St. Louis, Missouri
Last Updated: 3/28/2024
“An arch consists of two weaknesses which, leaning one against the other, make a strength.”
St. Louis, Missouri is a favorite destination of our family! With one set of grandparents living close, we always have a place to stay, and a good reason to visit so often! St. Louis is home to so many unique attractions…and many are FREE!! Check out some of our favorite places to visit in St. Louis, Missouri. A trip to St. Louis would not be complete if we didn’t visit at least one of these fun places.
Gateway Arch National Park
My kiddos still get excited trying to spot the Arch every time we drive into St. Louis. As the tallest monument in the United States, it is easy to see the excitement. Gateway Arch National Park became the 60th national park in 2018. The museum at Gateway Arch does an amazing job of explaining the westward expansion, and over 200 years of history. I would say one of our highlights at Gateway Arch is the Tram Ride to the top of the Arch, all 630 feet! Tickets for the tram ride can sell out, so definitely prepare in advance.
Union Station
The first train pulled into Union Station September 1, 1894. For many years Union Station was one of the largest and busiest passenger rail terminals in the world. St. Louis went from being the gateway to the west, to being the gateway to all of America. Union Station is now home to the St. Louis Aquarium, the 200-foot St. Louis Wheel, a carousel, an 18-hole mini-golf course, the mirror maze, a ropes course, the train park, and several restaurants. And after all this excitement you can spend the night in one of the beautiful hotel rooms. Many adventures await you at St. Louis Union Station!
City Museum
If I were to poll our family, I think they would all say that City Museum is their favorite stop in St. Louis. What was once a 10-story shoe company warehouse is now a theme park of architectural salvage. You will find miles of tunnels, slides, bridges, and castles. Secret passages and grand galleries. Playgrounds and ball pits. A rooftop school bus, a Ferris wheel, and so much more. You will definitely want to add this to the top of your list.
The Science Center
St. Louis has a lot of amazing and free attractions! One of those is the St. Louis Science Center, where you can test the laws of physics, sneak by a life-sized T-Rex, explore the night sky, build a replica of the Gateway Arch, and so much more…and did I mention that it is FREE!
Cardinals Baseball Game
Take me out to the ball game, Take me out with the crowd; Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks, I don’t care if I never get back. Let me root, root, root for the home team, If they don’t win, it’s a shame. For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out, at the old ball game! My father-in-law is a diehard Cardinals fan. My kids have had Cardinal jerseys since they were little. I’m not a huge fan of watching baseball on tv, but oh the excitement of going to the stadium to watch the Cardinals play. Lots of singing, cheering, eating hotdogs, arriving early, buying more Cardinals merch, and so much more… If you like baseball, and they are playing at home, you should definitely go at least once.
St. Louis Zoo
Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my! Not only is the St. Louis Zoo amazing, and located in the beautiful Forest Park, but it is also FREE. That is what we call a win, win, WIN! The St. Louis Zoo is home to more than 13,000 animals. There is so much to see, you might want to spend more than one day exploring.
Forest Park
Forest Park is considered one of the nation’s most beautiful urban public parks. There is something for everyone to enjoy with over 1300 acres of stunning landscapes. You can also find the Missouri History Museum, The Muny, St. Louis Art Museum, St. Louis Science Center, and the St. Louis Zoo. You could spend multiple days just checking out all that Forest Park has to offer!
Six Flags
If thrill seeking is what you are after, then you should definitely check out Six Flags. This theme park is filled with over 45 exciting rides, shows, and attractions!
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis
The Cathedral Basilica is an amazing, awe-inspiring, work of art. The church is open to visitors most days for self-guided tours. Self-guided tours do not require reservations, however, they strongly encourage visitors to call and ensure the church is available. Guided tours are available by appointment only, and are typically available during weekdays between 10:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. You must call to make a reservation. We learned so much on our tour! While you are there, you can check out the Mosaic Museum. The museum is located on the lower level of the Cathedral (The cost is $2 to enter the museum).
Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House
The Butterfly House, located in Faust Park, is run by the Missouri Botanical Gardens. It is like a zoo for butterflies, with more than 1500 free flying butterflies! These beautiful butterflies are not behind glass at this exhibit. Strolling through an amazing garden landscape of flowers and water falls, the butterflies fly free all around you. It is enjoyable at any age!!!
CityGarden Sculpture Park
Citygarden is a garden of interactive art located in the heart of downtown St. Louis and free to visit. Follow the paved paths that meander through the large art pieces - some modern, some digital, and some water based.
The Magic House
We have spent many fun hours at the Magic House over the years. You can find hundreds of exhibits and activities that are both educational and loads of fun! Tickets are $14 (ages 1 and up). Definitely be sure to visit the Children’s Village. My kids have spent many hours stocking the grocery store shelves, serving us pizza, and taking care of babies in the nursery!
Missouri Botanical Gardens
The Missouri Botanical Gardens is a National Historic Landmark, and considered one of the top three botanical gardens in the world. Definitely allow plenty of time, there is so much beauty to be seen! Ticket prices are $16 per person (ages 13 and up).
Grant’s Farm
Grant's Farm is a 280-acre wildlife park owned and operated by Anheuser-Busch. The site is adjacent to Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site. You can feed goats, ride a carousel, see an animal show, and much more. They also offer premium tours (for extra money) that allow you to go behind-the-scenes! One of those add-ons is the Clydsdale Adventure. It is on my St. Louis wishlist!
Laumeier Sculpture Park
The pronunciation is “Lau” (rhymes with “now”) and “Meier” (rhymes with “higher”). It is named after the last residents of the property. This is another amazing sculpture park in St. Louis that also just happens to be FREE! Laumeier offers several walking trails for a variety of ages and abilities.
Frank Lloyd Wright House
The Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park (The Kraus House) was designed by Wright in 1950. Located in Kirkwood, Missouri, the 1,900-square-foot house is situated in a grassy field on 10.5 acres. The house is a great example of Wright’s Usonian architecture. The cost is $20 per adult, and $10 per child (must be 7 years or older).
St. Louis Art Museum
The St. Louis Art Museum is a three-story building that stands in Forest Park. Originally the Palace of Fine Arts, it is the only permanent structure left from the 1904 World’s Fair. The Museum’s collection holds original masterpieces by renowned artists from around the world. Admission to the museum is FREE every day!
There is so much to see and do in St. Louis! Hope this list helps kickstart your vacation planning. Do you have any favorites you would add to this list? Let me know in the comments below. Happy Adventuring!!