Sunday, April 26, 2015

St. Louis Family Fun 2026 (mobile devices click here)

       This is a blog, or an information hub about things to do in St. Louis. St. Louis has an incredible amount of sites and attractions.   I have been maintaining St. Louis Family Fun using Squidoo, Blogger, and/or Facebook since 2008.  Start searching and clicking and making your weekend and summer plans!

       St. Louis Family Fun is also on Facebook. 


Updated for 2026!
(working on links now!)

Animal Themed Attractions


Art Museums


Arts and Crafts


Caves to Tour in Missouri


Children's Resale Shops


Day Trips


Farmer's Markets


Festivals in and Around St. Louis


Foreign Language and Cultural Heritages, Societies, and Associations


Free Movies in St. Louis - Summer Events


Historic Homes and Places


Historic Small Towns

  
History Museums


It's A St. Louis Thing


Just Plain Kid Fun


Marathons and Runs


Missouri Conservation Centers and Areas

Movie Theaters


Museums

Nature Attractions



Only in Missouri


 Not Just for Birthday Parties (but great for birthday parties!)


Parks - City, County and State 



    Pumpkin Patches(seasonal)
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    Saturday, April 25, 2015

    Foreign Language Classes & Cultural/Heritage Events & Organizations - Updated 2026


    Chinese School - for kids; language classes and cultural activities. Classes are on Saturday.

    German School Association classes are Thursday evenings or Saturday mornings

    German Cultural Society  - a society full of resources
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    Monday, April 6, 2015

    Not Just For Birthday Parties - Party Places - Updated 2026

    These locations are great for birthday parties and for places to play, especially during extremely hot or rainy days.
    Pump It Up
    We have attended a ton of parties here. The kids love it.
    Team Central Gymnastics
    Great place!
    Museum of Transportation
    Fun place for kids.
    Magic House
    One of the best in the country!
    Kidz Art
    Great for Artists in your family.
    St. Louis Carousel
    Are you having a circus themed party?
    Build A Bear
    In case you are in short supply of stuffed animals.
    Monkey Joe's
    Unique place to play and party
    St. Peter's Rec Plex
    a great deal for a swimming party
    St. Louis Zoo
    We have been to a few of these parties. It was a pleasant experience. However, if the weather is bad, there really isn't a bonus to having your party there, especially for the price (starting at $1200).
    City Museum
    Another great place for an artistic party, and a great place to just roam around!
    Grant's Farm
    One of St. Louis' unique places
    Sky Zone
    If your child loves to jump, this is the place to be!
    Bounce U
    Another great place for kids who love to bounce!

    Aqua Port - 
    Nice water park for a birthday party
    Chuck E Cheese
    We have been to a few Chuck E Cheese's parties. It is amazing, kids just love this place.

    Challenger Center 
    You will need to call to see if they still offer birthday parties.)
    If you have an astronaut in the making, this is the place to be. While it is expensive, it is a wonderful place providing a wonderful experience. We haven't been here for a party, but we have been there for a tour and Brownie troop function.
    Mad Science
    Our daughter had a Mad Science Birthday party. It was wonderful!

    Little Gym
    We have attended Little Gym parties and my kids have had a blast!


    Higher Hope Entertainment
    Great party resource! Unique! Have this designer decorate for your party! Plus he has shows for children. Just so unique!

    Bricks 4 Kids
    A place where kids build models out of LEGOS. They run classes and camps. It appears they offer LEGO Robotics, as well. Appears to be new. Let me know what you think!

     Tea with Me

    I believe they are still open but their link domain expired, even when using the one on their Instagram account.

    Playstreet Museum - Streets of St Charles
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    Museums - Updated: 2026




    National Great Rivers Museum
    A great resource!
    Missouri Mines State Historical Site Park Hills, Missouri
    I love this place, but I love rocks, and I will drive 1.5 hours to see an old dilapidated mine, to look at old mining equipment, to view rocks, and to look at rocks that glow in the dark under fluorescent lighting. So, if you like those kind of things, this place is a must!!
    St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum
    Haven't been here yet, have you? Great place for Cardinals and baseball fans, I am sure!
    Soldier's Memorial Military Museum
    Haven't been here yet, have you?

    Wax Museum of St. Louis
    Haven't been here yet, have you? Combine this with a visit to the Arch, the courthouse, and eat at the Spaghetti Factory on the Landing!

    Health Works Museum
    I wonder how many cities have their own dental health museum?
    Civil War Museum
    What an amazing museum in St. Louis! If you haven't seen this, you must go. Great for history buffs, students and for those who would like to know more about the Civil War.
    Telephone Museum
    I haven't been to this museum yet. If you have, let me know!
    St. Louis Mercantile Museum
     FREE
    The oldest museum west of the Mississippi. Located on the UMSL campus. Open 9am-5pm.  I would recommend for upper elementary age and older.
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    Just Plain Kid Fun - Updated 2026

    Some places in St. Louis are in a kid category all of their own, so here is their "kid" category!

    Nature playgrounds for children to explore, located in Forest Park

    Only in St. Louis! An eclectic collection of things that children and adults both love to explore. You just have to see it to believe it, and then visit again and again, only to discover it has been added to, changed, morphed; it's an artist's dream.
    Children's Museum in Edwardsville 
    Located in Edwardsville, Illinois 

    Six Flags

    Swing-around-fun-town
    Miniature golf, go karts, batting cages, and much more!

    Build A Bear
    Fun, expensive place for kids. The build-a-bear at the Science Center has astronaut outfits that can only be purchased at that location!




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    Sunday, April 5, 2015

    It's a St. Louis Thing - Updated 2026

    It’s a St. Louis thing….




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    Grant's Farm
    FREE (parking charge)
    Children love seeing the animals and the shows. It is a perfect leisurely activity.

    Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour

    FREE

    Now, I don't know how many adults want to take their children to a brewery, but the adults will enjoy this part of their St. Louis vacation/staycation. We all may want to tour it soon. Will we be able to in the near future?


    Jefferson Barracks Historic Site

    Jefferson Barracks is one of the National Cemetery. It is beautiful. There is no charge to visit.


    Union Station - 

    Ferris Wheel, St. Louis Aquarium, Mirror walk-through Maze, Ropes Course, Light Shows


    Old Courthouse - 

    FREE. The Old Courthouse is a definite must to see in St. Louis. The famous Dred Scott case was held here. It is a beautiful building.


    St. Louis Symphony Orchestra


    Forest Park

    This park has a lot for you to do. The St. Louis Zoo, Art Museum, Missouri History Museum, Science Center, Jewel Box, Muny, Visitor's Center, Boat House and just so much more!


    Ted Drewes

    Now, THIS is a St. Louis thing! Yummy frozen custard. Great treats, many sizes, flavors, toppings. You must go!


    Imo's

    I was scolded for not having Imos on here! I should be! It is one of my favorite pizzas! Thin crust, yum yum yum!!! Gotta go there!


    Gooey Butter Cake - Best places for it according to an article in The Riverfront Times.

    Crown Candy Kitchen - An old soda fountain and candy store which now serves lunch in dinner located in Old North St. Louis. A must experience!


    MADE STL This is a unique space for children of all ages to be creative in a STEM safe environment. Sewing, 3D printing, building, and so much more!




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    Science Attractions - Updated 2026

    These places are science-oriented. They may be museums, gardens or unique centers.
    Challenger Center
    Not many cities have a Challenger Center, an idea conceived as a result of the Challenger explosion in January 1986. Expensive, but a unique experience for aspiring astronauts or NASA engineers!!
    Missouri Botanical Gardens
    Obviously, has a wonderful selection of plants and flowers
    Has a great playground for kids
    Butterfly House
    Kids love identifying the butterflies
    Has a great classroom with a variety of activities
    Good movie about butterflies, too
    Magic House
    FREE on Every Third Friday after 5 pm
    What can I say? It's the Magic House, one of the best kid's places in the U.S.
    Mastodon State Park
    FREE
    Did you know dinosaurs roamed this area? The proof is at Mastadon park. See what was discovered when Highway 55 was developed.
    Melvin Price Locks and Dam
    FREE
    This was an unbelievable find. We took our class here this past school year. Oh, my gosh! Were we all impressed. You need to go. Again, I think we were just amazed at to find something else that no one in our group had seen before.
    St. Louis Science Center
    FREE
    Some areas have fees
    A great place to visit
    St. Joe Mine
    Besides learning about the the history of mining, and Missouri's role, the St. Joe Mine has a world class rocks, mineral and fossil collections. Students and researcher from around the United States come here to see this collection.
    Space Museum - Bonne Terre
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    Art Museums - Updated 2026



    Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
    Haven't been here, but planning to go soon!
    Kemper Art Museum
    FREE! (but you need to pay the parking meter! 25 cents per 15 minutes, maximum of 2 hours - which is what you will probably need)

    Wildwood Press - appears to be located in City Museum at the present time
    I haven't been here, yet
    Looks nice!

    St. Louis Art Museum
    FREE To All Who Enter!
    Wonderful!

    Laumeier Sculpture Park
    FREE - The park is
    Now, I cannot remember if the gallery is. The sculptures in the park are great to see.

    Pulitzer Foundation of the Arts
    FREE
    Haven't been here yet, have you?

    St. Louis University Museum of Art  
    FREE

    Art Foundary
    FREE
    This is a unique art facility. Private artists rent space here. Visitors can roam the most of the building for free, looking into the artists studios while they work. Some have store displays where they sell their art work. Classes are offered here. A few galleries are available to view for free. One has a fee. A great visit.

    Craft Alliance
    Here, children can take classes (and adults, too, I believe). Work by students are displayed in the art gallery.

    The Sheldon
    Haven't been here, have you?


     Art Galleries in the St. Louis area
    List of Art Galleries in the St Louis Area











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    Water Parks/Aquatic Centers/Swimming Areas - Updated 2026



    Agnes Nolting Aquatic Complex

    ALLIGATOR'S CREEK AQUATIC CENTER












    KENNEDY RECREATION COMPLEX - CLOSED FOR 2026 SEASON









    ST. VINCENT WATER PARK CLOSED FOR 2026 SEASON



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    Guides to Pools
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    Transportation Themed Attractions - Updated 2026

    Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum
    Expensive, but quite a site! Website is not that useful.

     Transportation Museum
    This place is a hit! Very economical, too. A must see!

     Shell History Museum
    Shell Woodriver Refinery retirees developed this Shell history museum.

     Wabash Frisco and Pacific Railroad Association, Inc.
     Take a train ride through the Missouri hills on a miniature, but comfortable train!
    VERY ECONOMICAL
    Sundays 1pm - 4pm


     Moto Museum
    A motorcycle museum with limited viewing times. Haven't been here, have you?

     St. Louis Iron Mountain Railway
    This is a fun ride.
    Great train ride! Make this a part of a day trip to southern Missouri. Combine it with the National Tiger Sanctuary, or, with a visit to Cape!

    Riverboat Cruises - Downtown St. Louis Riverfront
    Looks exciting! Hope to do this soon!
    Helicopter Tour - Riverfront
    Looks exciting! Don't know if I could do this - height phobic, here!
    St. Charles Smartt Field - The Missouri Wing of the Commemorative Air Force
    Just heard about this place. Tours, and I think a restaurant. Plan to go soon!!!
    Inexpensive tours. Don't know about the food!
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