My daughter and grandchildren (age 1 and 3) are visiting. Are there good public playgrounds around? We will go to the Magic House and possible the zoo, and live near the Butterfly House - any other ideas? The kids are quite young. Thanks.
You have gotten the most obvious places. Also the World Way's Children's Museum in Ballwin, Kehr's Mill and Clayton Road. Vlasis Park in Ballwin has little kid play stuff. Have a good time.
It might also be fun to go to Chesterfield Mall, they have a carosel there! Also, Mills mall has a great kids play area. Public parks are all over...faust is super and the butterfly house is there.
Bounce U is also a fun outing...call to reserve a spot!
Kirkwood Park just put in a new playground which is pretty neat and new. We haven't had a chance to explore it too many times yet but looks like alot of fun.
Hi H.,
You may know this already but The Butterfly House is in Faust Park. There is a wonderful carousel there that I am sure your grandchildren would love! Also the playground is spectacular and great for smaller kids.
The Worldways Museum is now closed (it may reopen in the future) I think it was probably better suited to children a few years older than yours, so it might be good for a future visit.
The Mo Botanical Garden has a fun playground area called "Children's Garden" that has lots of fun actvities for kids of all ages. (Kids pay to get in but don't pay to get into the main garden.) Even the regular parts of the Botanical Garden can be fun for little kids (don't miss the hedge maze)
I hope you have a great visit!
In Chesterfield, behind the mall, there is a great little park/playground called Central Park. The address is 690 Chesterfield Pkwy West. Have fun!
Powdder Valley Nature Center, http://mdc.mo.gov/areas/cnc/powder/, has a wonderful little museum for the very young to explore. They also have story time for toddlers and paved hiking trails.
It is a great time of year to visit the Botanical Gardens. St. Louis has one of the best in the world! Bring the strollers so the kids can ride when they need to.
Contact your local library to find out when they have story time for toddlers. Also, some community centers have wonderful programs for a 3 y/o, such as toddler gymnastics. I used to provide a music and movement program for 3-6 y/os at a local community center in Fenton. It only cost parents $1 per half hour session and they would simply come when they wanted to.
My son, now 22, recently told me that his favorite playground was his Grandma's house. He said that it was the best because you didn't need toys there. A cardboard wrapping paper tube became a musical instrument, a telescope, or a sword. A card table with a blanket over it was anything from a tent to a castle. I'll never forget the time I arrived to find my son and his cousin in the back yard with cardboard tubes in their hands and clothes pins securing rug-like toilet seat covers to the back of their shirts. I couldn't imagine what that was about! So, I asked and learned that they were teenage ningia turtles. The covers on their backs were their turtle shells (of course!) In my day, all we needed was a towel to use as a superman cape. So, don't underestimate the possibility that the best playground in town may be right under your own roof!
