St. Louis is a strong city for little kids, with free-admission museums, a children’s museum in Kirkwood and a lot of free nature centers.
Not this week’s events, just the reliable stuff. Where to eat with a toddler, where to burn off energy when it rains, where to splash, what’s worth the admission, and where to spend a night without going far.
Places where a dropped fork is no big deal and nobody minds a little noise.
An old-school soda fountain in Old North with malts, sundaes and hand-dipped candy.
A walk-up frozen custard stand on Route 66 that's been a St. Louis tradition since 1929.
St. Louis-style thin crust cut in squares.
Memphis-style ribs in Midtown. Go early; they close when they sell out.
An open-air patio a stone's throw from the Francis Park playground, with thin-crust party-cut pizza.
For rainy mornings, cold afternoons and anyone who needs to run in circles for an hour.
A whole building turned into tunnels, slides and climbers downtown.
Online price; more at the ticket window
A children's museum in Kirkwood.
$3 after 3pm for local-county residents · Free Family Night: 3rd Friday 5–8pm (local-county residents)
A play cafe in Kirkwood.
An aquarium inside Union Station, with more family attractions in the same building.
Price shown for Oct 17, 2026; may vary by date
Pools, fountains, zoos and theme parks: the big all-day outings.
A big theme park in Eureka, formerly Six Flags St. Louis.
Online price; $40 at the gate
A free zoo in Forest Park.
Some rides and shows cost extra
A family attraction with animals. Check the calendar for open days.
Parking $18 online, $27 at the farm
A water park in Grafton, Illinois.
Museums, animals and farm days that hold a little one’s attention.
A science center in Forest Park with a planetarium.
Special exhibits and OMNIMAX cost extra
Big gardens in Shaw with a children's garden.
Tropical butterflies in a glass conservatory.
Free admission every day, right in Forest Park near the zoo.
A night away without a long drive. New bed, same bedtime.
A hotel inside Union Station, steps from the aquarium.
A historic Central West End hotel near Forest Park.
A state park lodge in Grafton, Illinois.
Campsites and trails northwest of St. Louis.
These don’t change week to week. Last checked . Hours and prices change, so check the place’s own site before you go. Know a spot we missed? Tell us at hello@littlesweekly.com.
Where a family can go in STL without paying for admission. For free days, free events and this week’s free outings, see every free thing to do in STL.
Forest ParkSaint Louis ZooA free zoo in Forest Park.Free
Grantwood VillageGrant's FarmA family attraction with animals.Free
Forest ParkSaint Louis Science CenterA science center in Forest Park with a planetarium.FreeForest ParkSaint Louis Art MuseumFree admission every day, right in Forest Park near the zoo.Free
KirkwoodPowder Valley Conservation Nature CenterFree, with exhibits and short trails.Free
Forest ParkAnne O’C. Albrecht Nature Playscape, Forest ParkFree, with natural materials to climb and explore.FreeFree or cheap for babies and toddlers, and easy with a stroller.
Forest ParkSaint Louis Science CenterHands-on exhibits that toddlers can reach and touch.FreeIndoorKirkwoodThe Magic House, St. Louis Children’s MuseumPlay areas made for young kids.Kids $15Under 1 freeIndoorKirkwoodPowder Valley Conservation Nature CenterSmall and calm, with nature at toddler pace.FreeBaby storytimes, places where babies get in free, and where to change and feed. For rainy days, see indoor play places; for zero-cost ideas, see free things to do.
Mondays at 10am · Spencer Road BranchBabies
Storytime calendar ↗Thursdays at 9:30am · Buder LibraryBirth to 18 months. Stories, songs, and more!
Storytime calendar ↗Mondays at 10:30am · Central branchBirth to 18 months. Stories, songs, and more!
Storytime calendar ↗Wednesdays at 10am · Schlafly LibraryBirth to 18 months. Stories, songs, and more!
Storytime calendar ↗Mondays at 10am · Edwardsville Public LibraryBabies. Books, bops, and bouncing babies!
Storytime calendar ↗
2 and under free
Admission page ↗Under 1 free
Admission page ↗2 and under free
Admission page ↗
A Calming Corner on the lower level works for nursing.
Official site ↗A family restroom and lactation room at the First Aid Station by the carousel.
Official site ↗
Strollers are free to borrow in both lobbies.
Official site ↗Free stroller loans at the Welcome Desks.
Official site ↗Bring your own, since there are no rentals. Elevators and ramps throughout.
Official site ↗Strollers rent first come, first served.
Official site ↗Farms, lights and rinks that only run part of the year. Dates change every year, so check before you go.
Recurring and free. Times change by branch, so check the calendar.
Weekly; days and times vary by branchBaby, toddler and family storytimes at branches across the region, plus storytimes in Forest Park.
Schedule ↗Weekly at 6 locations; Monday–Saturday, mostly morningsFree baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Baby Time (Mondays 10am, Spencer Road Branch) and Story Time with Lindenwood University (Mondays 10am, Kathryn Linnemann Branch), with more at Corporate Parkway Branch, Deer Run Branch, McClay Branch and Middendorf-Kredell Branch.
Schedule ↗Weekly at 6 locations; Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, mostly morningsFree baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Baby Bookworms Storytime (Mondays 10:30am, Central) and Music and Movement Storytime (Mondays 10am, Buder Library), with more at Barr Library, Carpenter Library, Kingshighway Library and Schlafly Library.
Schedule ↗Weekly at the Edwardsville Public Library; Mondays, Tuesdays and ThursdaysFree baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Books for Babies Lapsit (Mondays 10am) and Tales for Twos Storytime (Tuesdays 10am).
Schedule ↗
The guide is the evergreen list. Here’s what’s happening in St. Louis right now.
Yes, as a morning outing. It’s built around play areas for young kids, so you can follow your toddler instead of a plan. Leave before nap.
The Science Center, the Art Museum, nature centers and the Forest Park playscape are free. Check each listing above for what costs extra.
The Science Center, the Art Museum and the Magic House are all indoors.
Saint Louis Science Center: Hands-on exhibits that toddlers can reach and touch. The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum: Play areas made for young kids. Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center is also easy with a baby or toddler. Free for the littlest: City Museum (2 and under free) and Mid America Adventure (formerly Six Flags St. Louis) (2 and under free). See best for under 3s.
Saint Louis County Library and Saint Louis Public Library: Weekly; days and times vary by branch. St. Charles City-County Library: Weekly at 6 locations; Monday–Saturday, mostly mornings. St. Louis Public Library: Weekly at 6 locations; Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, mostly mornings. Library storytimes don’t need a ticket, but times change by branch, so check the calendar first. See library storytimes, and this week’s dated sessions are on the STL weekly list.
Every one of the 21 places is somewhere we’d take a baby, toddler or preschooler, with a note on who it suits and when to skip it. Prices, hours and menus come from each place’s own site, and 12 of them have checked admission or menu prices. The guide was last checked Oct 18, 2026. How we choose and check.
Yes. Admission is free (some rides and shows cost extra). We checked this on its official site on Oct 17, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you go.
One short email every Friday morning: the five things worth leaving the house for in STL, plus what to skip.
