Family Program
On Monday, June 15, spouses and kids will spend the day at St. Louis’ Forest Park, site of the 1904 World’s Fair. Participants will meet in the lobby of the Sheraton at 9:30 AM. Forest Park is the home of the Saint Louis Zoo, the St. Louis Science Center, the Muny, the Missouri Historical Museum, the Jewel Box, and many other attractions.
Saint Louis Zoo
The St. Louis Zoo is home to 18,000 animals on 90 acres. It features a children's zoo, miniature train, carousel, an insectarium and other activites. The St. Louis Zoo is currently constructing a temprary exhibit, "Stingrays at Carribbean Cove", where visitors will be encouraged to watch and interact with these fascinating creatures. The exhibit, scheduled to open May 9, is located between the Lakeside Cafe and The Living World.
Main zoo hours are 9 - 5 daily, but some zoo attraction hours vary slightly. Admission to the zoo is FREE but some attractions have admission fees. See chart below.
 |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|
| Children's Zoo | $4 per person, children under 2 free (free admission first hour the zoo is open) |
9AM - 5PM |
| Zooline Railroad | $5 per person Round-Trip Ticket, children < 2 free Can get off, see exhibits and re-board train |
9:30 AM - 5 PM (Weather Permitting) |
| Conservation Carousel | $3 per person (free admission first hour the zoo is open) |
9AM - 5PM (Weather Permitting) |
| Wild Ride Motion Simulator | $3 per person | 10AM - 5PM (Weather Permitting) |
| 3-D Movie | $4 per person (in season) | 9AM - 4:30PM |
| Safari Day-Pass | $10 per person Includes above attractions & Sea Lion show (in season) |
9AM - 5PM |
Parking fees are $11/vehicle, but you can get there by bus or Metrolink. The #90 Hampton bus stops within a short walking distance from the Zoo's North Entrance on Government Drive, or take the MetroLink to Forest Park/DeBaliviere station, then take Metrobus route #90 Hampton south. Visit their awesome website to learn about all they have to offer, including the kinds of animals you'll find there.
St. Louis Science Center
The St. Louis Science Center features a three-building complex of 700+ hands-on exhibits, the James S. McDonnell Planetarium, and an Omnimax theater. General admission is FREE. All-day parking is $8.
There are galleries where you can visit a life-size animated T-rex and Triceratops, climb in a giant kaleidoscope, learn about technology in Cyberville, explore the science of engineering, and visit the Flight! Gallery located between the main building and the planetarium.
Science Center Hours: Mon-Thr: 9:30AM - 4:30PM, Fri-Sun: 9:30AM - 5:30PM.
The Planetarium is of the nation's leading space education facilities, and features a Boeing Space Station and two levels of exhibits that incorporate scientific research to illustrate the future of space travel. The Orthwein StarBay gives visitors a glimpse into what it is like to live and work on the International Space Station. The Planetarium projects more than 9,000 stars onto an 80-foot dome, to give visitors an idea of what the night sky looks like without the effects of light and air pollution.
Planetarium Hours: Mon-Sat: 9:30AM - 4:30PM, Sun: 11:30AM - 4:30PM.
OMNIMAX Theater admission fees: Adults: $8, Children/Seniors/Students with ID: $7. Seniors pay $5 on Tuesdays. Please refer to their theater schedule for shows and showtimes.
More information about programs and events is available on the St. Louis Science Center website.
The Muny
Located in Forest Park, The Municipal Theatre ("The Muny"), is among the country's oldest and largest outdoor musical theatres. Built "from scratch" in less than 49 days in 1917. Their first production was Verdi's Aida, featuring opera stars of that day from the San Carlo Opera, The Met, and the Boston National Grand Opera. Read more about the Muny's history ...
This year the Muny's season begins June 15 with their production of 42nd Street, which runs through June 22. Other productions scheduled for this summer are Annie, Meet Me in St. Louis, Godspell, The Music Man, Camelot and Hairspray. Perforamnces are at 8:15 PM. For more information on tickets and seating, please visit www.muny.org.
Missouri History Museum
General admission is free. Special exhibitions include: the "Missouri Botanical Garden: Green for 150 Years, 1859-2009" (free); the "Katherine Dunham: Beyond the Dance" (Fee: Adults: $7, Seniors/Students: $5, and Children (6-12): $3); "Mary Lee Bendolph, Gee’s Bend Quilts, and Beyond" (free).
The Missouri History Museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Tuesdays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Please visit www.mohistory.org/exhibitions/panoramas to read descriptions about and view 360° panoramas of the museum's galleries.
The Jewel Box
Listed on the National Historic Register, the Jewel Box is an Art Deco building located at Wells and McKinley in Forest Park. This building, built in 1936, has recently undergone a major renovation, and is a popular venue for weddings, receptions and other special events.
The Jewel Box also has several special flower shows throughout the year: Christmas, early spring, Easter, and Mother's Day, as well as a summer flower show. In the fall, there is the Chrysanthemum show. Year round, you'll see tropical trees, foliage plants, permanent and seasonal floral displays, and a fountain and water feature. Read more about The Jewel Box ...
The Jewel Box is open Monday - Friday: 9AM to 4PM; Saturday: 9AM - 11AM; Sunday: 9AM - 2PM. Admission is generally $1, but from 9AM - Noon Mondays and Tuesdays admission is FREE.