Try These Fun Things to Do in Forest Park St Louis

Uncover Forest Park’s top attractions, including museums, trails, and gardens. A must-visit spot for family fun in St. Louis.

Did you know that Forest Park in St. Louis is approximately 500 acres larger than Central Park in New York City? Home to world-class attractions – most of which are also free! – it’s considered one of the best urban parks in the country. You can spend hours, even days, enjoying cultural institutions such as the Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis Art Museum, Saint Louis Science Center, Saint Louis Zoo and The Muny, an outdoor theater that has filled Forest Park with the sounds of Broadway for more than 100 years.

The park also allows visitors to connect with nature. In recent years, Forest Park Forever, a private nonprofit conservancy and the steward of this treasure, has made a concerted effort to rewild the park, restoring and reinvigorating the native beauty and ecological diversity of the environment.

More than 30 miles of walking and biking trails traverse Forest Park, which also boasts more than 190 acres of nature reserves that encompass old-growth forests, restored forests and woodlands, wetlands, tallgrass prairies and savannas.

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The Boathouse at Forest Park offers tasty fare for hungry visitors. Here, you can also rent paddle boats, canoes and kayaks in spring, summer and fall to embark on a miniature expedition of Post-Dispatch Lake.

Boasting a magnificent Art Deco design, the Jewel Box’s unique construction of cantilevered glass supported by arched steel beams was a groundbreaking technical achievement when it debuted in 1936. Inside, you’ll find hundreds of flowers in bloom, ready for their close-up.

Explore the storied history of St. Louis, from its founding in 1764 to the 1904 World’s Fair to the present day. The Missouri History Museum’s exhibits occasionally change, but they’re always well done.

During summers in St. Louis, the limelight shines on The Muny. For more than 100 years, the outdoor theater has filled Forest Park with the sounds of Broadway, attracting out-of-town professionals as well as local talent for memorable musicals.

You’re never too old to play in the dirt. At the 17-acre Nature Playscape in Forest Park, visitors of all ages can connect with nature and engage their senses as they explore nine distinct areas.

Plan Your Visit

With so many attractions and activities to enjoy, Forest Park is the perfect place to spend a vacation day with family or friends. Start planning your trip today!

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