I woke up this morning to blue skies and chirping birds–it’s spring in St. Louis! Or is it?? Yesterday it was 70 degrees so I took the boys to Elephant Rocks–along with the rest of Missouri. The place was packed and people were parking on Hwy 21 outside the park entrance! Why? Because everyone knows that a nice day in February doesn’t mean winter is over, it just means Mother Nature is in a good mood. It might snow next week for all we know…
So when a beautiful spring day drops in the middle of winter, you need a list of places to play that are not only cheap, but OPEN. A lot of our favorite outdoor venues are closed until March or even April.
Free Outdoor Places to Place in St. Louis, when spring comes early
- CityGarden: Is it a park or an outdoor art museum?
- Laumeier Sculpture Park: Art and Nature together! Bring your dog too, and hike a fantastic trail through the woods.
- Lone Elk Park: This county park is actually a nature preserve full of deer and bison.
- Missouri Botanical Garden: St. Louis city and county residents have free admission on Saturday mornings until noon.
- Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center: Another county park that’s really a fun museum for kids. (Closed Sunday & Monday)
- World Bird Sanctuary: It’s like a zoo for birds of prey!
- Turtle Park: Check out these huge turtles on your way to the Zoo
- Saint Louis Zoo: Hit the zoo early and you’ll get into the Children’s Zoo, Carousel and Stingrays for free during the first hour.
And here’s our list of our favorite parks: 6 Best Playgrounds According to my Kid
Free Indoor Places to Play
If it’s a tad chilly, here’s a few Indoor Places that are also free and open in the early spring.
- St. Louis Science Center: Park on the Forest Park side and enjoy a totally free day.
- St. Louis Art Museum: Soak up some culture!
- Missouri History Museum: Play in the History Clubhouse!
- Frisco Train Store: Play with their 15 foot train table, it’s free!
