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Summer Destinations in St Louis

Check out these exciting St. Louis summer activities, and download the Community Passport to Summer Fun to document your summer!

Saint Louis County Library Check out events and classes at your local St. Louis County Library branch. Individuals who do not have a library card can sign up for one by presenting a photo ID and proof of current address. To learn more, please call 314-994-3300.

Marcus Theaters Marcus Theaters offer the Kids Dream Summer Film Series where they offer $3 family films every Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. Write about the movie you saw OR read the book the movie was based on.

Michael's Arts & Crafts Kids' program classes at Michael's are available in person and online for no cost.   St. Louis Gateway Arch The nation’s tallest monument at 630 feet, the Gateway Arch has beckoned visitors for more than 40 years with its iconic, awe-inspiring shape. The vision of renowned architect Eero Saarinen, the Gateway Arch commemorates Thomas Jefferson and St. Louis’ role in the westward expansion of the United States. A visit to St. Louis isn’t complete without standing at its base and playing professional photographer, and the view from the outside is only half of the experience. 

Saint Louis Science Center Visit the Saint Louis Science Center. Explore 700+ exhibits, the OMNIMAX® Theater, planetarium, special traveling exhibitions and more. Group rates available. Open daily. No general admission charge. OMINIMAX, planetarium, special traveling exhibitions and classes have a cost associated with them.

St. Louis Cardinals Check the date you are interested in and look for the deals for that day. You can get tickets for as little as $5 each. You can take in coolers as long as they will fit under your seat and don’t contain glass. You can get a FREE picture taken in the family area as a memento.

Magic House General Admission is $12 per person. Check for possible free event dates.

St. Louis County Parks and Recreation Lots of area parks offer special events and programs. The website will list parks that have picnic areas, playgrounds, and water play features.
Make it a learning experience:

  • Plan and pack a picnic. 
  • Write a grocery list, add prices at the grocery store, and follow a recipe. 
  • Go on a nature scavenger hunt!

Home Depot Workshops Keep kids engaged with projects and activities. Pick up your free Kids Workshop Kit on the first Saturday of each month between 9am - 12pm from your local store or order online – while supplies last.

St. Louis Art Museum The St. Louis Art Museum in Forest Park is always free to attend. They also offer Family Sundays from 1-4 p.m., where they offer 30 min. family tours through a gallery and a related art project. 
Missouri Botanical Garden The Garden offers free admission on Wednesday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m for St. Louis City/County residents. Proof of residency is required. The Children’s Garden offers free admission on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. for St. Louis City/County residents. If you take advantage of the free admission to the Children’s Garden on Tuesday, you will have to pay admission to the Botanical Garden.

Laumeir Sculpture Park Laumeier Sculpture Park is a 105 acre open-air museum that integrates art, nature and human experience in a unique setting where you can hike, learn and experience a stunning collection of outdoor sculpture. FREE Open 8 a.m. till sunset. There is an indoor gallery and shop where you may purchase items.

St. Louis Museum of Transportation Museum of Transportation is one of the largest and best collections of transportation vehicles in the World. It has the most complete collection of American rail power anywhere, with automobiles, busses, streetcars, horse-drawn carriages, aircraft, and riverboats. Open Monday – Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $15 for adults (13-64), $5 for children (3-12), $12 for seniors and active duty military (65+) and free for children under 2. The Creation Station is available for an additional $2 per person.

Forest Park Boathouse Rent a paddleboat for $22. The paddleboats hold 560 pounds (approximately 2 adults and 2-3 children).
Rental Pricing Details:

  • Paddle Boats $25 for one hour, $35 for two hours
  • Canoe: $20 for one hour, $35 for two hours
  • Single Kayak: $15 for one hour, $30 for two hours
  • Double Kayak: $20 for one hour, $35 for two hours
  • Paddle Board: $15 for one hour, $30 for two hours

Lone Elk State Park Drive through Lone Elk Park and see lots of animals in the wild. FREE!

The Muny Go to the Muny for FREE SEATS for each show. Get there early, gates open at 7 p.m. You can sit in the last 9 rows. Visit the website for the show listings. There are wonderful spots to have a picnic before the show. Take a blanket and stretch out and enjoy the beautiful Forest Park.

Grant's Farm There are many exciting animal encounters possible at Grant's Farm, the 281-acre ancestral home of the Busch family, located just south of the city of St. Louis. The Farm is home to more than 900 animals representing more than 100 different species. Grant's Farm, operated by Anheuser-Busch, Inc., has been a St. Louis tradition for over five decades. More than 24 million guests have visited this popular family attraction during its history. Parking is $15 per vehicle.

St. Louis Zoo St. Louis Zoo is open 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. M – Th. and 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. F – S.
FREE admission to the Zoo.
FREE admission to the Children’s Zoo, Stingrays at Caribbean Cove and Conservation Carousel during the first hour the park is open. Look at the website for special offers, discounts, and things available to do in the Zoo.

St. Louis Citygarden Water is one of the most expressive elements at Citygarden. Three fountains are interspersed throughout the park, combining with sculpture and lush plant life to create a unique visitor experience. The first fountain is 34 feet in diameter. The second fountain is the split basin, which is 190 feet long, 20 feet wide and 16 inches deep. A waterfall, approximately 40 feet wide, "breaks" the basin where the arc wall crosses the pool and the upper basin seeps and cascades from the upland café terrace down to the floodplain six feet below. The last fountain is the playful spray plaza, which punctuates Citygarden's middle tier. The spray plaza includes a paved field of 102 vertical jets that project water up to eight feet in height. The plaza invites children and adults alike to meander through its programmed patterns, and delight in the evening shows of light and water. FREE

Purina Farms The farm is open 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. daily every Wednesday - Sunday. Admission and parking are FREE. Text PFARMA to 313131 to sign up for text alerts about special events and offers.

St. Louis History Museum Open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tue. until 8 p.m. Memorial Day to Labor Day, daily 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Tue., 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Phone: (314) 746-4599. FREE  (Any special exhibits do have a fee involved, but the museum itself is free.)

City of Maryland Heights Aquaport Grab the family and make your way to Aquaport this summer! Enjoy the numerous pools and slides, snacks and cool treats at the concession stand, and plenty of parking and deck room to make your visit comfortable. With its convenient location and affordable pass prices, Aquaport is a great place for the entire family to cool off and enjoy the summer!

Maryland Heights Privilege Card Holder Daily Rate:

  • Adult (ages 16-61): $5
  • Youth (ages 4-15) or Senior (ages 62+): $4
  • Ages 3 and under: FREE
  • Add FlowRider Pass: Free
  • Guest Pass: Patrons with a current Maryland Heights Privilege Card may bring two guests per day, per card holder at the resident daily rate.

Faust Park Home of Frederick Bates, Missouri’s second governor and Faust Historic Village, The St. Louis Carousel (314-615-8383) and the Butterfly House (636 -530-0076). The Butterfly House is free the first Tuesday of every month from 9-11a.m. for St. Louis City/County residents. Proof of residency is required. The Carousel is $2 per ride (free on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day). There is also a huge playground and picnic area that is always free.

Forest Park and Creve Coeur Park have paved walking and biking trails. Don’t forget your helmet if you are riding your bike. Creve Coeur also has FREE water play areas.

Forest Park Nature Playscape An exciting new Forest Park destination is now open to the public. Funded by donors to Forest Park Forever and completed in partnership with the City of St. Louis, the Anne O’C. Albrecht Nature Playscape is a 17-acre experiential play space with natural landscapes that include native and diverse species. Featuring nine distinct activity areas, the free destination includes sand play areas, willow tunnels, stump steppers, boulders and rocks, hand water pumps and much more.