2801 Fountain Pl
Wildwood, MO 63040
Wildwood, MO 63040
(636) 733-9100
Interact with butterflies, try your hand at some science experiments or immerse yourself in a little arts and culture – it's all in a day's fun in St. Louis, Missouri. From sports and shopping to tours and attractions, check out what St. Louis has to offer by exploring the information below.
I-44 SW of St. Louis, Exit 261
Eureka , MO 63025
(636) 938-5300
Non-stop, over-the-top, high-speed thrills around every turn. Heart-pounding roller coasters, family rides and attractions are just the ticket to fun for kids of all ages. Visit Hurricane Harbor, a 12-acre water park, free with theme park admission. Visit this exciting Midwest theme park that's fun for the whole family! Visitors can loop the loop on Batman the Ride, soar at speeds of up to 62 mph on the Screaming Eagle wooden coaster and get soaked on the whitewater rapids adventure of Thunder River. Guests of Six Flags St. Louis can also see live shows and concerts, meet their favorite cartoon characters and have tons of fun in the sun at Hurricane Harbor Water Park. There are plenty of hotel amenities just minutes from the park, and visitors can take advantage of group discounts for youth groups, company outings, family reunions and much more!
“Looking for a fun night out? Check out the new sports-anchored entertainment district in the heart of downtown Ballpark Village St. Louis ! Jump a few block north to Washington Avenue or Laclede's Landing and take your pick of some of the hottest bars and dance clubs in St. Louis (most are smoke free and open till 3 a.m.). Visitors can also go for dinner, drinks and a show at Westport Plaza' s 42-acre entertainment district, or check out the trendiest boutiques and upscale dining establishments in Clayton and the Central West End . If live music is your thing, Soulard boasts some of the best blues venues in town.
Forest Park
St. Louis , MO 63110
Hours:
Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. year-round, except for holiday hours 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Dec. 24 and 31. Closed Christmas and New Year's Day. Check website for summer hours. Phone: (314) 781-0900
Toll-Free: (800) 966-8877 FREE
Get up close and personal with the furry, the flying and the fishy creatures of the Saint Louis Zoo. One of the city's many free attractions, the Saint Louis Zoo has been recognized as one of the nation's leading zoological parks. Take a ride on the Emerson Zooline Railroad and get a guided tour of some of the most exciting animal exhibits in the park, or venture on your own through attractions like Big Cat Country, Penguin & Puffin Coast or the Interactive Stingray Pool. Kids will enjoy the children's petting zoo, and dining and souvenirs are available at one of the many boutiques and restaurants located around the park.
Description:
Home to more than 18,000 exotic animals, many of them rare and endangered. These 700 species represent the major continents and biomes of the world. Set in the rolling hills, lakes and glades of Forest Park, the Saint Louis Zoo is always a great place to be. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. year-round, except for holiday hours. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Dec. 24 and 31. Closed Christmas and New Year's Day. Check web site for summer hours. FREE
750 N. 16th St.
St. Louis , MO 63103
Hours:
Wed.-Thur., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 9 a.m.-midnight; Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed Mon. and Tue. Phone: (314) 231-2489
Explore the City Museum's unique all-ages playground filled with caves, slides and climbing apparatus made from recycled and found objects. Visitors can interact with over 10,000 sea creatures in the World Aquarium, venture through the Museum of Mirth, Mystery and Mayhem and wander through the Elmslie and Sullivan architectural exhibit. Stop in for circus-themed food, parties and educational circus classes and workshops held daily. Create your own masterpiece in Art City, take notes with the world's largest pencil and enjoy the view while grabbing a bite at The Roof Top Cantina.
3700 W. Pine Blvd.
St. Louis , MO 63108
Hours:
Tue.-Sun., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Phone: (314) 977-7170
Public Email: mocra@slu.edu
An interfaith museum exploring the ongoing dialogue between today's artists and religious traditions, housed in a spacious former chapel on the Saint Louis University campus.
Lindell Blvd. at Newstead Ave.
St. Louis , MO 63108
Hours:
Shop, museum, tours: Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun. after noon Mass for tours. Phone: (314) 373-8241
Public Email: pdonnelly@cathedralstl.org
One of the largest mosaic collections in the western hemisphere; museum and shop. Daily for Masses and tours. Lower-level Mosaic museum, $2 admission.
209 Walnut St.
St. Louis , MO 63102
Hours:
Daily Mass; Sat. Mass, 5:30 p.m.; Sun. Masses, 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m., noon and 5 p.m. Phone: (314) 231-3250
St. Louis' earliest church. The present structure is more than 170 years old and a national monument. Museum contains countless religious artifacts. Daily Mass. FREE
442 S. DeMazenod Dr.
Belleville , IL 62223-1023
Hours:
Daily 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Phone: (314) 241-3400
Toll-Free: (800) 682-2879 FREE
Public Email: info@snows.org
Largest outdoor shrine in North America. Gift shop, restaurant and hotel. Twelve devotional areas on 200 acres. Daily Masses. Grounds open year-round. FREE
5050 Oakland Ave.
Saint Louis , MO 63110
Hours:
Mon.-Sat., 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Summer hours: Mon.-Sat., 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Phone: (314) 289-4400
Toll-Free: (800) 456-7572 FREE
Public Email: webmaster@slsc.org
Explore 700-plus exhibits, the OMNIMAX® Theater, James S. McDonnell Planetarium, special traveling exhibitions and more. Group rates available. Open daily. General admission is always free.
3441 Olive St.
St. Louis , MO 63103
Hours:
Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Phone: (314) 446-1805
Public Email: info@themotomuseum.com
A private collection of motorcycles, obtained from more than 20 countries from around the globe and covering nearly 100 years. Admission is free Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Please inquire for private event rental.
3015 Barrett Station Rd.
St. Louis , MO 63122
Hours:
Memorial Day-Labor Day: Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Winter: Nov. 1-Feb. 28: Thur.-Sat., 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-4 p.m.Fall/Spring: Day after Labor Day-Oct. 31 & Mar. 1-Memorial Day: Tues.-Sat.; 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Phone: (314) 965-6885
More than 300 pieces, including steam, diesel and electric locomotives, passenger and freight cars, automobiles, streetcars, buses and aircraft. Adults, $8; children ages three-twelve, $5; Miniature train rides, $5 per person for the day with museum admission.
One Fine Arts Dr.
St. Louis , MO 63110
Hours:
Tue.-Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; open until 9 p.m. on Fri. For holiday hours, please contact museum directly. Phone: (314) 721-0072
Public Email: publicrelations@slam.org
Built as the Fine Arts Palace of the 1904 World's Fair and one of the nation's leading comprehensive art museums. Collections include works of art of exceptional quality from virtually every culture and time period. Highlights include free admission to special exhibitions on Fri. and programs that range from films to performances. FREE
3750 Washington Blvd.
St. Louis , MO 63108
Hours:
Wed., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thur.-Fri., 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sat.,10 a.m.-5 p.m. Phone: (314) 535-4660
Public Email: info@camstl.org
St. Louis' premier contemporary art museum, presenting and celebrating the art of our time. View ever-changing exhibitions and enjoy fascinating programs throughout the year. FREE
3716 Washington Blvd.
St. Louis , MO 63108
Hours:
Wed., noon-5 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Phone: (314) 754-1850
Public Email: info@pulitzerarts.org
Presents changing art exhibitions and programs involving the visual, literary and performing arts while serving as a sanctuary and a laboratory for the arts. RE-OPENING MAY 2015
Powell Hall
718 N. Grand Blvd.
St. Louis , MO 63103
Hours:
Varies Phone: (314) 534-1700
Toll-Free: (800) 232-1880 FREE
Public Email: info@slso.org
Home of the world-renowned St. Louis Symphony, Powell Hall hosts more than 100 performances each year making it the destination for live music in St. Louis. Every weekend from Sept. to Jun., you can leave it all behind and serenade your soul.
Washington University
Corner of Skinker and Forsyth blvds.
St. Louis , MO 63130
Hours:
Daily, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Closed Tue. and University holidays. Phone: (314) 935-4523
Public Email: kemperartmuseum@wustl.edu
Featuring cutting-edge special exhibitions, exceptional educational resources and an outstanding collection of 19th, 20th and 21st century European and American art. Visitor parking available. Easy MetroLink access. FREE
Walk the halls of the Old Courthouse featuring restored courtrooms and galleries that depict significant moments in St. Louis history. Take an exciting and educational trip through the past at the Missouri History Museum where guests can also join a local excursion to various historical points of interest in the city. Visitors can see the home of Ragtime legend Scott Joplin, walk through a world heritage site and ancient civilization at Cahokia Mounds and pay their respects at the resting place for many St. Louisians at Bellefontaine Cemetery.
Get your live music fix at The Pageant, ranked one of the top five concert venues in the world by Pollstar. For larger multi-band tours and festivals, travel to the outdoor Verizon Wireless Amphitheater or the concert club at Scottrade Center. Visit Blueberry Hill, the landmark restaurant and music club for touring acts as well as St. Louis' top bands including regular performances by rock ‘n' roll legend Chuck Berry. For a more intimate venue, check out the award-winning Jazz at the Bistro or one of St. Louis' famous blues clubs like BB's Jazz, Blues & Soups and Broadway Oyster Bar.
527 N. Grand Blvd.
St. Louis , MO 63103
Hours:
Tue., Thur. and Sat. at 10:30 a.m. Phone: (314) 534-1678
A magnificently restored theatre in the Grand Center Arts and Entertainment District. The perfect venue to see the hottest Broadway shows and concerts. Prices vary; see website for performance schedule. Tours offered Tue., Thur., and Sat. at 10:30 a.m.
Robert G. Reim Theatre
111 S. Geyer
St. Louis , MO 63122
Hours:
Vary Phone: (636) 530-5959
Public Email: mailbox@stagesstlouis.org
The region's foremost not-for-profit company committed to preserving and advancing the art form of Musical Theatre through excellence in performance and education. In 2016, STAGES celebrates its 30th year of producing Broadway-quality theatre, presenting 144 performances from May through October to nearly 50,000 patrons. STAGES performs in the intimate, 377-seat Robert G. Reim Theatre at the Kirkwood Civic Center, 111 South Geyer Road in St. Louis, MO.
Loretto-Hilton Center at Webster University
St. Louis , MO 63119
Hours:
Box Office: Mon.-Fri., 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Performances: Tue.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Wed. & Sat., 1 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m. Phone: (314) 961-0644
Public Email: boxoffice@opera-stl.org
One of the nation's premier festival opera companies producing a spring festival season (May-June), sung in English with projected supertitles. Complete the experience with pre-show garden picnics and post-show drinks with the singers. "Revelatory!" The Wall Street Journal.
Loretto-Hilton Center at Webster University
St. Louis , MO 63119
Hours:
Varies Phone: (314) 968-4925
Toll-Free: (256) 822-6969
Public Email: mail@repstl.org
As St. Louis' premier live professional theatre, The Rep produces a wide variety of work -- musicals, comedies, dramas, classics and new works. The Imaginary Theatre Company presents theatre for children. Season runs Sept.-Apr. with performances Tue.-Sun.
1400 Market St.
St. Louis , MO 63103
Phone: (314) 499-7600
Public Email: webmaster@peabodyoperahouse.com
Peabody Opera House hosts an array of entertainment and special events.
Forest Park
St. Louis , MO 63112
Hours:
Shows start at 8:15 p.m. Phone: (314) 361-1900
Public Email: www.muny.org
Fabulous Broadway-style entertainment under the stars at America's oldest and largest outdoor musical theatre. Nightly from mid-June through mid-Aug.
Located at the crossroads of America, the St. Louis region has enjoyed influences from numerous races and nationalities. Early immigrants included settlers from Germany, Italy, Ireland and Poland, and today's population includes new arrivals from Bosnia, Ethiopia, Africa, Asia, Latin America and throughout Europe.
St. Louis is proud to be a melting pot, as people from all over the world have settled in the Gateway City and incorporated a myriad of cultural traditions into the diverse fabric of the region.
The Gateway City has a storied military history including playing a role in a Revolutionary War battle on the banks of the Mississippi and serving as the departure point for the first Army Corps of Engineer's river expedition with captains Lewis & Clark. Most of the generals on both sides of the Civil War served at St. Louis' Jefferson Barracks, including long time St. Louis residents U.S. Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman. Take a self-guided tour of historic military sites related to St. Louis' role in the Civil War.
From the World Wars to the modern military, St. Louis is filled with monuments and historic sites honoring our nation's military men and women. Some attractions of interest for military groups include: the General Daniel Bissell House; Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site; Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum; Soldiers Memorial Military Museum; James S. McDonnell Prologue Room; and the Museum of Transportation.
Historic Bellefontaine and Calvary cemeteries are the final resting places for such illustrious citizens as explorer William Clark; Edward Bates, U.S. Attorney General under Abraham Lincoln; Major General Don Carlos Buell, who led Federal troops in the battle of Shiloh; and General William Tecumseh Sherman.
Get information about planning a military reunion in St. Louis on our Groups & Reunions page.
It was the beginning of summer and the kids were already getting restless. To be honest, so was I. That's when it hit me. There are amazing attractions right here in St. Louis that people travel hundreds of miles to see. I decided to take a few days off work and give my family a St. Louis summer adventure. We would check out the places that only this 2015 Trip Advisor Travelers' Choice Award city has to offer. My husband, Dan, and 7- and 9-year-old boys, Jack and Sam, were excited, but my 11-year-old daughter, Natalie? Well, my mission for this adventure was to get that ever-elusive smile out of her.
Walking downtown on Market Street, we caught the glint of the sun off the shiny Gateway Arch. Jack jumped up and down and started pointing enthusiastically. “There it is!”
“Let's go!” Sam shouted.
“Hang on, buddy.” I caught his hand just before he ran across the street. Ever since I mentioned that we could ride to the top and catch a bird's-eye view of the city, they hadn't stopped talking about it. Inside the museum, we bought our tickets and climbed into the pod that would take us 630 feet up to the Observation Deck. The boys pretended the pod was a spaceship. Natalie did not. This smile was not going to be easily won.
The view from the top was literally breathtaking. (It's a long way up!) We bounced back and forth between the windows on either side just trying to take it all in. On the east we saw the mighty Mississippi River for miles, and on the west, a stunning panoramic view of downtown St. Louis. If the Cardinals had been playing at Busch Stadium that afternoon, we could've seen all the action from right there. Natalie leaned into the window beside me, and I heard her whisper, “Wow.” I turned away so she wouldn't see the grin spreading across my face.
The next morning, when Dan announced we were going to the Missouri Botanical Garden, our boys were skeptical. They weren't thrilled with the idea of spending the day in a flower garden. But we knew a few things they didn't, and we knew they would love it.
The Botanical Garden boasts the Climatron, the first geodesic dome to be used as a conservatory. With its dense green foliage and sparkling waterfalls, we felt like we were transported into the middle of a tropical rainforest. Dan gave me a knowing wink as we watched Natalie snap pictures of rare orchids and their exotic, draping purple blooms, while the boys pretended they were explorers looking for unusual tropical animals.
From the Climatron, we moved on to other highlights in the Garden. After getting lost in the twists and turns of the yew hedges of Kaeser Memorial Maze, we fed the fish in the peaceful Japanese Garden. Dan slipped his hand in mine and whispered, “Isn't it beautiful?”
“It's like something out of one of your books, Natalie,” Sam said as he dropped a food pellet into the water, where it quickly disappeared into the mouth of an enormous orange koi. “Like magic.”
“Yeah.” Natalie nodded and aimed her camera at the water. “Toss another one, would you?”
Getting hungry ourselves, we headed to the Terrace Café for some lunch. Inside the breezy greenhouse-like café, we enjoyed turkey paninis and the Kemper Classic Pizza.
We spent the rest of the afternoon in The Children's Garden, a 2-acre playground with slides, caves, rope ladders, a covered wagon and a tree house. Jack shouted to Natalie from the top of the tree house, begging her to join him. She whispered a reluctant, “Fine,” under her breath, but I could've sworn I heard her laughing after she climbed inside.
A young couple there with their toddler was talking about the free outdoor Whitaker Music Festival that takes place every Wednesday evening in the Garden all summer and it just so happened to be Wednesday. I looked at Dan with a hopeful smile, and he nodded.
As the sun set and the stars appeared, people laid down picnic blankets in the grass and the music began. Excited about this spur-of-the-moment addition to our St. Louis summer adventure lineup, we snagged some sandwiches and sno-cones from the café and grabbed a spot near the stage. A warm breeze blew, carrying the guitar riffs and drum beats all through the crowd. People were on their feet dancing. Dan nudged me and pointed to Natalie, who was tapping her toes with one corner of her mouth turned upward. She caught me watching and shook off the almost-smile. So close!
The Magic House, St. Louis Children's Museum was on our list for the next day. It's full of interactive, hands-on exhibits for children of all ages. Kids can service cars, make 3-D images of themselves, climb Jack's fairy-tale beanstalk, and glide down a 3-story slide.
The boys donned trench coats and magnifying glasses in the Solve a Mystery area. Trying to solve an art forgery crime, they used their detective skills to conduct a fingerprint analysis. As they worked, Natalie jumped in to help solve it. She grabbed a magnifying glass, then led them crawling and giggling through secret passageways to find the next clue.
For lunch we placed an early order with The Picnic Basket Café so that we could play right up until lunchtime and wouldn't have to wait in line. When it was time to eat, there was a picnic basket filled with ham sandwiches and healthy salads that we took to the outdoor picnic area.
Urban Adventure in Forest Park
Day four was all about Forest Park. After a morning at the incredible Saint Louis Zo, located within the park, we rented bikes and rode around the park's trails, ending up at The Boathouse Restaurant on Post Dispatch Lake. Even though our legs were a bit tired, the paddleboats available for rent at the lake were irresistible. We rented two boats, the boys and I in one and Dan and Natalie with her camera clicking away in the other. We went for a spin around the lake and into the Grand Basin that sits magnificently at the base of the Saint Louis Art Museum's “Art Hill.”
Cruising along the water's surface, we spotted ducks, geese, turtles and a wedding party getting pictures taken in front of the fountains at the Grand Basin. I was watching Natalie take note of how the photographer was posing the bride and groom when Sam leaned a bit too far over the edge of the boat. I caught him just before he toppled into the water.
“But I really want a turtle,” he pouted.
“Maybe not these turtles, bud,” I laughed. “This is their home—we can't take them with us.”
By the time we made it back to The Boathouse, we had all worked up quite an appetite. The sun was low on the horizon as we sat, sun-drained and happy, at a table on the lakeside patio of the restaurant and ordered a round of Boathouse Burgers.
“Great day, right?” I asked the kids.
Jack and Sam, both with their mouths full, said, “Yes!”
Natalie gave me a sideways glance and half a grin. “Definitely.”
“What are you most looking forward to?” I asked as we walked to the main gate at Six Flags the following morning. In the barrage of responses from my family I made out two things: roller coasters for the kids and funnel cakes for Dan. This was going to be a good day.
I picked the first ride—American Thunder. The old, wooden roller coasters are my favorite. Natalie and I ended up together in the front car and we tightened the buckled strap.
“Ready?” I asked her when we reached the crest of the first drop. She raised her arms and screamed as we tipped forward and sailed down the tracks. I may have screamed a little, too.
The rest of the morning was spent hitting as many thrill rides as we could handle, as many times as possible. Then, after fueling up with some hand-rolled burritos, we headed to the Six Flags waterpark, Hurricane Harbor, to cool off with speed slides and water adventure. The Big Kahuna was a definite favorite. What's better than whitewater rafting with your entire family down a six-story-tall river with twisty turns and steep curves, plummeting to a huge splash at the bottom? Judging by the screams of delight and choruses of, “Again, again,” I'd say not much.
By evening, Dan and I were exhausted. We let the kids ride the SkyScreamer swings while we enjoyed a deliciously satisfying funnel cake.
“Hits the spot, doesn't it?” I laughed at Dan, whose face was shamelessly covered in powdered sugar.
“I've been waiting for this all day,” he smiled and took another bite.
As darkness was setting, the kids came running up to us, huge grins plastered on all three of their faces.
“One more time on the Boomerang!” Natalie exclaimed as she grabbed my hand and pulled me after her. She didn't even try to hide her smile, which had made its appearance at long last. We can't wait to come back when Justice League: Battle for Metropolis is open later this summer! Where else can you match wits with Lex Luthor and the Joker in Metropolis while trying to save superheroes?.
Sam ran ahead of her shouting, “Best. Vacation. Ever!”
And you know what? It was. Three happy kids exploring the best of St. Louis' attractions had given us memories for a lifetime.
