[matthewsmom0505]

I know my faithful forum friends in the St. Louis area will have some great ideas. We're planning to be in St. Louis for a day or so over Memorial Day weekend on the way to visit my inlaws and want some good ideas of things to do with our 4 year old and 18 month old.

Are there any indoor water parks? I can't seem to find any when I google it . . .

We might go to the arch, although we likely won't go up since DS doesn't like confined spaces too much and DH and I have done it before.

Is the zoo as great as it was when my DH was there last as a kid?

Basically, if you could recommend one or two things that we "must do" while we're there, it would help alot--thanks in advance!

[Blessed2x.]

St. Louis Zoo

Magic House

[guatgal]

The Zoo is awesome. Another favorite of ours is Grants Farm. My kids love it. We are usually done in between 3 and 4 hours. I guess it could last as long as you want depending on the shows you see.

Not really indoor waterparks in the area, at least that I'm aware of.

The Botanical Gardens is fun for the kids as well. I NEVER would have thought that, but they have lots of "kid" stuff to do. Can't wait to go back there this summer!

[TerriBB]

The zoo is amazing and it's free. Bring a change of clothing for the kids for the zoo and the botanical gardens (nominal charge for this)...both have fountains that allow the kids to get wet!

Grant's Farm is also free and has a "spray thing" where kids can also get wet. It also has free beer! ... AND you get to feed goats/chickens/pet Clydesdales

The Arch is nice, but not a lot to do for kids as young as yours. Picture on the steps may be a "must" for your inlaws.

The Magic House is nice, but it's not really "different" if you've been to museums for children in other cities. It keeps the kids really busy, if you have rainy day here.

I don't know of any indoor waterparks. Your in-laws may live in a suburb with an indoor pool.

[matthewsmom0505]

Thanks ladies! My inlaws live in the Poplar Bluff area, so were planning to break up our trip and do some major detours to keep the kids from being bored--there's not much to do in their neck of the woods! We're going to leave OKC and stop for the night in Osage Beach (read: Outlet Shopping!). Then leave for St. Louis the next morning, spend the day and night, then head south to the inlaws. I wish there was going to be time to plan a quick get together in one or more of our stops. I love meeting forum friends! DD is young, so she doesn't care, but I do!

I had totally forgotten about Grant's Farm--can't believe DH didn't remember it! I'll check out the website.

If there are any other ideas, let me know--thanks again!

[robandjulie]

We lived in St Louis for 9 years, 3 of which were after DD was born. We miss it EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Free and awesome and all in Forest Park:
1. Zoo (kid's area is free in first hour, so if you get there between 8-9 you can get in free; otherwise $5 I think)
2. Science Center (huge dinosaur, lots of hands on stuff, air conditioned!)
3. barrier free playground on the north side of the park

Not free but pretty cheap; also in Forest Park:
4. paddle boat around the park ponds
5. have lunch at the boat house

Others (suburbs or south city)
6. Botanical Gardens (DD was never that into it but she did love to feed the Koi; admission)
7. Grant's farm (carload parking fee)
8. barrier free playground and "spray pool" water fountains (kids run and play in them) at Tilles Park
9. not an indoor water park, but if you're looking for a nice pool to kill a few hours with a good kid zone The Heights in Richmond Heights (just off 40/Hanley) has a very nice pool that starts at 0". There are geysers in the water, a pre-k slide/play structure in the water, a lazy river, big kid slide, and "vortex".

Downtown
10. City Museum is very kid-oriented. CITY MUSEUM- Home
11. World Aquarium World Aquarium | Structures of Nature | St. Louis, Missouri

I wouldn't bother with the arch--it's not that impressive to kids and Memorial Day Weekend is a little chaotic down by the river.

[dianneemily]

My girls love going to the Botanical Gardens - good for multiple ages. They have a kids' area that I think is the best.

The zoo is very good and free! Make sure you do the penguins and they have a new area to pet stingrays.

Grant's Farm is good if you don't have enough time for the zoo - close parking, easy in and out, no traffic issues. Grant's farm would also be much more comfortable if it is hot (in my opinion).

Six Flags has an outdoor waterpark - but I would only suggest that if you only have the entire day and it is costly.

If I were you I would want to go to Forest Park to do the zoo and have lunch at the Boathouse on one day and go to the Botanical Gardens the other day.

Enjoy

[JosieWales]

You are all forgetting the AWESOME CITY MUSEUM!!!!!!

[TerriBB]

If the Boathouse is backed up for lunch, try the golf course. It's got great food and it's cheaper than eating at the zoo. We happened upon it when all of the food outlets were packed. They had kids food and the waiters couldn't have been nicer to the kids!

[socialkat78]

We took my nephew there last summer. We went to the zoo, Magic House and City Museum. His favorite was the City Museum- lots to climb on and to do, but you will want to have play clothes on there. Also there is Fitz's resturant in the Delmar loop. They make their own soda (rootbeer is the best) in the resturant and the kids can see it when it is running. Have fun in St. Louis.

[CT4]

We the love the St Louis City Museum!!! Lots of fun. Science center, magic house, Cardinals game, arch, union station, have fun!

[matthewsmom0505]

Thanks everyone! We leave tomorrow and will spend Friday in St. Louis before heading to my inlaws. We're going to go to Grant's Farm and hopefully City Museum, then visit DH's grandpa's grave at Jefferson Barracks. I'm sooo hoping we can meet up with Becca and her cutie pie boys after we leave St. Louis--yay!

[JosieWales]

Originally Posted by matthewsmom0505

Thanks everyone! We leave tomorrow and will spend Friday in St. Louis before heading to my inlaws. We're going to go to Grant's Farm and hopefully City Museum, then visit DH's grandpa's grave at Jefferson Barracks. I'm sooo hoping we can meet up with Becca and her cutie pie boys after we leave St. Louis--yay!

I SO wish we could meet you up there Fri.! If only school was out a week earlier! Be sure to email/call me about the rest of the weekend.