The otter is like a puppet, with a behind the scenes voice actor who interacts with the audience from a hidden camera. ! Mirror Maze: The mirrors are being cleaned regularly and gloves are offered to guests. The multimedia train delivers guests to an area that explores the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. That restaurant space has been revived into The Train Shed, an upscale dining experience with a contemporary American menu, high-end spirits and 20 beers on tap. You can take their fun Find Your M-O quiz to be paired with your Mo and plan your next adventure. This 18-round course is the perfect family-fun activity! The St. Louis Aquarium got the green light to reopen to visitors on June 8th, 2020. St. Louis Wheel: you can get your tickets online, but its not required. Tickets are $8. Their funhouse is full of hands-on fun! As someone who loves sharing all there is to do in the city, I was thrilled when St. Louis Union Station reopened and quickly became a go-to destination for family fun. And it will make sure your kids get the most from their visit. Got an electric car? Fun fact: local celeb John Goodman lends his voice as the train conductor! Comment document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a8092f73857864245e41887c81a3b77c" );document.getElementById("cac1e6e6dc").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Love and our Laptop Lives is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Required fields are marked *. Go ahead and ask her anything! Tickets are $5. This is also where Lord Stanley the Blue Lobster resides, so take your time to explore the area. The aquarium includes one-of-a-kind exhibits featuring more than 13,000 aquatic animals from fresh water and marine environments around the world. . The Soda Fountain mainly serves fancy sodas and excellent milk shakes and a few grilled items like burgers and toasted cheese. Spoiler alert: Youll want to make a day out of your visit there is so much to do! I would love to have their stuffed mushroom recipe, yum yum! https://loveandourlaptoplives.com/st-louis-aquarium-at-union-station/ Its way more than just a fish tank! The Carousel: riders are limited to allow for spacing. There is a train-themed playground near the Carousel. Look for spots where your kids can get up close with the fishtheres a couple bubble windows that let you sit inside the tanks!
If youre curious about the Polar Express, you dont need to worry. On a clear day, you can see a gorgeous view of our city. A family favorite for the young and the young at heart. Ive never been to St. Louis but now I might need to make a visit! A boardwalk with fire pits and chairs provides a relaxing setting to watch the show. You can see their menu here. You can take their fun Find Your M-O quiz to be paired with your Mo and plan your next adventure. Lets do a deep dive on all there is to do at St. Louis Union Station. If youre thinking this is just for kids, think again. To read more about new safety measures click here. All this river town needed was a nice place for some fish. Bring some quarters so you can feed the goldfish! Its most certainly a toss-up for me between Outdoor Mo and Family Fun Mo. All opinions are my own. They serve kid-friendly ice cream, over-the-top milk shakes and grown-up boozy shakes sourced from local favorites Clementines Ices Plain & Fancy. Theres also plans for food vendors to operate around the park area. About the only other place you can be so high is the Gateway Arch! The St. Louis Aquarium isnt as big as others you may have visited, but its jammed packed with interactive fun. You can park under the historic train shed, where 22 railroad tracks once crisscrossed, or at several nearby parking lots. Youll be whisked back in time to an old-time soda shop feel with a menu of classics. All opinions are my own. You can of course lower your mask for eating, drinking and when you can keep a safe distance from other visitors. (The Map is shown with West being up, I know its disorienting.) Annual Passes start at $55 for One. From Shark Canyon to Confluence Gallery, there are, There are many ways to see a birds-eye view of our great city. Dont worry about being priced out of lunch! Ropes Course: Timed tickets are Required. Looks like you had such an amazing time!!!! Im a boy mom, crafter and former reporter who loves taking my kids to superhero movies. Yes its very nice along with ice cream burger and beer joint in same area of union station. Brought Union Station back from dead! These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Next youll cross into Shark Canyon with the biggest tank 250,000 gallons home to 80 sharks and rays, plus thousands of schooling sardines. All ages are welcome, anyone under 48 inches or 13 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Its a great resource of places to visit all over the state. You can get up close with sting rays, shrimp, star fish and more. The St. Louis Aquarium has six different environments to explore! This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Your email address will not be published. Parents can walk along side while their little ones test their skills. Additional passes are $35 each. If you visited Union Station Mall back in the 80s and 90s, you might remember Houlihans at the front of the building. Yes, we love that when visiting Union Station, there is so much in one place. Children under the age of three are free. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. What an incredible place! If youre in a hurry to find a parking spot just head to the back. Im @stlmotherhood anywhere that matters! You can save on parking by purchasing a $5 parking pass with your Aquarium tickets good at the South and West parking lots behind Union Station. Your ride starts with a few fun facts about 19th century St. Louis and Union Station, then Goodman pulls a few levers to make the train travel through timeand surfs it across the modern day Mississippi down to the ocean. and love stopping by for a burger and a Freak Shake. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. General Admission is $25 for Adults, $18 for kids 3-12. Next to the St. Louis Wheel in the Train Park are two renovated train cars serving up snacks, burgers, soda and beer. About the only other place you can be so high is the, St. Louis Union Station has so many delicious offerings for, that will fit everyones tastes. Bring your A-game with you with a round of. For your children, there are plenty of learning opportunities, like chatting with an otter, animal feedings, educational visits with the keepers and animals, and hands-on activities. Youll find it on inside Union Station on the second floor. Sure, we have the Gateway Arch, but The St. Louis Wheel is a completely different view of the city. They have a charging station just for you, near the train tracks in the middle of the lot. Their funhouse is full of hands-on fun! You will need to RSVP for your tickets (including members) to get a timed ticket. Youll exit the train ride at the first of six aquatic galleries and start your tour. Preschools and Child Care Centers Faith Based, Preschools and Child Care Centers Non-Faith Based, Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapy. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Lets do a deep dive on all there is to do at St. Louis Union Station. General admission tickets are $25 for adults and $18 for children ages 3 to 13. Taking over the Hard Rock Cafe is a classic soda fountaincalled what else? Your email address will not be published. Now that Ive shared some of my favorite St. Louis attractions with you, dont forget to take the. Your email address will not be published. They serve fresh Gulf seafood, fish and steaks. Need to get some wiggles out? Theres so much to do in St. Louis who knew!? Located inside the station on the 2nd floor, the maze is a tribute to the Temple of Mirth fun house from the 1904 Worlds Fair. The St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station will offer timed ticketing that will allow guests to avoid waiting in line. Also, make sure you book Aquarium reservations in advance. Bring your parking pass in with you near the Aquarium entrance to validate it at the Explore St. Louis Visitor Desk. After you purchase your tickets (or show off your membership card) youll enter the Aquarium through a mini version of old time Union Station, including a full sized replica of the stations clock towerfilled with round Discus Fish. St. Louis is a city that has so much to offer for families. Equipment is sanitized between guests. The final obstacle the compression hallway has been turned off. The 1894 Cafe is a casual place to grab a quick burger, sandwich or pizza for families and school groups. It brings together state-of-the-art technology, animal care, education and conservation with the excitement of aquatic creatures. Lord Stanley, the rare blue lobster named for the NHL's Stanley Cup and St. Louis Blues' championship, lives in his own habitat with a hockey theme. Landrys is located under the train shed and just behind the lake. These cookies do not store any personal information. You can drop me a line at Denise at Stlmotherhood.com. Gondolas are sanitized between each group. In: Travel, All the other states, Blog, This is such a fun post! Once an bustling railroad hub ushering thousands of travelers through its doors, the station is now home to thousands of fish! The St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station is the centerpiece of a $187 million family entertainment complex in downtown St. Louis. I was just there with 2 friends from the Florida Keys that had never been to St Louis .They saw marine life that even they hadnt seen ! The St. Louis Aquarium is housed inside St. Louis Union Station, a 19th century National Landmark. Perfect opportunity for Mom and Dad to take a break. This post is in partnership with the Missouri Division of Tourism. that includes general admission to the Aquarium, The St. Louis Wheel, Carousel, Mirror Maze, and Mini Golf. It offers an excellent view of the city and lights up the night with amazing LED lights. Union Station to see the Fire and light show, 12 Essentials for a Perfectly Cozy Night in the Fall, How to Create a Charcuterie Board | Everything you want to know about Charcuterie Boards, Wisconsin Fish Boil | A Door County Tradition, https://loveandourlaptoplives.com/st-louis-aquarium-at-union-station/, 12 Essentials for a Perfectly Cozy Night in the Fall, Exploring Wisconsins Tallest Waterfall on this Amazing Waterfall Road Trip . The Soda Fountain! The Aquarium is a wonderful combination of sharing Missouri ecosystems and wildlife as well as going deep with ocean-like views. Its great to see you pictures and take a trip down memory lane . Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. In the past couple of years, there has been a huge glow-up of St. Louis Union Station. Family events, kids activities and parenting resources in the St. Louis, Missouri area! If you want to ask a question or tell me you love this post, you can tweet me, DM me on Instagram or use trusty old Facebook. Required fields are marked *. And outdoor, two-acre park by the Aquarium entrance will have a play area and splash pad. Tickets are $10 per person. Now that Ive shared some of my favorite St. Louis attractions with you, dont forget to take the quiz to see what Mo you are paired with and reveal some hidden gems all around our great state! There are plenty of options for adults to enjoy the Aquarium just as much as the little ones. is a completely different view of the city. St. Louis Blog Focused on Family, Food, Style and STL Fun, Created On: May 12, 2021 |Updated: November 12, 2021| 5 Comments. Its most certainly a toss-up for me between Outdoor Mo and Family Fun Mo. Youll get to peak into several windows as you walk to the bottom level of the tank, then cross under under it. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); WOW! Its beautiful! Youll be whisked back in time to an old-time soda shop feel with a menu of classics. Mini Golf: Visitors will be spaced out on the course to allow for distancing. How to Survive #Snowmageddon (with kids! The highly anticipated St. Louis Wheel is a 200-foot-tall observation wheel with 42 climate-controlled gondolas. There are plenty of areas to grab a quick drink or snack under the train shed. St. Louis has so much to offer, especially for families. Denise Bertacchi is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. With seasonal attractions like The Polar Express and other special events, Union Station is a destination for all. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. As a parent, Im excited to have the opportunity for hands-on educational opportunities in the city for children of all ages. Visitor capacity has been limited during this time due to temporary safety regulations. If you didnt buy your parking pass with your tickets, you can still pick one up at the gift shop. Kids can poke and spin the computer fish to see them up close and learn about all the species. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Thrill seekers wear a harness attached to a safety track above the course then balance their way across rope bridges and tricky balance beams. Youll get $5 parking. Member of the Fun4USKids network. We visited during opening week when the Aquarium was completely sold out and there was still plenty of parking located towards the back of the lot. Im not that adventurous, but its definitely fun for a thrill-seeker! We ate at Landrys on our first visit to Union Station, when it was still under construction. Sure, we have the Gateway Arch, but. Make sure you check out the computer touch screens located by each tank to explore the nearby fish in more detail. For $5, take a ride on this. You wont have to worry about leaving the complex to grab a bite to eat! From Shark Canyon to Confluence Gallery, there are six different galleries to learn about. A family favorite for the young and the young at heart. St. Louis Union Station gift cards also can be purchased and loaded with any amount at the Aquarium's retail store. The Aquarium and other attractions -- including the 200-foot St. Louis Wheel observation wheel -- are housed at the 500,000-square-foot National Historic Landmark train shed at Union Station, which originally opened in 1894 as the biggest and busiest train terminal in the nation. It was AWESOME. The cafe is named after Union Stations original opening date and will be open during the Aquarium operating hours. Im happy to report that I tried a Shark Bite Shake during a recent media tour of the construction. Union Station is turning into a true family entertainment complex with the addition of a Ferris Wheel, mini golf, a Carousel, concert park, themed restaurants and more! One of the citys newest attractions, the, , is home to a wide variety of aquatic life, educational adventures, and more. Interested in starting a site in your area? Today, I want to take you along for some family fun and outdoor locations for a little bit of both worlds, so you can plan for your next St. Louis adventure. Keep up with the latest recipes, style tips, St. Louis fun and more when you subscribe! Our new aquarium has ONE MILLION gallons of fresh and saltwater tanks and is the home of around 13,000 aquatic animals. The LHM folks are the ones who invited the Polar Express to Union Station in the first place, so you can bet me a donut it will keep showing up year after year. Dont forget to stop and grab a sweet treat for the road! The train experience has also been closed at this time, so visitors can just walk into the exhibit unrestricted. Get lost in a 1904 Worlds Fair-themed Mirror Maze! Ill keep an eye out for picnic areas as the grounds are developed! It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. That soda fountain looked TOO good!`. The Shark Canyon exhibit offers views of 60 sharks and rays in a 250,000-gallon environment with acrylic J-walls that arch high overhead. Guests will be spaced out for social distancing. (The keep the sharks from snacking on their new friends by feeding them very well and quite often!) One of the citys newest attractions, the St. Louis Aquarium, is home to a wide variety of aquatic life, educational adventures, and more. Your email address will not be published. The Aquarium has introduced new safety measures, like one way paths and closing off some high touch exhibits. Playful otters -- named Sawyer, Finn and Thatcher -- piranhas and doctor fish are just some of the highlights. Also Landrys seafood restaurant is across from ice cream place. As someone who loves visiting St. Louis Union Station regularly, I can let you in on a few little secrets to make your visit fun and affordable. They will also be conducting touch free temperature checks, if you have a fever you will be asked to visit another day. Tickets will allow access to all of the Aquariums galleries, exhibits and interactive experiences. The roof of the lobby mimics the stations Grand Hall (now a bar and restaurant for the Union Station hotel) and displays a digital ocean complete with fish swimming overhead. Im partial to the Soda Fountain and love stopping by for a burger and a Freak Shake. Today, I want to take you along for some family fun and outdoor locations for a little bit of both worlds, so you can plan for your next St. Louis adventure. St. Louis Union Station has so many delicious offerings for dining that will fit everyones tastes. Its always been my vision as a mom to help create long-lasting memories for families. It was amazing to see how they brought new life to Union Station. If youre feeling adventurous, there is an option to ride in a gondola that has a see-through bottom! Have you been to St. Louis Union Station before? Finally, the Deep will take you to the depths of the worlds oceans to see a coral reef, jellyfish, octopus and more. First, congrats on making it to the end of this monster post! Im adding this to my travel list right now so fun, Wow, thank you for putting a spotlight on St. Louis. Be sure to pick up a scavenger hunt at the entrance when you arrive for some extra fun! Gift cards can be used for admission to any of the attractions at Union Station or in any retail location. But the BEST PART, was we stayed @ the hotel @ Union station! Most known as the home to the St. Louis Aquarium, the St. Louis Wheel, and more, this one-stop attraction is perfect for a family fun-filled day. The Aquarium is a wonderful combination of sharing Missouri ecosystems and wildlife as well as going deep with ocean-like views. I did my undergrad at Saint Louis U and its so nice to see you highlight the beautiful Union Station. Each animal is sanitized between guests. Youll watch the show through the length of the trains windows and through the skylight. Dont forget to stop and grab a sweet treat for the road! There are many ways to see a birds-eye view of our great city. Great rates for such a spectacular historical venue . Ive never been to Missouri before but this definitely makes me want to try it out once we all can travel again! You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. With 42 climate-controlled gondolas, youll be able to go 200 feet in the air for breathtaking views of the city. Take your time as you walk through the galleries the aquariums route is designed to be ONE WAY, and there are areas where it will be impossible to back track, especially if theres a crowd. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Next visit the otters triplets (Thatcher, Sawyer and Finn) who live on the shores of Changing Rivers. Next youll board a virtual reality train ride honoring Union Stations history as a busy transportation hub. Need more than four? Be sure to check out the Doctor Fish and let them nibble at your fingers! They have a two story habitatyou can watch them swim in their tank from the first floor or walk around the surface on the second floor. Youve come to the right spot if youre looking for tips, tricks, and mom hacks and in the inside scoop on St. Louis to make your life easier so you can get about the business of making those families memories. Join me for a mix of traditional kid crafts, STEM fun and 3D printing. The touch pools are open and Animal Ambassadors are still making the rounds (just no petting). Take a spin on a classic merry-go-round featuring 30 whimsical animals and themed chariots. Youll get a discount as you add members to your group: $100 for Two, $135 for Three, $160 for Four. Youll start with local river fish at the Confluence Gallery, then meet river monsters from Asia, Africa and South America at the Global River exhibit. For $5, take a ride on this classic. I dreamed one day St. Louis would build us an aquarium. Combo Tickets will save some cash: Aquarium + The Wheel are $35/$25; All Six Attractions are $50/$40. ), Make you must, this Baby Yoda Fridge Magnet. Lets dive in a little more about all there is to do. The Wheel is open from 10am to 10pm, and from 10am to 11pm in the summer. Its a great resource of places to visit all over the state. (Max weight is 300 for safety reasons.). Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for kids 3 to 12 and free for little ones under 2. Dont forget to meet Lord Stanley its not every day you get to meet a blue lobster! Make sure your kids look up and out both sides of the train! Have children under 48 inches tall? As a parent, Im excited to have the opportunity for hands-on educational opportunities in the city for children of all ages. The 120,000-square-foot aquarium covers two stories and includes environments filled with more than a million gallons of water. Youll want to check out the Sky Tykes upstairs at the, Talk a walk over to the Grand Hall and see the. Tickets are $15 for the main course, $5 for the kids mini course. On a clear day, you can see a gorgeous view of our city. Theres also a complete candy shop inside the restaurant. If youre feeling adventurous, there is an option to ride in a gondola that has a see-through bottom! Passes are issued to specific pass holders and include their name and photo. More information about Annual Passes and Combo Tickets that include admission to Union Station's other attractions -- the St. Louis Wheel, Carousel, Mini-Golf, Ropes Course and A-Maze-Ing Discoveries Mirror Maze -- is available online at https://www.stlouisaquarium.com/tickets. A smaller version a few feet off the ground is offered for kids under 48 inches. Definitely on our summer bucket list! Learn about the fish that inhabit the great rivers of America and explore the Global Rivers area to see fresh water species from around the world. With 42 climate-controlled gondolas, youll be able to go 200 feet in the air for breathtaking views of the city. All visitors over nine should wear a mask (unless they have a health exception) by St. Louis City code. Best of all, its free! Comments are so yesterday, so Ive removed them. Once home to a bustling train station in the late 1800s, it has now been transformed into a family-friendly destination and. Union Station now has four restaurants: three operated by the stations management plus Landrys Seafoodwho thankfully decided to weather the construction phase. ! If youre new to the Lou or just traveling through for some family fun, check out VisitMo.com. The popular Fire & Light show set to music operates daily on the lake. The light show with friends & cocktails made our night ! Next to the otters tank is a really cool otter chat show with an electronic otter who answers all your questions about otters. Im not that adventurous, but its definitely fun for a thrill-seeker! Im partial to the. The station was a mall back in the 80s, so theres quite a lot of parking. Equipment is sanitized between guests and gloves are available if you like. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. I have yet to visit My kids would go crazy for that aquarium. This 18-round course is the perfect family-fun activity! Visitors enter the Aquarium via a 3-D virtual reality train ride that honors the history of St. Louis Union Stations railroad past. Dangling above the Aquariums lobby on the 2nd level is a ropes course and zip line. , Union Station is a destination for all. This post is in partnership with Visit Missouri. Copyright 2022 stlMotherhood | Wisteria on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, save on parking by purchasing a $5 parking pass. Bring your A-game with you with a round of mini golf! Were talking everything from sharks to river otters, with two-story tall tanks that you can walk around, under and through! In the past couple of years, there has been a huge glow-up of St. Louis Union Station. Click here to find out more! An 18-hole course is located near the Ferris Wheel. Head up stairs to Ocean Shores where with plenty of hands-on areas with touch pools that kids will love to explore. Get a card for the kids electronic scavenger hunt when you enter the aquarium its free! Once home to a bustling train station in the late 1800s, it has now been transformed into a family-friendly destination and hotel. Weve already got a fantastic Zoo, tons of childrens museums and of course a jaw dropping National Monument. If youre new to the Lou or just traveling through for some family fun, check out. A limited number of same-day passes also will be available for purchase every day on site. This looks like an awesome spot to hang out with your family.