This is one of those "pocket parks" in the city, not too far from Central West End and the…read moreCathedral Basilica. If you ask me, it's in a very odd place, but I'm sure that's the way it was intended to be. It's not in a busy area, although you can still hear traffic going by on Lindell. Supposedly it's a relaxation/meditation park. I'm not really into that sort of thing, but hey maybe I should take it up! I wasn't there when the fountain(s) were going off, but I'm sure it's a more valuable experience.

This small park is actually on Taylor Ave. tucked between Maryland and Lindell Aves. It is…read moreconsidered a meditation park with a short labyrinth running around it. A place for you to stroll and collect your thoughts. In the middle is a fountain with benches where you can think about the thoughts you collected. There is a place to put your bike and strollers inside the park. It is very well kept and almost always empty of human company. I wish I had remembered to take a picture of it because it is very nice.

I visited Forest Park in June 2023 for an afternoon break during a long conference. If you're…read morevisiting 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!

Forest Park is renowned for its vast size, cultural attractions & recreational opportunities. It's…read moreone 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.

Now that the weather is nicer I can go back to weekly walks at this gem. The trees lining almost…read moreevery path, the basketball courts, fountain, so many picnic sites, and pavilions make this such a scenic walk. The park hosts a farmer's Market and food truck Fridays along with so many other incredible events.

There's really something for everyone at The Tower Grove Park. This was a first visit to attend the…read moreTower Grove Market. Parking on Saturday is really intense inside the park. It's all along a single road one-way that requires parallel parking. I only participated in the market, but I did see tennis courts and playgrounds. A Botanical Gardens is nearby that's highly regarded. On Saturdays they have music and food by the fountain. Absolutely a Saint Louis gem and can't wait to return soon.

Cute. Kid's park…read morewith a restroom, drinking fountain, water spray Cabana along with kid sized park equipment. Plus benches for the older adults to sit and watch. The free park does not allow pets except service animals.

We love this park! So nice that it's a fully gated and enclosed playground. There are 2 different…read moreplayground structures, swings, and a water feature here. They have a free little library, lots of benches, and a few picnic tables as well. Love that this park can accommodate so many different ages!!

We love Lafayette Park. The perfect size for a nice walk, huge pond with ducks you can watch for…read morehours, walking trails and free concerts. A gorgeous bridge and plenty of beautiful things to see. We took our engagement photos here and also enjoyed coffee together the morning of our wedding, so it has so much meaning to us. We love walking around, especially in the spring and fall, and enjoying this beautiful city!

Lafayette Park: where the grass is lush, the bandstand is iconic, and the summer concert series is…read morethe closest thing St. Louis has to Coachella--if Coachella had lawn chairs, wine tumblers, and that one guy who insists on dancing solo in front of the stage like he's possessed by jazz itself. The music? Surprisingly awesome. Local bands bring the heat, the horns, and sometimes even a keytar. The crowd? A delightful mix of retirees, toddlers, dogs in bandanas, and millennials who wandered in after hearing drums while walking their compost bins. It's BYO everything--chairs, snacks, wine, existential joy. The energy is peak Midwest wholesome with just enough chaos to keep it interesting (watch out for rogue frisbees and unsupervised toddlers with glow sticks). Truly, if you haven't awkwardly clapped along to a Stevie Wonder cover while holding a sweaty brie wedge and dodging bubbles... are you even living?

Decent park across from Barnes Jewish. There is a parking garage underneath and paid parking along…read morethe side. I didn't see any public restrooms, so we went to the Whole Foods close by. All of the seating areas were in the sun, so I sat in the grass under the trees.

This is a small park just east of Forest Park and south of the BJC med campus. It's walkable to the…read moresouthern end of the Euclid strip of restaurants. There is a good parking lot with credit card-capable meters for during the day. I've only ever gone in the evening to play tennis in the evening and never had an issue finding a spot at that time. The park features a sizable children's play gym, six lighted tennis courts, walking paths, and racket ball courts. The lights come on around 8:30pm and are quite sufficient. I always feel safe and can see properly. This park is certainly a nice little slice of nature and leisure in the "city-like" feel of CWE. And I'm sure families visiting their loved ones in the hospital appreciate it sometimes as a place to get away from the hospital. For the rest of us, it's just a good place to go for a little fun!

This is a great interactive playground next to the visiting center in Forest Park. (This is no…read more"Turtle Playground". That photo opportunity is South of Forest Park & 64/40 on Oakland Ave just East of Tamm Ave) AstroTurf type surface on a shock absorbing padding covers the playground, but not the "Secret Garden" or ramps. There is a toddler area, area for "big kids" & a "secret garden" though some bushes. While overall well designed... I do not like the many entry/exits & blind spots. The best area to keep track of the big kids maybe on the top of the ramp outside the wall. With mix toddler & "big kid"... follow UnCool Dave rules & tell the "big kids" they must stay on or over the AstroTurf area.

This playground was rated as the top playground according to a blog, so of course we had to check…read moreit out. My kids loved running in the long pathways and climbing the rock wall. The shade is minimal so the kids do work up some heat - beware there is no water fountain so come prepared or go in to the visitor center, they have a small cafe where you can buy refreshments. There was parking right out front of the visitor center and the park was not not crowded on a Sunday afternoon. My kids still vote Shaw Park as their most favorite place to play.

Great free dog park near SLU. It has a large area for you dog to roam around and play. I have gone…read moremultiple times and only ever seen other dogs there a few times so we often have the whole park to ourselves. Please beware that smaller dogs may be able to fit under the fence or even through the fence bars. My 20 lb dog was able to get through the fence bars without much effort. Thankfully I was able to recall her. Also the dog water fountains in the park never seem to work when I am there so remember to bring water for your pup

We are so thankful that this park exists. I think everyone knows that it is now a dog park and we…read moreDEFINITELY utilize this since St. Louis does not have many great places to take our pups. This park offers gated greenery and tons of running and playing space for the local pups and it is so much fun even to go as humans. If you are looking for somewhere to take your dogs and have not been here, you need to come! Pro tip: 95% of dogs are NOT on leashes and WILL approach your dog. If your dog will not be comfortable with this or is not friendly, this may not be the place for you. We started our dog on a leash and slowly worked our way up to letting him off and he enjoys this place now so much!

This place was AMAZING! My dream come true…read more It's huge and there's space inside and out so the dogs can play no matter the weather. Drinks were good - a lot to choose from - and the burger was surprisingly very delicious!

Bar K St. Louis has quickly become one of my favorite spots! After loving the Kansas City location,…read moreI had to check out STL, and it did not disappoint. I've been here twice with my small pug, and it's a fantastic experience every time. The small dog park here is a standout--it seems to have more dogs compared to KC, which is great for socializing smaller pups. Even though my pug is shy and not always the friendliest, the layout and staff's care help him feel at ease and build his confidence. The vibe is just as fun as KC, with excellent food and drinks to enjoy while your dog plays. After my visits to both locations, getting the membership was a no-brainer. Whether you're in St. Louis or Kansas City, Bar K is an absolute must for dog lovers!

This was a beautiful garden, and we didn't even get a chance to finish it! We bought annual tickets…read moreonline ($45 for two adults, 1 child). You also get access to the Butterfly House and Shaw's Preserve (two areas that we WILL be going to.) The parking lot can get full fast, but it is very accessible to the front. Walking through the front doors, you enter a very modern looking building with a beautiful skylight. The front desk is VERY nice. They have so many places to see but we came here to look at the cherry blossoms in the Japanese garden. That was a HUGE area, and there were koi by one of the bridges. We also stopped by the gift shop to peruse, and got a fun lizard toy for my toddler. The only issue was they were cleaning the fountains during the visit so we had to avoid that area.

Formerly called Shaw's Garden (the current name is probably better)!…read more I enjoy the Botanical Garden enough to have had a membership a few months ago. In the past few years, I have attended Spirits in the Garden, the Japanese Festival, Garden Glow, Best of Missouri Market, and probably other events. I don't go as often anymore. That's too bad. I'm sure it's better than ever. Just a bit busy... And I don't like doing the same things over and over. But I'm sure it's great. I took a friend a few months ago and it made for a pretty morning. Entrance is a few dollars. St. Louisans aren't accustomed to paying for gems of the city. We are accustomed to complaining about every little thing. I've never heard anyone complain about the Botanical Garden being too expensive, though now I realize I kinda sorta want to complain about it lightly, lol. $16 is a little much for adults. Now that the parking lot has been expanded, parking is easier, though on busy days some people will still need to park on the street.