# Things to do with toddlers and little kids in St. Louis: the parent guide

> 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.

- Last checked: 2026-10-18
- 21 places for ages 0–6, with admission and menu prices from each place’s own site
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/guide/
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/index.md
- Visiting guide (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/visiting/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/llms.txt

## Kid-friendly restaurants

### Crown Candy Kitchen (Old North)

- An old-school soda fountain in Old North with malts, sundaes and hand-dipped candy.
- Price level: $
- Menu prices: sandwiches ~$7–$12
- Hours: Mon–Sat 10:30am–5pm; closed Sun
- Kids usually order: Grilled cheese, Gourmet frank, Chili mac
- Good for: A malt and a sundae at an old soda fountain, with plates about $7–$12.
- Skip if: it’s Sunday, when it’s closed, or you want dinner. It closes at 5pm.
- Price source: https://crowncandykitchen.net/menu/lunch-and-dinner/ (checked 2026-10-17)
- Website: https://crowncandykitchen.net

### Ted Drewes Frozen Custard (Route 66 (Chippewa))

- A walk-up frozen custard stand on Route 66 that's been a St. Louis tradition since 1929.
- Price level: $
- Hours: Chippewa: daily 11am–10:30pm (seasonal; check before you go)
- Good for: A walk-up custard treat on a summer evening.
- Skip if: it’s off-season; check before you go.
- Website: https://teddrewes.com/locations/chippewa-route66/

### Imo's Pizza (All over town)

- St. Louis-style thin crust cut in squares.
- Price level: $
- Kids usually order: Cheese-only pizza, Toasted ravioli, Chicken tenders
- Good for: Easy square-cut pizza that little hands can grab.
- Skip if: you can’t stand Provel cheese on St. Louis-style thin crust, because that’s the whole point here.
- Website: https://www.imospizza.com

### Pappy's Smokehouse (Midtown)

- Memphis-style ribs in Midtown. Go early; they close when they sell out.
- Price level: $$
- Menu prices: sandwiches & dinners ~$14–$22
- Hours: Mon, Wed, Sun 11am–4pm; Thu 11am–6pm; Fri–Sat 11am–7pm; closed Tue
- Kids usually order: Smoked chicken sandwich, Sweet potato fries, Applesauce
- Good for: An early barbecue lunch.
- Skip if: it’s Tuesday, when it’s closed, or you’ll arrive late. It closes when it sells out.
- Price source: https://www.pappyssmokehouse.com/menus-1 (checked 2026-10-17)
- Website: https://www.pappyssmokehouse.com/st-louis

### Rockwell Beer Garden (Francis Park (St. Louis Hills))

- An open-air patio a stone's throw from the Francis Park playground, with thin-crust party-cut pizza.
- Price level: $$
- Menu prices: pizzas ~$15–$17
- Hours: Daily 10am–10pm, March–December (weather permitting)
- Kids usually order: Margherita pizza, Pepperoni pizza, Pizza bread
- Why kids like it: Francis Park playground right next to the patio
- Good for: Pizza on the patio next to the Francis Park playground.
- Skip if: it’s January to February, when it’s closed, or it’s raining.
- Price source: https://www.rockwellbeer.com/s/Updated-RBG-Menu-Current-No-22-x-14-in-2-copypdf.pdf (checked 2026-10-17)
- Website: https://www.rockwellbeer.com/francis-park

## Indoor play & trampoline parks

### City Museum (Downtown)

- A whole building turned into tunnels, slides and climbers downtown.
- Price level: $$
- Tickets: Daily tickets from $20; 2 and under free. Online price; more at the ticket window
- Good for: Bold climbers; 2 and under are free.
- Skip if: you have a cautious toddler. It’s built for older kids, so stay on the lower floors.
- Price source: https://citymuseum.org/tickets/ (checked 2026-10-17)
- Website: https://citymuseum.org

### The Magic House (Kirkwood)

- A children's museum in Kirkwood.
- Price level: $$
- Tickets: Everyone 1 and up $15; Under 1 free. $3 after 3pm for local-county residents · Free Family Night: 3rd Friday 5–8pm (local-county residents)
- Good for: A morning built for little kids, with easy parking; under 1 is free.
- Skip if: your kids are much older than 6.
- Price source: https://www.magichouse.org/plan-your-visit/ (checked 2026-10-17)
- Website: https://www.magichouse.org

### Little's Loft Play Cafe (Kirkwood)

- A play cafe in Kirkwood.
- Price level: $$
- Tickets: per child, 60 minutes $15
- Good for: An hour of play in Kirkwood for $15.
- Skip if: you want a long visit on one ticket.
- Price source: https://www.littlesloftplaycafe.com/how-to-play (checked 2026-10-17)
- Website: https://www.littlesloftplaycafe.com

### St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station (Downtown)

- An aquarium inside Union Station, with more family attractions in the same building.
- Price level: $$
- Tickets: Kids from $26.75; Adults from $31.75. Price shown for Oct 17, 2026; may vary by date
- Good for: An indoor aquarium hour downtown.
- Skip if: you want a free outing. The zoo is free and kids’ aquarium tickets start at $26.75.
- Price source: https://www.stlouisaquarium.com/tickets (checked 2026-10-17)
- Website: https://www.stlouisaquarium.com

## Amusement parks, water parks & pools

### Mid America Adventure (formerly Six Flags St. Louis) (Eureka)

- A big theme park in Eureka, formerly Six Flags St. Louis.
- Price level: $$$
- Tickets: Day tickets $35.99; 2 and under free. Online price; $40 at the gate
- Good for: Summer rides; 2 and under are free and online tickets are $35.99.
- Skip if: your kids are too small for most rides.
- Price source: https://midamericaadventure.enchantedparks.com/passes-and-tickets/park-admission/group-tickets/ (checked 2026-10-17)
- Website: https://midamericaadventure.enchantedparks.com

### Saint Louis Zoo (Forest Park)

- A free zoo in Forest Park.
- Price level: Free
- Tickets: Always free. Some rides and shows cost extra
- Good for: A free zoo morning in Forest Park.
- Skip if: you’re expecting everything to be free; some rides and shows cost extra.
- Price source: https://stlzoo.org/visit/hours-and-prices (checked 2026-10-17)
- Website: https://stlzoo.org

### Grant's Farm (Grantwood Village)

- A family attraction with animals. Check the calendar for open days.
- Price level: Free entry
- Tickets: Admission free. Parking $18 online, $27 at the farm
- Good for: Free admission and animals on its open days.
- Skip if: you forget the parking fee: $18 online, $27 at the farm.
- Price source: https://grantsfarm.com/plan-your-visit/general-admission/ (checked 2026-10-17)
- Website: https://grantsfarm.com/plan-your-visit/general-admission/

### Raging Rivers WaterPark (Grafton, IL (about 50 min))

- A water park in Grafton, Illinois.
- Price level: $$
- Tickets: Closed for the season
- Good for: Summer splashing about 50 minutes away.
- Skip if: it’s outside summer; it’s closed for the season.
- Price source: https://www.ragingrivers.com (checked 2026-10-17)
- Website: https://www.ragingrivers.com

## Museums, zoos & farms

### Saint Louis Science Center (Forest Park)

- A science center in Forest Park with a planetarium.
- Price level: Free
- Tickets: Always free. Special exhibits and OMNIMAX cost extra
- Good for: A free hour you can leave the moment someone melts down.
- Skip if: you want the OMNIMAX or special exhibits for free; those cost extra.
- Price source: https://www.slsc.org/visit/faqs/ (checked 2026-10-17)
- Website: https://www.slsc.org

### Missouri Botanical Garden (Shaw)

- Big gardens in Shaw with a children's garden.
- Price level: $
- Good for: A children’s garden and big stroller paths.
- Skip if: you need posted prices; check the garden’s site first.
- Website: https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/plan-your-visit/garden-visit/hours-admission

### Butterfly House (Chesterfield)

- Tropical butterflies in a glass conservatory.
- Price level: $
- Good for: A warm room full of butterflies for a calm toddler.
- Skip if: your little one grabs at everything.
- Website: https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/plan-your-visit/family-of-attractions/butterfly-house

### Saint Louis Art Museum (Forest Park)

- Free admission every day, right in Forest Park near the zoo.
- Price level: Free
- Good for: A short, free loop near the zoo.
- Skip if: your toddler needs to run; the zoo is right nearby.
- Website: https://www.slam.org

## Staycation spots

### St. Louis Union Station Hotel (Downtown)

- A hotel inside Union Station, steps from the aquarium.
- Price level: $$
- Good for: Steps from the aquarium.
- Skip if: you want to be in Forest Park.
- Website: https://www.stlouisunionstation.com

### The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza (Central West End)

- A historic Central West End hotel near Forest Park.
- Price level: $$$
- Good for: A Central West End base near Forest Park.
- Skip if: you’re watching every dollar; it’s one of the pricier stays in the Central West End.
- Website: https://www.sonesta.com/royal-sonesta/mo/st-louis/chase-park-plaza-royal-sonesta-st-louis

### Pere Marquette Lodge (Grafton, IL (about 1 hr))

- A state park lodge in Grafton, Illinois.
- Price level: $$
- Good for: A state park lodge about an hour out.
- Skip if: you want city sights; it’s across the river in Illinois.
- Website: https://pmlodge.net

### Cuivre River State Park (Troy, MO (about 1 hr))

- Campsites and trails northwest of St. Louis.
- Price level: $
- Good for: Camping and trails about an hour northwest.
- Skip if: you need hotel comforts.
- Website: https://mostateparks.com/park/cuivre-river-state-park

## Free things to do

- Saint Louis Zoo
- Grant's Farm
- Saint Louis Science Center
- Saint Louis Art Museum
- Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
- Anne O’C. Albrecht Nature Playscape, Forest Park

## Best for under 3s

- **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**: Small and calm, with nature at toddler pace.

## With a baby or a 1-year-old

### Baby and lap-sit storytimes

- **Baby Time** (St. Charles City-County Library): Mondays at 10am · Spencer Road Branch. Babies https://www.stchlibrary.org/events
- **Baby Bookworms Storytime** (St. Louis Public Library): Thursdays at 9:30am · Buder Library. Birth to 18 months. Stories, songs, and more! https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/events
- **Baby Bookworms Storytime** (St. Louis Public Library): Mondays at 10:30am · Central branch. Birth to 18 months. Stories, songs, and more! https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/events
- **Baby Bookworms Storytime** (St. Louis Public Library): Wednesdays at 10am · Schlafly Library. Birth to 18 months. Stories, songs, and more! https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/events
- **Books for Babies Lapsit** (Edwardsville Public Library): Mondays at 10am · Edwardsville Public Library. Babies. Books, bops, and bouncing babies! https://edwardsville.librarycalendar.com/events/upcoming

### Babies get in free

- **City Museum**: 2 and under free. https://citymuseum.org/tickets/
- **The Magic House**: Under 1 free. https://www.magichouse.org/plan-your-visit/
- **Mid America Adventure (formerly Six Flags St. Louis)**: 2 and under free. https://midamericaadventure.enchantedparks.com/passes-and-tickets/park-admission/group-tickets/

### Changing tables and nursing rooms

- **The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum**: A Calming Corner on the lower level works for nursing.
- **Saint Louis Zoo**: A family restroom and lactation room at the First Aid Station by the carousel.

### Stroller notes

- **Saint Louis Science Center**: Strollers are free to borrow in both lobbies.
- **Saint Louis Art Museum**: Free stroller loans at the Welcome Desks.
- **The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum**: Bring your own, since there are no rentals. Elevators and ramps throughout.
- **Saint Louis Zoo**: Strollers rent first come, first served.

## Library storytimes

- **Saint Louis County Library and Saint Louis Public Library**: Weekly; days and times vary by branch. Baby, toddler and family storytimes at branches across the region, plus storytimes in Forest Park. https://www.forestparkforever.org/storytime
- **St. Charles City-County Library**: Weekly at 6 locations; Monday–Saturday, mostly mornings. Free 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. https://www.stchlibrary.org/events
- **St. Louis Public Library**: Weekly at 6 locations; Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, mostly mornings. Free 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. https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/events
- **Edwardsville Public Library**: Weekly at the Edwardsville Public Library; Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Free baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Books for Babies Lapsit (Mondays 10am) and Tales for Twos Storytime (Tuesdays 10am). https://edwardsville.librarycalendar.com/events/upcoming


## Happening this week

- **Boo at the Zoo** (5–8:30pm (last entry 8pm)) at Saint Louis Zoo. $16; members $13; under 2 free; free parking. https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/#e-boo_at_the_zoo
- **Not-So-Haunted House at The Magic House** (9:30am–5pm (Sun 10:30am–5pm)) at The Magic House, St. Louis Children's Museum. $15 museum admission (ages 1 and up); under 1 free. https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/#e-not_so_haunted_house_at_the_magic_house
- **Trick or Treat at the Library (Central)** (Sat 10am–4pm) at St. Louis Public Library – Central. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/#e-trick_or_treat_at_the_library_central
- **Fright at the Museum** (10am–6pm (Sat to 9pm)) at City Museum. $20 online, $23 at the window; 2 and under free (museum admission). https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/#e-fright_at_the_museum
- **Ecktoberfest at Eckert's Grafton Farm** (9am–5pm) at Eckert’s Grafton Farm. See source. https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/#e-ecktoberfest_at_eckert_s_grafton_farm

Full list with every outing: https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/index.md

## Holiday pages

- [Santa in St. Louis: breakfast with Santa, photos and Santa trains (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/santa/index.md)
- [Christmas lights in St. Louis for little kids (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/christmas-lights/index.md)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### Is the Magic House worth it for a toddler?
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.

### What are the best free things to do with little kids in St. Louis?
The Science Center, the Art Museum, nature centers and the Forest Park playscape are free. Check each listing above for what costs extra.

### What can we do in St. Louis with a toddler when it rains?
The Science Center, the Art Museum and the Magic House are all indoors.

### What’s good for babies and kids under 3 in St. Louis?
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](https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/guide/#under3).

### Where are the free storytimes in St. Louis?
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](https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/guide/#storytimes), and this week’s dated sessions are on the [STL weekly list](https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/).

### How do you choose the places in the St. Louis guide?
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](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).

### Is the Saint Louis Zoo free?
Yes. Admission is free (some rides and shows cost extra). We checked this on [its official site](https://stlzoo.org/visit/hours-and-prices) on Oct 17, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you go.