Explore St Louis with Young Teens & Pre-teens

Let’s face it, one of the most difficult stages of parenting is the middle school stage!! Pre-teens and young teens can be extremely hard to please! They “think” that they are too old for so many things and yet they still enjoy the occasional stuffed animal!!

I wanted to write this guide because, although we only live a few hours from St Louis and we’ve been here countless times, I was trying to research things to do with 12 & 13 year olds in the city. What I was coming up with was either geared more toward younger children or adults. So here are my BEST TIPS for enjoying the city with Pre-teens and young teens!!

First and foremost young growing teens are always hungry!! That extra cost can cut deep into your wallet!! We love to stay at the Drury Inn because they offer free breakfast and free kickback meals!! Kickback starts at 5:30 and offers kid-friendly suppers and snacks! Plus Mom and Dad can enjoy a free glass of wine!! We’ve stayed at many Drury Inns around the St Louis area and they’ve all been great! They are affordable and clean, and the staff is extremely nice and helpful.

We started off our adventures at St. Louis Union Station. They have many things to do outside and inside!! Let’s start outside!!

The girls loved the koi ponds. We could have wasted so much time just watching these beautiful creatures. Remember to bring change for the koi pond snack machine. Your kids will want to feed them!!

Next up was the Giant Ferris Wheel!! The Wheel is a whopping 200 feet tall!! You can get some fantastic city views from the top! There is also a large carousel and a miniature golf course!! Just remember each attraction is a separate cost. Although I do think they make a bundle ticket.

Next, we went inside Union Station to play! They have a Mirror Maze and a fun Rope Challenge Obstacle course area. The girls just did a rope challenge at Gatlinburg last year and they loved it!!! We decided to try our luck inside the Mirror Maze. They had so much fun here!!

After Union Station it was time to go see The Arch.

That night we went to dinner at The Boathouse. The Boathouse is located inside Forest Park, on a small lake. This hidden gem is one of my new favorite spots!! You don’t even feel like you are in the city anymore. The restaurant has fantastic food. A lot of their items have Sugar Fire BBQ on them!! That’s one of our other favorite spots to eat! The atmosphere was extremely laid back and kid friendly.

There are ducks, turtles, and geese everywhere. They also have paddle boats and kayaks!!! This is a separate charge but definitely worth it! It’s a great way to burn off the delicious supper you just enjoyed, while wearing out the kiddos!!

You can’t visit St Louis without a trip to the St Louis Zoo!! Rated one of the best zoos in the country and it’s FREE to get in!! The zoo is great for any age at any time of year! They are always doing fun things at this zoo. They now have personalized tours, that you can book in advance. They get you up close and personal with some of the animals. There is a cost for this so check online for details.

Our last day was our youngest daughter’s 13th birthday!! We had to celebrate by going back to Union Station! We ordered huge shakes from The Soda Shoppe!!

Then we walked across the parking lot to Build A Bear!! (You never know what preteens and teens might want to do!!) They have a super cute spot to take pictures!! They even have an entire wall of St. Louis Build A Bear doll clothes, which would make great souvenirs!!

They gave our birthday girl a sticker that said I’M 13 TODAY and a hat, which she was happy to wear. They offered to sing to her but that was “Too much!!”, she said. See, you just never know with that age.

Another great spot we’ve been to before, but still feel like our young teens would have liked, is The City Museum!! I even love to climb and slide here!

Also, as I mentioned before, there are several great places we like to eat at in St Louis. Sugar Fire BBQ is a great option. Who doesn’t love eating ribs with your fingers off of a tray!?

Also, Fit’z on The Loop is a nice spot! On certain days you can see them bottling their own sodas. We love to stop here and eat, or just stop for a fun float!!

Finally, LotaWota Creek (outside of St Louis in the Belleville area) is great! They have fantastic food at a great price and they give you a TON! My husband loves it!!

There you have it!!! Our best tips for a fun filled mini trip to St Louis with Young Teens and Pre-teens!!! I hope you are able to someday visit this fun city!!