Okay this is definitely gonna be a long list! Every summer I create a list of all the things I want to do with our kids! So I figured I’d share it! There’s so much to do in St. Louis and right outside of STL. I’ll list things as best as possible and if they cost and just my experience if I’ve been there.
If I missed somewhere that should be on the list please let me know and I’ll keep updating the list! 😀

Here we go! 

DOWNTOWN 

• THE ARCH! This is number one is for very obvious reasons. It’s the freaken Arch. I feel like you can’t come to STL and not go up in the Arch. It does cost between $11-$19 a person. Just depending on when you go. But it’s so much fun and you could be in there for a few hours. They have a HUGE museum inside the Arch that my kids LOVED! And Matt and I loved it too! It has a ton of history! 
• The Aquarium. Okay I’ve actually never been to the Aquarium but I’ve heard amazing things about it and it’s on my list of places to visit this summer. It is a little pricey but there’s a lot to do in Union Station. There’s a carousel, mini golf, rope course, The Wheel, mirror maze, restaurants. So much to do! 
• St. Louis Zoo:  This one is just a given. You can’t come to St. Louis and not visit one of America’s top zoo’s. On top of that, its FREE!! It’s seriously such an amazing zoo! There are some things that cost, like the carousel, and their new Dino area (which is AMAZING!) But right down the road is the Boat House. Which is next on my list! 
• Boat House: I love the Boat House! They have yummy food and you can rent paddle boats, kayaks, and canoe’s!  I have the best memories going here with my grandparents and cousins! It was so much fun and I know my kids would love it! 
• The Loop: If you’re looking for somewhere to shop, walk around, go eat, then go to the Loop! The Loop has all of that! Usually we go to Fitz’s Root Beer when we go! The kids love it and upstairs they have arcade games! 
• City museum: This is another no brainer. If you’re gonna do anything in St. Louis, the City Museum has to be on your list. You could be in there ALL DAY! Its HUGE! I remember taking field trips to the City Museum when I was younger! And now I’m almost 30 years old and still love going! I also love that they have a “Toddler Town” for younger kids. Tickets are $18 a person which is a little pricey but if you’re there all day its not that bad. Law ask to go to the city museum about every other month because she loves it so much! This place is just endless fun! 
• Shaw Botanical Gardens: I’m not gonna lie, it had been a HOT minute since we’ve gone to the Botanical Gardens. But we just went this past Mothers Days and omgosh it was so much fun! Their kid area is FREAKEN AMAZING! Even older kids would love it! It’s like a tiny little town! With a splash pad, climbing, caves, a fake store, sand pit area, just sooo much for kids to do! There’s also a lot of history (which I love)! And mazes. My kids LOVE the mazes!
• The Muny: I haven’t been to the Muny in a long time! The Muny is an outdoor theater. They do a ton of different shows and Mary Poppin’s is one of them! I remember going with my grandparents to see Meet me in St. Louis and Peter Pan! It was just so much fun! 
• Science Center: My kids LOVE the Science Center! And general admission is FREE! They have so much for kids to do! From the Discovery Room, Omnimax, Planetarium, and their huge dinosaurs! They always have different events going on! I remember going to the Titanic when it came to St. Louis! It was amazing! The Omnimax is this HUGE theater that makes you feel like you’re in a snow globe. The screen goes all around you and its just so cool to see! 
• Anheuser Busch: Okay so this one is gonna be obviously not for kids but I put it on here because I really want to go back and do another tour of Anheuser Busch with Matt just as a day date! Matt and I did their beer master tour for my 21’s birthday and it was so much fun! 
  There’s a TONNNNNN of history here! And you get to see how they make the beer and the Clydesdales! And if you’re in St. Louis around Christmas time they do a HUGE Christmas lights display with ice skating, hot chocolate, train rides for kids, and so much more! 
• City Foundry: I’ve actually never been to the City Foundry but I want too! I’ve heard awesome thing about it just looks fun! There’s shopping and tons restaurants to choose from!  Which I love both haha!
• Busch Stadium: Even if you aren’t a Cardinals fan, going to a summer baseball games is a must. It’s so much fun! My kids love going! Law’s been begging to go to another game! That girl loves her baseball! Even if you go without kids, there’s soo much to do at BallPark Village right next door! It’s always a good time!  

Okay so here’s my list of things we love outside the city. Some are far and some are not to far! I’ll include the links to each place and about how far it is from the city. 

OUTSIDE THE CITY

• Grants Farm: Okay Grants Farm is one of my top five favorite places in St. Louis. It has history, President Grant’s old house, (you can also go and tour his house), animal feedings, Carousel, camel rides, snow cones, beer garden, and free beer! Parking is like $15 when you purchase it ahead of time online. And same with their fun pass. It includes two animal feedings, snow cone, and a carousel ride for kids. I think its $10 if you buy it online. We get it every time we go! They are also doing their summer nights in the beer garden on Friday and Saturday! Matt and I wanna go to that! 
• Rock Roll-O-rena: Yup you heard me. Roller skating. I grew up going to this roller rink and every time I go back it just takes me back to being little 13 year old Jessica! It’s about 20 minutes from the city. I’ve been wanting to take Law there because I know she’ll love it! Holden probably isn’t ready for roller skating just yet, but they do have arcade games that he would love! 
• St. Charles Main Street: TOP FIVE FAVORITE PLACES! I seriously adore St. Charles Main street! It’s about 20 minutes from the city. TONS of shopping and restaurant’s! They always have fun events going on.  And so much history here! It was also Missouri’s first state capital before moving to Jefferson City 😉 If you come to St. Louis around Christmas St. Charles is a must see! They do reenactments and dress up like their from the early 1900’s. LOVE St. Charles!
• Elephant Rocks:  Elephant Rocks is about an hour from St. Louis. It’s a state park! They have these HUGE rocks you climbs and its just beautiful out there! We love going in the fall time when the leaves are changing and when its not so hot out. It’s right next to Johnson’s Shut-In’s!
• Johnson’s Shut-In’s: I haven’t been here in a long time, but now that my kiddos are getting older we definitely want to take them! It’s hiking, camping, swimming, and picnicking. Definitely wear water shoes. I went when I was 17 and for some reason didn’t wear water shoes. Bad idea haha!    
• Six Flags: If you’re looking for an amusement park in St. Louis, this is it! I haven’t been in a few years but we’re planning on going at some point this summer! Law loves rides and really wants to experience it! Holden on the other hand does NOT like rides. He’s a watch from the sides kind of kid lol. They also have a water park!
• Powder Valley: Its free and its a conservation nature center. They have hiking and the inside has things for kiddos to do, like a fake tree house! We love going here if its a rainy day just to get the kids out of the house. And they love going here! 
• Downtown Kirkwood: TONS OF SHOPPING AND RESTURANTS! It’s about 15 minutes from downtown.  Kirkwood is the IT area for shopping and eating out on the weekend! There’s a lot to do and its just really cute little town! The house’s in Kirkwood alone are fun to look at! Gorgeous! We love eating at Billy G’s in Kirkwood! They have an amazing patio! 
• Meramec Caverns: You can go and explore caves, camp, swim, zipline, rock climb, float!! It’s about an hour from the city. There’s so much to do here! It’s pretty chilly in the caves so bring a jacket! 
• Frisco Train Store: One of my favorite places to go on a rainy day! It’s free to go in an play and Holden LOVES going here! It’s also a toy store! You can have birthday party’s here or just go in and play. It’s about 15-20 minutes from the city.
• Magic House: I’m pretty sure this is every kid in St. Louis’s favorite place. It can be crazy busy at times but there’s SOOO MUCH to do! They always have new things going on! They have climbing, crafts, slides, a pretend little town! We usually go more in the evening. Tickets are $3 a person from 3-5pm. Which probably isn’t enough time to do everything if its your first time. 
• Purina Farms: We just had Holden’s birthday here and it was probably one of my favorite birthdays yet! It’s free to go in. They have cow milking’s, animal petting area, dog show, a huge cat house, and a inside kid play area! 
• Museum of transportation:  We did a membership here when Holden was two and it was seriously the best! They have an area called the creation station for younger kids. It’s just a bunch of toys and crafts. You can go and tour old trains, look at old cars, and take a ride on the trolly! 

If I think of anymore places to add to the list, I’ll update it! I know for sure I’m going to be making a blog post of historical places in Missouri you can go and see! I wanted to add them to this list but I feel like they deserve their own post! If I missed somewhere that should be on here please let me know!! 

-Jess