Things to See and Do in and
around St. Louis

 

There are so many things to see and do in St. Louis. This is a short listing of some that are disabled accessible. There is something here for just about everyone.

August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area

You can’t beat the Busch Conservation Area for short trails offering a lot of diversity. The area has an 8.7-mile auto tour that will take you to six short trails that show off the surprising variety of habitat found here. As you’re driving through Busch Memorial Conservation Area, look for the ammunition bunkers left from the days of World War II.

The Busch Area is on Highway D, off of Highway 94, just south of Highway 40 in St. Charles County
(636) 441-4554
site
Disabled accessible

Bissell Mansion Restaurant and Dinner Theater

The Bissell Mansion was built in 1820 by Captain Lewis Bissell. Much of the homes original detailing remains in “The Oldest Home in St. Louis”. Most people would visit just to see the home, but dinner theater just makes this all that much more attractive.
4426 Randall Place
(314) 533-9830
site
Disabled accessible

Busch Stadium

Busch Stadium is the home of the St. Louis Cardinals National League Baseball franchise. Built in 2006, this was the 7th stadium used by a professional baseball team in St. Louis. Busch Stadium is disabled accessible.
site

Cahokia Mounds

Collinsville, Illinois
The remains of the most advanced prehistoric civilization north of Mexico can be found here. There is a museum that is disabled accessible on the site that has items that will also be of interest to children.
(618) 346-5160
site

Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis

The beautiful Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis welcomes visitors to view the largest collection of mosaic art in the world. Pope Paul VI called the structure “the outstanding cathedral of the Americas.” Designated a basilica in 1997, the cathedral was built in the city’s Central West End neighborhood between 1907 and 1909. Its glittering green dome is a prominent feature of the St. Louis skyline and its vast and detailed interior mosaics cover 83,000 square feet and took nearly 80 years to complete. The mosaics of the main church and the vestibule were installed by a father and son who used more than 41 million pieces of tile in over 7,000 colors to create their art. On the lower level of the cathedral, the Mosaic Museum traces the construction of the facility and the installation of the tiles to create the art. The museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The cathedral is open to the public from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. and is located on Lindell Blvd. at Newstead Ave.; 314-533-0544 disabled accessible, wheelchairs available
site

City Museum

St. Louis, Missouri
Located in the heart of downtown St. Louis’ loft and garment district, City Museum is housed in the first three floors of the International Arts Complex. This was the former home of the International Shoe and Rand Shoe companies and is now chock-full of city leftovers that have been recycled into a fun feast for kids’ senses. Children are encouraged to crawl through tunnels and caves, climb ropes and hang out in the tree house. There are so many nooks and crannies with so much to see and do that parents are encouraged to stick close to their kids or at least have a backup meeting plan in case family members get separated. Once kids are done crawling and climbing, they’ll have the opportunity to get even messier as they paint, sculpt, weave and create as they’re inspired by the seemingly endless art in progress at the City Museum.

701 North 15th St.
St. Louis, Missouri 63103
(314) 231-CITY (2489)
City Museum is disabled accessible.
site

Compton Hill Water Tower and Park

St. Louis, Missouri
The Beacon of South St. Louis was placed into commission in 1899 and has welcomed visitors and neighbors alike to South St. Louis for more than 100 years. Located at Grand Avenue and I-44, its unique outline strikes the skyline, harkening back to times of Victorian splendor. During its heyday, thousands of visitors strolled the grounds, admired the fountains and lily ponds and climbed the 198 stairs for the spectacular 360 degree view of St. Louis. You can still climb the tower today. The park grounds are disabled accessible.

Concerts and Plays

You can find some of the best local music and theatre in Forest Park such as a Brahms string quartet, a local comedian in a one-man show, a free concert by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. HISTORYonics at the Missouri Historical Society presents plays for adults and children on topics of local and regional historical significance, with professional actors. The Laclede Quartet, artists-in-residence at the Missouri Historical Society, present concerts at the Jefferson Memorial Building.
Disabled accessible
5700 Lindell Blvd.
St. Louis, MO
(314) 361-5858

Forest Park

Forest Park is located just across Kingshighway from Barnes Jewish Hospital. The park is a gathering place for St. Louisans and our guests, an urban park filled with people, institutions, and activities that reflect our interests, culture, and history. It is a place to experience wonders, great and small, natural and man-made; it’s an inspiring vista, an endangered species, an Old World masterpiece with new world technology. Here we may walk barefoot in the grass, hear the sweet song of a migratory bird, or watch young children catch their first fish. We may contemplate a piece of art, come face-to-face with a giant turtle, or take a journey back in time.
Disabled accessible

Fox Theater

The “Fabulous Fox” opened in 1929 as part of the William Fox circuit as their newest, most exotic temple of amusement. To this day, the Fox offers top name entertainment twelve months out of the year.
527 N. Grand Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63103
Disabled accessible
site

Grant’s Farm

Affton, Missouri
Grant’s Farm is a 281 acre wildlife preserve and historical site owned by Anheuser Busch. The farm is home to 100’s of animals from around the world. You can watch the famous Budweiser Clydesdales and then take a tram to the main portion of the farm, where the kids can enjoy the petting zoo. There are always special shows and like most Anheuser Busch attractions, this is strictly first class.
10501 Gravois Road
St. Louis, MO 63123
(314) 843-1700
site
Disabled accessible

Magic House

Kirkwood, Missouri
The Magic House is a children’s museum but the adults will also enjoy everything offered here. There are many hands on experiments that kids of all ages will enjoy. The Magic House was named “The Top Children’s Museum in the Nation” by Family Fun Magazine.
site
516 S. Kirkwood Rd
St. Louis, MO 63122
(314) 822-8900
Disabled accessible

National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows

Belleville, Ilinois
There are nine devotional areas open to all faiths and denominations here. The natural serenity of this shrine attract more than one million people yearly. There is also a restaurant, gift shop and motel right on the grounds. This is one of the largest shrines in North America. Each year before Christmas, the Shrine offers a Christmas light display and village that is absolutely magnificent.
442 South De Mazenod Drive
Belleville, IL 62223-1094
(618) 397-6700
Disabled accessible

Powder Valley

This is a good place for the new hiker, families with young children and those who simply want a relaxing hike in the woods. There are three trails at Powder Valley. Each is fully paved, and each starts at the Nature Center parking lot. The Tanglevine Trail is unique among the trails at Powder Valley because it is disabled accessible. The terrain is flat and the total distance is one third-mile. Powder Valley is in the northeast corner of the intersection of Interstates 270 and 44, on Cragwold Road just off of Geyer Road, in St. Louis County.

Rockwoods Reservation

Rockwoods has been a favorite among area hikers and their families for generations now. There are seven trails at Rockwoods, each offering a different experience and challenge. Distances range from 300 yards on the disabled accessible Wildlife Habitat Trail to 3.25 miles on the Lime Kiln Loop Trail. Cobb Cavern Trail is a short spur from the parking lot leading to a gigantic and photogenic quarry cave that’s especially appealing on a hot day. The Education Center at Rockwoods offers a detailed topographic map of the area and interpretive brochures for several of the trails.

Rockwoods is on Highway 109 about two miles south of Highway 100 in western St. Louis County
site
2751 Glencoe Road
Glencoe, MO 63038
(636) 458-5006

Six Flags St. Louis

Six Flags St. Louis is home to some of the biggest and fastest rides in the country. Admission also includes entry to Hurricane Harbor, the Water Park. Six Flags St. Louis Eureka, Missouri (636) 938-4800.
site

Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House & Education Center

Hundreds of colorful exotic butterflies can be seen in free flight at the 8,000 sq. ft. conservatory located at St. Louis County’s Faust Park. Inside, there are as many as 100 different species of the world’s most beautiful butterflies in free flight including the iridescent Blue Morpho from Costa Rica, the Ruby Lacewing from Malaysia, and the Goldbanded Forester from Kenya.
Admission; $6.00
Seniors; $4.50
Children, ages 4 – 12, $4.00; Children under 3 are free.
site
(636) 530-0076
15193 Olive Blvd.
Chesterfield, MO 63017
Disabled accessible, wheelchairs available

St. Louis Art Museum

The St. Louis Art Museum offers one of the largest art collections in the Midwest. Admission to the facility is free. Dedicated to art and free to all. Little by Little.
Forest Park
1 Fine Arts Drive
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 721-0072
site
Disabled accessible

St. Louis Science Center

The Science Center offers several special exhibits in the Omnifax Theater throughout the year. There is also a planetarium and numerous science exhibits. The Science Center is a must see site for anyone visiting St. Louis.
site
5050 Oakland Avenue
St. Louis, MO, 63110-1450
(314) 289-4400
(800) 456-SLSC
Disabled accessible

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra performs at Powell Hall. During the summer the orchestra offers free concerts in many of the cities parks.
site
(314) 533-2500
(800) 232-1880
(314) 286-4111
Grand at Delmar
718 North Grand Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63103
Disabled accessible

St. Louis Union Station

Union Station in St. Louis used to be one of the busiest train depots in the nation. It originally opened in 1894 and ceased operation as a train terminal in 1978. Seven years later, it reopened as the largest adaptive reuse project in the nation. Today, Union Station houses the 539 room Hyatt Regency St. Louis, operates a 10 screen movie theater and has over 90 shops and restaurants. Union Station is disabled accessible.
site

St. Louis Zoo

This is by far one of the best zoo’s in the country. As a matter of fact it has been rated second, right behind the San Diego Zoo. Plan at least a day here with the kids. Believe it or not, the St. Louis Zoo still does not charge admission.
site
Saint Louis Zoo, #1 Government Drive
St. Louis, MO 63110-1395 Telephone:
(314) 781-0900
or (800) 966-8877
Disabled accessible, wheelchairs available

The Muny

The Muny is where St. Louisans go to see musicals in one of the world’s largest outdoor theaters. If you would like to see a past Broadway production performed again, this is the place.
Forest Park
St. Louis, MO 63112
(314) 361-1900
site
Disabled accessible

The Museum of Transportation

The Museum of Transportation has one of the largest collections of transportation vehicles in the world! This is a world class collection of locomotives from the earliest steam through second generation diesel antique cars, buses, fire trucks and trolleys dating back to the 1800s. You might even find a few planes and trains!
site
Disabled accessible
2967 Barrett Station Road
St. Louis, MO 63122
(314) 965-6885

World Bird Sanctuary

Educational programs, nature trails and displays featuring birds in their natural environments will help visitors understand the relationship between birds, their environment and humans. You will also experience our education department in action. Talk with one of our Naturalists about our birds that have taught thousands of people nationwide their role in the world and the problems they are facing, learn what you can do to help. Many of our “teacher” birds are on display for up close viewing! A paved, disabled accessible, nature trail leads to the education center. Feel free to call ahead for hours and directions.
Nature Center: (636) 225-4390
125 Bald Eagle Ridge Rd
Valley Park, MO 63088
(636) 861-3225
Fax: (636) 861-3240
site
email