No matter the season. No matter your recreational interests. Forest Park has you covered. This park is not only a St. Louis gem, it's a national treasure. Today Forest Park is one of the most popular attractions in St. Louis -- more than 12 million people visit each year. For History buffs: The park was established in 1874 when the Missouri Legislature passed ordinances to establish three parks in St. Louis County: Carondelet Park in the south; Forest Park in the center and O'Fallon Park on the north.Forest Park was designed by Maximillian G. Kern, the park superintendent and landscape gardener. The park workers built all of the roads except the boulevard near Kingshighway. When Forest Park officially opened to the public on Saturday afternoon, June 24, 1876 The Globe-Democrat reported that the opening day ceremony attracted 50,000 people -- at a time when the population of the city was only 350,000. The Twentieth Century was born in Forest Park with the grandeur and spectacle of the Louisiana Purchase Exhibition -- The World's Fair of 1904. From April 30 through December 1, 1904, more than 20 million people went to the fair that transformed the western half of the park into a fairyland of white palaces surrounded by lagoons and artistic landscaping. Its sparkling centerpiece was Festival Hall and the Cascades which crowned Art Hill above the Grand Lagoon. Eight major exhibition palaces were built in a fan-shaped plan in the park's northwestern corner. Also in 1904, Forest Park played host to the Summer Olympics. Interestingly, not only was this the first Olympic games held in North America, but also the current three-medal format--gold, silver, and bronze for first, second, and third places--was introduced during the 1904 Olympics. I could go on and on about the illustrious history of Forest Park! It has as many amazing stories as it has trees! What's incredible about Forest Park is no just the amount of recreational amenities it offers (hello... THREE golf courses?!), but also the venues within the park. The St. Louis Zoo is always ranked as one of the top zoo's in America. Then there's the St. Louis Art Museum. Their collection is so vast that it can take more than a day to fully take in. Down Art Hill, you come upon the Missouri History Museum that offers so many incredible exhibitions and serves as an archive for the history of our city. And then there's the Muny. The world renowned Muny. The caliber of performances they put on in the outdoor theater is astonishing. And just across from the Muny sits the Science Center's planetarium. It's just incredible how much this park has to offer besides trails to run and pavillions to host picnics and parties. The trails of Forest park offer runners a challenging and hilly course. I personally like to park near the ice skating rink and follow the trail north. That puts the most hilly of your run in the middle of your workout. Then you can coast downhill past the T-Rex statue to finish up your run! read more

See all

This park is amazing & huge!! Lots to do - free art museum, free gorgeous zoo, lots of cute surrounding neighborhoods to grab coffee & grub in, close to a local small movie theater (Hi-Pointe) & burger joint. (I'm partial to Dogtown - lots of great restaurants) Really safe, clean, great for hiking, running, paddleboating - all the things! read more

See all

Beautiful place. It's so easy to spend the whole day biking, walking, pedal boating or just relaxing. FUN FACT: the mulch comes from used ingredients from the Budweiser brewery. read more

See all

In my brief weekend getaway to St. Louis, Forest Park was on my hit list. We only managed a quick drive-by, but I can't wait to return and discover all that it has to offer...because it's A LOT. This park is 500+ acres bigger than Central Park in NYC, and it's only a 10 minute drive from the Gateway Arch. Within here is the St. Louis Zoo (free), art museum (free), history museum (free), MUNY outdoor amphitheater, Boathouse and more. We were fascinated to see how much was in here that truly makes it a destination park. I love when cities preserve green spaces and activate them, and it's clear STL does that with Forest Park. When we were there on a Sunday, there were bikers, walkers and joggers and it looked like they were tearing down from a run or festival. On the edge of Forest Park is the WashU campus which is also worth driving through. read more

Forest Park - Parks Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Beautiful park! Very well kept and pretty clean. I go on a lot of runs and this is such a great area for it where you can go on many different paths to keep your routes from getting too stale. I just did my first marathon and did a fair amount of my training here. read more

I wish we had more time to explore this park. There is so much to see! We focused on the art museum because it was later in the day when we arrived in St. Louis. We may spend some extra time in town before heading out so we can see more. I loved the entrance to the zoo, but was in the car and couldn't get a good picture. We could definitely spend a few days exploring everything this park has to offer. read more

See all

I LOVE this park!!! I went for a 3 mile walk the other day, and forgot just how much there is to do in St. Louis, and for free!!! There's Art Hill, the best picnic spot in town...kind of reminds me of the great lawn in Central Park, but with a better view, overlooking the fountains and pond. There's the Art Museum (nominal fee), the History Museum (free!) the Science Museum (free!) they're in the process of building a couple new pretty awesome playgrounds...not normal ones, awesome ones! Then there's tennis courts, golf, Zoo (free), the Pavilion, the Muny theatre, Steinberg ice skating rink (one of my personal favorites), bike trails...and that's only what I saw on my short walk! There's even more! Best park ever! I grew up across the street from this park, and I'm still excited about all it has to offer, as they build more and more! read more

Forest Park - Muny - Parks Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

See all

Easily one of my favorite places in all of STL. I always bring visitors to check it out whenever they come to the city. SOOOOOOO much to do its hard to include all in one review but I will try my best. I have to start with my favorite thing about the park: THE STL ZOO. A free family friendly zoo that is accessible year round with paid events for special seasons. A wide variety of animals from around the world with great educational programming for children. An excellent spot for a date or even a nice lunch break to walk around when it's nice outside. My favorite animals to visit are easily the elephants. Lots of museums to visit! WHICH ARE ALL ALSO FREE. There's the art museum that has consistent art throughout the year but also host a wide variety of exhibitions. My favorite was their photography exhibition which took your through a history of photography throughout the ages. A wide variety of diverse curators who know so much about each exhibit. There is even an outdoor sculpture garden. There's the history museum that has both world history attractions and STL history attractions. You have to visit the World Fair exhibit. Great staff and an amazing gift shop that makes for the perfect STL souvenirs. Then there's the science center with a beautiful planetarium that I got to visit during the eclipse in 2017. It was an amazing experience. Each of these is a great family friendly attraction with lots of educational opportunities for children. Outside of the art museum is the amazing Art Hill which is a beautiful sight for picnicking or just lounging about. But is also traditionally the site for a lot of STL traditions including Screen on the Green and STL Symphony performances (global pandemics permitting of course). Next you have the Boathouse which offers exceptional water activities that are great for a personal relaxing day, date in the park, or family experience. Paired with great food and a beautiful scene. Combine this with amazing trails for running or biking, multiple golf courses, tennis, ample parking, seasonal attractions, and so much more in a park that is bigger than Central Park in NYC, and you have the perfect STL attraction that never runs out of adventure! I love me a good forest park adventure!!! read more

Forest Park - Beautiful walking view in the park - Parks Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

I've been coming to Forest Park since I was a child and have always loved it. The park is gigantic and very well maintained. Tons of things to see inside the park as well as walking paths for miles. There are park police spread out throughout the park and I've never felt unsafe there. Arts Hill is absolutely beautiful and I love seeing Shakespeare in the park there as well as sliding down the hill when it snows. The Jewel Box is beautiful and the grounds around it is amazing. The only downside is the amount of people walking their dogs without a leash. I absolutely love the park and the city of St. Louis is blessed to have it. Can't wait to come back in the future. read more

Walked around Forest Park on a weekday afternoon, it was pretty great! Lots of parking lots with lots of spaces. Huge park, easy to get lost but there's maps scattered around to help with that sometimes. Lots of free museums in the park, and the bodies of water were quite soothing. Some parts of the trail were muddy but not too bad. Saw some people around running, biking, walking, not too many though! read more

Forest park is truly an incredible asset to St.Louis!!!! It is a large park full of golf courses, hiking/biking trails, fountains, nature areas and more. There are also multiple museums and attractions within the park including the zoo, art museum, history museum, jewel box, muny, science center, restaurants and more. Almost all of these museums have free admission. Forest park is a really incredible place for sure. read more

A beautiful park filled with paths, nature, fountains and things to do! You could spend several days in this park discovering new things to do. There is plenty of free parking scattered about. Some of the roundabouts get confusing but it is easier for traffic. read more

Forest Park - Worlds Fair Pavilion - Parks Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

See all

I'll be the first to admit that I took Forest Park for granted. Being born and raised in STL, this park is part of my history. I learned to roller skate at Steinberg Skating Rink when I was 5 years old (they no longer offer roller skating; only ice skating now). School field trips brought us to the park for zoo, art museum, history museum, and science center visits. Family picnics in the park were common place. In my teenage and college years, Sunday cruising in the park was THE thing to do. As an adult, my favorite highlights were Shakespeare in the park, various festivals at the World's Pavilion, Twilight Tuesdays (outside of the History Museum), and watching my child perform at the Muny. When I left St. Louis in 2012, Forest Park was going through some much needed restoration. I returned to the city last week for a short visit and was nearly brought to tears by the beauty that has reclaimed this more than century old landmark. Awesome paths, both paved and graveled, have been constructed throughout much of the park. Park benches have been placed alongside many of the lakes, most having a memorial or dedication of some sort, likely from the donors who helped with the Forest Park Forever restoration project. Stunning landscapes, fragrant flowers, luscious grass, and happiness fills the air. Art Hill is looking more magnificent than ever. One might say that it's almost been restored to its 1904 World's Fair glory. Some construction was happening with old Saint Louis's statue that sits atop Art Hill; he was surrounded by scaffolds. Hopefully, he will be ok. Yesterday was National Zoo Day, and although I do not support zoos, the fact that the St. Louis Zoo is still free is noteworthy; families were out in droves. Entrance to the Art Museum and History Museum are also free. Free parking is available throughout the park. It was nice to see that the weekend wedding tradition is still strong. Seeing photo shoots for several different wedding parties never gets old. If you're a Pokemon Go player, this park is a goldmine! It spawns frequent Magikarp and even Dratini! Lots of Pokestops, but the park is massive so be prepared to spend an entire day or two if you want to walk it. read more

See all

This would be the 1 thing I would 100% miss if I was to ever move from St Louis. Not the Cardinals, Not the Blues not Imo's ( I would miss Vess soda tho) but Forest Park. There is no park in the world that can match the beauty , class ,events, and size all rolled up into 1 than the jewel of St Louis. Even just walking in Forest Park you are literally walking into the history of St Louis. read more

Forest Park - Forest Park - Parks Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

See all

Forest Park is just simply breathtaking. You can honestly spend the whole day roaming the grounds from dawn till dusk. Either walking on different paths throughout the park or relaxing by the lake enjoying the water fountains. It's a lovely place to go for a walk, have a picnic with the family, and walk your dog. I was even surprised to see a group yoga class taking place next to the lake. read more

See all

For my 400th review, I decided to review one of the biggest attractions of my home city, St. Louis! Forest Park is known to be St. Louis' big backyard - that happens to have several features within. It is one of the largest urban parks in America, bigger than New York's Central Park in size (that's something St. Louisans often like to brag about). There's so much the park has to offer, that no wonder 13 million visitors from all around visit every year. Allow me to explain: -You'll find plenty of walking trails to walk/jog/run/bike on. -A lot of attractions, most of them free: Saint Louis Zoo, St. Louis Science Center, the Muny, Saint Louis Art Museum, Missouri History Museum, the Jewel Box, Turtle Park, Steinberg Skating Rink and two golf courses. -Many statues are found throughout the park: the most notable one is the Apotheosis, which is the statue of King Louis IX of France. -Ride on a paddle boat from the Boathouse on the lake. -Several events take place throughout the year at the Park, such as the hot air balloon and craft beer festivals, the World's Fare at the Pavilion, and more. In the summertime, you can catch a free Shakespeare performance near the Art Museum and a movie at Art Hill. -Speaking of Art Hill, its my favorite chillspot in the park during the day. Sometimes it's also fun to roll on! There's plenty more, so hopefully you get an idea of what this park is all about. The park has so much rich history to it. Not many people outside of St. Louis know that Forest Park hosted the 1904 World's Fair (a.k.a. the Louisiana Purchase Exposition), which is arguably the biggest World's Fair of all-time. While most of the structures are now gone, it is always cool to imagine what it would have been like attending the fair there. I see people do their exercise routine there; hell, even Bill Clinton was spotted jogging at Forest Park while his wife was in town for a debate. As for me, I've made a lot of memories there thus far, good and bad. From family/school trips to the Zoo to seeing some great performances at the now-defunct LouFest Music Festival. But most of all, St. Louis has taken pride in the place that is dubbed its "oasis", as well as its environmental, educational and fundamental uses. If you're visiting the city, make Forest Park one of your top priorities. Like I said, there are several options of things to do. There are many ways to get in the park, be it by car, bicycle, light rail or trolley. The opportunities don't end there. Maybe you'll discover something cool on your own while strolling through the park. read more

This park is amazing!! There are so many things to explore in forest park. I have never been to a city with a park so huge with so many things to do. There is the zoo, the planetarium, the art museum, the Muny, the history museum, and more! There are also trails that connect eveything so it is great for a workout. There are many good picnic spots as well. read more

Best urban park in the United States. Outsizes and out-amenities even the likes of Central Park, which is a massive feat for a major but modest Midwest metropolis. read more

Best park in the whole wide world. So much to see and a explore and I won't mention the zoo it's free And fantastic. Don't miss this park and look for Mr. Charles our famous horned owl who just had owlettes nine weeks ago. read more

Forest Park - Toward the lake watching Charles - Parks Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Loved this park. Great place to visit with friends and family. Lot of activities to do here. If you want to visit the various museums then make advance reservations. read more

See all

Because where else can you enjoy a beautiful scenic 6 mile jog, play tennis, go for a peaceful boat ride, explore one of the best zoo's for FREE, visit an amazing art museum, get a dose of history at the world class History Museum, grab a bite in the Visitor's Center Cafe, have a wedding at the Jewel Box, play a round of golf at either of the 2 courses, fish, ice skate, play sand volleyball, sit along a lake, watch the beautiful kaleidoscopic waterfall overlooking the World's Fair Pavilion, entertain an entire family at any of the nearly 2 dozen picnic locations, bike the trail, visit the Science Center, pet the horses on patrol, play softball on any of the numerous fields, catch an outdoor play at the Muny, swing on the playground, break a sweat in the racquetball courts or capture amazing photos at the well-lit, water fall scenery of the Grand Basin? There is no place like my beloved Forest Park. read more

See all

I love Forest Park. It is such a gem to have in the middle of the city. The trees, plants, and waterways really transport you to the outdoors and let's you connect with nature. A perfect place for exercise, I see people biking and running all the time. I love taking my dog on walks all around the park. Even if you're just visiting, it is a must see in St. Louis. read more

Well said, Max!! Whatever floats one's boat, to wit: Boats, History, Natural beauty, World Class Zoo, The Arts, People Watching, yet..Peaceful Meditation away from people... read more

I take my dog max here for walks often and he loves this park. So many fun areas from the hill to the streams honestly you could spend hours hear. So peaceful and when it's nice out it's where everyone seems to go. Love this place can't wait to go back this afternoon!! read more

Forest Park - Parks Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

See all

Forest Park has everything. Our furbaby Daisy loves to come here and walk along some of the trails. She loves to play in some of the streams. Forest Park is home to the St. Louis Zoo (don't get me started), the Art Museum, the Planetarium and the Muny Opera, the outdoor theater. Many weddings and receptions take place at the 1904 World's Fair Pavilion (so named because it was built with funds that were raised during the World's Fair). It also had one restaurant that had the best view of the Post Dispatch lake called the Boathouse (has since been sold and will reopen as a different restaurant). It has some of the oldest trees and beautiful views (art hill). And during the winter, who can resist not watching or ice skating at Steinberg Skating Rink. In the spring and summer, we love to pack a picnic lunch and sit across from the Muny and listen to them practice for the upcoming show. We love to go to the Art Museum for their docent tours and lectures. Across from the Art Museum is the statue of Louis IX whom our city was named after. On a side note, did you know that any sculpture anywhere in the world that has a rider on a horse, will tell you a little bit about the rider. A horse sculpture with all four legs on the ground means that the rider died a natural death. A horse with one hoof raised (like Louis IX) means he was wounded in battle but did not die from his wounds. A horse rearing up on its hind legs means the rider was killed in battle. And who doesn't love walking into and through the St. Louis Zoo (my favorite place is the insectarium). I am so grateful to the people, organizations and businesses who support Forest Park. Would I come back here? Yes, if you'll excuse me I'm getting ready to go for a walk on my favorite path. I'll see you in the funny pages. read more

For free. Lots of paid add ons and special events but you can easily spend a day entertaining people of all ages at the stl zoo.

Beautiful park, so many paths in which to walk or ride a bike, so many ponds and lakes, great open spaces for sports or picnics, plus golf courses! Wish they'd allow drones though! read more

Forest Park - Parks Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

See all

Great to be back in the STL. I was here on a job assignment three years ago and back again. Brought my bike with me from California and my first ride was to ride the 6-mile loop around Forest Park. Love that there is both a gravel and paved trail to accommodate wheels and feet. I've cycled this park in snow, rain and sunshine and always come away feeling peaceful. This park has a special place in my heart. read more

See all

" This Park Has Everything ! " Wow, I don't think I have ever seen a Park that is so Big, in such nice condition, has so many items in it, and just goes on and on. Tons of Historical information with multiple art and history Museums, Statues, a Science Center, Planetarium, Zoo, etc. Plus the have multiple golf courses, archery areas, ice skating rink, walking trails, outdoor theater, etc., etc. etc. Wow, this Park goes on and on and is so well maintained, it is beautiful. Great Job St. Louis ! read more

See all

We didn't get a chance to look through all this park has to offer, but from what we saw, it was beautiful! It's home to the zoo and a bunch of free museums, and aside from that it just seems like a very nice park to spend some time. We parked near a fountain and the World's Fair building, which is a very nice landscape to look at. There were a bunch of kids splashing around in the fountain, and it was cool to see that they had this space to play in. Overall, a really nice spot that would be fun to explore further! read more

I live 2 blocks away from Forest Park and enjoy almost daily walks through it with my dog. It's beautiful, well maintained and safe. The ponds and trails are picturesque and I've also attended the occasional orange theory outdoor classes near the skating rink. It's a huge park with ample space for picnics and outdoor activities read more

Great Green space .. huge park. Clean and well kept. Found it will visiting the free zoo and did some exploring. Lots of people jogging, biking, playing with their dog and kids. Great place to exercise and unwinds ... enjoy nature. I found a lilie pond and a fountains, lots of trees and paved trails .. couple neat museums. We went to the art museum and the zoo. read more

See all

Love, love, love, forest park... Amazing path for walkers and bikes. It's safe it's a community. I'm proud to be a forest park. Family member.! read more

Forest Park is a destination that should be on your list whether you live in St. Louis, whether you're passing through, or just visiting. You see the name Forest Park and you think it's a large park in metro STL. Nope. Not only is it a park but it has so many things for you to do. You could spend a weekend here and revisit. Forest Park, of course, has a park. St Louis didn't just settle for a park though. There's an art museum, history museum, planetarium, zoo and something else called a Jewel Box(it's a greenhouse venue space). The best part? Most of it is free! The only thing we paid for was access to the Jewel Box(a few dollars if memory serves). In looking at other reviews, it seems that they have events there all the time to keep it fresh and draw people to the area. Ice skating in the winter, Shakespeare, and a hot air balloon race to name a few activities. The only thing that could make it better is if they would plant more trees. Yes... trees are everywhere but they don't seem to be in between the venues. On extra sweltering days, if those roads were lined with trees, you'd never want to leave. We found parking not far from the art museum and walked everywhere. Even with the heat, it was a blast! With the number of people in this area, I was surprised by how clean it was. Wow! Good job St. Louis! We spent the majority of the day there but didn't make it to everything. Whenever I'm in St. Louis, I'll make sure to make it to Forest Park every single time! read more

I came to learn the layout of the park. To simply game. Because I'm a girl gamer. I found beautiful lakes inside lots of relaxing areas. This is so beautiful I really enjoyed my time here. Boat rides and happy people. This is the perfect park to bike ride or walk because of the beautiful walk paths. It's so romantic and beautiful you see people getting married & having receptions. Even gender reveals & baby showers. I even saw a marriage proposal. The park is animal friendly everyone with a puppy are following laws. So this is a safe place. I saw police, security officers and a few firemen. Tons of people have come out to play pokeymon go. Be them Red, Blue or team Yellow. Yes, I'm proud team Valor! Yes everyone is wearing a mask. I take extra precautions and wear medical gloves. read more

Golf? You got it! Tennis? You got it! Boating? You got it! This place is big. So much room for activities. Bring your dog, they gonna do so many rolls. S'CUTEEEEE 5 stars read more

I have many fond memories of Forest Park. One of my favorite things in the world to do is sled down Art Hill in the winter. Everyone else has the same idea, but it is such a brilliant ride when you do! In the summer, you can enjoy row boating in the tide basin, or Shakespeare at the Park. The Jewel Box is a magical place to get married if you enjoy history and a story time wedding. I have attended a couple of them and weddings done both in the day and evening are gorgeous. The history museum and the zoo are to not be left unseen. Both are free attractions! In fact, the whole Forest Park area is free! Imagine how busy it was during the 1904 World's Fair with nearly 20 million visitors to the area from April to December of that year! St. Louis Zoo, the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Missouri History Museum, and the St. Louis Science Center are all housed in Forest Park. Plus, they individually have their own Yelp listing. It is encouraged to check them out when planning your trip to Forest Park and to St. Louis as a whole. read more

Forest Park is AMAZING! I knew I wanted to explore the park before my visit to STL. And it just so happened that basically everything we wanted to do or see was IN the park! Clean and very well-maintained. Ample parking, both lot and street. A couple of pay lots near the art museum and zoo, but if you don't mind a short walk, you can easily save $10-$15 by finding space in a free lot or on the street. Several attractions are close enough to each other that you don't need to be constantly moving your car. Word on the internet is that there is a Trolley that goes around the park and stops at other locations. We never saw one. I would have liked to have ridden it around the park, since it was 94 degrees and humid as all get out, and I would have gladly paid a few bucks to ride around and see the park... I hope I can come back to Saint Louis again soon and I hope I can spend a LOT more time in the park! read more

I absolutely love this park. Wrapped inside are multiple golf courses, a free zoo (yes, I said feee!!), multiple museums (art, history, etc), the science center, an outdoor ice skating rink in the winter, and an outdoor opera house. This dos not even begin to encompass all of the weaving trails and nooks and crannies inside the park. Not to mention all the events that go on here from free concerts, Shakespeare in the park, hot air balloon race, and Loufest just to name a few. A few of my hobbies to do in the park include rollerblading/ biking(there are nice and smooth trails), running, hammocking, slack lining, and just relaxing! Not only are there plenty of paths but there are also endless spots to get away from the crowds and relax. All in all one of my favorite spots in St. Louis. read more

See all

Great place to spend the whole day. This massive park has multiple attractions. Not just is beautiful landscape, but also has a history museum on the premises, the city zoo is connected along with several other sites. You could just about spend the whole day here walking around. Great place to let the kids run the energy off. The metro stops about 1 block away, so you don't have to worry about parking or traffic. read more

Forest Park - Celebrating 4th of July. - Parks Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri