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This park is a beast ! Enormous. Run , walk , hike , find dinosaurs and even a plane smack dab in the middle . You've got a science center and museum , zoo, lake , it's all here and it's beautiful .
Forest park is amazing! You see beautiful landscapes and well maintained gardens. I love how large the park is. My dog and I went to the JFK trail and it was so peaceful. Everyone we encountered was kind as well.
Forest Park is renowned for its vast size, cultural attractions & recreational opportunities. It's one of the largest urban parks in the US, larger than New York's Central Park. The park is famous for its free museums, including the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Saint Louis Science Center, the Missouri History Museum, and the Saint Louis Zoo. Additionally, it hosts the Muny, the nation's oldest and largest outdoor musical theatre. There was some free parking around the loop & garages charging $20 for the day.
I visited Forest Park in June 2023 for an afternoon break during a long conference. If you're visiting Washington University on a nice day, the large park is just a short walk away. Known for being the host site of the 1904 World's Fair, this free park is a massive green space that is open to the public and includes walking trails, fountains, the Missouri History Museum, the St. Louis Zoo, and the St. Louis Art Museum. You'll see visitors from out of town and locals as well. If you have a half-day to explore the city, it's well worth including this park on your sightseeing itinerary!
Very scenic outdoors view. Grew up rollerblading here before it became popular. Yoga outdoors is trending here. Walking trails are amazing! Also, good place for cookouts too.
Home to one of my favorite places in STL. The city has done a great job cleaning up after the Tornadoes last year and it looks great! The Evolution festival here this year is so much fun!
An incredible location. Expansive, beautiful park with well-done landscaping. I enjoy Kennedy Forest the most. Sam has outdone himself with this park. Last time I was here, I was having trouble with a proof. I wished to prove a lower bound on the number of primes before an integer n. But while I sat in Forest Park at a bench, I realized it was trivial! The proof for \pi(n) \ge \frac{\log n}{2 \log 2} \quad \text{for } n = 1, 2, \ldots that I wrote that day was straight from the Book. I will note that I wished to play in the sprinklers after celebrating my proof, but some man controlled the sprinklers with his machine in his hand and turned it off when I walked up. Could the PGOM not have some fun!?
A gem of the city, don't overlook this one! We took the morning to walk the Forest Park walking path...started by the St Louis Zoo / Tamm Avenue overpass and circled the park. Highlights along the way: the Zoo (absolute STL treasure), Skinker Blvd / the Forest Park golf course, Lindell Blvd, historic mansions, the history museum, the handball courts, the lakes, Steinberg Rink, the Science Center, and Aviation Field. And that was just along the path! There's the Art Museum, the Muny, the Jewel Box and probably several other attractions. Plus all the picnic areas. Wow, forgot what a beautiful park Forest Park was and all the treasures it contained. If you haven't visited in a while, give Forest Park a try. It's a wonderful day out.
Everytime I come to Forest Park, I find a new place to admire. So many lakes, ponds and grass area to have a picnic, take pictures or just be one with nature. There's so much beauty in this park that you will always have a fun time exploring. I'll be spending a lot of time here this summer and testing out my camera and walking my dog!
This park is something to behold. It's of the state park level in its size and boasts the art museum, beautiful waterscapes, kids playgrounds, trails, tennis courts, and expansive golf grounds. We've visited several times over the years for the art museum and the children's playscape this last round. The park is well-maintained and has a regal European vibe about it where you'll see picnics and folks just lounging in the sun. Definitely a STL treasure!
Beautiful park. Very impressed with this place. Reminiscent of the giant parks of Europe with statues, follies, water, bridges, museums, venues, etc. I visited this park twice during my stay in St. Louis with my husband who was born and raised here. After walking and running around 5.5 miles around, we still only saw a portion. I need to come back to see the museums as well as the zoo. This park is immaculately maintained and also has two golf courses, a boat house, and tons of other things I haven't even mentioned. Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. If I lived here, I'd come every week as often as I could.
I always enjoyed walking around forest park. They remodeled an earlier of the park to make a walking path trail with a great nature playing area for kids which is so nice. Forest park has lots of things to do beside walking. On this particular day, I took my dog Chloe for a walk and we spent a good two hours here and we only explored a small part of the park.
This is a beautiful place. St. Louis has a lot of world-class architecture and enviable outdoor spaces, and Forest Park is the true epitome of that. It is both peaceful and public. It's good for a nice morning run, evening jog, or to sit and read or have a picnic. Highlights for me were the Grand Basin, the park's Crown Jewel, and the 1904 World's Fair Pavilion. Do visit. You will not disappointed. read more
5 years ago
No matter the season. No matter your recreational interests. Forest Park has you covered. This park is not only a St. Louis gem, it's a national treasure. Today Forest Park is one of the most popular attractions in St. Louis -- more than 12 million people visit each year. For History buffs: The park was established in 1874 when the Missouri Legislature passed ordinances to establish three parks in St. Louis County: Carondelet Park in the south; Forest Park in the center and O'Fallon Park on the north.Forest Park was designed by Maximillian G. Kern, the park superintendent and landscape gardener. The park workers built all of the roads except the boulevard near Kingshighway. When Forest Park officially opened to the public on Saturday afternoon, June 24, 1876 The Globe-Democrat reported that the opening day ceremony attracted 50,000 people -- at a time when the population of the city was only 350,000. The Twentieth Century was born in Forest Park with the grandeur and spectacle of the Louisiana Purchase Exhibition -- The World's Fair of 1904. From April 30 through December 1, 1904, more than 20 million people went to the fair that transformed the western half of the park into a fairyland of white palaces surrounded by lagoons and artistic landscaping. Its sparkling centerpiece was Festival Hall and the Cascades which crowned Art Hill above the Grand Lagoon. Eight major exhibition palaces were built in a fan-shaped plan in the park's northwestern corner. Also in 1904, Forest Park played host to the Summer Olympics. Interestingly, not only was this the first Olympic games held in North America, but also the current three-medal format--gold, silver, and bronze for first, second, and third places--was introduced during the 1904 Olympics. I could go on and on about the illustrious history of Forest Park! It has as many amazing stories as it has trees! What's incredible about Forest Park is no just the amount of recreational amenities it offers (hello... THREE golf courses?!), but also the venues within the park. The St. Louis Zoo is always ranked as one of the top zoo's in America. Then there's the St. Louis Art Museum. Their collection is so vast that it can take more than a day to fully take in. Down Art Hill, you come upon the Missouri History Museum that offers so many incredible exhibitions and serves as an archive for the history of our city. And then there's the Muny. The world renowned Muny. The caliber of performances they put on in the outdoor theater is astonishing. And just across from the Muny sits the Science Center's planetarium. It's just incredible how much this park has to offer besides trails to run and pavillions to host picnics and parties. The trails of Forest park offer runners a challenging and hilly course. I personally like to park near the ice skating rink and follow the trail north. That puts the most hilly of your run in the middle of your workout. Then you can coast downhill past the T-Rex statue to finish up your run! read more
This park is amazing & huge!! Lots to do - free art museum, free gorgeous zoo, lots of cute surrounding neighborhoods to grab coffee & grub in, close to a local small movie theater (Hi-Pointe) & burger joint. (I'm partial to Dogtown - lots of great restaurants) Really safe, clean, great for hiking, running, paddleboating - all the things! read more
In my brief weekend getaway to St. Louis, Forest Park was on my hit list. We only managed a quick drive-by, but I can't wait to return and discover all that it has to offer...because it's A LOT. This park is 500+ acres bigger than Central Park in NYC, and it's only a 10 minute drive from the Gateway Arch. Within here is the St. Louis Zoo (free), art museum (free), history museum (free), MUNY outdoor amphitheater, Boathouse and more. We were fascinated to see how much was in here that truly makes it a destination park. I love when cities preserve green spaces and activate them, and it's clear STL does that with Forest Park. When we were there on a Sunday, there were bikers, walkers and joggers and it looked like they were tearing down from a run or festival. On the edge of Forest Park is the WashU campus which is also worth driving through. read more
5 years ago
I wish we had more time to explore this park. There is so much to see! We focused on the art museum because it was later in the day when we arrived in St. Louis. We may spend some extra time in town before heading out so we can see more. I loved the entrance to the zoo, but was in the car and couldn't get a good picture. We could definitely spend a few days exploring everything this park has to offer. read more
6 years ago
I LOVE this park!!! I went for a 3 mile walk the other day, and forgot just how much there is to do in St. Louis, and for free!!! There's Art Hill, the best picnic spot in town...kind of reminds me of the great lawn in Central Park, but with a better view, overlooking the fountains and pond. There's the Art Museum (nominal fee), the History Museum (free!) the Science Museum (free!) they're in the process of building a couple new pretty awesome playgrounds...not normal ones, awesome ones! Then there's tennis courts, golf, Zoo (free), the Pavilion, the Muny theatre, Steinberg ice skating rink (one of my personal favorites), bike trails...and that's only what I saw on my short walk! There's even more! Best park ever! I grew up across the street from this park, and I'm still excited about all it has to offer, as they build more and more! read more
3 years ago
Beautiful place. It's so easy to spend the whole day biking, walking, pedal boating or just relaxing. FUN FACT: the mulch comes from used ingredients from the Budweiser brewery. read more
Easily one of my favorite places in all of STL. I always bring visitors to check it out whenever they come to the city. SOOOOOOO much to do its hard to include all in one review but I will try my best. I have to start with my favorite thing about the park: THE STL ZOO. A free family friendly zoo that is accessible year round with paid events for special seasons. A wide variety of animals from around the world with great educational programming for children. An excellent spot for a date or even a nice lunch break to walk around when it's nice outside. My favorite animals to visit are easily the elephants. Lots of museums to visit! WHICH ARE ALL ALSO FREE. There's the art museum that has consistent art throughout the year but also host a wide variety of exhibitions. My favorite was their photography exhibition which took your through a history of photography throughout the ages. A wide variety of diverse curators who know so much about each exhibit. There is even an outdoor sculpture garden. There's the history museum that has both world history attractions and STL history attractions. You have to visit the World Fair exhibit. Great staff and an amazing gift shop that makes for the perfect STL souvenirs. Then there's the science center with a beautiful planetarium that I got to visit during the eclipse in 2017. It was an amazing experience. Each of these is a great family friendly attraction with lots of educational opportunities for children. Outside of the art museum is the amazing Art Hill which is a beautiful sight for picnicking or just lounging about. But is also traditionally the site for a lot of STL traditions including Screen on the Green and STL Symphony performances (global pandemics permitting of course). Next you have the Boathouse which offers exceptional water activities that are great for a personal relaxing day, date in the park, or family experience. Paired with great food and a beautiful scene. Combine this with amazing trails for running or biking, multiple golf courses, tennis, ample parking, seasonal attractions, and so much more in a park that is bigger than Central Park in NYC, and you have the perfect STL attraction that never runs out of adventure! I love me a good forest park adventure!!! read more
4 years ago
5 years ago
A beautiful park filled with paths, nature, fountains and things to do! You could spend several days in this park discovering new things to do. There is plenty of free parking scattered about. Some of the roundabouts get confusing but it is easier for traffic. read more
I'll be the first to admit that I took Forest Park for granted. Being born and raised in STL, this park is part of my history. I learned to roller skate at Steinberg Skating Rink when I was 5 years old (they no longer offer roller skating; only ice skating now). School field trips brought us to the park for zoo, art museum, history museum, and science center visits. Family picnics in the park were common place. In my teenage and college years, Sunday cruising in the park was THE thing to do. As an adult, my favorite highlights were Shakespeare in the park, various festivals at the World's Pavilion, Twilight Tuesdays (outside of the History Museum), and watching my child perform at the Muny. When I left St. Louis in 2012, Forest Park was going through some much needed restoration. I returned to the city last week for a short visit and was nearly brought to tears by the beauty that has reclaimed this more than century old landmark. Awesome paths, both paved and graveled, have been constructed throughout much of the park. Park benches have been placed alongside many of the lakes, most having a memorial or dedication of some sort, likely from the donors who helped with the Forest Park Forever restoration project. Stunning landscapes, fragrant flowers, luscious grass, and happiness fills the air. Art Hill is looking more magnificent than ever. One might say that it's almost been restored to its 1904 World's Fair glory. Some construction was happening with old Saint Louis's statue that sits atop Art Hill; he was surrounded by scaffolds. Hopefully, he will be ok. Yesterday was National Zoo Day, and although I do not support zoos, the fact that the St. Louis Zoo is still free is noteworthy; families were out in droves. Entrance to the Art Museum and History Museum are also free. Free parking is available throughout the park. It was nice to see that the weekend wedding tradition is still strong. Seeing photo shoots for several different wedding parties never gets old. If you're a Pokemon Go player, this park is a goldmine! It spawns frequent Magikarp and even Dratini! Lots of Pokestops, but the park is massive so be prepared to spend an entire day or two if you want to walk it. read more
10 years ago
This would be the 1 thing I would 100% miss if I was to ever move from St Louis. Not the Cardinals, Not the Blues not Imo's ( I would miss Vess soda tho) but Forest Park. There is no park in the world that can match the beauty , class ,events, and size all rolled up into 1 than the jewel of St Louis. Even just walking in Forest Park you are literally walking into the history of St Louis. read more
9 years ago
Forest Park is just simply breathtaking. You can honestly spend the whole day roaming the grounds from dawn till dusk. Either walking on different paths throughout the park or relaxing by the lake enjoying the water fountains. It's a lovely place to go for a walk, have a picnic with the family, and walk your dog. I was even surprised to see a group yoga class taking place next to the lake. read more
11 years ago
Because where else can you enjoy a beautiful scenic 6 mile jog, play tennis, go for a peaceful boat ride, explore one of the best zoo's for FREE, visit an amazing art museum, get a dose of history at the world class History Museum, grab a bite in the Visitor's Center Cafe, have a wedding at the Jewel Box, play a round of golf at either of the 2 courses, fish, ice skate, play sand volleyball, sit along a lake, watch the beautiful kaleidoscopic waterfall overlooking the World's Fair Pavilion, entertain an entire family at any of the nearly 2 dozen picnic locations, bike the trail, visit the Science Center, pet the horses on patrol, play softball on any of the numerous fields, catch an outdoor play at the Muny, swing on the playground, break a sweat in the racquetball courts or capture amazing photos at the well-lit, water fall scenery of the Grand Basin? There is no place like my beloved Forest Park. read more
5 years ago
Best park in the whole wide world. So much to see and a explore and I won't mention the zoo it's free And fantastic. Don't miss this park and look for Mr. Charles our famous horned owl who just had owlettes nine weeks ago. read more
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I take my dog max here for walks often and he loves this park. So many fun areas from the hill to the streams honestly you could spend hours hear. So peaceful and when it's nice out it's where everyone seems to go. Love this place can't wait to go back this afternoon!! read more
8 years ago
Great to be back in the STL. I was here on a job assignment three years ago and back again. Brought my bike with me from California and my first ride was to ride the 6-mile loop around Forest Park. Love that there is both a gravel and paved trail to accommodate wheels and feet. I've cycled this park in snow, rain and sunshine and always come away feeling peaceful. This park has a special place in my heart. read more
" This Park Has Everything ! " Wow, I don't think I have ever seen a Park that is so Big, in such nice condition, has so many items in it, and just goes on and on. Tons of Historical information with multiple art and history Museums, Statues, a Science Center, Planetarium, Zoo, etc. Plus the have multiple golf courses, archery areas, ice skating rink, walking trails, outdoor theater, etc., etc. etc. Wow, this Park goes on and on and is so well maintained, it is beautiful. Great Job St. Louis ! read more
Great Green space .. huge park. Clean and well kept. Found it will visiting the free zoo and did some exploring. Lots of people jogging, biking, playing with their dog and kids. Great place to exercise and unwinds ... enjoy nature. I found a lilie pond and a fountains, lots of trees and paved trails .. couple neat museums. We went to the art museum and the zoo. read more
11 years ago
Great place to spend the whole day. This massive park has multiple attractions. Not just is beautiful landscape, but also has a history museum on the premises, the city zoo is connected along with several other sites. You could just about spend the whole day here walking around. Great place to let the kids run the energy off. The metro stops about 1 block away, so you don't have to worry about parking or traffic. read more
More info about Forest Park
5595 Grand Dr
St. Louis, MO 63112
Forest Park
Directions
(314) 367-7275
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.forestparkforever.org
Hours
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
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Ask the Community - Forest Park
Where can I run stairs in the park?
At the Worlds Fair Pavilion...east of the Zoo and across from the Boathouse.
Does it have a cost to enter the park?
No, the Park is free. Also the Science Center, Art Museum, Zoo and History Museum are free. Some special exhibits require paying a fee. Also during Covid, some museums and zoo may require reservations which are free
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