City Museum invites visitors to explore the unexpected. Housed in a 600,000-square-foot former shoe company warehouse, the all-ages architectural playground offers a truly immersive experience, where you can climb into a bow whale’s mouth, rocket down a 10-story slide and pilot a plane suspended in the air. With a partner, friends or family, navigate an underground tunnel system, marvel at pancake art and write with the world’s largest pencil. At Circus Harmony, you can also test your circus skills and snack on peanuts or popcorn. How serious is City Museum about exploring? The gift shop sells knee pads – which aren’t a bad idea! If you need a break, grab a bite or a beer on any floor, from the 19th-century Cabin Bar to the Rooftop Café.

Take a tram ride to the top of this gleaming, 630-foot monument. After you squeeze into a futuristic, five-person pod, it takes four minutes to ascend. At the top, small windows reveal spectacular views of the Old Courthouse, downtown St. Louis and beyond to the west and the Mississippi River and Illinois to the east. Tickets often sell out, so reserve your spots ahead of time. Back on the ground, explore the on-site museum, which traces more than 200 years of our region’s history in six themed exhibit areas. Visitors to Gateway Arch National Park can also board a 19th-century riverboat replica for a narrated cruise down the Mighty Mississippi. Want to splurge? Soar above the city with Gateway Helicopter Tours.

Forest Park opened in 1876 and played host to the 1904 Worlds Fair. The park is huge. In fact, its larger than New York Citys sprawling Central Park. As such, this forest holds nearly 1,300 acres of things to do. Youll find everything from the Saint Louis Zoo to the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Saint Louis Science Center (all three free to visit), a golf course and the list goes on. You can also jog its trails, boat its waterways and swing your racket on its tennis courts, among other activities. Just glance at this map; most visitors see only a fraction of the parks offerings.

Located in the heart of historic Forest Park, the Saint Louis Art Museum is one of the nation’s leading comprehensive art museums with collections that include works of art of exceptional quality from virtually every culture and time period. Beyond the collection, the museum offers unique shopping and dining experiences to help make your visit more enjoyable. The best part? It’s free!

Citygarden is an urban sculpture park located in downtown St. Louis. The park is an oasis of free interactive art, fountains and gardens spanning two blocks in downtown St. Louis. Paved, winding paths lead visitors past 24 sculptures resting on wide lawns, six rain gardens, a childrens spray plaza and a 180-foot-long pool with a six-foot waterfall. Two walls stretch along the property; A granite-topped meander wall serves as ample seating for visitors, while a taller, curved wall of Missouri limestone stretches across the property creating several more private spaces. The park is not enclosed from the street and can be entered from any direction.

In its heyday, St. Louis Union Station was one of the largest and busiest passenger rail terminals in the world. Today, it’s a source of endless entertainment for residents and visitors alike. The stunning complex houses more than 13,000 animals at the St. Louis Aquarium, the 200-foot St. Louis Wheel, a carousel, an 18-hole miniature golf course, a ropes course and more. The 3D light show in the Grand Hall plays on the hour, and restaurants such as The Soda Fountain and The Train Shed will keep you fueled for infinite fun. When it’s time to rest your head, you don’t have to go far. St. Louis Union Station Hotel boasts timeless décor and modern amenities.

The Missouri Botanical Garden has long been a place of beauty, serenity and discovery, as well as an institution of scientific research and education. Every visit represents a new opportunity to learn about plants and how they’re connected to our lives. Will you be able to choose your favorite flora among the 27,000 options? Throughout the year, you might catch one of the Garden’s annual events, including the Orchid Show, the Whitaker Music Festival, the Japanese Festival and the Best of Missouri Market, on your walk, too.

The Saint Louis Zoo got its start as the 1904 Worlds Fair Flight Cage, and today, it is the one of the few free zoos in the U.S. Housing more than 14,000 animals across 90 acres within Forest Park, the zoo features six different zones, including the Rivers Edge with elephants and hippos, and The Wild, which houses bears and primates. To get a sense for how far the zoo has come since its debut at the Worlds Fair, head over to the Historic Hill zone to view the original Flight Cage, as well as the Primate House, which dates back to 1925, and the Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium, which was originally constructed in 1927. Though general admission to the zoo is free, some areas and activities, such as the train, the carousel and the stingray touch tank, require extra fees.