Things to do in St. Louis with a baby...

wed2be

Hi Ladies,

We will be visiting St. Louis in a few weeks and I am wondering if you can suggest some fun things to do with a one year old...

I am looking into the zoo, City Museum, Magic House, and storytime at the Library. I would love to know your opinon of these things and any other ideas you may have? Are there any Mommy and Me classes like My Gym or Gymboree?

ashleydcalvert@yahoo.com

There is one Gymboree location in St. Louis and a Little Gym (which is similar). Definitely check out the zoo! It is free but the Children's Zoo costs to enter but is totally worth it!

City Museum is always a blast- a very unique spot. I THINK they may have new features for small kids, but I'm not sure.

I'm not sure what are you wil be staying in, but there's various Farmer's markets in the area that would be nice to visit if the weather is cool. Downtown Kirkwood has a great one as well as a lovely shopping district, ice cream shop, and train station.

 Enjoy your trip!!!

wed2be

Thank you for the information! We will be staying near union station. While I will have a car, I didn't really want to use it, but it looks like everything is pretty far to walk. How is public transportation in St. Louis?

Cilley

You could take the city bus to downtown and go to the City Garden. They have fountains your LO and you can play it.

You can also go to Forest Park and go to the zoo and the art museum for free.

The public transportation isn't the greatest for going out of the city, but I think if you stay in the downtown area there are a lot of buses.

Have a great time!

Sara Scissors

For your LO's age, I would suggest the City Garden.  By then all the school-aged kids will be back in school.  It's totally free (it's a public park technically) but it has fountains to run through.  We've gone several times this summer.  It's downtown at Market and 8th Street I believe.  Also the Magic House as a great kids area for 2 and under.  I think at your LO's age, the Zoo and City Museum would be more for you than them.  But they are both awesome places to visit too!

Wufroggy79

Def use the car. Public transportation here is the worst, especially with a baby. Best to use the car. It will be faster, and depending where you are going, safer.

marooner

I believe if you get to the zoo w/in the first hour of opening the Stingray, carousel, & children's zoo are free to enter. The children's zoo is really neat: goats to brush, a play area w/dirt and barrels, splash pad, & more. Children's museum is fun but would cost $17+ for you and LO. Hope you have a great time!

Jessie_ea

nbeseau:

Def use the car. Public transportation here is the worst, especially with a baby. Best to use the car. It will be faster, and depending where you are going, safer.

This. I would never use the public transportation here (except maybe the metrolink to get to baseball or hockey games). Grants Farm and the Botanical Garden are both really great places to visit. Near Grants Farm there is also a transportation museum that's neat too.

clstoblg

The city garden that most people suggested would be a great place but I would say if you are staying at union station I would walk.  It is really only a few blocks so if you had a stroller it would be much better than parking in the city (which will cost money too).   The magic house I think is fun for little ones and definately the zoo.  If you are out at the zoo I might even check out the science center it is another free fun activity that is usually for older children but you might find a few things to entertain your little one.  It is also in forrest park.  Have fun! 

 I don't know how long you will be in town or if you are wanting to travel outside the city at all but Purina farms is fun for little ones too.  They have lots of farm animals that you can pet like chickens, bunnys, piglets, and see a cow milked/help milk a cow see lots of dogs and cats.  It is free as well but is in Grey Summitt, MO. 

Temp6313048411121614

Magic House definitely!  They have an area for under 24m, but my twins are 20m and they have a blast almost in the entire area. 

Fashiongal1973

I would not take a bus but would take the metro link (commuter train) unfortunately it really doesn't get you very close to any of the activities listed. It does get close to the History Museum but anything else in the park is a decent walk from the station. 

The City Garden and the City Museum are located downtown.

The zoo is in Forest Park (5 minutes) which is right down highway 64/40 west and you take the exit for Hampton Avenue. There is a lot to do in Forest Park. We like to take a picnic and hang out near some of the water. Usually there are ducks to feed and they are happy to be fed. The Science Center is also in Forest Park. You can see it from the highway and it is actually closer to the Kingshighway exit. 

Further out is Kirkwood (15 minutes from downtown), you can get there from 64/40 west as well. Just go south on Lindbergh. The Magic House is in Kirkwood as well as some really cute shops and restaurants. 

If you are in St. Louis on a Thursday there is a great story time at Subterranean Books in the University City area. The book store is small so I would leave your stroller in the car. It is on Delmar, which is also a great area for some unique shops and restaurants. Pi pizza is worth the drive but try the thick crust not the thin and Blueberry Hill is great to go in and just look around at the memorabilia. Story time is from 11:30 to 12 and the woman who reads is great. There is also a great kids store down there called City Sprouts. This is also the street where there is a root beer bottling plant/restaurant called Fitz's. 

Sometimes there is story time at the History Museum. I would check their web site for more info. 

There is also a Children's Play area at the Missouri Botanical Garden and they have fountains for the kids to play in. This is probably 10 minutes from your hotel.

There are some amazing neighborhoods in St. Louis and the surrounding area. Clayton has great restaurants and so does the Central West End. My husband and I take our son everywhere so I can't think of anyplace specific that hasn't been kid friendly.  

Enjoy your visit!