Visiting STL, need ideas for 3yr old

[KAYLI'S DAD]

We are visiting st. louis in march and our daughter will be very close to 3yrs old.
Any ideas on what to do for 1 day? We were thinking of the Magic House and maybe the science center, but the science center looks like it is for older children. Any thoughts? thanks in advance.

 

[hsmamato2]

I'm going in July- looking for ideas too,but my kids are 10 and 16..... what about the zoo? my kids loved it when they were little(still do)

 

[KAYLI'S DAD]

We would really like to go to the zoo. But I thought it might be too cold in march. I guess if the weather turns out to be good that day we could go.

 

[gregokdisney]

For any ages, try the Magic House. It is a blast. I can't say enough about how fun it is, but as a word of warning it is always insanely crowded.

The zoo is awesome even in March - there are plenty of places to go inside and get warm. The animals are very active in the cooler weather.

The City Museum is highly recommended, but as a parent I don't recommend it for toddlers. It is a multi-level play space, and kids can go down slides and end up on a different level from you and it's really hard to keep track of them.

The Science Center is also fun. Most of it is free, though some of the special exhibits cost.

 

[ckrum]

Magic House is a must!
Science Center has some areas for small children that are a lot of fun & that portion is free, so you don't have to feel like you have to stay all day.
Zoo - our best trip was in March, when it was chilly. The animals were so active and we got to see them really welll. Most of the zoo is free.
The City Museum is amazing, but not for that young of a child. We took DD when she was around 5 & even then, I was sure she was going to get hurt or lost. Lots of metal stairs & multi-floor slides and caves that aren't always grown-up "friendly".
Have fun! We love visiting St. Louis!

 

[jedijill]

How about Grant's Farm? I haven't been in years but a good friend of mine in St Louis takes her little girls all the time to see the animals. The best part is it is free.

http://www.grantsfarm.com/

Jill in CO

 

[clh2]

I hate going to zoos in the summer. I agree with a PP, the animals are much more active in the cooler months. Dress in layers!

We live in Wisconsin, and LOVED going to the Milwaukee cty zoo in the winter. Not on the bitter cold days...but some of the days when it was in the 30's, no wind and lots of sun. The animals were busy...and there were no crowds. The key- just dress warm enough.
.

 

[SarahKate]

Magic House is PERFECT for your child's age. There will be lots and lots of age-appropriate things for you to do, and it's fun for both kids and their parents.

One recommendation is if you go to Drury's hotel website, you can usually find some coupons including a buy 1 get 1 free for Magic House.

Another tip is to try to get there soon after they open if at all possible. They get VERY busy and it's not a wide open place like some other museums.

Science Center is probably too advanced for a 3 yr old.

City Museum could be fun, although maybe not a ton for her age. They do have an indoor aquarium there if she's into that kind of thing yet.

The zoo is always a great option, it's free (does have some fee based attractions as well as parking). And Grant's Farm is GREAT for her age, and FREE too.

I 100%, absolutely recommend staying at a Drury hotel. They are awesome and extremely family-friendly. No, I don't work there but we got there 3-4x a year and will not stay anywhere else. We usually can find a great rate there - $70-80 a nite.

A while back I wrote a St. Louis resource for a local website I provide content to, here is the link: http://springfieldmoms.org/st-louis-day-trips-and-attractions/ definitely check that out for some ideas.

We love going down there, it's about 100 miles from where we live so it's a nice easy drive.

Have fun and be sure to let us know all about it!

 

[erin327]

We were in St. Louis last summer with our then 25 month old daughter. She loved the Magic House, Grant's Farm, the zoo, and going up in the arch. She enjoyed the Science Center too. There was a lot there that was over her head, but there were quite a few things there she really enjoyed. It is free, so you could go in for a couple of hours and then move on.

She is standing here and I asked her what a 2 year old should do in St. Louis and she said the Magic House and the arch. I guess some 8 months later that is what she remembered first.

 

[ICF]

I'm going in July- looking for ideas too,but my kids are 10 and 16..... what about the zoo? my kids loved it when they were little(still do)

your kids would LOVE the City Museum

 

[jgates]

Grant's Farm has limited hours during the non summer season, so make sure you check their website. It is a fantastic place to visit.

The zoo puts a LOT of miles on your feet. I know it is a gorgeous zoo, but I have never been so confused in getting around a facility, LOL. And this from a girl who normally doesn't even need GPS.

My son's first visit to the Arch was at about 18 months if not even less. It immediately became his FAVORITE place to visit!!! We ended up close to 2 trips a year to St. Louis just because he wanted to visit the Arch all the time - grew up & got a degree in Civil Engineering - building - & we figured that first visit influenced his future.

When you get to the 10 & 16 year old age & into the summer months a ball game is a great thing to do. Also a trip to the AB Brewery is fun. You at least get a peek at a Clydesdale if you can't make it out to the farm. Plus the tours through the buildings are very interesting. We usually go every time and it never gets old.

The National Museum of Transport is on the SW side of town. Also for the older kids - although if the 3 year old likes trains at all, it will be a hit. They primarily focus on trains & have a large collection. My son was quite small the first time he went.

There are a ton of things to do in town. We normally stay either in Fairview Heights (about 10 miles E of downtown). There is a Drury at that exit, as well as a Fairfield Inn & a few other hotels. Or we stay in St. Charles at Fairfield or Harrah's. St. Charles is about 25 minutes west of Downtown. Depends a bit on what we are targeting to do - but no one seems to mind the drive to downtown from St. Charles. (Once you have driven 8 hours from home, that 25 min is a SNAP, lol).

SW out of town, there is a nice cave to visit where Jesse James gang hid out. And I believe Daniel Boone has a farm slightly southwest of town also.

 

[SarahKate]

The zoo puts a LOT of miles on your feet. I know it is a gorgeous zoo, but I have never been so confused in getting around a facility, LOL. And this from a girl who normally doesn't even need GPS.

I totally agree about the zoo. Honestly, we don't go there that often. It's a great zoo and rated one of the best in the country, but it's just BIG. There is the children's zoo area, which has a separate admission price that's a cool place to go. I'd almost rather pay to just go there than try to maneuver the whole zoo! If your daughter loves animals & weather decent, go to Grant's Farm if it's open. It's more manageable, you can walk across the lot and see Clydesdales and dalmatians, AND you can get free beer or other alcoholic beverage (A-B products of course!).

Also, if you do end up looking at the Drury Hotels.....there are a couple of discount codes for you to try if you look up rates on their site....FUN or STLFUN. We typically stay at the one in Creve Couer (off of 270) or Chesterfield (southwest of STL but the commute isn't bad if you avoid rush hour, and it's next to a big mall w/ a Cheesecake Factory!). Drury's really can't be beat for the money - nice and clean, free hot breakfast, drink vouchers, and a hot snack bar (hot dogs, chips, etc.) in the evenings. There I go again. I should totally work for them.....

 

[KAYLI'S DAD]

A while back I wrote a St. Louis resource for a local website I provide content to, here is the link: http://springfieldmoms.org/st-louis-day-trips-and-attractions/ definitely check that out for some ideas.

Thanks for the info and link. That is funny that I have seen cars with the spfldmoms logo on them because I live in spfld as well and have never looked at the site. But my wife said she has!

We do usually prefer the drury hotels as well, but this time we are trying the marriott at union station.

I looked up Grants farm but they do not open until mid April.

 

[luvmylilangels]

ZOO hands down! First off it's FREE! And if you love a good bargain if you get there when it opens you can do the train, carousel, and children's zoo for FREE!! Otherwise those attractions cost extra. I would first walk to the carousel and ride that a couple times. Then catch the train for a ride around the zoo. At the last stop before you are back where you started get off(the train stop in front of the North Entrance) and head left over to the Children's zoo and spend as much time as you want there before seeing the rest of the zoo. If you follow this order you can easily get to them all in the first hour. Also, by getting there when it opens you can park very close in Forest Park for FREE. We always park by the Art Museum. It's close and if we have extra time we stop off at Art Hill to let the kids play on the big hill before leaving. I love the zoo!! And March is a wonderful time to go!!

 

[KAYLI'S DAD]

ZOO hands down! First off it's FREE! And if you love a good bargain if you get there when it opens you can do the train, carousel, and children's zoo for FREE!! Otherwise those attractions cost extra. I would first walk to the carousel and ride that a couple times. Then catch the train for a ride around the zoo. At the last stop before you are back where you started get off(the train stop in front of the North Entrance) and head left over to the Children's zoo and spend as much time as you want there before seeing the rest of the zoo. If you follow this order you can easily get to them all in the first hour. Also, by getting there when it opens you can park very close in Forest Park for FREE. We always park by the Art Museum. It's close and if we have extra time we stop off at Art Hill to let the kids play on the big hill before leaving. I love the zoo!! And March is a wonderful time to go!!

So the first hour they are open is free for everything?

 

[SarahKate]

Thanks for the info and link. That is funny that I have seen cars with the spfldmoms logo on them because I live in spfld as well and have never looked at the site. But my wife said she has!

We do usually prefer the drury hotels as well, but this time we are trying the marriott at union station.

I looked up Grants farm but they do not open until mid April.

Hey it's a small world!!! We've never gotten to stay at that Marriott but I bet that will be a cool place!

Yes, the owner of the website and at least one other person I know of who works for the site have the decals on their vehicles. Great way to advertise! It's a great site, lots of good info.

That web link I put in earlier I think has a link to some coupons, you might try that out.....they'll have coupons there for a lot of the popular attractions.

There's an do-it-yourself art studio called Yucandu that's listed in the article too - highly recommend that place if you have time. I feel like it's better than the places we have in Springpatch and you can take it w/ you.

 

[ckrum]

The Mariott is beautiful. DD thought it was a castle! She stood in the window sill (in our room) behind the big drapes and that was her "stage". She was around 4 when we went and still asks to go back.

 

[luvmylilangels]

So the first hour they are open is free for everything?

Oh rats!! They took the train off the "First Hour" freebie list. But the Children's Zoo and Carousel are still free the first hour the zoo is open. Still well worth it. Here is a list of the extra attractions that cost:

•Children's Zoo is $4 per person. Free admission the first hour the Zoo is open. Children under 2 are free.
•Conservation Carousel is $3 per person. All proceeds support the Saint Louis Zoo's conservation programs.
•Zooline Railroad is $5 per person, per round trip ticket. You may leave the train, visit exhibits and re-board. Children under 2 are free.
•Motion Simulator is $3 per person.
•3-D Movie is $3 per person.

Safari Pass
Make the most of your day at the Zoo with a Safari Pass. This one-day pass is $10/person and includes one admission to the Children's Zoo, Zooline Railroad, Sea Lion Show (while in season), Conservation Carousel and Motion Simulator.

The Safari Pass is really a good savings also if you plan on doing just about every attraction. But with your daughter being so young she may not like the motion simulator and 3-D movie. So the Safari Pass may not save you because if you do the Children's Zoo and Carousel at opening then all that is left is the train which is $5. Not bad! Here is a link to a quick Zoo Fact Sheet.

 

[hsmamato2]

great link- thanks so much! I am so looking forward to visiting this summer....

 

[deerhart]

another for the zoo. As we live here my kids always want to go and I have been in just about every month!

The best way to navigate the zoo is in a circle in one direction. It is also big enough that you can go for 1-2 hours and only do one section. We generally go Bears/Penguins/fragile forest/flight cage/ Red Rocks/Big Cats/Houses (monkey, reptile, bird)/elephants.

Also there are some great spots hidden from the normal paths (like behind the bird house) where they have some hidden treasures (like the bald eagle)

We also do Grants Farm, and the magic house. The magic house is even better know that they have opened their expansion. It is also free to the public on the (I beleive) third friday evening every month.

Other places of interest-- the Art Museum is free as is the history museum, out in West County at Faust Park they have a huge Butterfly house
http://www.butterflyhouse.org/

Also the Missouri Botanical Gardens http://www.mobot.org/

The Science center also has an IMAX theater and a planetarium. The only thing I say to watch with a young child is the robotic dinos!

There are tons and tons of free or low cost things to do in St. Louis (thanks to our museum district taxes ) depending on what your interested in.

http://www.explorestlouis.com/visitors/25thingsOne.asp?pt=1
http://www.explorestlouis.com/kids/index.asp

If you come early enough in March, their still maybe Ice Skating at Steinberg in Forest Park!