Top 10 Fun Things to Do in St. Louis with Kids

 As I’ve shared before, one of our goals as a family is to travel. I feel it’s important to expose kids to different cultures, new places, and allow them to learn through seeing the world. We recently took a trip to St Louis, Missouri with the kids. Our trip to the “Gateway to the West” was great and I’m excited to share my Top 10 Fun Things to Do in St. Louis with Kids!

A special thank you to Explore St. Louis, Gateway Arch National Park, and Chase Park Plaza Hotel for hosting us in St. Louis.

What is there to do in St Louis for families?
FUN THINGS TO DO IN ST. LOUIS WITH KIDS

Our first stop was to visit the Gateway Arch National Park. The Gateway Arch stretches 630 feet up into the sky, making it the largest man-made monument in the country. There is a museum on-site that has great historical value and my big kids enjoyed participating in their junior ranger activities. We took the tram ride to the top and the kids loved seeing the expansive view of St. Louis. We learned so much during the tour, the kids loved it!

While river-side we embarked on a fun Riverboat Cruise down the Mississippi River aboard a replica 19th-century paddle-wheel riverboat. SO FUN! The riverboats were originally dispatched to take passengers to view the construction of the Arch back in the early 60’s. 

We enjoyed some delicious burgers and hot dogs at the Paddlewheel Cafe which sits right at the dock. The food is a southern treat and ice cream is a must! We enjoyed the breeze from the Mississippi River and a highlight of the day was meeting Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher. This was such a fun element and their costumes and the acting was terrific! It was fun to dine outside with great views of the iconic Arch while in the area.

Having five children under the age of 10, I can tell you that the local zoos and children’s museums are high on our list anywhere we travel. The Magic House in St Louis was not only a huge hit but a wonderful learning and creative experience as well. The museum is a super colorful, inviting space for kids of all ages to get hands-on while learning about a variety of things. There is a waterfall patio which was a big hit with many kids we saw there as they could pour, splash and float toys.

There were art stations, music play, climbing nets, STEM area, a bubble room and areas specifically for babies and toddlers. In addition to the regular exhibits, The Magic House also has limited engagements and we were fortunate to see the Mo Willems exhibit featuring The Pigeon, artwork and interactive play straight from the pages of his popular books. 

The St. Louis Zoo is another must-see activity while in town! It offers free admission and has so many wonderful exhibits. A favorite of ours was the butterfly exhibit where we saw so many gorgeous species of butterflies. Another impressive exhibit was the penguins. They have both an indoor and outdoor exhibit for the penguins and we hadn’t seen that many together in one place!

Another popular stop for our family was The National Museum of Transportation. I think any time a kid can ride a miniature train, drive hand cars or ride a trolley they’re going to love it. This museum allows for ALL THREE in addition to art stations, play areas, collections of trains, cars and more. There is an onsite cafe and a cute gift shop as well. We got to explore one of the earliest trains and it was so fun to step into the past and see how people traveled!

A favorite stop for us all on this trip was to City Museum. The name may be deceiving as it was to me, but City Museum is an unexpected wonderland in an old warehouse in downtown St Louis. Artists have created a labyrinth of tunnels, slides, stairs, climbing areas, castles, bridges and plenty of magic to delight all the senses. 

City Museum is never complete as artists continue expressing themselves by adding new and fabulous creations to the space. Kids and adults alike with love spending time here just as we did. We only wish we had about 3 more days to explore every nook and cranny, this is a must-see location for sure!

One of the other places we spent time at was Six Flags St. Louis. Like all of their parks, they offer tons of fun and exciting rides and games for all ages of the family. From older thrill-seeking thrill rides for older kids right on down to tamer rides for the littlest family members, Six Flags has you covered. We love that our visits to Six Flags truly are a family experience where no one feels left out of the fun. 

While we didn’t take have time for the water park this time, Six Flags offers a water park right on-site to stave off the summer heat. After all, who doesn’t love enjoying the lazy river while older kids slide down the speedy water slides? 

What can toddlers do in St. Louis?

As you can see from our adventures above, my top 10 picks for fun places to go in St Louis with kids accommodated toddlers on up. But if you’re ONLY bring toddler aged kids you may want to skip the larger amusements and check out the Emerson Children’s Zoo, pack a picnic for a visit to Grant’s Farm or stroll through Missouri Botanical Gardens.

Where to Stay

We stayed at the beautiful Chase Park Plaza Hotel which is very centrally located in St Louis and has a ton of amenities which I find so helpful when traveling with children. The entire property is gorgeous, from the white marble lobby that has been freshly renovated, to the 5-star restaurant and bar areas, to the fabulous pool that included music and pool-side drinks…a treat we rarely see!

The pillow-topped beds were so appreciated after long days of sightseeing. We loved having a suite with space to relax with separate bedrooms for the kids. The kids LOVED the movie theatre and they were excited to see the game consoles in rooms. We particularly enjoyed being able to dine poolside while the kids played and music created a party atmosphere. 

Despite the lure of pools and gaming consoles, we were able to drag the kids out of the hotel to see some of St Louis’ wonderful sights. The hotel was super conveniently located which meant more time sightseeing and less travel time!

Where to Eat

Because we were trying to so many activities in we didn’t venture out to many restaurants. The Chase Park Plaza Hotel has so many great options for dining, and we ate on location at some of the family-friendly places we visited. But we did experience two restaurants that are worth mentioning. 

We had read great reviews of the Pi Pizza in town, and it didn’t disappoint. A Chicago style pizza, we loved the sauce and the crust! It was a very family-friendly environment and had a beautiful patio for enjoying good weather!

We tried El Burro Loco while in town and it also was very good. We read great reviews and loved the authentic-tasting Mexican food. Be prepared, they serve generous portions of margaritas! I didn’t take many photos while there, but did snap this one of my delicious dinner! 

I hope this post gives you some fun ideas for things to do in St. Louis with kids. In addition, I hope you find it helpful while you plan your own trip. If you are looking for more travel guides, check out our guide for Disney World First Trip, Dallas, Memphis, Beaver Creek Ski Vacation, Gulf Shores, Branson, Great Wolf Lodge, Ocean Club Turks and Caicos, and my Napa Valley Weekend Itinerary.

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