Fun and Free Activities in St. Louis

St. Louis, Missouri has a lot to offer the visitor looking for free, family-friendly activities. These activities make it incredibly easy to enjoy St. Louis on a tight budget. The next time you're in St. Louis, be sure to include some of these wonderful free activities on your itinerary.

St. Louis Zoo

The St. Louis Zoo stands as one of the nation's premiere zoos, and it is also one of the last remaining free zoos in the country. Spanning 90 acres in the middle of Forest Park, the St. Louis Zoo has a wide range of animals and activities. Be sure to check out the flight cage (built in 1904 for the World's Fair), the new Penguin and Puffin Coast, the River's Edge, the Herpetarium and the Fragile Forest, which features great apes in a naturalistic habitat. Admission to the zoo is free, though some exhibits, like the Children's Zoo, do charge for admittance. Make sure you arrive early to take advantage of the free parking around the zoo in Forest Park, otherwise you'll have to pay to park in the zoo's lot.

Museums

While you're in Forest Park, be sure to check out the St. Louis Art Museum and the Missouri History Museum. General admission to both of these amazing museums is free! The St. Louis Art Museum boasts more than 30,000 pieces of art, ranging from ancient Chinese bronze statues, to 20th Century German masterpieces, to Americana. If you're bringing small children and they aren't impressed by the Old Master paintings, be sure to go on Sunday afternoons, when the museum hosts a family day full of fun activities for all age groups.

When you're done being awed by the artwork at the St. Louis Art Museum, stop by the Missouri History Museum. At this free museum, you'll learn about exciting topics related to the history of Missouri and the St. Louis area. Continuing exhibits feature displays on Charles Lindbergh and the 1904 World's Fair. Check their website often for new exhibits.

Riverfront

There are few experiences quite like walking along the Mississippi River at Laclede's Landing, the historic area of the St. Louis riverfront. Here you'll find cobblestone streets and a charming atmosphere, along with numerous activities. While you're on the riverfront, you'll want to visit the Museum of Westward Expansion, located in the bottom of the Gateway Arch. To actually take a ride to the top of the arch will cost you, but the museum is absolutely free and definitely worth a look. When you've finished with the arch, you may want to check out the Historic Old Courthouse a couple of blocks away. In the courthouse you'll find a wealth of information about the history of St. Louis, in addition to the restored 1860's courtroom.

Brewery Tours

St. Louis is famed for its beer, so what better free activity to take part in than a brewery tour? At the Anheuser-Busch brewery you'll be able to see the famous Clydesdales and observe the brewing process, all while learning about the history of this American brewing giant. While the tours are open to the whole family, samples are for adults only.

If you're looking for a smaller brewery to explore, Schlafly Bottleworks also gives free tours.

Science Center

The St. Louis Science Center has long been a favorite family destination. The St. Louis Science Center has been rated as one of the five best science centers in the nation, and is one of only two science centers that are free. Hands-on activities abound here, and you can easily spend an entire day. Though general admission is free, some of the special exhibits and IMAX movies do charge. There is also a small fee for parking at the main building. You can easily avoid this fee by parking at Forest Park and entering the science center through the Planetarium entrance.

Sources:
St. Louis Zoo. St. Louis Zoo.
St. Louis Art Museum. St. Louis Art Museum.
Missouri History Museum. Missouri History Museum.
Riverfront. Gateway Arch Riverfront.
Museum of Westward Expansion. Museum of Westward Expansion.
St. Louis Brewery Tour. Anheuser-Busch.
Schlafly Brewery Tour. Schlafly Bottleworks.
St. Louis Science Center. St. Louis Science Center.