This year during spring break we noticed that quite a few of our guests had something in common, besides coming and having a great time at Horseshoe Canyon Ranch, families were stopping at destinations of attraction on their way to the ranch.  What a great idea!  It is a way to make things more interesting for the children and do multiple activities in one trip.  We have a pretty high percentage of guests that drive through or near St. Louis, MO and quite a few of them take advantage of what the city has to offer.  As we got to talking about “their on the way adventures” we found out we have gone to a couple of these places so we have decided to share the two that our kids have enjoyed the most.

ST. LOUIS CITY MUSEUM:  Although it was in 2009 that we visited our kids still talk about how much fun it was.  We highly recommend this museum.  NOTE: If it is raining they close the outdoor portion and that was the part our kids loved the most.

Much to see and climb! Inside near the entrance.

 

Description from their website: “Housed in the 600,000 square-foot former International Shoe Company, the museum is an eclectic mixture of children’s playground, funhouse, surrealistic pavilion, and architectural marvel made out of unique, found objects. The brainchild of internationally acclaimed artist Bob Cassilly, a classically trained sculptor and serial entrepreneur, the museum opened for visitors in 1997 to the riotous approval of young and old alike.

The outdoor section.

 

Cassilly and his longtime crew of 20 artisans have constructed the museum from the very stuff of the city; and, as a result, it has urban roots deeper than any other institutions’. Reaching no farther than municipal borders for its reclaimed building materials, City Museum boasts features such as old chimneys, salvaged bridges, construction cranes, miles of tile, and even two abandoned planes!

 

 

“City Museum makes you want to know,” says Cassilly. “The point is not to learn every fact, but to say, ‘Wow,that’s wonderful.’ And if it’s wonderful, it’s worth preserving.”

 

The second was the St. Louis Zoo.  The admission is free (the parking is not). Make sure you have a lot of time if you want to make it through the entire facility.

“The St. Louis Zoo is one of the country’s best. Actually, both Parenting Magazine and Zagat’s call it the top zoo in the nation. Not only does the St. Louis Zoo excel at getting visitors face-to-face with animals, it’s also respected for creating exhibits that resemble each animal’s natural habitat. Surprisingly, it does all this without charging a dime for admission!

The Zoo has always been on of the best free attractions in St. Louis. What to see once you’re there? Here are ten things that shouldn’t be missed.”  By David O’Brien, About.com Guide

Cameron liked looking at the penguins just not smelling them.

 

I don't remember what these are called but thought they would be a nice addition to the ranch.

Grumpy Bird: This was like a little mini zoo rodeo. He did not want to leave the enclosure, but his handlers did.

 

Don't let Creed's expression fool you, he really did have a fun time.