Things to do in St.Louis

The Gateway Arch Riverfront, highlighted by the majestic Gateway Arch, attracts more than four million guests each year. At 630 ft., our nation’s tallest man-made monument has plenty of exciting activities. Take the tram ride to the top, see a documentary film, experience a giant screen movie, visit the Lewis & Clark exhibit in the museum and go shopping. Open daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. Extended summer hours.

Forest Park

Bounded by I-64, Kingshighway, Lindell & Skinker
St. Louis, MO 63110
Phone: (314) 289-5300
Public Email: http://stlcin.missouri.org/index/contactelect.cfm?
URL: www.stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/parks/forestpark

One of the largest urban parks in the United States. At 1,371 acres, it is approximately 500 acres larger than Central Park in New York City. In 1904, the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, the greatest of the World’s Fairs, drew more than 19 million visitors from around the world to Forest Park. Recently renovated with $100 million in updates. Contains the Art Museum, Science Center, Zoo, Jewel Box greenhouse, History Museum, The Muny theatre, 7.5-mile biking, jogging and skating path, skating rink and lakes. FREE.

St.Louis Art Museum

One Fine Arts Drive
Forest Park
St. Louis, MO 63110
Phone: (314) 721-0072
Public Email: publicrelations@slam.org
URL: www.slam.org

Built as the Fine Arts Palace of the 1904 World’s Fair and one of the nation’s leading comprehensive art museums. Collections include works of art of exceptional quality from virtually every culture and time period. Highlights include free admission to special exhibitions on Fri. and programs that range from films to performances. FREE.

Hours: Tue. – Sun., 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Open until 9 p.m. on Fri.; Closed Mon., Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Missouri Botanical Garden

4344 Shaw Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63110
Phone: (314) 577-9400
Toll-Free: (800) 642-8842

URL: www.mobot.org

Founded in 1859, the Missouri Botanical Garden is a National Historic Landmark with 79 acres of scenic landscaping and elegant structures. Don’t miss the Climatron® tropical rain forest, Seiwa-en Japanese garden and founder Henry Shaw’s Victorian home.

St. Louis Zoo

Summer Hours — May 23-September 1, 2008:

The Zoo is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m every day, Memorial Weekend through Labor Day, for North Star Summer Zoo Hours. Stay until 8 p.m. on Fridays for Dinoroarus and Jungle Boogie. The Zoo will close at 5 p.m. on June 20, July 23 and August 27.

Remainder of the Year:

The Zoo is open every day, except December 25 (Christmas Day) and January 1 (New Year’s Day), from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Attraction Fees

Admission to the Zoo is FREE although there are fees for some attractions.

• Dinoroarus is $1.50 for members; $3 for non-members. Free admission the first hour the Zoo is open. Children under two are free. Hours 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays.
• Children’s Zoo is $4 per person. Free admission the first hour the Zoo is open. Children under 2 are free. Hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Conservation Carousel is $2 per person. All proceeds support the Saint Louis Zoo’s conservation programs. The Carousel is free the first hour the Zoo is open. Hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., weather permitting.
• Zooline Railroad is $5 per person, per round trip ticket. You may leave the train, visit exhibits and re-board. Children under 2 are free. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., weather permitting; ticket sales stop at 6:30 p.m.
• Motion Simulator is $3 per person. Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., weather permitting.
• 3-D Movie is $4 per person. Show times: every half hour between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
• Sea Lion Show is $3 per person. Children under two are free. Show times are 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. daily, with additional show time at 4:30 on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

Go here to see directions to the Zoo depending on where you are coming from

http://www.stlzoo.org/yourvisit/hourspricesdirections.htm

St. Louis Science Center

Holiday Weekend Hours
Friday, July 4 – 9:30am – 5:30pm
Saturday, July 5 – 9:30am – 5:30pm
Sunday, July 6 – 11:30am – 5:30pm

Hours of Operation
Monday – Thursday – 9:30am – 5:30pm
Friday – 9:30am – 9:30pm
Saturday – 9:30am – 5:30pm
Sunday – 11:30am – 5:30pm

Box Office Hours
Monday – Thursday – 9:30am – 5:15pm
Friday – 9:30am – 9:15pm
Saturday – 9:30am – 5:15pm
Sunday – 11:30am – 5:15pm

James S. McDonnell Planetarium Hours
Monday – Saturday 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Sunday 11:30am – 4:30 pm

How to Get Here
Even with the construction on I-64, it’s still easy to get to the Saint Louis Science Center. Conveniently located near I-44 and I-64, the Science Center is easily accesible from all major highways in the area. Up to date construction information is available from MoDOT at www.thenewi64.org. To help you plan the fastest routes and avoid construction traffic, use Map My Trip or follow the directions below:

OMNIMAX^® Theater

The OMNIMAX Theater is an experience like no other! Sit under a four-story screen while taking in breathtaking, awe-inspiring scenery in a state-of-the-art wrap-around, domed theater. Sit back, relax and let sight and sound take over as images come leaping toward and around you, while the 15,000-watt sound system tricks you into believing you’re really there. The OMNIMAX Theater offers the Rear Window open-captioning service for all films and at all showtimes (unless otherwise noted on the Showtimes page.)

The Discovery Room

Come play with science in the Discovery Room; a great place for young scientists aged 3-7 to explore a range of interactive exhibits. We provide exhibits that allow children to experiment with the properties of magnets, or explore the ways in which water behaves at the water table, and children can even dress up at the medical area or native American area. Our book nooks are ideal places for sitting down on a comfy rug and opening a good book.

Explore science and learning with your children as they begin to understand the world around them. Families can experience the remarkable natural world together in a nurturing child-friendly environment. The Discovery Room helps children focus on the fundamentals of science and technology and provides a learning resource for parents, children and teachers. Program sessions are 45 minutes and begin on the hour. Come and explore the playful side of science!

Explore the Galleries!

The Saint Louis Science Center is a three-building complex (the main building, the Exploradome® and the James S. McDonnell Planetarium) with more than 700 hands-on exhibits. In the Science Center galleries you can:

• Visit a life-sized animated Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops in the Ecology and Environment Galleries
• Climb in a giant kaleidoscope in the Human Adventure Galleries
• Play a laser harp or create a “virtual fish” in Cyberville^TM
• Explore the science of engineering in Structures
• Cross over the interstate and watch the cars go by on the Bridge
• Visit the new Flight! Gallery in the tunnel between the main building and the Planetarium
• Enjoy innovative live Amazing Science Demonstrations and Science Goes Splat! at CenterStage

Monsters

The Art & Technology of Animatronics
For the first time outside Australia, movie fans are able to meet their favorite creatures face to fangs at the U.S. debut of MONSTERS! The Art & Technology of Animatronics, which runs May 3 – September 1, in the Science Center’s EXPLORADOME. Created by Academy Award-winning animatronics expert John Cox and his team from the John Cox Creature Workshop in Queensland, Australia, the MONSTERS! exhibition provides a behind-the-scenes look at visual effects techniques and movie animatronics. Visitors can:

• See Selkie the sea lion and other creatures from Nim’s Island, in theaters now
• Maneuver the crocodile tail from Peter Pan
• Check out Inspector Gadget’s gadgets
• See the gorillas from George of the Jungle 2

James S. McDonnell Planetarium

The Saint Louis Science Center’s James S. McDonnell Planetarium is one of the nation’s leading space education facilities. It features the unique Boeing Space Station, with two fabulous levels of exhibits that incorporate scientific research, illustrating the future of space travel. The Orthwein StarBay has several lab areas, including the SBC Learning Center, that give visitors a glimpse of what it’s like to live and work on the International Space Station. In the Crew Quarters see how dwellers eat, exercise, sleep and dress in space, as well as how medical needs and the stations internal and external environments are maintained.

The StarBay’s most amazing feature is the central open area dominated by the Zeiss Planetarium Model IX which projects more than 9,000 stars onto an 80-foot dome creating a brilliant star field. Visitors can look up and see what the actual night sky would look like without the interference of weather, pollution, or city lights. Special features allow Planetarium staff to demonstrate eclipses, meteor showers and other celestial phenomena. The immensity and clarity of the view creates a sense of wonder and stimulates the imagination.

The StarBridge, located on the highest level, focuses on the navigation and operations essential for life in space. Exhibits demonstrate the roles that communication, astronomical research, power and exploration will play in maintaining a space station. And don’t miss the full size replica of the X PRIZE winning spaceship, SpaceShipOne now on display in Holekamp Family SkyPort.

Science Center Website

Jewel Box

The Jewel Box is open: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $1 but it is free from 9 a.m. to noon on Monday and Tuesday.

The Jewel Box, located on a 17-acre site in Forest Park, was built by the City of St. Louis in 1936 and is operated by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry.

It is listed on the National Historic Register. The designation was given by the National Park Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior.

The application was submitted by the Landmarks Association of St. Louis on behalf of the City of St. Louis Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry.

The Jewel Box was given the designation on the National Register because it is, “locally significant in the area of architecture. The Art Deco building is an outstanding example of greenhouse design.”

The Jewel Box has special flower shows at Christmas, early spring, Easter, Mother’s Day, a summer show and the chrysanthemum show in the fall. It has tropical trees, foliage plants, flowers, a new water feature and fountain year round.

The main display room is 50 feet high, 55 feet wide and 144 feet long, containing about 7,500 square feet of floor space.

The jewel box is a beautiful place to have weddings, receptions, and events of any kind.

http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/parks/jewelbox/weddings.html