52 Things To Do in St. Louis

About 1 1/2 years ago, I put together a list of 52 Things To Do in St. Louis.

I wanted to have a list that defined St. Louis. The list offered a way for newcomers get to know their new city and long-time residents an opportunity to discover the few gems that they might have missed.

Why 52?

If you pick 1 item to visit each week, you would have seen the highlights of our wonderful city at the end of a year.

While I had been to most of the places when I put together the list, a few of them went on my to-do list.

So how well did I do?

I still need to make it to:

Wax Museum (#7)
The Pageant (#9)…I’ve been there for a party but never a concert
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (#10)…I’ve never seen a full performance
World Bird Sanctuary (#13)
Wild Canid Sanctuary (#14)
Gus’ Pretzels (#45)

With only 6 left to go, I really have no excuse to not knock these out this year.

Here’s the complete list.

52 Things To Do in St. Louis:

Art:

1. Art Museum
Location: Forest Park (map)
Cost: Free

2. Contemporary Art Museum
Location: Midtown (map)
Cost: $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and military, children are free (everyone is free Wednesdays & Saturdays)

3. Laumeier Sculpture Park
Location: South County (map)
Cost: Free

4. Citygarden
Location: Downtown (map)
Cost: Free

More Museums:

5. Missouri History Museum
Location: Forest Park (map)
Cost: Free

6. Museum of Transportation
Location: St. Louis County, just west of Kirkwood (map)
Cost: $6, children 5-12, seniors and military $4

7. Wax Museum
Location: Downtown (map)
Cost: $10 adults, $7 ages 12-17, $3 ages 3-11, $5 ages 55+

Music:

8. Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Location: Maryland Heights (map)
Cost: Varies by concert & reserved seats or open lawn seating

9. The Pageant
Location: The Loop (map)
Cost: Varies by concert & seating

10. St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Location: Midtown (map)
Cost: Varies plus 50 free tickets given out per concert

11. Sheldon Concert Hall
Location: Midtown (map)
Cost: Varies

Animals:

12. Saint Louis Zoo
Location: Forest Park (map)
Cost: Free

13. World Bird Sanctuary
Location: Valley Park (map)
Cost: Free

14. Wild Canid Survival and Research Center (formerly Wolf Sanctuary)
Location: Eureka (map)
Cost: $8 (1 hour tour) or $10 (2 hour tour)

15. Grant’s Farm
Location: South County (map)
Cost: Free admission, parking $11 per vehicle

16. Butterfly House
Location: Chesterfield (map)
Cost: $6 Adults, $4 ages 4-12, $4.50 ages 65+, free for children 3 & under and MO Botanical Garden members

Family Fun:

17. Science Center
Location: South of Forest Park plus bridge over highway connects to Planetarium inside Forest Park (map)
Cost: General admission is free, exhibits range from $3-9 for adults, all day parking in lot $9

18. Magic House
Location: Kirkwood (map)
Cost: $8.75 for ages 1 & above

19. City Museum
Location: Downtown (map)
Cost: $12 (ages 3 & above), World Aquarium is additional fee of $6 & Rooftop is additional fee of $5, Friday & Saturdays after 5 pm $10

20. Boathouse Forest Park
Location: Forest Park (map)
Cost: Paddle boats & kayaks $15/hour, rowboats $20/hour (paddle boats & rowboats seat 4 adults)

21. Steinberg Skating Rink
Location: Forest Park (map)
Cost: Adults $6.50, $5.50 ages 12 & under, $3 for optional skate rental

22. Six Flags
Location: Eureka (map)
Cost: $31 online purchase, $39.99 adults, $31 children under 48″ tall, ages 2 & under free, parking $15

Parks & Nature:

23. Faust Park
Location: Chesterfield (map)
Cost: Free except for admission to Butterfly House or carousel rides

24. Forest Park
Location: between Central West End and University City/Clayton (map)
Cost: Free

25. Tower Grove Park
Location: South City (map)
Cost: Free

26. Missouri Botanical Garden
Location: Tower Grove area/South City (map)
Cost: $8 adults, $4 for St. Louis City/County residents & $3 for St. Louis City/County residents aged 65+, ages 12 & under are free

27. Creve Coeur Park & Lake
Location: Creve Coeur (map)
Cost: Free