25 Things To Do in St. Louis to Make the Most of Summer

We hear a lot about the lazy days of summer, but for busy families, it often feels like summer vacation is over before it ever really begins. Your family may have already hit some of your favorite attractions, but there's still a lot out there for you and your kids to enjoy. To make the most of the rest of your summer, check out this list of sure-fire summer fun right here in the Lou.

1. Relax at summer concert. Bring a blanket, pack a cooler and listen to music under the stars at one of these 12 Kid-Friendly Concert Series.

2. Explore a local farmers market. Indulge in some of the freshest, local produce the St. Louis area has to offer at one of our area’s many farmers markets. Encourage kids to try at least one new fruit or vegetable every time you go.

3. Sign up for summer reading. There’s still time to join a Summer Reading Club. The St. Louis County Library, St. Louis Public Library and St. Charles City-County Library all offer programs for kids and teens. Or get outdoors and complete the Tales & Trails Summer Reading Challenge. Or, to take part in book discussions and dig deeper into favorite books, join a book club at Afterwords Books.

4. Splash at Citygarden. Not only does this fantastic urban park have some great water features, like the water plaza, spray fountains and the Voyage Pool, on some special summer days they have added attractions for kids, like the Bubble Bus, the Contemporary Art Museum Art Bus, and Flamingo Festival. 

5. Visit the GROW exhibit at the Saint Louis Science Center. This brand new permanent exhibit, which opened June 18, features hands-on, interactive activities designed to highlight where our food comes from. At GROW, kids can milk a life-sized cow, climb inside a combine, visit chickens and more. And if you have a preschooler in your house, the Science Center's Preschool Science Series is an opportunity to explore the GROW exhibit in more detail with activities designed just for little ones.    

6. Go to the movies. See last summer’s favorites for only $1 at Wehrenberg’s Family Summer Series or Regal Cinema’s Summer Movie Express. Or catch an educational film like A Beautiful Planet or National Parks Adventure in the Saint Louis Science Center’s OMNIMAX Theater.

7. See a movie under the stars. Prefer to see a movie in the great outdoors?  You can do that this summer in Bluebird Park, Edwardsville City Park, The Meadows of Lake Saint Louis, at the Chesterfield Amphitheatre and on Art Hill in Forest Park. See Captain America in Lafayette Park, or Finding Nemo at Ritz Park.

8. See a movie while swimming. Yep, you can swim AND watch a movie at Des Pere’s Dive-In Movie: Minions or when the Manchester Aquatic Center shows The Good Dinosaur on July 29. Want to test your sailing skills? Add a twist with the Cardboard Boat Race and Dive In Movie.

9. Immerse yourselves in nature at the Missouri Botanical Garden. From Garden Buds Summer Saturdays to Great Green Adventures and Camp Earthways Summer Camp, MOBOT offers a variety of summer programs for kids and families. And don’t forget to visit the always amazing Children’s Garden at least once before it closes at the end of the season. And for an adventure for your whole family, head out to Shaw Nature Reserve for one of their many family nature programs, like the Flashlight Night Hike. Finally, make plans to visit the Butterfly house during its Paper Kite Butterfly Festival, held Sundays in August.

10. Enjoy the Summer Family Fun Series at the Missouri History Museum. This free summer series features live performances, storytelling, puppets, local authors and much, much more.

11. Go bowling. Sign up for Kids Bowl Free coupons and beat the heat at one of our area’s many bowling alleys.

12. Experience royalty at Kings, Queens and Castles. You don't have to be a chess connoisseur to have fun at the Kings, Queens and Castles exhibit at the World Chess Hall of fame. There are lots of hands-on activities for kids to explore (that make for great photo opps), and special events just for kids, like Family Day every Saturday this summer, and Toddler Tuesdays. The exhibit runs through Sept. 11.

13. See a show at the Muny. When it comes to musical theater, the Muny is a St. Louis institution. Consider opting for the free seats if you have kids who may not be able to sit through an entire show.

14. Sign up for summer camp. It’s not too late to take advantage of some amazing summer camps here in our area. Make new friends and explore something new before the school year starts again.

15. Explore Future Play at the Magic House. This special exhibit, which runs through September 5, features a unique digital playground for kids of all ages. It is included with regular museum admission, so be sure to explore everything else the Magic House has to offer while you’re there. Don't miss a very popular exhibit that's back starting July 2: Forts and Clubhouses. Kids can transform an enormous pile of everyday items into the ultimate fort. And celebrate National Summer Learning Day at the Ultimate Block Party.

16. Splash around a sprayground.  This list of 7 Super St. Louis Spraygrounds is a couple of years old, but the spraygrounds listed are all still some of the best in our area.

17. Take a trip to the Zoo. Visit between 8 and 9 a.m. for free admission to the Children’s Zoo, Conservation Carousel and Stingrays at Caribbean Cove. Download the new Saint Louis Zoo app to simplify your trip.

18. Explore the animal kingdom. The Zoo isn’t the only place to get up close and personal with the animal kingdom this summer. Watch a canine performance at Purina Farms, (and enjoy lots of fun activities for kids and dogs at the Pooch Playdate) feed baby goats at Grant’s Farm or spot wild turkey, elk and deer at Lone Elk Park.

19. Volunteer. Dedicate part of your summer to helping others. Teens in particular can benefit from participating in some of these local volunteer opportunities, and kids of any age can create their own community service project.

20. Cheer for the Cardinals. Summer nights are perfect for a trip to Busch Stadium. There’s also plenty of fun for families to be had at Ballpark Village, including Movie Mondays and Family Fun Day.

21. Take a hike. Get outdoors on a pleasant summer day and hike along a local trail. Castlewood State Park and Mastodon State Historic Site are both popular among local families. For little legs, start out on the paved trails at Powder Valley Nature Center.

22. Watch fireworks. Choose from several dazzling displays that will light up the St. Louis skyline over the 4^th of July holiday. Many are accompanied by community carnivals and festivals that are perfect for a day of family-friendly summer fun.

23. Feast from a food truck. Head to Tower Grove Park for the original Food Truck Friday, or choose from one of the many food truck events taking place at parks all over the St. Louis area like Frontier Park, or the Food Truck Frolic at St. Charles Community College . It’s a great opportunity to feast on creative fare while the kids run and play nearby.  

24. Pick your own produce. Show kids where their food comes from by taking a trip to Eckert’s to pick some of the freshest fruits and veggies of the season. There are also many smaller pick-your-own farms within driving distance of St. Louis.

25. Hang out at home. Sometimes the best part of summer really is being lazy. While there’s a lot to see and do in St. Louis, be sure to build plenty of downtime into your summer vacation too. You – and your kids – will benefit from the opportunity to relax and rejuvenate before a new school year starts again. 

Remember, you can always find great ideas for summer family fun all across the St. Louis metro area in our Things To Do calendar and daily Things To Do email newsletter!