Who doesn’t like a great freebie right? For those among us who are always afraid to go on vacation because the dollar signs just never seem to work out right, have you considered a trip to St. Louis? There are many wonderful things to do and see in this great city and a good number of them are free or very low in cost. This makes St. Louis a great vacation spot for the budget conscious.
It is important that you carefully consider this particular attraction. Admission to the St. Louis Science Center is free of charge. You should keep in mind however that parking and many of the more popular attractions do involve fees. If you feel that you can honestly avoid the costlier attractions without devastating your children, then there are many great things to see and do at the St. Louis Science center free of charge. Otherwise you may want to bring some cash along in order to tame the tired beasts that our children can become in light of really cool stuff that other kids are enjoying.
St. Louis Zoo
What kind of world would it be without an occasional trip to the zoo? Once again, admission to the zoo is absolutely free though there are fees involved in parking and some of the more popular attractions. This is a great way to bring your family for a fun filled day at the zoo but either plan to spend some cash on your outing or avoid the attractions that are likely to stir up unwanted interest on your part. You should however keep in mind that there are plenty of wonderful things to do and see at the zoo and you can avoid some of the larger crowds by not attending the special exhibits that cost extra.
World Bird Sanctuary
It should be told that there are more than birds that can be found at the World Bird Sanctuary but these birds definitely take center stage. If you have a bird lover or a budding environmentalist in the family, this is a venture you cannot afford not to take while in St. Louis. Admission is free and you can enjoy hiking, bird watching, animal exhibits, picnicking, or a tour around the gift shop if you are of the mind.
St. Louis Holocaust Museum and Learning Center
We all want to teach our children the importance of history-the good and bad alike. The St. Louis Holocaust Museum and Learning Center tells an important story of the both darkness of humanity and the power of men cooperating in order to overcome evil. While this may not be appropriate for very small children, it is entirely up to you to decide, there is an important historical lesson to be gleaned from a visit to this museum. The admission is free though you should be aware they are closed on Jewish and typical American holidays.
Grant’s Farm
This is an attraction that was named the 7th Best Family Attraction in the Nation by the U.S. Family Travel Guide Zagat Survey. There is an $8 fee for parking and no jogging strollers or wagons are allowed on the grounds. They do have stroller rentals however and plenty of opportunities for dining and shopping throughout the property. You will find many great animals at Grant’s Farm as the name suggests in addition to some other pleasant surprised. For the price you will find that you can often spend the day wandering around. Be sure you find the Clydesdales before you leave the grounds, as they are a highlight for many young and old alike.
Though there are many who believe that there is nothing free anymore this couldn’t be less true. You do have to sift through a lot of rubble in order to find some real gems though and St. Louis has more than its fare share of fantastic free activities that are fun for the entire family.
