St. Louis often is touted as a family-friendly city by residents and visitors alike. There are countless museums, parks and attractions that are easy on the wallet and easy to access, two big criteria when you’ve got kids in tow. Local moms share their favorite go-to spots when they want some fun ‘mom and me’ time.
Kate Buckley of Creve Coeur thinks St. Louis is one of the best places in the Midwest for child-friendly destinations. She’s a stay-at-home mom to daughter Olivia, a fifth-grader at Ross Elementary School, and also watches a 4-year-old, Daniel, once a week. “Everything here is affordable and interesting,” she says. “I’ve been to children’s museums elsewhere, and they just don’t compare. Olivia enjoys going to The Magic House just as much as when she was 5 months old rolling around in the ball pit.”
Buckley makes a point of venturing outside her West County ‘bubble.’ They go to the zoo and other amenities in Forest Park several times a year. “When Olivia was little, I would put her in a stroller and go to the art museum for my own enjoyment,” Buckley says. “Now, I take her as my contemporary. She’s learning about artists like Monet, da Vinci and Rembrandt in school, so she can appreciate seeing their art firsthand.”
And Buckley has plenty of suggestions for great local parks (she used to be in charge of a playdate group for stay-at-home moms). “Millennium Park in Creve Coeur is really popular, but if it’s extremely hot, there isn’t any shade,” she says. “So we like Lake School Park nearby. It’s completely shaded, very quiet and has a small playground and tennis courts—plenty for the kids to do. DeMun Park in Clayton also is a favorite.”
Buckley and Olivia also enjoy swimming at Elks Lodge with friends and going to the water parks at Six Flags and Aquaport in Maryland Heights, which offers a membership or pay-as-you-go option. Both Buckley and her husband Eric are self-proclaimed ‘foodies,’ so as a result, Olivia has developed an expanded palate. “We love spicy Indian food at India Palace, or we’ll take her to Ranoush in downtown Kirkwood for Middle Eastern food,” Buckley says. “And our favorite ice cream spot is Baskin Robbins in Ladue. It’s our place.”
St. Louis native Hillary Dutcher, owner of Ivy Hill Boutique, is always trying to find different things to do with her three little ones: son Charlie, 3 ½, and daughters Alex, who will be 2 in April, and 6-month-old Lizzie. She and her husband Scott live in Ladue, and she loves that it takes only about 10 minutes to get wherever they want to go. “We lived in Boston, Scott’s hometown, and it would take a good half hour to get anywhere,” she says. “And in larger cities, it’s hard to find activities that don’t cost a ton. St. Louis has both convenience and affordability.”
When the weather is nice, they often can be found playing at Shaw Park, Tilles Park or the playground by the Visitor’s Center at Forest Park. “It’s so nice that everything in Forest Park is free,” Dutcher says. “And City Garden downtown doesn’t cost anything.” They also take advantage of the multiple trails in the area for family hikes: Castlewood State Park, Babler State Park and the Katy Trail.
A trip to the Saint Louis Science Center is a common request at her house, and they never make it beyond the big dinosaur and the Discovery Room, the kids’ favorite spot. “Your time is limited anyway when you’re out with kids under 4,” she jokes. They also like going to Myseum and The Magic House. “I loved The Magic House as a kid,” she says. “I have a picture from when I was 3 with my hair standing up from the big static ball, and now my kids love it, too.”
While many might gasp at the thought of taking three kids under the age of 4 out to eat, Dutcher says the happy hour at Five Star Burgers makes it perfect for the whole family, and The Original Pancake House is another hit with her little ones. Ted Drewes, of course, is a must during the summer. “We also love just going to Baskin Robbins after school for a treat,” she says. “It’s a frequent stop, especially when Charlie’s dad picks him up!” Tower Grove Market is a great place to grab breakfast while walking around. “There’s music, a little play area and homemade popsicles—it’s so nice!”
To make sure they experience everything the city has to offer, the Dutchers venture out west to Rombachs Farm for pumpkin picking and to Eckert’s in Illinois for carnivals and holiday events. “I always get good ideas from stlsprout.com on Facebook,” she says. “They post really cool things to do in St. Louis and the surrounding area, like eagle watching in Alton, that I might not know about otherwise.”
Pictured: Hillary Dutcher with daughters Alex and Lizzie and son Charlie
Photos: Bill Barrett
