When the heat is on and the pools are crowded, a parent's go-to strategy for finding the perfect summer activity that keeps kids happy and cool is to find the nearest splash pad. St. Louis is full of them, ranging from small neighborhood parks with pop jets, to sprawling water features with fountains and wading pools.
Here are some to explore across the St. Louis area, and most are free:
Tower Grove Park. The Muckerman Children's Fountain & Pop Jets at Tower Grove Park are open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. starting June 14. The park also has two playgrounds. Visit on Friday mornings when you can also see free performances by some of St. Louis' best-known children's entertainers. All activities are free.
Forest Park. Visiting the 17-acre Anne O'C. Albrecht Nature Playscape is a cool adventure just by itself, with its sand play areas, willow tunnels, stump steppers, boulders, rocks and lots more. In the warm months, play is taken to the next level with the water features

The Children's Garden at the Missouri Botanical Garden. The Splash Area in the Children's Garden turns on when temps reach 70 degrees and are included in Children's Garden admission. Hours are Tuesdays through Sundays from 9 am. to 4 p.m. It's free on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon for St. Louis City & County residents.
Kiener Plaza. Cool off in the city's Kiener Plaza, where you'll find a fountain garden with a splash pad, and a fantastic playground as well.
Citygarden.
Photo credits: Forest Park Forever,
Delight in brilliant, colorful light displays with spectacular photo opportunities throughout the Zoo during Wild Lights. Walk through two tunnels with dazzling lights, and enjoy themed displays featuring snowflakes, candy canes, gumdrops, penguins, polar bears, tigers, giraffes and much more at this St. Louis family-favorite holiday tradition. New this year: Visits with Santa!
Experience the holiday lights at Winter Wonderland in Tilles Park, where you'll find two million beautiful holiday lights and animated displays.
More than a million lights will illuminate some of the Missouri Botanical Garden's most iconic locations, walkways will be transformed into sensory light tunnels providing an explosion of visual magic, and traditional candlelight village displays, festive drinks, s'mores and great photo opportunities will delight crowds of all ages.
Celebrate the magic of the holidays the entire month of December at the Holiday Magic experience at The Magic House! Holiday Magic features festive decorations throughout the museum, Winter Wonderscape, a Snowball Showdown, Story Time with Mrs. Claus & Santa, a special Toddler Time experience and more.
Discovery Club is an exploration of all kinds of science! Kids ages 7-11 will navigate through the sciences with projects, experiments and activities at this free program. Themes include robots, roller coasters, potato batteries and more.