Are your kids whining yet? Don’t know what to do to beat the heat? Well I will try and help you out. Here are some suggestions for beating those summertime blues from boredom. Mind you this is a constant work in progress.
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MOVIES are always good for staying cool during that oppressive humidity we’re so famous for.
AMC Theatres offers $1.00 movies for charity (variety & will rogers institute). Wednesdays at 10:00 am all summer long. Here’s their schedule:
- June 25th - Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium
- July 2nd - The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep
- July 9th - Alvin & The Chipmunks
- July 16th - Shrek the Third
- July 23rd - Bee Movie
- July 30th - Surf’s Up
- August 6th - TMNT (for those who aren’t familiar - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Pretty good line up I think. Plus for $3.00 you can get a KidsPack with soda and popcorn
Wehrenberg Theaters is offering their summer movies for FREE. Wednesday and Thursdays at 10:00 am and at Noon - WOW!!! Plus I think they have an awesome lineup.
- June 4th & 5th - Daddy Day Camp
- June 11th & 12th - Barnyard
- June 18th & 19th - Alvin & the Chipmunks
- June 25th & 26th - Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium
- July 9th & 10th - Charlotte’s Web
- July 16th & 17th - The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything
- July 23rd & 24th - Bee Movie
- July 30th & 31st - Spiderwick Chronicles
- August 6th & 7th - Shrek the Third
- August 13th & 14th - Horton Hears A Who
Pretty good I think. Check one out this summer.
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One of my family’s personal favorites is Grant’s Farm. Check their website for all entertainment descriptions. This place is awesome for watching animal shows, taking a train ride (really a tram) to see the animals roaming free and a nice cold & FREE Anheuser Busch beer, the brats aren’t free but definitely good and worth the money.
- Admission is FREE
- Parking is not… $10 per car
Summer hours are: May 6th - August 10th; Closed on Mondays (except May 26th then open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm because of holiday); Tuesday - Friday 9:00 am to 3:30 pm; Saturday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm; Sunday 9:30 am to 4:00 pm
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We also love the Missouri Botanical Gardens. This is a great place for so many reasons I will try and list them all. The hours are 9:00 am to 5:00 pm; from Memorial Day to Labor Day Wednesday nights until 8:00 pm; Morning Walking Hours are Wednesday and Saturdays 7:00 am to 9:00 am.
The cost of admission is $8.00 (adults age 13 and up); St. Louis City/County residents $4.00; Members and children are FREE; Children’s Garden is $3.00 per child (adults free).
Some events you might enjoy there are:
1. Whitaker Music Festival Wednesdays June 4th - August 13th; free admission after 5:00 pm, concerts start at 7:30 pm. Pack a picnic and enjoy some some nice jazz. No pets, tobacco or barbecue grills. Children’s Garden is free on these nights.
- June 4th - Erin Bode
- June 11th - Two Times True
- June 18th - Le Jazz Hot
- June 25th - Tony Simmons Band
- July 2nd - Anita Rosamond
- July 9th - Javier Mendoza
- July 16th - Kim Massie
- July 23rd - Poor People of Paris
- July 30th - FolknBlues Grass
- August 6th - Laytham and Holmes
- August 13th - Alvin Jett & The Phat noiZ
2. Niki - an exhibition of 40 playful, larger-than-life mosaic sculptures in a rainbow of colors and materials. From now until October 31st.
3. Dress your kids in their swimsuits and head to the Children’s Garden. They have playful water fountains, my kids enjoy them every time.
Tons more to do there, check it out.
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Tower Grove Park in South St. Louis City (located between Kingshighway and Arsenal/Magnolia & Grand) has several fun events this summer.
May 1st - Muckerman Fountain and Pop Jets turn on, hours are: Sunday - Friday from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm; Saturdays from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm.
May 10th thru October 25th - Tower Grove Farmer’s Market, Saturdays only (just west of the Pool Pavilion in the center of the park) Market times are 8:30 am to 12:30 pm.
June 14th - Wading pool opens, hours are Tuesday thru Sunday 11:00 am to 4:00 pm; pool portion closed on Mondays for draining, following the draining the fountain and pop jets will stay open until 7:00 pm.
June 14th - Tower Grove Movie Nights features West Side Story at 8:30 pm and is FREE; grab a blanket, pack a picnic, take the kids and watch a movie outdoors.
Lots, Lots, Lots more to do and more to come. Check out their calendar of events link.
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I am not really a waterpark type of person but sometimes the heat is just too much to take so when it gets that bad here are some popular ones around STL.
- Aquaport, 2344 McKelvey Road, Maryland Heights; opens on May 24th, hours are Tues & Thurs 11:00 am to 8:00 pm, All other days 11:00 am to 7:00 pm; Cost is $15.00 (adults) for non residents, $10 (youth 4-15) for non residents, FREE for kids 3 and under: there’s a 740 foot lazy river, wacky water play area for children and six waterslides.
- Hurricane Harbor at Six Flags, Interstate 44 and Allenton Road, Eureka (I think if you live in STL you know where it is, but just in case) Cost: 44.99 for adults (online only 39.99) and child’s admission is 29.99, children under 2 are free, parking is $10.00 (cost also includes Six Flags admission); Hours: Saturday 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, Sunday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday - Friday 10:30 am to 6:00 pm; there’s a large wave pool, fiver person raft adventure, funnel-type ride called the Tornado. Check out their website for more details.
- Raging Rivers, 100 Palisades Parkway, Grafton, IL; Cost is 18.95 (guests over 48″tall), $15.95 (guests 48″ and under), 2 and under are FREE; Hours are Memorial Day Weekend 10:30 am to 6:00 pm, May 31st thru June 13th 10:30 am to 6:00 pm, June 14th thru August 10th 10:30 am to 7:00 pm, August 11th thru August 24th 10:30 am to 6:00 pm, Labor Day Weekend 10:30 am to 6:00 pm. (Who comes up with these hours, man!!!). They have a large play structure, wave tank and tube ride that starts in a sharks mouth.
- RiverChase, 990 Horan Drive, Fenton; Wow the hours and prices are getting crazy. Each site I go to gets crazier so press the link and browse for when you would want to go. My eyes are starting to cross and my brain is turning to mush with all these hours and prices. They have an outdoor pool and indoor pool, a lazy river and children’s area.
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Here’s an easy answer to summertime blues… the ZOO!!! Starting May 23rd they open at 8:00 am and close at 7:00 pm except for Fridays they stay open until 8:00 pm for Jungle Boogie.
Jungle Boogie is a good time, enjoy the zoo with some background music. Showtimes are 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
Here’s the line-up:
- May 23rd Arvell and Co.
- May 20th Usual Suspects
- June 6th California Duo
- June 13th Spur
- June 27th Hudson and the HooDoo Cats
- July 11th Kim Massie
- July 18th Mo and Dawn
- July 25th J-Rob
- August 1st Charles Glenn
- August 8th Lamar Harris
- August 15th Bob Case
- August 22nd Mighty Big Band
- August 29th Charlie B Group
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