Absolute Martial Arts offers karate lessons for kids and adults.

Absolute Martial Arts offers karate lessons for kids and adults.

294489

This vast indoor space has loads of food and fun. With an all-you-can-eat buffet, you can choose to eat in the sporty Gymnasium, the cool Drive-In Room, the retro 50s Diner, or the quiet Family Room. The buffet includes pizza, pasta, a baked potato bar, salad bar, soups, and desserts.

Then, hop into some fun at the Fairgrounds, where you find indoor go-kart races (with real trophies!), bumper cars, Route 66 mini-golf, an arcade where you can redeem tickets for prizes, adult and junior bowling, and an indoor play area for the little ones to climb and enjoy.

Birthday party packages include a private party room, your own party entertainer, invitations, thank-you notes, buffet and drinks, and more. Reserve at least a month in advance, as dates fill up quickly.

Aquaport is an 8,000 square foot pool, which includes a 740 foot long "river" for tubing, slides, and a flume. Small kids have their own "Wacky Water" area with sprinklers and fountains. Changing areas, lockers, showers, free parking, spacious deck areas for sunning, and a snack bar are also available on site.

Birthday party packages start at $90 for residents; $195 for non-residents. Parties include a reserved birthday party area for one hour, a free pass for the birthday child to come back on another day, and a t-shirt for the birthday child. Cake and balloons can be brought into the park only with purchase of a birthday party package. Party reservations must be made at least one week in advance.

Residents of Maryland Heights, Creve Coeur, and Bridgeton can take advantage of the residents' rate. Be sure to bring a valid City ID, issued by the respective city government.

Black Bear Bakery, a worker-run co-op, is the home of the beloved all-you-can-eat pancake breakfasts on Saturdays - complete with a whole range of tempting toppings. Beyond that, however, are the many delectable offerings like fresh baked goods, granola, bagels, crepes, soup, sandwiches, strong coffee - even made-to-order wedding cakes - all created from locally grown and produced food products.

The bakery itself is cheerfully decorated in yellow, orange and blue hues and often doubles as an art gallery for local artists' works.

Pop culture reigns supreme at Blueberry Hill, a landmark restaurant within the eclectic U-City Loop district that showcases music and movie star memorabilia from several eras. The renowned menu features hamburgers much loved by locals, as well as jerk chicken, vegetarian specials, homemade soups, salads, and breakfast items.

The restaurant regularly serves as a live music venue for local and national acts and houses a jukebox, creative "window displays," and an arcade. Party space/rooms are available for rent.

Leisurely rowboat and paddleboat rides on Post-Dispatch Lake in Forest Park is a quintessential weekend - or any day - activity in St. Louis.

Recent expansion of the lake has created new boating lagoons, an island devoted to wildlife conservation, and easier passage to the restored Grand Basin at the foot of Art Hill. Life jackets are provided with boat rentals.

The Boathouse also rents out nifty Schwinn bicycles for use in the park (weekends only). Adults (16 & older) can rent the bikes, and older children who fit the bicycles are welcome to ride when accompanied by a parent or caregiver. Groups of eight or more can call ahead and reserve bikes.

When limbs are tired and thirst reigns supreme, row back to the Boathouse Restaurant, which features family-friendly fare of burgers, hand-tossed pizzas, sandwiches, and salads, plus signature hearty soups and chili during winter months. The restaurant's hours can be found online. Next door, the Boathouse Annex is available to rent for birthday parties or family get-togethers.

Bob Kramer's Marionnettes has been entertaining St. Louis-area children with inventive puppetry for nearly five decades, making the company one of the longest running on-site puppetry theater in the US. The stories that the marionettes present are typically based on well-known folk and fairy tales.

Not only do audience members get treated to a lively puppet show, but they also get a special demonstration before each show that shows the process of puppet building.

The company can host private parties at its theater. A 30-minute show with two puppeteers costs $150 and the studio can be rented for after-show gatherings for an additional $50. It is also happy to bring special productions to locations around the city. These shows are designed for approximately 20-30 people and cost between $200-$350.00.

Bob Kramer's Marionnettes has been entertaining St. Louis-area children with inventive puppetry for nearly five decades, making the company one of the longest running on-site puppetry theater in the US. The stories that the marionettes present are typically based on well-known folk and fairy tales.

Not only do audience members get treated to a lively puppet show, but they also get a special demonstration before each show that shows the process of puppet building.

The company can host private parties at its theater. A 30-minute show with two puppeteers costs $150 and the studio can be rented for after-show gatherings for an additional $50. It is also happy to bring special productions to locations around the city. These shows are designed for approximately 20-30 people and cost between $200-$350.00.

BounceU is an indoor play arena offering all kinds of inflatable structures. BounceU hosts parties, school vacation specials, and summer camps.

Open Bounce, for ages two to six, takes place Thursday and Fridays from 10:10am to 11:30am. Family Bounce Nights take place on Wednesday evenings from
6:10pm-7:30pm. All Ages Open Bounce is on Friday afternoons from 2:10pm to 3:30pm. Space for all events is limited and reservations are required.

Visit the website for complete information.

BounceU is an indoor play arena offering all kinds of inflatable structures. BounceU hosts parties, school vacation specials, and summer camps.

Preschool Play Dates take place every Tuesday and Thursday from 10am-11:15am; Family Bounce Night is every Monday and Thursday from 6pm-8pm; and All Ages Open Bounce takes place on weekend afternoons; check the website for complete schedules. Reservations are strongly recommended for any of these special events.

Offering an impressive array of workshops, classes, special events, as well as a gallery, theater performances in the Broadway Main Stage Theatre, and educational outreach programs, Broadway Center of Arts serves as a full visual and performing arts center.

The center holds classes in art, dance, and theater, and hosts a youth summer camp and birthday parties.

Offering an impressive array of workshops, classes, special events, as well as a gallery, theater performances in the Broadway Main Stage Theatre, and educational outreach programs, Broadway Center of Arts serves as a full visual and performing arts center.

The center holds classes in art, dance, and theater, and hosts a youth summer camp and birthday parties.

A combination toy store and workshop that lets kids create their own stuffed animals, Build-a-Bear offers both drop-in fun and party options for little cuddlers.

Bears and other stuffable creatures range in price from $10-$25 and additional options, such as sound or clothing, are also available. Take your creation home in its own "house" box.

Parties: Guests build their own stuffed animals, and take their new friends home. Call 1.877.789.BEAR (2327) to plan a party.

A combination toy store and workshop that lets kids create their own stuffed animals, Build-a-Bear offers both drop-in fun and party options for little cuddlers.

Bears and other stuffable creatures range in price from $10-$25 and additional options, such as sound or clothing, are also available. Take your creation home in its own "house" box.

Parties: Guests build their own stuffed animals, and take their new friends home. Call 1.877.789.BEAR (2327) to plan a party.

Caston Ballet Academie is home to the Caston Chamber Ballet Company. The academie is happy to host ballet parties for little ones.

The academie is a member of the Cecchetti Council of America, which means that the Cecchetti (Italian) method of instruction is used here: a series of graded classes designed to train the young ballet dancer for professional ballet work. Jazz and tap are included in the regular program of classes until the elementary level, at which time students may elect to take separate classes.

A haven for sports-fitness-recreation gurus, the Center of Clayton features four gymnasiums (basketball players love the parquet courts and two dozen hoops), a climbing wall, a suspended jogging track, and an aquatic center, which houses a competition/lap pool and a recreational pool with a slide, "lazy river" feature, and play area.

The Center of Clayton is available to reserve for birthday parties or any special event. Packages can include use of pool and gymnasium, climbing wall and gym, or a complete package with use of all amenities.

Covering approximately 500 square feet, the Center of Clayton Climbing Wall is 31 feet high. Open Climb is held some weekday evenings and weekend afternoons. Equipment can be checked out at the welcome desk. Climbers between the ages of 13 and 18 must take the belay certification course before being allowed to climb.

While grown-ups and big kids engage in climbing, little ones ages five years and older are invited to participate in "bouldering" - that's fancy talk for climbing around on low rocks, as well as those that extend up to 12 feet, without harnesses or ropes. The wall is also available to rent for private parties.

Who wouldn't get excited upon hearing that they're about to embark on a "space mission"? For space enthusiasts, the Challenger Learning Center provides
hands-on, realistic, simulated space missions for people ages six and up (Public missions are geared towards
those 11 and up). The activities here are unique in that they encourage participants to work together and perform activities similar to astronauts, scientists and engineers.

Reservations are required for all public missions, which are held intermittently throughout the year - check the website for schedules. Missions can also be booked for school and scout groups, birthday parties, and corporate team-building sessions.

In the summer, the center's one-week and two-week day camps allow children to engage in all sorts of space themed activities, including hands-on workshops, simulated missions, and field trips. The camps are open to kids between third and eighth grades.

The Children's Museum of Illinois is a hands-on,
interactive museum for children ages three to 12. Its
exhibits and activities complement and enhance children's
educational opportunities, particularly in the arts and
sciences.

Since 1985, this pizza buffet has been a family favorite. Each child can carry his or her own tray and feast on a variety of 16 different pizzas - including the inspired Mac-N-Cheese Pizza - plus cheese bread or pasta with a choice of white or meatless red sauce. Pizzas are uniformly fresh and tend to fly off the buffet table quickly; no worries, there's always another one coming out of the oven.

Several of the specialty pizzas (taco, BBQ, and bacon-cheddar, and Mac-N-Cheese) are regularly available and can be made-to-order if they are not on the buffet. Those with special dietary needs can also request a custom-made pizza.

A small salad bar helps fill vegetable quotas so kiddies can reach for dessert pizzas and brownies. Plastic lids are available upon request for the plastic drink cups.

When you place your order, counter personnel offer booster seats and high chairs, and arrange for them to be brought to your table.

A small game room keeps the quick eaters entertained, and large screen TVs keeps even the most restless eaters (and parents who want to watch the game) under control. Kids may have to practice wait-your-turn skills for popular games on weekends, when CiCi's is at its busiest with end-of-the season sports and birthday parties.

And birthday partiers are indeed welcomed. Call a couple of days in advance to reserve tables and complimentary balloons. Any extras (cake, party favors, tablecloths etc.) may be brought in for a more personal party.

CiCi's also offers several fundraising programs in which schools and community groups can earn either a percentage of sales in cash, or pizza credits.

381719

381719

381719

381719

City Museum is the winner of our 2008 Parents' Picks quest to find the best museum for big kids in St. Louis!

Truly an architectural wonder to behold, City Museum is constructed entirely out of unique, found objects: Reclaimed building materials, old chimneys, salvaged bridges, construction cranes, miles of tile, and two planes help form the amazing attractions here.

The Enchanted Caves capture any adventurer's imagination: With spiral tunnels in which to crawl and all kinds of nooks and crannies to explore, this is where many young visitors head first.

MonstroCity - the 2008 Parents' Picks winner for best playground for big kids - is an amazing "interactive sculpture" - that is, a giant playground that welcomes kids who climb and explore and includes multi-level caves. The Baby Bob Ball Pit gives little kids the opportunity to leap among, under, and over zillions of balls.

The World Aquarium, located upstairs, is 13,500 square feet and will house more then ten thousand creatures when fully completed. The Aquarium hosts special critter feedings almost every day; check the website for a schedule. Entrance to the Aquarium is an additional fee of $6.

The museum's "everydaycircus" area is where the zany antics of circus performers come alive. Weekly performances and classes designed for young entertainers are held here; pizza buffet birthday parties are, too.

Circus Performance Summer Camps - a unique and intensive circus training experience - teach kids the art of circus performance and are split between two-week sessions starting in late June and extending through the end of August. Camps are geared for ages eight though 16.

COCA swept all three categories of our 2008 Parents' Picks quest to find the best artsy class for little kids, big kids, and teens in St. Louis!

An extensive multidisciplinary arts institution located in the historic U-City Loop district, COCA (Center of Creative Arts) offers classes, camps, workshops, and performances in the visual and performing arts for children, teens, and adults.

The COCA Family Theatre Series, held in the center's 400-seat theater, is a favorite of locals, especially because theater workshops are frequently offered before and after shows for the whole family. COCA also hosts summer camps for kids, as well as art, circus, dance, or theater birthday parties.

In addition, COCA is also home to the Millstone Gallery, which features contemporary art exhibitions by regional and nationally recognized artists.

Calling itself "more than just a bowling center," Concord Lanes is exactly that: The sports center features an 18-hole mini golf course, sand volleyball leagues, as well as the eponymous bowling lanes, which host short season bowling clubs and leagues for all skill levels.

The center's spacious Arizona Action Park Batting Cage is a real favorite here. It provides great practice for slow- and fast-pitch softball players. The batting area also offers nine baseball-pitching machines with various speeds.

The center's birthday parties are a big hit among the young set. Parties are generally held on weekend afternoons. Two packages are offered: The Krazy Koyote runs $8.99 per child and provides two hours of unlimited bowling; the Cool Cactus runs $11.99 per child and provides two hours of bowling plus pizza and beverage.

The Lanes also host a Summer Camp program for kids ages five to 13.

Dance Pizazz offers instruction in ballroom dancing, as well as "ballroom bootcamp fitness" programs, private lessons, group classes, and dance parties.

The 1812 home of General Daniel Bissell, a military commander of the Upper Louisiana Territory, houses family artifacts and other decorative arts and furnishings from the 19th century.

The home is opened occasionally throughout the year for public events. It is also able to be reserved for special occasions or meetings.

DB-AZ is an arcade on steroids. On one side, Demolition Ball (a game played using bumper cars and s whiffle ball). On the other, Adrenaline Zone, one of the largest multi-level lazer tag arenas in the state.

The facility also has video games, pool tables, foosball tables, and plenty of room to run around.

Party packages start at $193 for ten kids, with a choice of demo ball or lazer tag.

DB-AZ is an arcade on steroids. On one side, Demolition Ball (a game played using bumper cars and s whiffle ball). On the other, Adrenaline Zone, one of the largest multi-level lazer tag arenas in the state.

The facility also has video games, pool tables, foosball tables, and plenty of room to run around.

Party packages start at $193 for ten kids, with a choice of demo ball or lazer tag.

You'd never know eight bowling lanes reside inside the squat brick building adjacent to Epiphany of Our Lord Church. Fancy bowling center this is not, but enthusiasts nonetheless love this unique parish attraction for its old-fashioned prices and quirky High Score Grill, which serves lots of cheap eats.

Birthday parties are welcome here. The cost of $5.25 per child includes rental shoes, one game of bowling, and a pizza meal.

The St. Louis Blues hockey team calls iceZone its official practice rink, but the venue is also open to individuals and groups for public skating sessions, broomball games, and drop-in hockey games. Instructors can be booked for skating lessons, and kids can choose from three packages for their next birthday party.

Imagine Tomorrow integrates sophisticated technology concepts, such as email and the Internet, in an age-appropriate way. Classes allow students to advance at their own pace; when class ends, children have access to online software activities that correspond to the current lesson.

Imagine Tomorrow hosts unique and interactive birthday parties, during which two party directors guide children ages three to seven on computer "detective adventures." Participants can take home a birthday password log-in, which allows them to use Imagine Tomorrow's custom software at home.

Imagine Tomorrow integrates sophisticated technology concepts, such as email and the Internet, in an age-appropriate way. Classes allow students to advance at their own pace; when class ends, children have access to online software activities that correspond to the current lesson.

Imagine Tomorrow hosts unique and interactive birthday parties, during which two party directors guide children ages three to seven on computer "detective adventures." Participants can take home a birthday password log-in, which allows them to use Imagine Tomorrow's custom software at home.

Featuring go-karts, bumper boats, baseball batting cages, indoor