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Family-Friendly Adventure in St. Louis, MO

Last Updated on October 7, 2024 by Amy Albers

What do you think of when you think of St. Louis, Missouri? Beer? Baseball? Maybe even football, now that Missou has joined the SEC. I hear “Missouri” and think of wilderness, of pioneers like Lewis and Clark. It’s a mix, of course, but my outdoorsy side was more than satisfied on a recent trip. My first time in Missouri consisted of adventure, culture, history, endangered animals – and toasted ravioli. Oh my word, the toasted ravioli. 

Things to do Outdoors in St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis Shakespeare Festival

St. Louis Shakespeare Festival stage at night.

Shakespeare Glen, Forest Park, St. Louis

For almost 25 years, the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival has provided free performances in Forest Park. Now reaching an average of 50,000 attendees annually, the festival is a must-attend event in May and June. 

Last summer’s performance was of As You Like It. I was familiar with the title but had never read or seen a performance of the play. If you think Shakespeare is boring, you may have seen the wrong actors performing. The cast was exuberant and heartfelt; the performances were, at turns, heartbreaking and hilarious. A local musician performed original music throughout the show. 

Food trucks and souvenir tents were available. A humorous cartoon storyboard designed for the novice Shakespeare fan gave attendees a quick and easy explanation of the play’s storyline. After sundown, the temperature was perfect. There are chairs in a reserved section, but everyone can bring their own (low) chairs and blankets. 

Paddle the Mighty Mississippi

St. Louis Gateway Arch from a boat in the Mississippi.

Big Muddy Adventures is THE vendor to contact for paddling on the Mississippi River. (By the way – does everyone else spell out Miss-iss-ippi in their head when typing that word? Just me? Cool.) Our group joined in a micro-paddle – an hour-long float. Our canoe fit our entire group and depended on everyone paddling in sync. 

Even though it was a short tour, this history nerd thought it was cool to be in a boat on this waterway that had seen many vessels that changed our country’s history. And the view of the Gateway Arch from the river couldn’t be beat. I want to stress that you don’t need paddling experience for guided treks. 

If you want something more, check out the Big Muddy website. They have unique experiences like their Full Moon Float and Rivertime Supper Club. If you’re more interested in the Missouri River, they can also accommodate that. Finally, they have gear rental available if you prefer to go alone. 

Get A Bird’s Eye View of St. Louis – Gateway Arch National Park

Gateway Arch National Park sign

11 North Fourth St., St. Louis

Why the arch? St. Louis is known as “The Gateway to the West” because of its location near the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, the two longest rivers in the United States. That provided intrepid pioneers like Lewis and Clark opportunities to explore Western territory after the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. The impressive museum offers a complete history of St. Louis and its role in westward expansion. Be sure to check out the exhibit about building the Gateway Arch.

Visitors can head up to the top of the arch; a ticket purchase is required. The trams that transport you are small and can only fit five visitors at a time. Those who are claustrophobic may be hesitant, but the ride up only takes four minutes, and you can travel back down in three minutes. One person in our group who first declined reconsidered and was glad she did. 

View of St. Louis from the Gateway Arch

Once you are up top, you will have about ten minutes to peer out the windows for magnificent views of St. Louis and the Mississippi River. This was another National Park site I checked off my list, and the visit was well worth it. 

Walk Route 66 on the old Chain of Rocks Bridge

Sitting on a bench at Old Chain of Rocks Bridge

10820 Riverview Dr., St. Louis 

Once part of the storied Route 66, the old Chain of Rocks Bridge is now open for bikes and pedestrians. Although the bridge is only one mile long, it connects the states of Missouri and Illinois while transporting people across the Mississippi River. It’s part of the much larger Great Rivers Greenway that links to trails throughout the state. If you’re lucky, you can attend one of the many events hosted along the various greenways. 

Audubon Center at Riverlands

Sign for Great Missouri Birding Trail

301 Riverlands Way, West Alton

The Audubon Center at Riverlands and the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary should be on your itinerary if you caught the birdwatching bug during the pandemic. According to their brochure, the Bird Sanctuary comprises roughly “1,200 acres of restored prairie and marsh habitat, 550 acres of bottomland forest habitat, and 1,100 acres of open water.”

We visited the Audubon Center and walked its trails. Naturalists pointed out various bird species and educated us on their needs. They also pointed out examples of healthy habitats for birds and other wildlife. The center’s mission is to inform visitors about caring for wildlife and getting involved in conservation. 

Treetops and Caves – Explore Meramec Caverns

Woman hooked into a zipline across the Meramec River

1135 Hwy W, Sullivan

Meramec Caverns offers several experiences on-site. First, the treetops. Caveman Zipline offers an 80-minute guided tour with four ziplines. The first one goes over the Meramec River! Our guides were helpful and encouraging – it was great fun! All equipment is provided, and the guides do safety checks to ensure your gear fits just right. 

After flying through the air, it was time to go underground. First used by the Osage to escape rough weather, the caverns were later used to mine saltpeter for gunpowder. In the early 20th century, locals used the cool caverns to hold parties during hot summers. It wasn’t until Lester Benton Dill bought the cave in 1933 that it became a tourist attraction. Through the years, Dill would explore and open up more areas of the caverns, even finding proof that Jesse James used the cave as a hideout at one time!

Meramec Caverns near St. Louis

The caverns are 60 degrees year-round, so I was glad to have a sweatshirt. Our guide led us along the wide walkways and well-lighted paths of the caverns, pointing out the different features of the cavern and its mineral formations. Pictures honestly cannot do this justice. The formations are stunning! I would say Meramec Caverns would be a hit with most ages. If you have a kid who has never met a gift shop they didn’t like (my oldest), you might be surprised by the very reasonable prices I found for souvenirs.

Feathered Friends at the World Bird Sanctuary

Emu at the World Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis

125 Bald Eagle Ridge Rd., Valley Park

Visit the 305-acre World Bird Sanctuary, home to more than 200 birds. Established in 1977, the organization aims to protect winged creatures while promoting conservation and rehabilitation. A stroll down Avian Avenue gave me the chance to meet feathered friends, and some of them had plenty to say! 

The keepers and medical staff provided information about the birds and stories about why some were on site. The sanctuary is also home to a wildlife hospital that treats more than 600 injured and sick birds annually! I enjoyed this stop on our itinerary and learned so much. 

Endangered Wolf Center

6750 Tyson Valley Rd., Eureka

The Endangered Wolf Center primarily focuses on the conservation of Mexican wolves and American red wolves but also takes in other endangered canids. I appreciated touring the center, but I was fascinated by their wolf fostering program. They take wolf pups born in captivity and match them with wolf mothers in the wild. They track the babies to avoid inbreeding for the next round of fostering. The whole process is well thought out, and they have had success with the program so far. 

Missouri Botanical Garden

Fountain at Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis

4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis

Go ahead and schedule an entire day to visit the Missouri Botanical Garden. Opened in 1859, it’s the country’s oldest continually operating botanical garden. Businessman Henry Shaw envisioned a garden that would be a botanical showcase, including a library and a herbarium. 

Today, the MBG provides visitors with 79 acres of botanical displays, architecturally stunning buildings, and one of the world’s largest collections of rare and endangered plants. In addition to the displays, botanists are busy conducting botanical and scientific research behind the scenes. 

Need some gardening inspiration? On-site is a home gardening center with a gardening library, a resident plant doctor, and more to fuel your home garden designs. Kids will love the children’s garden, and adults will love the various conservatories and the newly remodeled Arid House. 

The Recreation and Culture Hub of St. Louis – Forest Park

St. Louis

Forest Park is a must-visit for families and those interested in arts and culture in St. Louis. The park is around 500 acres larger than New York’s Central Park and has multiple playgrounds, sports fields and courts, and various recreation opportunities. The big draw, however, is the tourist attractions there—most of them are FREE. This includes the Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis Art Museum, Saint Louis Science Center, and the Saint Louis Zoo. Did I mention they all offer free admission? 

Where to Eat in St. Louis, MO

Everybody’s gotta eat, right? I was introduced to some fantastic flavors in both finer and casual restaurants. I love a good mix of experiences during a vacation. Below are the restaurants I experienced and what I discovered.

Grand Hall at Union Station – Apps With a Show

1820 Market St., St. Louis

Union Station’s Grand Hall is a fantastic place to meet friends for drinks and an appetizer. The gorgeous former railroad station has been restored to its glory days and is a sight to behold. Starting at 5 p.m., it gets better. Every hour on the hour, a light show is projected on the 65-foot ceiling of the Grand Hall lobby. The show is stunning, and the food and drinks are excellent. 

Shakespeare Festival Offerings

Brat with toppings

I know the menu probably changes each time but I very much wanted to share my culinary discovery during the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival. I got the Shakes Fest Brat topped with grilled onions, apple compote with rosemary & sage, and bacon. YOU GUYS. It was amazing. 

St. Louis BBQ – Salt + Smoke

Toasted Ravioli

I don’t want to start a barbecue war. I’m just happy there are so many different styles to choose from. Salt + Smoke offers a variety of meats and sauces to suit your taste. Remember the toasted ravioli I mentioned earlier? I first had it at Union Station and was so happy we ordered more at Salt + Smoke. It is, simply, a bit of heaven as an appetizer. Do not sleep on this. The restaurant is in Ballpark Village and adjacent to Busch Stadium, making it perfect for a post- or pre-game meal. 

Friendly Fine Dining – Olive + Oak

216 W. Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves

I would rank Olive + Oak as finer dining, but there is no snobby air. Our group was running behind, with no time to change out of the clothes we were wearing while ziplining, caving, touring, and generally being sweaty messes. As soon as we were seated, any apprehension I had was gone. We were greeted warmly and treated as if we had formal evening wear. 

Cake at Olive + Oak St. Louis

Getting glimpses of everyone’s food and ordering items to pass around gave me access to various menu offerings. The appetizers had nice portions, and there were plenty of options for our vegetarian. Ditto with dinner. However, I was apprehensive about dessert. Our local guide had talked up the Cloud Cake so much that I thought there was no way it could be as good as she said. I was wrong. It was the lightest and most delicious thing I’ve ever had! Even if you dine elsewhere, treat yourself to dessert at Olive + Oak!

Burgers and Ice Cream at Baileys’ Range

Burger and fries at Baileys' Range in St. Louis, MO

4175 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis

If you need a casual spot that is entirely kid-friendly, head to the Shaw Neighborhood for Baileys’ Range. The burger combinations are creative and delicious, including beef, chicken, veggie, and bison options. They make the beer buns and all the ice cream in-house, ensuring amazing desserts and shakes. They offer seasonal ice cream flavors as well as vegan options. 

The portions are large! I loved my burger but ate only half after indulging in some appetizers. Made room for ice cream, though! If the weather is nice, sit in the grassy area out front and let the kids run around. Baileys’s Range is also an excellent place for an adult night out with 30 local beers on tap and boozy shakes made with the house ice cream. 

Stay in an Art Museum – 21c Museum Hotel St. Louis

Bed in hotel room at 21c Hotel St. Louis

1528 Locust St., St. Louis 63103

The 21c Museum Hotel in St. Louis hosts an art museum on its second floor. If you prefer hotels in historic buildings, you’re covered there. The hotel is in a former YMCA built in the Renaissance Revival style. The bottom floor hosts a fitness center with the original pool that all guests are welcome to use. A former basketball court is now a gallery. The stairwell is an exhibit itself, The Way Out West. It features various images taken throughout St. Louis at different times of the year and includes flora and fauna native to the area. In a word, it is stunning.

Plastic penguin overlooking bar

The rooms are sleek and comfy, with a whimsical rubber duck in your shower. If you’ve never stayed at a 21c Museum Hotel, you should know about the penguins. Each 21c property has a different penguin color, and guests and staff can move around these plastic mascots at will. It was fun to see where they would pop up next! 

Adventure Awaits in St. Louis, Missouri

Woman with paddle in front of river

St. Louis, Missouri, is a well-rounded city with much to offer. You might be surprised by the variety of outdoor experiences that await you in St. Louis! Whether I was underground, flying through the air, or paddling one of the country’s longest rivers, I was delighted by the experience. If you want to be active on your St. Louis vacation, the city and its surroundings are ready to accommodate.

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