The area around Ellisville boasts so many fun and educational activities ideal for curious kids of all ages. With easy access to St. Louis, our hometown puts us in the perfect position to get out and explore a range of museums and more.

Still, in can be tough to plan a day out with the family if you’re not sure of the right places to look for things to do. That’s why Crème de la Crème of Ellisville, MO put together this list of awesome educational activities close to home. No matter if your kids want to explore art, science, history, or anything in between, you’re sure to find a destination to spark their imagination without traveling far.

Saint Louis Art Museum

Image via Unsplash by jerry_318

Creative kiddos will love learning about art at this amazing St. Louis institution. The Saint Louis Art Museum boasts a world-renowned collection that spans more than 5,000 years of history, including about 34,000 objects and artworks from various different cultures. The best part? Admission to the museum is always free. You can visit the museum Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m to 5 p.m., and on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The museum is closed on Mondays.

Saint Louis Art Museum also offers unique programming for families and kids, including their Wee Wednesdays program designed especially with the youngest budding artists in mind. Storytelling, looking at art, and making art comes together in innovative and engaging activities for kids. With programs offered online now, you don’t even have to leave home to introduce your kids to the amazing art opportunities offered through this museum.

Saint Louis Science Center

Saint Louis Science Center is another free museum in St. Louis, and you won’t want to miss it if your kids are curious about the world around them. You’ll find exhibitions about space, ecology, animals, and much more. The museum is home to tons of interactive experiences, not to mention an agricultural pavilion, huge OMNIMAX theater, and famous planetarium, so you’re sure to find something that inspires your family’s curiosity.

Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the Saint Louis Science Center welcomes visits from Monday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Discovery Room is a kid-friendly highlight. You do have to buy tickets for this area (sessions are 45 minutes), but you’re sure to delight your kids with this hands-on, early childhood environment designed to encourage exploration. Activities include a rocket ship with a slide, saltwater aquarium, and STEAM easel for painting.

Challenger Center

Challenger Center is an international organization that connects students around the world with educational experiences. We’re lucky enough to have a location right in St. Louis to explore.

Kids as young as 6 years old can participate in the Junior Astronauts program, a two-hour experience that includes a workshop to build a rocket and a space mission simulation. They also offer educational party packages recommended for kids 5 years and older. The organization seeks to inspire a future generation of science leaders, so it’s a great place to check out if your child is interested in space or science overall.

Field House Museum

Designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2007, the Field House Museum first opened way back in 1936 as the first historic house museum in St. Louis. A visit here offers a window into early Victorian life. Take a look at the wide range of artifacts on display here, including toys and dolls from the 1790s up to the present day.

The museum is open from Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is usually $10 for adults and $5 for children between the ages of 7 and 16. Children 6 years old and under can enter for free. You can also take advantage of free family tours of the main gallery exhibit on the third Thursday of every month.

Campbell House Museum

If your kids are into history, you’ll want to check out the Campbell House Museum as well. The house was built in 1851 as the first house in the Lucas Place neighborhood, today displaying artifacts like paintings, furniture, clothing, letters, carriages, and interior photographs from the mid-1880s.

The museum is open on Mondays and Tuesdays by appointment, Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Sundays from noon to 3 p.m. Admission includes a guided tour for $5 per person, but kids 12 years old and younger can enter for free.

The Magic House

Look no further than The Magic House for an interactive, exciting experience designed especially for kids. This St. Louis spot features an abundance of hands-on learning experiences to get kids’ imaginations firing. Drawing on wonder and joy, the exhibits here inspire creativity and develop problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration skills. Above all, children are sure to have tons of fun every time they step inside this unique museum.

The children’s museum first opened to the public in a 5,500 square foot Victorian mansion in 1979. Since then, The Magic House has grown into a St. Louis mainstay thanks to the wide range of fun and educational activities. Kids get excited about math and music, play outdoors, dream about the technology of the future, and more. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and general admission is $12. Can’t get enough? You can even book kids’ birthday parties for children ages 3 to 8.

There you have it, Crème de la Crème of Ellisville’s list of cool educational places to check out close to home. From museums created especially for young learners to historical homes and beyond, our area really has it all. Do your kids have a favorite place to learn (and, of course, have lots of fun!) that we don’t have here? Drop us a line to suggest some other great local educational destinations so we can add your go-to place to our list!