Springtime Adventures: Fun Activities for Dads and Kids in Missouri

As the days grow longer and the temperatures start to rise, springtime in Missouri offers a plethora of exciting opportunities for dads to bond with their kids. From outdoor adventures to creative endeavors, the Show-Me State is brimming with activities that are sure to create lasting memories. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a sports fan, or an art aficionado, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. So, grab your gear and get ready for a season of fun with these fantastic activities across Missouri!

Outdoor Adventures

1. Exploring State Parks

Missouri is home to an array of stunning state parks, perfect for outdoor exploration. Take a hike along the rugged trails of Castlewood State Park, where you can discover picturesque bluffs and scenic overlooks. For those interested in water activities, Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park offers refreshing swimming holes and natural water slides.

2. Fishing Fun

Springtime marks the beginning of fishing season in Missouri, making it the perfect time to introduce your kids to this timeless pastime. Head to one of the many fishing spots across the state, such as Lake of the Ozarks or Bennett Spring State Park, known for its premier trout fishing.

3. Bike Riding Adventures

Dust off your bikes and hit the trails for a family biking adventure. Missouri boasts excellent biking trails, including the scenic Katy Trail, stretching for 240 miles across the state. For younger riders, local parks often have paved trails perfect for a leisurely ride.

Sports and Recreation

4. Play Ball!

Springtime means baseball season, and catching a game with your kids is a fantastic way to spend an afternoon. Cheer on the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium or catch a minor league game at one of Missouri’s many ballparks.

5. Miniature Golf Madness

Challenge your family to a round of miniature golf at one of Missouri’s whimsical courses. Cool Crest Family Fun Center in Independence or Swing-A-Round Fun Town in St. Charles offer delightful courses with colorful obstacles and challenges.

6. Skateboarding and Rollerblading

If your kids are into skateboarding or rollerblading, head to one of Missouri’s skate parks for some adrenaline-pumping fun. Tilles Park Skate Park in St. Louis or The Wheel Park in Kansas City are popular spots for skaters of all ages.

Art and Creativity

7. Visit a Children’s Museum

Spark your kids’ imaginations with a trip to a children’s museum. The Magic House in St. Louis offers hands-on exhibits, while Science City in Kansas City combines fun and learning with interactive science displays.

8. DIY Nature Crafts

Take advantage of the budding springtime flora by collecting leaves, flowers, and twigs for nature-inspired crafts. Create leaf rubbings, flower collages, or even build birdhouses together for your backyard.

9. Pottery Painting

Unleash your artistic side at a pottery painting studio. Places like Creativita in St. Louis or Pottery Hollow in Kansas City provide all the supplies you need to create colorful masterpieces.

Festivals and Events

10. Spring Festivals

Missouri comes alive with festivals and events during the spring months. From cherry blossom celebrations to music festivals, there’s always something happening. Don’t miss the Dogwood-Azalea Festival in Charleston or the Art in the Park event in Columbia.

11. Butterfly House

Delight in the fluttering beauty of butterflies at the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House in Chesterfield. Wander through lush gardens filled with colorful blooms and watch as these magnificent creatures take flight.

Culinary Adventures

12. Picnic in the Park

Pack a basket full of tasty treats and head to a local park for a picnic in the sunshine. Forest Park in St. Louis or Swope Park in Kansas City offer scenic spots perfect for enjoying a leisurely meal outdoors.

13. Farmers’ Market Fun

Explore the vibrant farmers’ markets across Missouri, where you can sample local produce, artisanal cheeses, and freshly baked goodies. The Soulard Farmers Market in St. Louis or the City Market in Kansas City are popular choices.

14. Cooking Together

Get creative in the kitchen with your kids by cooking up some springtime recipes together. From homemade pizzas to colorful fruit salads, let their imaginations run wild as they help prepare delicious meals.

What Are You Waiting For?

Spring in Missouri offers a wealth of opportunities for dads to bond with their kids through exciting adventures and creative endeavors. Whether you’re exploring the great outdoors, unleashing your artistic talents, or savoring culinary delights, there’s something for every duo to enjoy. So, embrace the season of renewal and make the most of this special time with your little ones. From hiking trails to pottery painting, the memories you create together will last a lifetime.

So, what are you waiting for? Dive into springtime fun in Missouri with your kids, and let the adventures begin!

MAYOR JONES & “FRIEND” ANNOUNCE A PLAYFUL NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR ST. LOUIS THURSDAY, MARCH 7 10 A.M.

Come out to be part of a fun and playful announcement for St. Louis!

Mayor Tishaura Jones welcomes a global figure that everyone knows (and many people have had in their homes) to STL to announce a partnership filled with fun and local recognition.

WHEN: Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 10 a.m.

WHERE: Pieces Board Game Cafe, 1535 S. 8th St. in Soulard, just north of Soulard Farmers Market. Street parking available.

WHAT:  A secret announcement that will make St. Louis proud.

WHO: The Mayor, her internationally known friend, and the friend’s representatives.

The “friend” that the Mayor will introduce is someone we all grew up with. He was there around the family game tables, and might be the character most honored for family fun but also blamed for the worst family fights.

We will definitely have some fun photo opportunities. This story will include a request to the entire community for help creating an even bigger reveal later this year.

DO NOT PASS GO and do not miss this media opportunity.

THE ST. LOUIS WHEEL CELEBRATES GROUNDHOG DAY – Ride the Wheel — Then Ride It Again

SO NICE YOU’LL RIDE IT TWICE

Will the St. Louis Wheel see its shadow on Groundhog Day? Will it predict six more weeks of winter weather?

In the classic movie Groundhog Day, Bill Murray’s character experiences the same day over and over again. In honor of Groundhog Day 2024 on February 2, the St. Louis Wheel will stage its own time-warp repeat by giving passengers a second ride for free.

The 200-foot-tall observation wheel at St. Louis Union Station is open from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. on February 2 and every day. Passengers who purchase a ticket for one ride on the attraction will stay on the Wheel to get their second ride free.

The Wheel’s 42 gondolas are kept at 72 degrees all year, so guests are comfortable no matter the weather.. Riders will get a 20-mile view of the St. Louis skyline from the top of the popular attraction.

The St. Louis Wheel is located at St. Louis Union Station, 201 S. 18th St., St. Louis, MO 63103. www.thestlouiswheel.com; @stlouiswheelpark and @unionstationstl on social media.

THE SCIENCE OF GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS OPEN NOW AT CITY MUSEUM

New Exhibition Reveals the Shocking Science

Behind the World’s Greatest Achievements

St. Louis – Open now open through April 14 at City Museum, The Science of Guinness World Records reveals the secrets behind some of the most astonishing GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ to ever be set. 

Spread across 5,000 square feet in City Museum’s Architecture Hall, the exhibit will let guests achieve the amazing as they break records across the multiple stations by learning how bodies react, focus, and endure. 

“The exhibition was really inspired by the success of The Science of Ripley’s Believe It Or Not,” said Guy Labine, Chief Executive Officer of Science North. “We’ve seen firsthand that people all over the world are hungry to be challenged, to be wowed, to expand their ideas about what human beings can actually do. We knew almost immediately that we were onto something big.” 

Certain to be an experience to remember for a lifetime, The Science of Guinness World Records will leave visitors astonished as they discover exactly what goes into accomplishing the seemingly impossible. How does one develop the ability to do 36 consecutive pull-ups, using only their pinky fingers? What does it take for someone to create the world’s smallest stop motion film? What possesses someone to learn how to solve not one but three Rubik’s Cubes simultaneously?

The Science of Guinness World Records is co-produced by Science North, one of Canada’s largest and most respected science centers, and Ripley’s Entertainment, the entertainment and edutainment company founded by the great Robert Ripley.

“Our record holders are simply the most incredible people you’re ever going to meet,” says John Corcoran, Director, Traveling Shows & Guinness World Records Attraction Development. “They defy belief and they often seem to defy physics and the nature of spacetime itself. But of course, what they’re really defying is our limited sense of what a person can do with enough time, enough practice, and enough dedication.”

“What we’re hoping to do with The Science of Guinness World Records is to show people that as shocking as these accomplishments are, it’s not magic. It’s science. If one person can achieve the incredible, so can you. We want to inspire people of all ages to throw out their limiting beliefs and push themselves to achieve what the world tells them is impossible.”

The Science of Guinness World Records is included with General Admission or a Member Pass and operates during normal museum hours. City Museum is located at 750 N. 16th Street, St. Louis, MO 63103; 314-231-2489. Visit citymuseum.org for more information. Follow City Museum on social media @citymuseum.

City Museum is home to the following amazing things:

  • World’s Largest Pencil – measures 76 feet in length and weighs a staggering 22,500 pounds and is a true number two pencil
  • World’s Largest Seesaw – measures 82 feet in length and is in storage at City Museum
  • World’s Largest Tennis Racket – measures 50 feet and 3.07 inches in length and 16 feet and 8.6 inches wide and is in not displayed due to its state of deterioration
  • World’s Tallest Man, Robert Wadlow, was the spokesperson for the International Shoe Co which is the building in which City Museum resides

St. Louis is also home to many GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS, including:

  • First Olympic Gold Medal – The first time gold medals were awarded to Olympic champions was during the 1904 Olympic Games held in St. Louis, USA. Prior to this, gold had been considered too expensive, so the winner of an event had received a silver medal and the runner-up a bronze, while there was no medal at all for third place. The last time gold medals were made from solid gold was at the Stockholm Games in 1912, following which the medals were cast in silver and coated in 6 g of gold.
  • Tallest Commemorative Monument – The tallest monument is the stainless-steel Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, completed on October 28, 1965 to commemorate the westward expansion.
  • Largest Image of a Human Brain – Took place in St. Louis (all USA) at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, on 28 April 2018 during an Alzheimer’s Disease awareness event.
  • Most Home Runs in a World Series Baseball Game – The Major League Baseball (MLB) record for most home runs hit in a World Series includes Albert Pujols (Dominican Republic) playing for the St. Louis Cardinals (USA) in Game 3 of the 2011 World Series against the Texas Rangers (USA) on 22 October 2011.

About City Museum

Housed in an old shoe factory in Downtown St. Louis, City Museum is an ever-evolving, always-thrilling, artist-built playground full of weirdly wonderful spaces to explore. City Museum opened in 1997 and started as a passion project and developed into an indoor, outdoor, underground playground that welcomes adventurous visitors from all over the world. This iconic St. Louis attraction is considered one of the great public spaces and a must-see for visitors. 

About Science North

Science North is Northern Ontario’s most popular tourist attraction and an educational resource for children and adults across the province. Science North’s attractions include a science center, IMAX® theatre, digital Planetarium, butterfly gallery, special exhibits hall, and Dynamic Earth – Home of the Big Nickel, a separate science center focused on mining and earth sciences. In 1996, Science North created a specialized unit to sell the award-winning exhibitions and multimedia theatres created by Science North’s highly skilled staff scientists and in-house production teams. These innovative exhibits help drive repeat visitation and tourism and demonstrate Science North’s ever-growing capacity to produce world-class educational and scientific content that appeals to people of all ages. Science North is an agency of the Government of Ontario. For more information, please visit sciencenorth.ca

About GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS

What’s the fastest game bird in Europe? This was the question that inspired the founding of GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS back in 1955. Starting with a single book published from a room above a gym, GWR has grown to become a global multi-media brand, with offices in London, New York, Miami, Beijing, Tokyo and Dubai. Today, we deliver world-class content, not just through books, but via TV shows, social media and live events. Our in-house consultancy works closely with brands and businesses around the world to harness the power of record-breaking and deliver award-winning campaigns and business solutions. Our ultimate purpose is to inspire people —individuals, families, schools, groups, companies, communities and even entire countries— to read about, watch, listen to and participate in record-breaking. To join this record-breaking community and find out the answer to that original question, visit guinnessworldrecords.com