Article by Mira Temkin
St. Louis is a great destination for families because it offers many educational and memorable activities, from art and culture to baseball and brewing. Check out our recommendations for what to do and plan your trip to St. Louis. Many of the venues are free. For more information, visit explorestlouis.com.
Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tours
Yes, you can bring the kids. There is much to see, learn and discover at Anheuser-Busch, one of St. Louis’ oldest and most revered companies. They offer a complimentary, family-friendly tour that features the Clydesdale stable, the aging Beechwood Tanks and the Brew House, all for under an hour. The Historic Schoolhouse Museum Tour visits three historic buildings on campus and really delves deep into the history of Anheuser-Busch and the Busch family. You’ll visit all three buildings that are on the Registry of National Historic Landmarks: the Clydesdale Stable, the Brew House, and the Old Schoolhouse Museum. It’s a beautiful walk through their sprawling campus. budweisertours.com.
New at The Garden
Missouri Botanical Garden has been a St. Louis favorite since 1859, creating gorgeous garden spaces in this National Historic Landmark. This summer, MBG is featuring Chihuly in the Garden, where you’ll find 20 installations blending glassworks with nature. The kids will love hopping on the tram and stopping at the Children’s Garden. Named A Missouri Adventure, kids can venture into a limestone cave, glide down slides, board a steamboat and go back in time to Midwestern prairie village. Beat the heat at the Children’s Garden Splash Pad open now through Labor Day weekend. www.missouribotanicalgarden.org
B is for Baseball
You can’t beat fun at the old ballpark and Busch Stadium delivers the 11-time World Series-winning St. Louis Cardinals big time. Come early and watch batting practice. Take a picture with Fredbird, the Cardinal’s mascot from the first pitch to the third inning. Check out the Family Pavilion where the kids can enjoy the soft-play area (socks required). Virtual reality and more. It’s a good idea to review the size restrictions on the website to determine what you can and can’t bring in to the stadium. I left my backpack at the hotel and only took a small purse. https://www.mlb.com/cardinals
Introduce your Kids to the World of Opera
At the Opera Theatre of St. Louis, kids can discover the beauty of opera because all of the show are in English and accompanied by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Next up is Tosca. Bring a picnic and party on the lawn. Check their website for special prices on dress rehearsals and other discounts. https://opera-stl.org/
Go Wild
There is no place on earth quite like the City Museum for kids to explore with its wildly weird space, places to hide, slide, and discover. Get lost in twists, turns, tunnels, and just have plain, old-fashioned fun in this amazing gallery. Opened in 1997, City Museum is the king of recyclers, reimagining materials others want to discard. Check out the rooftop with its school bus, fighter jet, and Ferris Wheel. Indoors and out, this is the place to play. Citymuseum.org
New at Gateway Arch National Park
Visit the Gateway Arch, the tallest memorial in the United States. Built as a monument to the westward expansion of the United States, the arch typifies “the pioneer spirit of those who won the West.” Interestingly, both the width and height of the arch are the same, 630 feet. From the exquisite views to the Tram Ride to the top of the museum, you can easily spend a half day seeing everything. Check out the new Virtual Reality Theatre that showcases the St. Louis riverfront in the 1850s with stories of the immigrants who landed here. The interactive and accessible museum is free so you can share 200 years of history with your family. Advanced reservations for the Arch are highly recommended. https://www.gatewayarch.com/
Other ideas: The St. Louis Zoo (it’s free) Grant’s Farm – plenty of animals, history and fun (free), St. Louis Art Museum showcases 5000 years of art, and St. Louis Science Center, also free.
For more information, visit explorestlouis.com.
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