Are you planning a family staycation near Ellisville, Missouri, but need help figuring out what you can do with your kids in the area? Fulfill your family’s quest for fun and relaxation with the following suggestions.

Book Your Stay at The Wildwood Hotel

A family checking in to a hotel for a staycation near Ellisville, MO

Add a touch of French-inspired luxury to your staycation when you book a room for your family at The Wildwood Hotel  in Wildwood. The French chateau-style architecture and warm European country lodge ambiance will make you feel like you’re vacationing in the south of France without leaving home.

Guests at The Wildwood Hotel enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast daily, a heated indoor pool, and spectacularly appointed rooms and suites with thoughtful amenities such as pillow-top mattresses and fine linens. Pet-friendly accommodation is available upon request. 

The Wildwood Hotel is only steps away from the shopping and dining opportunities at Wildwood Town Center and just 15 minutes from Six Flags St. Louis. Other St. Louis attractions, such as the Saint Louis Zoo (see below), Gateway Arch, and Butterfly House, are also a short drive from the hotel.

  • Location: 2801 Fountain Place, Wildwood.
  • Telephone: 636-733-9100.

Bend the Boundaries of Your Children’s Learning at the Myseum

A highly interactive, engaging, and fun experience awaits youngsters at the Myseum. More than 30 exhibits will bend the boundaries of your child’s learning at this hybrid children’s museum, science center, and indoor playground. Suitable for children ages 2 to 12, the Myseum offers endless educational entertainment for both parents and kids.

Explore the forces of gravity and engineering at the Magnetic Ball Wall. Uncover and investigate dinosaur bones and fossils using a high-definition video microscope at Dino Digs. Wander through the Seaweed Swamp in search of the elusive swamp monster. With so much to discover, you’ll want to allow at least two hours to see and do everything at the Myseum.

Admission is $10.95 for kids ages 2 through 17, $5.95 for adults 18 through 59, and $4.95 for adults 60 and older. Infants and toddlers younger than 1 are free. The Myseum is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Summer and holiday hours vary. 

  • Location: 283 Lamp and Lantern Village, Town and Country.
  • Telephone: 636-220-7930.

Go Play in a Park

Head to one of the eight parks in Ellisville for free and fun recreation with your family. An extensive 7-kilometer-long trail system connects the parks, offering visitors access to more than 165 acres of parkland. Bluebird Park is the largest community park in the area, with an aquatic center, three tennis courts, a disc golf course, a picnic area, and a trail. The park is open from sunrise to 10 p.m., April through October, and sunrise to sunset from November through March. Other neighborhood parks and trails remain open from dawn to dusk throughout the year.

Register now for the family campout at Bluebird Park on Saturday, Sept. 16, and Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023. Enjoy a bonfire, games, hiking, and camp songs with your family. The cost is $45 for a family of four, including dinner and breakfast. Families will need to provide tents and sleeping materials.

  • Location: Bluebird Park, 225 Kiefer Creek Road, Ellisville.
  • Telephone: 636-227-7508.

Grab a Bite to Eat at Pastaria

In your search for family-friendly restaurants near Ellisville, plan to dine at Pastaria in nearby Clayton. This delightful Italian-inspired restaurant offers plenty of hearty dishes, such as Chicken alla Cacciatore and swordfish with polenta, for mom and dad and a kid-friendly menu too. Kids can sample specialties such as spaghetti with meat or tomato sauce, crispy risotto balls with mozzarella cheese, and cheese pizza. 

Pastaria is open daily from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. for dining in or curbside delivery.

  • Location: 7734 Forsyth Blvd., Clayton.
  • Telephone: 314-862-6603.

Let Your Children Have a Kid’s Night Out at Olympia Gymnastics

Olympia Gymnastics has served the St. Louis and Jefferson County community since 1979. Providing gymnastics, ninja, and tumbling instruction to children in the area, Olympia Gymnastics also opens its doors for kids to experience Kid’s Night Out, held one Saturday evening per month from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The staff offers kids a fun-packed evening with safe gymnastics games and ninja activities. Kids can flip, tumble, and learn about martial arts in a safe, supportive environment.

Children of members and nonmembers are welcome to participate. The participation cost is $30 for the first child, $18 for the second child, and $10 for the third child. Contact Olympia Gymnastics to register for Kid’s Night Out.

  • Location: 16112 Westwoods Business Park, Ellisville.
  • Telephone: 636-230-9496.

Spend a Day at the Zoo

It’s one of the few admission-free zoos in the country, and it’s only a short drive from Ellisville. The Saint Louis Zoo is home to more than 16,000 animals, which you and your family can encounter during your visit. The Saint Louis Zoo maintains a diverse collection of living creatures for your kids to discover, from amphibians and reptiles to invertebrates and mammals. Your children will marvel at the African lions, jaguars, American alligators, frogs, fish, eagles, silkworms, and more. 

While admission to the zoo is free, some attractions, such as the Dinoroarus exhibition and 4D theater experience, require payment for entry. Visit the zoo’s website for more details and a schedule of the zoo’s operating hours throughout the year.

  • Location: 1 Government Drive, St. Louis.
  • Telephone: 314-781-0900.

Treat Your Taste Buds to Silky’s Frozen Custard

What would a day of activity near Ellisville be without a sweet treat to cap off the fun? Silky’s Frozen Custard offers the cool, creamy goodness you and your kids will love. The Silky’s menu features fruity flavors of frozen custard, shakes, and concretes, such as cherry, peach, and strawberry. You can also enjoy candy-based options, such as M&Ms, Oreo cookies, and Heath bars, which will no doubt appeal to kids’ tastes. 

You’ll also be pleased to hear that all the custard is gluten-free, although some of the toppings, such as Oreo cookies, aren’t.

  • Location: 16043 Manchester Road, Ellisville.
  • Telephone: 636-230-8202.

Make Ellisville Your Destination for Your Family’s Staycation

As you’ve discovered, the Ellisville, Missouri, area makes an excellent destination for a family-friendly staycation, with many things to do and plenty of places to explore close to home. What did you think about our list of suggestions? Please feel free to write to us and share your recommendations for dynamic family staycation ideas. Our Crème de la Crème of Ellisville team looks forward to hearing from you.

Family at the hotel check in by Holidayextras is licensed with CC BY 2.0