Gateway Arch
The tram to the top of the Gateway Arch will resume this spring. In about four minutes, ride to the highest point in downtown St. Louis, more than 63 stories high, and see how many landmarks you can spot. $10 children ages 3–15, $13 adults, daily from 9:10 a.m.–4:50 p.m.
Discover fun things to do with the family
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Missouri History Museum
Tons of new local stories get unveiled this spring at the Missouri History Museum, including #1 in Civil Rights: The African American Freedom Struggle in St. Louis (opens March 11) and Missouri and the Great War (WWI; opens April 6), both free. And the free History Clubhouse, an interactive gallery, is always a hit. Lindell & DeBaliviere in Forest Park, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily, Tuesdays until 8 p.m.
Laumeier Sculpture Park
Burn off some of that extra energy at Laumeier Sculpture Park, which is kicking off a free stroller tour series every third Thursday (May–August), in addition to free Family Days and fee-based family art workshops. 12580 Rott, daily 8 a.m.–30 minutes past sunset.
HealthWorks! Kids’ Museum
You’ve gotta have guts to climb inside the Interactive Dude, a 55-foot-long human skeletal indoor playground, at HealthWorks! Kids’ Museum. Once you’ve checked him out from stem to stern, a hands-on doctor’s office, dentist’s office, pharmacy, farmers’ market, and kitchen area await. 1100 Macklind, $7 children 3 and up, Tuesday–Saturday 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Sunday noon–4 p.m.
Magic House
It’s a PBS-o-rama this summer at the Magic House, with special exhibits featuring Daniel Tiger, Dinosaur Train, and Clifford the Big Red Dog. Perennial favorite Sandcastle Beach turns on its sprinklers, too, just in time for summer fun (opens May 17). 516 S. Kirkwood, $11 ages 1 and up, noon–5:30 p.m. Tuesday–Thursday, noon–9 p.m. Friday, 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.–5:30 p.m. (until Memorial Day) Sunday; after Memorial Day: 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Monday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Sunday.
Saint Louis Science Center
Nerd out at the Saint Louis Science Center and its free “MathAlive!” exhibition (open till May 8), showcasing the math behind sports, music, robotics, and much more. Then prepare to walk like an Egyptian on May 27, when “The Discovery of King Tut” opens with 1,000 Egyptian-made reproductions. And while you’re there, don’t forget to check out the new Grow exhibit, featuring all kinds of agricultural machinery, animals, and crops. 5050 Oakland, 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Sunday (until May), open daily until 5:30 p.m. during the summer.
Myseum
West County’s Myseum continues to evolve, adding nearly 1,000 square feet that will house the big, blue Imagination Playground, a popular foam building-blocks area perfect for creative construction. 283 Lamp and Lantern Village, $10.95 children ages 2–17, $5.95 adults, $4.95 seniors. 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Monday–Thursday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Friday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Sunday.
Museum of Transportation
For train-obsessed toddlers and auto-obsessed grandparents, it’s hard to beat the Museum of Transportation for a full day of fast-moving fun. Don’t forget to add on a Creation Station session for your youngest engineers: at $2 for an hour of play in the explorative play space, it’s a great value for those 5 and under. 2933 Barrett Station, $8 adults, $5 children age 3–12, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Sunday (until Memorial Day); 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Monday added (after Memorial Day).
Saint Louis Zoo
You can’t argue with, well, everyone: Hometown gem Saint Louis Zoo was named the country’s “top free attraction” in a USA Today poll last year. With animals from Kali the polar bear to the coolest cage-free birdhouse around, plus the train, Children’s Zoo, concerts and, soon, grizzly bears, the zoo’s the perfect spot to let your own wild things roam. 1 Government, Forest Park, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily.
Suson Park
Suson Park brings country life to suburban and city kids at its free animal farm, where they can watch horses, cows, goats, chickens, and pigs. Ample playground equipment and a kids’ fishing pond make it a daylong excursion. 6073 Wells, 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m. daily.
