I've grown up in St. Louis, so going to the St. Louis Zoo is just a regular thing we would do in the summer. I didn't realize that not everyone grew up getting to see animals at an amazing zoo multiple times a year until I was a grown adult buying tickets for a zoo in another state where it was far too expensive to go multiple times a year.
If you're looking for free things to do in St. Louis with kids, the St. Louis Zoo will most likely be at the top of everyone's list... and it's for a good reason. Don't let the free price tag make you think any less of the quality of our zoo. St. Louis Zoo is home to over 16,000 animals with elaborate environments!
There's always updates and new exhibits almost every year. In recent years, we've seen the Primate Canopy Trails, which is a climbing structure that allow guests to explore the forest canopy next to the animals! That's right, on nice day the primates are outside and are playing right next to you! Inside the Hall of Apes is this sweet baby girl! She was so fun to watch - the boys both loved watching her swing from the ropes.
Polar Bear Point is another popular attraction where you get to be super close to a swimming polar bear! Moments like these are simply magical! Baby boy was a little freaked out the first time the bear swam up next to him, but after a few times he was completely loving it and reaching out to pet the bear.
My personal favorite is the Sea Lion Sounds exhibit where sea lions swim overhead as you walk through a tunnel. I can't get over this photo of baby boy pointing to the sea lion as it swims by.
Penguin and Puffin Cove is another incredible experience to see these cute, and a bit smelly, little guys up close!
There's so many more exhibits that are amazing like the elephants, giraffes, red panda, but if history is more your thing, St. Louis Zoo is home to several pieces of the 1904 World's Fair. The giant flight cage, the primate house, bird house and herpetarium, in Historic Hill are all pieces from that time period.
We love going to the St. Louis Zoo with our young family. The entire park is paved which is great for our double stroller. There's plenty of bathrooms, benches, nursing mothers' rooms, and places to get snacks for everyone. While we love going as family, it is somewhere I feel comfortable going with the two boys alone in nonpeak seasons.
Have you been? Would you go?