Amazing Family Activities in St Louis

Children grow far too quickly. Each day that passes could be another chance to have a family day missed. Today I am sharing amazing family activities in St Louis, so that you can pause life and go enjoy this beautiful city that is in my backyard.

Amazing Family Activities in St Louis

Katy Trail

Take the kids for a bike ride on the Katy Trail. The Katy Trail State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Missouri that contains the Katy Trail, the country’s longest recreational rail trail. It runs 240 miles, from Clinton to Machens. It is largely along the northern bank of the Missouri River, in the right-of-way of the former Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad, and has 26 trailheads. A portion of the trail in St. Charles, which is just outside of St. Louis, is part of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. Can’t find bikes in store and have to order one online? Use this handy bike size chart to determine which size to order.

St Louis Zoo

The St Louis Zoo is one of our favorite attractions in St Louis. This is an award-winning zoo that is free to visit. You can also get free parking on the streets of Forest Park if you arrive early (8am to ensure you get a spot). We actually have a paid zoo membership because we like to support our zoo. Our zoo membership gives us free parking in the parking lot. There is also no charge in the first hour that the St Louis zoo is open for the Sea Lion Sound and Children’s Zoo area. Enjoy a day seeing amazing animals with the family.

Science Center

While you won’t experience this full science center in St Louis on one trip, you can certainly enjoy a family activity day here. If you park to the north side of Interstate 64 you will find free parking and admission is also free. There’s a planetarium where you can gaze at the stars together too.

Botanical Gardens

This 2-acre location is open from April through October. This is an amazing kid-friendly location where the whole family will enjoy walking through The Adventurers Path, the Settler’s Path and others. There’s even a pond that you can splash in on a hot day. St Louis residents (city and county) enjoy free admission to the Garden on Wednesday and Saturday mornings before noon.

The Magic House

If you are searching for a hands-on experience, this location has doubled in size since its launch and offers many hands-on activities for children to learn. Spark the whole family’s creativity, imagination and problem-solving skills when you take the family The Magic House in St Louis.

The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House

This glass conservatory is 8,000 square-feet in size and houses more than 60 species of butterflies as well as over 150 varieties of tropical plants. In the month of March you can pay a fee to take the family to the March Morpho Mania event too. This is a beautiful place to visit with the family when in St Louis.

Gateway Arch

Travel in an egg-shaped elevator to the top of the 630-foot memorial that symbolizes Thomas Jefferson’s vision of a United States that expanded from Atlantic to Pacific Oceans. While some history of the arch may be lost to visitors, it’s still an amazing family activity to experience in St Louis.

Six Flags St Louis

While this is not as cheap as visiting the zoo, if you are an amusement park type family then Six Flags St Louis is worth a visit when in the area. With water rides, family rider options and roller coasters, you are sure to experience an amazing family activity day here.

Tower Grove Park

Home to playgrounds, tennis and horseshoes this location in St Louis makes for a great family activity day. This historic park is on the list of National Historic Landmarks. Bring the little ones and the older ones along to have some fun walking around Tower Grove Park.

Grants Farm

Explore the unique environment of Grants Farm in St Louis. Get up close and personal with history, animals and nature at this location. An amazing family activity day to plan where you can see the home of Ulysses S Grant while touring the 281-acre wildlife preserve.

This list of amazing family activities in St Louis should surely give you something to do in this lovely city. The list of family activities could go on and on, but these are the ones that are most popular.

City Museum

Children can climb, crawl, explore, and slide to their hearts content in this amazing facility. With 600,000 square-feet, the City Museum is an eclectic mix of children’s playground, funhouse, surrealistic pavilion, and architectural marvel made out of unique, found objects.

Read the Missouri Almanac

Written by a team of Missouri natives and experts, all things Missouri abound in the pages of the Missouri Almanac. This book features everything from famous Missourians Maya Angelou and Walt Disney to bald eagles and bobcats to vignettes on historical landmarks throughout the state. Compiled from collections and institutions from Kansas City to St. Louis, this debut edition of the Missouri Almanac presents a view of Missouri like we’ve never seen before.

Missouri Almanac