Things to Do in St. Louis With Kids
There are so many amazing family attractions in St. Louis, Missouri. Raising my kids near St. Louis has been a great experience because there are a ton of family activities in and around the St. Louis area. I hope this list gives you some family fun inspiration for your next trip into St. Louis.
1. St. Louis Science Center
If you’re looking for a fun, educational, and FREE activity for kids indoors in St. Louis then the Science Center is the perfect place! My boys love exploring this educational wonderland of interactive exhibits. When you walk into the STL Science Center you have the most magnificent greeters! There are two “life-sized” dinosaurs at the St. Louis Science Center - a T-Rex and a Triceratops.
Free Indoor St. Louis Kids Activity
That’s right! This world class interactive STL Science Center is free! And it’s the perfect indoor kids activity in St. Louis. My boys love the dinosaur bones excavation exhibit where they can pretend to be paleontologists, the interactive games, and these other exhibits too:
Earth Sciences
Experience Energy
Flight Simulators
Outdoor Grow Exhibit
Game Xploration
Life Science Lab
Makerspace
Omnimax Theater
2. Museum of Illusions St. Louis
The Museum of Illusions in St. Louis is part of the entertainment and foodie haven of St. Louis called The City Foundry. They have cute shops, a movie theatre, putt putt, tons of food options, and now a museum! The Museum of Illusions is the fastest growing group of privately held museums in the world. Each room of illusion is unique and has different kinds of optical illusions and interactive exhibits that make for fantastic photo ops.
Museum of Fantastic Illusions
We had so much fun with all the exhibits at the new Museum of Illusions in St. Louis and I can’t wait to go back again. Definitely a family friendly activity in St. Louis to add to your summer family bucket list.
3. Edwardsville Children’s Museum
Located just 30 minutes from downtown St. Louis this children’s museum is the perfect weekend outing for families. Every child is different but I would say in general this museum would be best for kids ages 2-10. My 8 year old and 5 year old had a blast and they have multiple exhibits with plenty of activities. The Edwardsville Children’s Museum is always growing and changing and has new events and exhibits. Check their website for current events and exhibit information.
Here are some of the exhibits my kids liked the most from our visit:
Makerspace
Animal Hospital
Outdoor Play
Look Outside! Indoor nature exhibit
Play to Learn
Playing is learning, especially at a young age and the Edwardsville Children’s Museum has so many fun and educational exhibits. Outside at the Edwardsville Children’s Museum they have a kid-size track with cars, scooters and more outdoor toys. My boys loved racing each other around and around. Tickets to the Edwardsville Children’s Museum are $10 for kids ages 0-12 and $8 per teenager or adult. I recommend getting to the museum early for a parking spot and to have the museum mostly to yourself.
Edwardsville Children’s Museum Membership
If you plan on visiting the Edwardsville Children’s Museum more than a few times a year then you should consider joining as a member! Family membership at the museum gets you unlimited annual admission for up to 5 designated family members, member discount rate for birthday parties & programs, 10% discount on ECM merchandise, and priority registration for programs and events. The Edwardsville Children’s Museum is one of many fun children’s activities near St. Louis. Definitely add this children’s museum to your St. Louis family summer bucket list this year!
4. The Magic House St. Louis Children’s Museum
During the wintertime and especially during winter break it can be hard to find indoor activities that keep the kids busy. The Magic House has so much to do and you can easily spend a whole day there with the kiddos. If you’re looking for a place to take the kids in St. Louis where they can burn off some energy indoors, the Magic House is perfect. They have lots of climbing and interactive activities for kids to exercise their bodies and brains.
Magic House Construction Zone
My boys love the construction zone at the Magic House where kids can pretend to be on a real life construction site. They can learn about levers and pulleys while using their muscles to move building materials around. There’s also a fun digging area and real construction equipment for them to sit in.
5. Butterfly House St. Louis
The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House is located in Faust Park Chesterfield just 20 minutes from downtown St. Louis. Faust Park is where you can find the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, a 1920s carousel, and a huge playground. Admission to the Butterfly House in St. Louis is free to MOBOT members and St. Louis residents on the first Tuesday of the month. All other times the costs are $8 for general admission (ages 13-64) and $5 for seniors and younger children.
Butterfly Sanctuary
There are over 60 species of tropical butterflies at the Butterfly House in St. Louis. There’s even more in the display cabinet inside the butterfly house entryway. Inside the butterfly house entryway you’ll also find several other species of insects including spiders, roaches, and beetles. My boys loved checking out their habitats and learning about each of them on the way in.
6. Missouri History Museum
The Missouri History Museum in St. Louis is a hidden gem. I lived in the St. Louis area for over 15 years before visiting and I was missing out! We were really blown away by the quality of the Missouri History Museum exhibits and especially the Children’s History Clubhouse area.
History Clubhouse
The History Clubhouse at the Missouri History Museum is such a great place to take kids in St. Louis. The kids exhibits are educational but still super fun! My boys loved the interactive exhibits and could have stayed here all day. I kept thinking to myself “I can’t believe this is free!” If you’re looking for a great indoor activity for kids in St. Louis the Missouri History Museum is a great option. It’s educational, air conditioned, and most importantly fun! I would say kids ages 2-10 would have the best time at the History Clubhouse.
7. Cooking Class for Kids
The Kitchen Conservatory offers parent and child cooking classes called “Heir and a Parent”. Taking a cooking class with your son or daughter is not only educational but also a great bonding experience where you can learn together. My son is a big Harry Potter fan so we took their Harry Potter themed cooking class where we made some favorite Harry Potter dishes and treats.
Open to Cooks of all levels
One of the things I love about the classes at the Kitchen Conservatory is that they were very beginner friendly and the teachers welcome any and all questions. Even the staff in the kitchen supply shop are very helpful in answering questions and suggesting products. I recommend booking classes well in advance because they often fill up quickly.
8. City Foundry STL
The City Foundry STL in Midtown St. Louis is one of the best new developments this decade for the city. They have turned this area into a great place to hang out for people of all ages because of the variety of restaurants and things to do at the Foundry. It’s a great place to bring your family but also a great location to bring a date or meet up with friends. The City Foundry Food Hall has great selection with multiple local food stands within its elevated cafeteria-like setting.
Things to do at City Foundry STL
Eat at the City Foundry Food Hall - the great thing about taking kids to this cafeteria style food hall is that it’s informal and open setting means you don’t have to shush your kids every 5 minutes. There are also a ton of choices so even the pickiest eaters in your group will find something yummy to eat.
See a movie at The Alamo Drafthouse - this unique theater with combined dining and bar experience is sure to be a crowd pleaser and I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of food. Definitely not typical movie theater food and drink.
Play mini putt with the whole family at Putt Shack
Shop at the local boutique stores - definitely one of my favorite places to shop for gifts in St. Louis
Check out the Museum of Illusions (more details above)
Sandbox VR Experience - book an exciting VR experience in advance for the whole family!
Urban Fort Cafe - this fun play area/ toy shoppe is perfect for your littlest crew members
9. The National Museum of Transportation St. Louis
If you have little ones in your group who love cars, trains or planes then you should definitely check out the National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis! The National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis won’t be found anywhere else! This is a one of a kind museum with precious artifacts dating back hundreds of years. The Transportation Museum has both indoor and outdoor exhibits that are fun for the whole family.
Outdoor Kids Activities
There are several outdoor activities for kids at the Transportation Museum including this hand-powered train track. My boys had a great time driving around on these. They also have little toy cars for toddlers and a beautiful butterfly garden to explore. The Transportation Museum in St. Louis has an impressive collection of vintage cars and other vehicles. There are horse drawn carriages, bicycles, and motorcycles too! They cover all kinds of transportation methods here and its definitely cool to see.
10. The City Museum St. Louis
The City Museum in St. Louis is nationally known for a reason. It is the most unique museum you will probably ever visit. From airplanes and sky high tunnels to dinosaur playgrounds, there is no shortage of fun at the City Museum. There are several areas for young ones to play at the City Museum. There is a “Toddler Town” dinosaur playground area was a big hit with my boys who are preschool and kindergarten age. Kids can also climb through the outdoor tunnel area but may need some assistance/encouragement as they are quite high up. My boys also love all of the climbing tunnels and animal sculptures made for play inside the City Museum too.
Indoor Kids Activities St. Louis
The City Museum in St. Louis is one of the best children’s museums in the city. There are so many indoor playscapes for kids to climb on within the museum, caves to explore, and fun themed activities for all seasons. There are not a lot of food options at the City Museum in St. Louis but you can usually find some kid friendly fare to tide you over. If not there are a ton of kid friendly restaurants in St. Louis to choose from.
11. St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station
The St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station is one of the best aquariums in Missouri. It’s also one of the best indoor kids activities in St. Louis. We love having a large interactive space for the kids to learn and play in the indoor aquarium. My kids could easily spend all day here and want to come back again the next day.
Union Station St. Louis
The St. Louis Aquarium is located inside Union Station which is a big complex of restaurants, attractions, a hotel, and of course the aquarium downtown St. Louis. Union Station has a indoor ropes course, mini golf, a mirror maze, outdoor rides, several restaurants, the St. Louis Ferris Wheel and more! the There’s also a large Koi pond in the middle and my boys love feeding the fish. We often stay at Union Station for lunch after visiting the aquarium. My boys love The Soda Fountain because they have lots of ice cream options and a candy shop for dessert!
12. St. Louis Zoo
The St. Louis Zoo is one of the best things to do in the area, whether you have kids or not! First of all, it's FREE and secondly its a world-class facility with some amazing animals and exhibits. Parking at the zoo does cost $15 per vehicle but that’s still way cheaper than most zoos, especially if you bring a car full of people! I recommend visiting early in the morning, especially if you go on the weekend if you want to avoid crowds. The zoo is very popular in St. Louis and it can get pretty crowded during peak times.
Free Things to Do in St. Louis with Kids
The St. Louis Zoo is one of the best free things to do with kids in St. Louis. I definitely recommend going when the weather is nice in Missouri, which is usually April-May and September-Early November. The Zoo has many attractions and there is a lot of walking involved outdoors, so the better the weather, the more enjoyable your zoo trip will be. The zoo train is also a big hit with kids and travels through the zoo if you don’t feel like walking the whole day. They even offer stroller parking so that you can leave it at one stop and pick it up later.
Restaurants Near St. Louis Zoo
If you aren’t feeling the zoo food vibes, here are some great restaurants near the St. Louis Zoo:
PokeDoke - Poke bowls and Hawaiian BBQ
Stone Turtle Restaurant and Bar - gastropub with American food and cocktails
The Boathouse at Forest Park - upscale waterfront restaurant
Songbird - Delicious breakfast and lunch restaurant
Brasserie by Niche - nice French restaurant
13. Missouri Botanical Garden Children’s Garden
I was shocked by how huge the Children’s Garden at the Missouri Botanical Garden is! There are so many different areas and activities, we can easily spend the whole day there. The Children’s Garden had so many things to see and play with. This area was about bees and even had a huge hive that kids could go in and see the structure that bees create with honey combs and all. My boys also loved the splash pad area, the slides, and the river water play. I recommend going early and making a day (or at least a half day) of it to see the gardens and let the kids play in the children’s area. Tickets are free for kids age 12 and under and $14 per person aged 13 and up ($6 per person for St. Louis county residents).
14. Eckert’s Farms
Eckert's Farms now has 5 different locations to enjoy! They have pick your own fruit and pumpkins in the summer and fall, Christmas trees in the winter as well as many other seasonal events and concerts. Eckerts also has a brand new Cider Barn where you can taste hard cider flights, have a bite to eat, and listen to musical performances. I highly recommend visiting the Eckert’s nearest you and making at least one trip to the Eckert’s Farm in Belleville for one of their special events or to buy high quality produce and baked goods.
Ecktoberfest Fall Festival
Every year Eckert’s Farms has a fall festival where the kids can participate in activities, a petting zoo, miniature horse rides, and more! They also have fresh-baked pies, caramel apples, and other fall favorites available for purchase inside their country store. Eckert’s is also a great place to pick your own pumpkins near St. Louis. No matter what season it is, Eckerts is fun for the whole family. My boys love visiting Eckerts and always have a blast.
15. The Fox Theatre St. Louis
The Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis is one of the most breathtaking buildings you will ever see. It’s one of a kind architecture and world class productions make it a must visit stop on any St. Louis itinerary. Visiting this beautiful St. Louis theater is also a great date night idea in St. Louis. Visiting The Fox Theatre is fun for all ages and they have a variety of shows so everyone can find something they love. The Fox typically has 2-4 kid friendly shows throughout the season and I highly recommend bringing the family if you’re in town during one of these shows!
16. STL Cardinals Baseball Game
When people think of St. Louis they often first think of STL Cardinals Baseball. My family loves going to Busch Stadium to watch a Cardinals game for the food, the game, and the atmosphere. St. Louis is such a fun and welcoming city and you can really feel that at our Cardinal games. Cardinals games are fun anytime but if you have a regular seat (and not an indoor box seat) I recommend going in the late spring or early summer before it gets super hot in St. Louis. Early fall is also an option but you may be getting into the more expensive post-season games.
17. Grant’s Farm
Grant’s Farm and Biergarten is free and open to the public April through December. January to March you can only visit for private behind-the-scenes or Clydesdale Close-up tours. Starting in April they are open on weekends then late May they are typically open daily through the summer. Grant’s Farm is a great outdoor family activity near St. Louis.
There are lots of fun things to do with kids at Grant’s Farm:
Tram ride through the farm to see animals and historic buildings
Feed the goats
Visit the Budweiser Clydesdales
Ride the camels
Eat in the courtyard
Drink free beer samples
18. Kids Pottery Class St. Louis
South Broadway Art Project in St. Louis has kids pottery classes that will teach basic clay wheel work and more. These classes are for kids ages 7-12 and you can sign up for 6 week sessions. My husband and I actually did their “Clay Date Night” and I loved it but I think my kids would have had a blast too. Will definitely be looking into getting them signed up for a kids pottery class as they get a little older.
More Things to Do in St. Louis with Kids
I hope this list of family activities in St. Louis helps you plan some fun things to do with your kids in St. Louis. I’m a believer that there are fun things to do no matter what city you’re in but I do think there are LOTS of fun activities for kids in St. Louis. My kids are lucky to have grown up here and have gotten to experience so many things St. Louis has to offer. I hope your family enjoys it as much as mine does. If you are looking for more things to do in St. Louis check out my list of best restaurants or date night ideas in St. Louis.
