10 Best Family Things to Do in St. Louis

The Gateway Arch is a 630-ft monument in the middle of downtown St. Louis, on the west bank of the Mississippi River. The huge steel arch is iconic, holding the record for being the tallest manmade monument in the western hemisphere.

The arch offers several activities that will thrill the kids. You'll find an interactive museum that traces a 200-year history across 6 exhibitions. Perhaps the most exciting activity, however, is the tram ride that takes you to the top of the arch. The views across the city from 63 storeys high are breathtaking. It’s a good idea to pre-book your tickets for the tram online, as it can be sold out in advance on busy days.

Citygarden Sculpture Park is a green space in the middle of downtown St. Louis. From interactive art displays to perfectly manicured gardens and fountains, it's a beautiful oasis to enjoy a break from exploring the city's attractions.

On hot days, it’s especially popular with children, as the shallow pools and waterfalls are safe to splash around and cool off in. You’ll also find several food trucks offering snacks and drinks, so you can have a picnic while the kids play.

The St. Louis Wheel is a 200-ft-tall observation Ferris wheel just outside the Union Station complex. It's a relatively modern addition to the St. Louis city skyline. The landmark is especially popular at night and around sunset, so line up early to ensure you get a seat at the right time.

The Ferris wheel is perfectly safe for the whole family, with 42 fully enclosed and climate-controlled compartments, which can be enjoyed year-round. A standard ride includes 3 to 4 rotations within 15 minutes, allowing you to slowly take in the view of the whole city.

The Saint Louis Science Center is an interactive learning centre just outside Forest Park, west of St. Louis city centre. The complex makes science fun for people of all ages, with more than 700 impressive exhibits.

Kids will enjoy most of the displays, which cover everything from dinosaurs to aviation to the environment. However, The Discovery Room is curated especially for kids aged 1 to 8. General admission is free, which covers a wide variety of exhibitions, with only certain special displays and the IMAX theatre being ticketed.

The Missouri Botanical Garden is a 79-acre park southwest of downtown St. Louis. It's unsurprisingly one of the best places to take the whole family in the city, with numerous gardens and areas to explore.

The Children's Garden is a 2-acre area with kid-sized buildings, a wetland, treehouse, caves and more. Another popular part of the garden is the Climatron, a geodesic dome conservatory with an indoor tropical rainforest. There’s an admission fee for adults but children 12 and younger can get in free.

The Magic House is a children’s museum and educational centre located 15 miles west of St. Louis city centre. Often ranked as one of the best attractions for children in the USA, it’s a must-visit on any family trip to the city.

There are hundreds of hands-on exhibitions for pre-schoolers up to teens. It’s a truly educational experience with diverse activities such as fixing cars, climbing treehouses, playing musical instruments, and testing gravity. Active kids might enjoy the Jack and the Beanstalk Climber, which lets them climb up and down 3 full floors.

Myseum is an interactive science centre for children situated around 20 miles west of St. Louis. The complex is excellent for kids under 12 years old, offering more than 30 diverse exhibitions.

It's a museum and fun indoor playground, with educational exhibits on archaeology and physics, as well as jumping castles and slides. There are designated areas for toddlers and older kids to keep them all entertained. Myseum is a popular place to host kids’ birthday parties. It’s often crowded on weekends, so plan your visit in advance.

Six Flags St. Louis is a huge amusement park just a half-hour’s drive west of downtown St. Louis. This vast complex makes for a great day out for the family, with high-speed roller coasters, kids rides, and water slides.

It’s most well-known for its 9 rollercoasters, which spans a total of 22,700 ft of tracks. If you have little kids in tow, then you can head for Bugs Bunny National Park, a section with designated rides for kids. The waterpark section is most popular in the summer, offering everything from gentle rafting adventures to high-speed slides.

City Museum is a repurposed century-old shoelace warehouse – part playground, part art project – located a few blocks north of Union Station. Local artists have repurposed old industrial pieces to build an indoor 'theme park' of sorts, with miles of bridges, tunnels, aeroplanes, and castles for all ages to explore.

The museum is a never-ending web of hallways, so make sure to agree on a meeting place ahead of time. Highlights include the exhilarating 10-storey spiral slide, the spooky Museum Caves, and the towering outdoor castle turrets. 

Forest Park is an excellent escape from the bustling city life, situated 20-minutes west of downtown St. Louis. The 1,300-acre park is the beating heart of the city, housing a multitude of museums, a zoo, a golf course, an outdoor amphitheatre, and miles of walking paths.

Take a stroll through the park to admire the art-deco designed Jewel Box and the scenic Pagoda Lake. It’s a good idea to pack a picnic, as you can lounge on Art Hill before making your way to the St. Louis Art Museum, where you can check out a constant rotation of internationally recognised exhibits. For some family fun, you can check out life on the African savannah with lions and zebras at the St Louis Zoo, which is home to over 19,000 wild animals. The park is open year-round – sledging is a popular pastime during winter.