

Missouri Botanical Garden Receipt

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