ST. LOUIS
BY KATHIE IMMORMINO SUTIN
CHILD’S PLAY
It’s something parents can’t help but think about when planning a family vacation:
Will there be enough to keep the kids entertained? (Because nothing ruins the happy occasion of a family trip like whining and complaining coming from the children in tow.) If you plan a trip to St. Louis, the answer to the above question will invariably be, “yes.” Maybe even, “too much.”
Th at’s because St. Louis is brimming with child-friendly attractions. From the Gateway Arch (www.nps.gov/jeff ) to the world-famous Saint Louis Zoo (www.stlzoo.org), this city has something to entertain kids of all ages and interests.
A ride to the top of the soaring Arch, America’s tallest manmade monument, tops the list of must-dos for most families. Zip to the top in an otherworldly looking capsule and peer through the windows at the St. Louis skyline as you ascend.
Most people are surprised to learn there’s also a large museum under the Arch. Th e Museum of Westward Expansion off ers an engaging history lesson with rare artifacts from Lewis and Clark’s day, 15-foot-high photomurals depicting places the Corps of Discovery visited on the trek West, mounted animal specimens and an authentic Native American tipi.
Not far from the Arch is City Museum (www.citymuseum.org). Its name may be a bit dull, but this is no ho-hum museum with dusty, lifeless exhibits. Th e creation of St. Louis artist Bob Cassilly, the “museum” is a warehouse of fun, with spaces created from recycled materials for climbing, sliding, jumping and crawling. Located in a massive former shoe factory, it is packed with surprises—starting with MonstroCity, a conglomeration of dual Saber 40 fuselages, fire engines, castle turrets and other objects hanging from the building and linked by catwalks and spirals visitors can crawl through.
Not all the fun needs to be experienced indoors. For a breath of fresh, sweet-smelling air, head to the Missouri Botanical Garden (www.mobot.org), a great place to visit even when the weather isn’t conducive to outdoor activities. It stays warm and toasty in the giant Climatron, where visitors can wander through a tropical paradise and get an up-close look at plants that produce chocolate and chewing gum. Children also get a kick out of “Old Man Palm,” a tree with a fiber-covered trunk that looks like a beard. For kids with a keen eye, watch for the poison dart frogs at the entrance to the adjacent Brookings Center.
Not far from the gardens is Forest Park, which is larger than New York’s Central Park. It’s a veritable treasure trove of activities for kids, home to the Saint Louis Zoo, the St. Louis Science Center (www.slsc.org), lakes for boating and fishing, bike and walking paths, and Steinberg Rink, the largest outdoor skating rink in the Midwest. Turtle Playground is also on-site; filled with giant turtle sculptures, it always scores big with the little ones.
Over at the zoo, the animals will captivate your children for hours. Visit the tropics at the birdhouse and herpatarium, or wander in River’s Edge, a mythical waterway through four continents and home to hippos, rhinos and elephants. Chill out among the rock cliff s of Penguin and Puffin Coast, or wander into the Children’s Museum for personal encounters with friendly animals and a peek at the zoo’s littlest residents. Th e newest attraction is Conservation Carousel, an old-fashioned merry-go-round featuring 64 colorful hand-carved wooden animals representing the protected and endangered species that call the zoo home.
Head back inside for a trip to the Science Center before leaving Forest Park. No matter how much time you schedule, it probably won’t be enough for the kids. With 700 hands-on exhibits, an OMNIMAX theater, science demonstrations and a planetarium, there’s no end to the fun. On an enclosed bridge over I-64 connecting the center with the planetarium, kids love checking the speed of motorists below with radar guns. Budding scientists can get creative as they make remote-control robots in the LEGO Mindstorms attraction, one of only five in the US. And in the Discovery Room, three- to-eight-year-olds find activities geared especially to them.
Th ere’s more hands-on action to be found at Th e Magic House (www.magichouse.org), St. Louis’ children’s museum, where kids can star in a TV show, make their hair stand on end with a hydrostatic charger, push a giant pin screen to make a 3-D impression of themselves and more. Even infants get into the fun at the “Baby and Me” interactive exhibit.
With so many kid-friendly things to do in St. Louis, there’s no need for parents to dread complaints and looks of boredom. If anything, the kids will probably want to help Mom and Dad plan their next St. Louis vacation.
DECEMBER EVENTS
With Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa all being celebrated this month, St. Louis’ December calendar is jam-packed with holiday fun for kids.
HERE’S JUST A SAMPLING:
Laugh at the antics of a lovable snowman battling Santa for the rights to St. Nick’s worldwide gift delivery franchise in Santa vs. the Snowman, an OMNIMAX film at the Science Center.
The Missouri Botanical Garden loves to celebrate the holidays. On December 2, enjoy a Hanukkah celebration complete with traditional Jewish music, dancing and a menorah lighting. Santa pays the garden a visit during “Christmas Carols in the Garden” on December 8-9, giving visitors a chance to nibble on roasted chestnuts and admire the 15-foot decorated tree. On December 28, “Kwanzaa: Festival of the First Fruits” will feature storytelling, craft and jewelry displays, and authentic African drumming and musical performances.
Also on December 28, explore Kwanzaa at the Saint Louis Art Museum (www.slam.org). Celebrate the seven-day African cultural celebration with tours of the African collection, themed refreshments and music. Kids can create their own zawadi (gift) to take home.