18 Indoor Fun Things To Do In St. Louis

The kids can’t play Ring Around The Rosie outside today? Don’t worry. When the seasonal cold or wind and rain are keeping you from enjoying your favorite activities, St. Louis offers an abundance of great indoor alternatives to keep you and your group happy. From kid-friendly places like the Saint Louis Science Center or The Magic House to adult favorites such as The Fabulous Fox Theatre or The Armory, let us guide you through some of the options we love when it’s time to head inside.

Let’s jump into our list of indoor fun places in St Louis, Mo. In case you want to skip down the list, we’ll be including these topics as we go:

• Popular Things For Visitors to Do Indoors In St Louis, Mo.
• Affordable Indoor Things To Do In St Louis, MO
• Fun FREE Places To Go Inside While In St Louis, Mo.

By the way…if you’re thinking of taking your kids down I-44 to visit Springfield, MO, you may want to explore and bookmark our article on the 18 Things To Do With Kids In Springfield, MO.

6 Popular Indoor Activities in St. Louis

City Museum

The City Museum has to kick off this list. This quirky museum is a haven of imaginative, hands-on exploration, featuring caves, slides, and interactive art installations both inside and outside the building. The regular one-day ticket price of $20 (plus tax) is for all Indoor and MonstroCity activities. Unlimited passes start at $39.99 which is a huge savings if you live close enough to visit over and over.

Each time we’ve been here, we discover at least a dozen things we hadn’t seen or noticed before. Words truly cannot describe the place even if you’ve been there many times. This was always a favorite place for our boys growing up and honestly, we’re anxious to go back!

Gateway Arch

I can still remember every thought running through my mind the first time I made the journey to the top of the Gateway Arch. As an 11-year-old, it was quite incredible and exhilarating to imagine being that high up. Since then, we have made the “Tram Ride to the Top” six or seven more times with various friends and family.

Start the visit by thoroughly exploring the museum inside the base. I’ve learned as much about Missouri history, the Louisiana Purchase, Lewis & Clark, and the Jefferson Expansion here than probably anywhere. Then grab your ticket ($11-$19 depending on ages and visit dates) for the interesting tram ride. They offer value in their Combo tickets if you want to pair it up with other great experiences.

There really is a kind of solace and inspiration you feel inside the peak of this architectural marvel.

The Armory

Our favorite hangout place in recent years is a fairly new venue called The Armory. With six acres of indoor space complete with a large musical stage, local foods, and a host of backyard games, your group will have a great time.

Try some local food or beer. They have a crazy amount of options. A dozen cornhole games and other fun activities are all happening at once. There’s even a twisting slide from the second level to enjoy.

City Foundry

The City Foundry STL sits next door to The Armory and this longtime electrical plant was reimagined into a brand new 15-acre space housing dozens of food vendors and shops. This area has really gone out of its way to draw large crowds of entertainment seekers and date-night fun.

St. Louis Blues Hockey

A trip to a St. Louis Blues hockey game is always an exciting adventure! Imagine a packed arena with people in blue and yellow, cheering on their hometown team. Your favorite NHL stars are zipping across the ice at mind-blowing speeds and often getting sent up against the glass with a thunderous sound. Yes, that’s a common evening spent inside the Enterprise Arena throughout the season.

Bring your kids and tell them to watch for Louie, the big friendly bear mascot who dances and brings laughter. Going to a St. Louis Blues hockey game is a world of fun, excitement, and great St. Louis spirit.

The Fabulous Fox Theatre

St. Louis’s theatrical scene is always red hot with a full list of cultural events and performances. The Fabulous Fox Theatre stands as a magnificent venue that hosts Broadway shows and musicals, adding a touch of sophistication to your night indoors.

6 Affordable Indoor Things To Do In St. Louis

Missouri Botanical Garden

The Missouri Botanical Garden, a gem among St. Louis attractions, immerses visitors in horticulture and botany. Spanning 79 acres, it boasts diverse and meticulously maintained gardens, each with its own unique spectacle. The Climatron, a geodesic dome conservatory, replicates a rainforest with over 1,400 tropical plant species.

The Japanese Garden, one of North America’s largest, offers a serene landscape with a central lake, bridges, and tea houses. The Garden also houses one of the world’s largest herbaria with nearly 7 million specimens, supporting research and conservation. Whether you’re a gardener, nature lover, or seeking a peaceful retreat, the Missouri Botanical Garden enchants with its flora.

Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House

Also located inside the Missouri Botanical Garden complex is the beautiful 8,000 sq ft Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House. Containing nearly 100 species of tropical plants, visitors will get to watch over 60 species of butterflies in free flight. You can already envision those selfies with a Costa Rican blue Morphos on your shoulder, right?

Outside of January’s maintenance closure, this attraction is open year-round and visitors love exploring some of the most amazing nectar plants and happy butterflies in a balmy climate.

The Magic House

One of the coolest places we would take our boys while in St. Louis is The Magic House, a magical place that’s all about having fun while learning. Imagine a huge house where you can make water move uphill, create a three-dimensional artwork, or whisper to someone standing far away and they will hear you clearly!

For a $14 admission price, you can create your own rainbow and touch an electrically charged ball that makes your hair stand on end. Check out Nichole’s hair! It’s a wonderful playground where every turn leads to a new adventure and mystery. The Magic House makes learning super fun and exciting, so you’ll never be bored!

Pro Tip: Locals get in for just $3 from 3:00p – 5:00p. with proof of residency.

National Museum of Transportation

Don’t miss the National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis! It’s a paradise for fans of everything that moves, with over 70 locomotives, including the Union Pacific #4006 – the largest steam engine ever built. Explore 200+ road vehicles, from horse-drawn carriages to modern automobiles, plus airplanes and boats.

The museum offers fun and educational exhibits, like the Creation Station for hands-on learning. It’s a journey through time, revealing how people have moved throughout history. It’s Planes, Trains and Automobiles! A perfect day!

Myseum

Try out a fun trip inside to Myseum, a fun, interactive, and educational children’s museum located in Town & Country, Mo. This place is set up to keep your kids excited to grow their S.T.E.M. skills.

They specialize in groups and parties so check their website for booking an event soon and let your child’s imagination run wild. It’s scientifically fun! Oh and DON’T forget to bring socks!

Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour

St. Louis has a rich brewing history, and you can experience it firsthand with a tour of the Anheuser-Busch Brewery. This is the largest brewery of its kind in the world.

Listen to the brewmaster explain the beer-making process and the history of this iconic brand, concluding with complimentary samples for those of legal drinking age. The bar crews do not skimp on the samples, either! Kids and other non-drinkers get to enjoy some great alcohol-free beverages as well.

On occasion, they’ll have some of their majestic Clydesdale horses on site so you might just happen to see one during the stable portion of the tour. If visiting on a weekend or popular summer dates, book online at $15 per person to lock in your spot.

6 Free Indoor Things To Do In St. Louis

Saint Louis Science Center

The Saint Louis Science Center is a world-class facility that provides over a million visitors annually with the opportunity to explore the wonders of the universe. Visitors can explore science hands-on with hundreds of interactive exhibits ranging from physics and engineering simulations to biology and chemistry experiments. General admission tickets are always free!

If you’re looking for something beyond the free areas, the center has several options. With state-of-the-art projection technology and stellar sound systems, guests can purchase tickets to the McDonnell Planetarium to experience the excitement of space exploration in a way like never before. Meanwhile, at the OMNIMAX® Theater, guests can watch captivating movies about adventures around the world or to distant galaxies through its five-story dome screen.

This long-time St. Louis attraction and others in Forest Park are great for anyone craving a little indoor adventure!

Union Station

Union Station in St. Louis played a significant role in America’s history. Opening in 1894, it became one of the world’s largest and busiest passenger rail terminals. The station witnessed high traffic during events like the World’s Fair and World War II, attracting many famous people including world leaders, sports teams, and movie stars.

The magnificent Grand Hall, with its elegant design, served as the main waiting room. Over time, Union Station transformed into a mixed-use complex, offering retail shops, event spaces, and restaurants for locals and tourists to enjoy.

Today, Union Station is a blend of nostalgia and contemporary renovations. The Grand Hall is still a wonder and showcases elegant historic elements, such as stained glass windows and terrazzo floors, while also featuring modern attractions like a mesmerizing 3D light show, the St. Louis Aquarium, a ropes course, great shopping, and a sky-high Ferris wheel.

Make sure you spend time walking around this entire place and absorb the mixture of its vibrant past with modern entertainment.

The Old Courthouse

Explore the Old Courthouse, a significant historic site in the heart of downtown St. Louis. It was here that the famous Dred Scott case was heard in the 19th century, contributing to the fight against slavery.

Once you know the story of Dred Scott and how he and the case impacted our nation’s history, you can pause for a moment and just listen. It’s like you can still hear the trial going on inside the courtroom today.

World Chess Hall of Fame

On September 9, 2011, the World Chess Hall of Fame (WCHOF) opened across from the Chess Club and Scholastic Center in St. Louis. This historic building showcases the U.S. and World Chess Hall of Fame, exhibits artifacts from its permanent collection, and features temporary exhibitions on great players, historic games, and chess’s cultural history.

The WCHOF’s current focus is raising awareness of chess’s cultural and artistic significance through exhibitions and interpretive programs. Popular exhibits honoring well-known players such as Bobby Fischer and Paul Morphy along with all of its Hall of Fame inductees.

As the only institution in the United States dedicated solely to chess, the World Chess Hall of Fame stands as both a hall of fame and a museum. Admission is Free but they do appreciate small donations to help offset operational costs.

St. Louis Art Museum

The Saint Louis Art Museum was established in 1879, following the trend of art museum establishments in major cities across the eastern United States. The museum’s collections reflect its founder’s aspirations for inspiration and education, as well as the moral and democratic values he embraced.

Located in Forest Park and free to guests year-round, this is truly an amazing collection of art for any one museum. St. Louis is fortunate to have it right here to share with its many visitors and locals.

What initially started as a collection of plaster casts and reproductions evolved rapidly into a diverse and extensive collection of original works of art from various cultures and time periods. Today, the museum’s collection is highly regarded and places it among the finest institutions of its kind.

National Great Rivers Museum & Melvin Price Locks and Dam

Every year, countless individuals flock to the majestic Mississippi River, seeking to grasp its important impact on our nation and the profound mark it has left on our storied history. Since its establishment in 2003, the National Great Rivers Museum has played a pivotal role in acquainting the public with the captivating narrative of this iconic waterway. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has teamed up with the Meeting of the Rivers Foundation to operate this unique 12,000 sq ft immersive experience.

If you come back when the weather is in your favor, you don’t want to miss their 45-minute tour of The Melvin Price Locks and Dam completed in 1994. This massive structure is a crucial part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ navigational channel on the Mississippi River. It serves as a meeting point for the Illinois River and the Missouri River and is one of the largest and most advanced locks and dam systems along the Mississippi.

In Conclusion

Whether you live in the area, across the state of Missouri, neighboring Illinois, or taking a family vacation in St. Louis, these 18 places for indoor fun will prove to be a blast. Rain or shine, St. Louis offers all kinds of great family fun. So bookmark this post, pack a bag, and head to St. Louis ready for a great trip.

Distance to St. Louis, MO. – Chart

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