The St. Louis Zoo is one the the largest zoological parks
in the nation. Enjoy a beautiful day at the Zoo by strolling past
the lazy polar bears, watching the baboons monkey around or visit
the elephants. You can also watch the hippos swim and play in their
new habitat at the River’s Edge exhibit. Did we mention that the
Zoo is free?
Forest Park is also home to two museums: the Missouri
History Museum and the St. Louis Art Museum.
The St. Louis Art Museum is also free, and offers an
extensive collection of paintings, furniture and Native American
art.
The collection also includes two mummies and artifacts from
their tombs. It’s a great place to spend a rainy afternoon.
One could spend all day walking around the St. Louis Science
Center. The Science Center has interesting hands-on exhibits
that help you understand more about our bodies, the solar system
and physics. The Omnimax Theater has shows daily. The exhibits in
the main museum are free, but the renovated planetarium costs $6
for adults. It is free on Tuesdays from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
If recreation is what you’re looking for, Forest Park has
everything. There are numerous biking, running and rollerblading
trails that run throughout the park and pass some of its most
beautiful areas.
Three public golf courses are situated in the park. Triple
A’s 18-hole course is the best course among the three, but it
is a little more expensive.
Forest Park Golf Course has a flat nine-hole that is
great for beginners as well as an 18-hole course that is cheap to
play, but is as well-maintained as Triple A’s course.
Handball courts are located behind the Forest Park Golf Course’s
clubhouse, and the cricket field is just across from the clubhouse.
Dwight D. Davis Tennis Center is also across from the FPGC
clubhouse. The tennis center has a hard-court surface.
Plenty of soccer and baseball fields dot the park. Some are
under construction, and others are often reserved for high school
or grade school games.
Steinberg Skating Rink is open from November to March.
The rink is one of every St. Louisans’ favorite activities during
the winter season, especially during the Christmas season. It is
packed every weekend. On Friday and Saturday nights from 10:30 to
midnight, skaters 18 and older get to enjoy the rink all to
themselves, without little kids diving in front of them.
The Great Forest Park Balloon Race will be held Sept. 21
this year. This annual event includes a “balloon glow,” the night
before, when the balloons are inflated at night, so the fires from
the burners make them glow.
Hayrides are available in the park from Oct. 4 to Dec.
14. Reservations with the Parks Department are required, so call
289-5332. Tractors take the wagons on a 45-minute ride, followed by
a bonfire. Unlike some park attractions, the ride is not free–a
wagon of 20 people costs $75.
Forest Park was the location of the 1904 World’s Fair. A little
known fact is that the Olympics were also held in St. Louis at that
time. However, they were not the grand spectacle that they are
now.
The only buildings that remain from the Fair are Brookings Hall
at Washington University, the Art Museum and the Bird
Cage in the zoo.
the few structures left from the 1904 World’s Fair. The view is a
perfect culmination to a romantic walk through the park. It is also
a popular picnic spot.
The Boathouse offers boatrides for everyone. You can row
the boat by yourself in a rowboat, paddle yourself and a friend
through the lakes and make your way to the Art Hill Basin
and watch the golfers tee off on the majestic fourth hole, or you
and your significant other can relax as you ride in a gondola
that’s steered by a boatsman.
Art Hill is also a popular destination for sledding
during wintertime, but be careful, icy snow can make dangerous
conditions.
A statue of St. Louis IX overlooks Art Hill, and has
become the symbol of the city of St. Louis.
