About five hours by car from southwest Ohio, St. Louis is a Midwest destination with many must-see spots for a fantastic family adventure. Searching for a road-trip destination for a quick weekend excursion? Looking for a vacation spot that’s not too far from home? St. Louis should be on your short-list for your next family trip. From iconic attractions to delicious food and local gems, here are some of the best things for families to do in St. Louis.

1. Visit the tallest national monument in the U.S.

When you think of St. Louis, you probably think of the Gateway Arch, the world’s tallest arch and the tallest national monument in the country. (Yes, it’s even taller than the Statue of Liberty!) Gateway Arch National Park is where you can get-up close to this stainless steel monument, and even take a 4-minute tram ride up 630 feet to the top. As you ride up to the top of the Arch, you’ll learn about the history of the Arch and its significance to the region. Once at the top, peep out the windows to see breathtaking views of downtown St. Louis on one side, and the Mississippi River on the other. 

Back on solid ground, you’ll want to explore the Museum at the Gateway Arch, which features six themed exhibit areas that trace the story of the Native Americans, explorers and pioneers who made America possible. 

Pro tip: Admission is free to Gateway National Park, but if you want to go up to the top of the Arch, you’ll need to pay for a ticket. Tickets sell out each day, so it’s best to purchase tickets online in advance of your visit.

2. Get lost at one of the weirdest and wackiest museums ever imagined

The City Museum is a one-of-a-kind architectural wonderland that was once an old shoe factory. This downtown St. Louis attraction is like a child’s fever-dream — a magical place that isn’t just a museum but an awe-inspiring playground for all ages, full of surprises at every turn.

This is one of those places where words don’t do it justice. You need to visit the City Museum to understand! Imagine exploring tunnels, wiggling through caves, and zooming down slides both indoors and outdoors. Climb aboard a school bus that’s perched precariously over the edge of the building, wander through an enchanted forest, parkour around the skateless skatepark, experience the thrill of a circus, and even ride a Ferris wheel on the rooftop while admiring a vintage plane. It’s nonstop fun, and perfect for adventurous kids who love to climb and test their limits.

What makes the City Museum even more special is its history. Established in 1997 by artist Bob Cassilly and his wife Gail, this creative space continues to evolve, even after Cassilly’s passing in 2011. The museum’s collection is a blend of art and architecture, crafted from reclaimed building materials that give it a unique and ever-changing charm.

One thing to note for parents of young kids: the City Museum is huge! There are lots of corners and caverns, and it’s easy to lose track of a child amidst the twists and turns. To help with this, it’s helpful to:

• Make sure your phone number is written on your child’s wristband.
• Establish a meeting spot, in the event you get separated.

It’s also helpful to bring a flashlight or wear a headlight when exploring the caves. Some of the caves in the City Museum are dark!

3. Enjoy art, culture, animals and nature at Forest Park

Spanning more than 1,300 acres, Forest Park is one of the largest urban parks in the U.S. — even bigger than New York City’s Central Park! This park is home to many of the city’s major cultural institutions, and amazingly, almost everything in Forest Park can be visited free of charge.

At Forest Park, you’ll find 30 miles of paths and trails, plus three family playgrounds, including the fully accessible Variety Wonderland Playground, the Oakland Avenue Playground and the 17-acre experiential Anne O’C. Albrecht Nature Playscape.

A highlight of Forest Park is the Saint Louis Zoo, a world-class destination with more than 14,000 animals from around the world, many that are rare and endangered. A popular exhibit is Sea Lion Sound, where you can walk through an underwater tunnel into the seal and sea lions’ habitat. 

Another museum that’s popular with families is the Saint Louis Science Center, which houses a wide range of exhibits about the wonders of science. Explore Earth’s ecosystems, unravel the mysteries of the human body, attend a live science demonstration, play and learn about video games, see a giant replica of a T.Rex dinosaur and much more!

The Science Center is connected via a Skybridge to the McDonnell Planetarium, a place where you can learn about space. This building has three floors of space, aviation and spaceflight exhibits, and houses the largest artificial sky in the Western Hemisphere. See genuine space capsules, look through high-powered telescopes and experience a laser light show.

Pro tip: There’s usually a fee to park at the museum parking lots in Forest Park. However, there’s lots of free street parking, if you don’t mind a little hike!

4. Stuff yourself silly at St. Louis’s biggest food hall

City Foundry STL is a foodie paradise. This expansive food hall offers lots of food options — everything from familiar foods like pizza and tacos, to more unique cuisines like Mexican-Asian fusion, Afro-Caribbean, Creole and Hawaiian. For a sweet treat, you’ll find everything from popsicles to mini cheesecakes, and even sweet gooey-butter cake toasted ravioli, which combine two St. Louis-famous foods in one sweet treat.

Housed in a former electric company, City Foundry STL maintains a lot of its original charm. Look up, and you’ll see hooks and cranes hanging from the ceiling. Look around you and you’ll see pipes and gadgets that used to function in the original building. City Foundry kept a lot of the soul of the building, while also modernizing it and making it functional for its new life: a place for people to gather and eat great food.

5. Celebrate one of the world’s oldest games

This one is for the chess lovers! At the World Chess Hall of Fame, you can visit the World’s Largest Chess Piece, certified by Guinness World Records in 2018. This regional and national landmark measures 20 feet tall and 9 feet, 2 inches in diameter, and weighs a whopping 10,860 pounds.

Inside the museum, you’ll find three floors of exhibits, featuring rare and unique chess pieces and boards, and information about famous chess players. Families can participate in a scavenger hunt while touring the museum, and get a prize at the end.

Pro tip: Admission to the World Chess Hall of Fame is free.

6. See the sights at Union Station

The first train pulled into the St. Louis Union Station in 1894, and the last one departed in 1978. Now, this iconic landmark has been transformed into a vibrant entertainment destination. 

One of Union Station’s main attractions is the St. Louis Aquarium, which opened in 2019. The aquarium features dozens of exhibits, highlighting everything from local river ecosystems to shark habitats. 

Union Station is an all-in-one destination for family fun. You can take a ride on The Wheel, a towering, 200-foot-high Ferris wheel that offers panoramic views of the city from enclosed, climate-controlled gondolas. Or take adventure to new heights at the indoor Ropes Course. You can also take some memorable and silly selfies at Selfie Express, explore the Mirror Maze, play a round of mini golf, hop a ride on a carousel and lots more.

Grab a bite at one of the several restaurants located around Union Station, like Train Shed, located inside Union Station and serving St. Louis classics (get the toasted ravioli!). Satisfy your sweet tooth with ice cream at the Soda Fountain, which serves some of the most impressive confectionary creations around.

Union Station is a great place to play AND stay. The St. Louis Union Station Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton, is a beautiful and historic hotel that just steps away from all of the action. Bonus: There’s a free light show on the soaring ceilings of the Grand Hall at the hotel every hour.