City Museum and Arch--coming to visit (St. Louis, Maryland Heights: house, to live in, price)

[TakesTwo]

Hi, coming to visit with a young tween.

The City Museum seems really awesome. Is the aquarium worth the add one price. What is it like late in the day, I see it's open until 1 AM Fri & Saturday, and am wondering why? Who goes there then? This reminds me of the fantastic museum in Montreal. I hope its not raining the day we're there because that outside sculpture, plane thing looks very cool.

Can the Arch be done in the same day? Should it be done? I looked at a thread that commented it was sort of lame, but I enjoyed it once as a young kid (decades ago). If we're there, I think it should be experienced just for the architecture aspect alone.

Are these two things walkable, safety wise?

[GildedAge]

It is walkable - but a long walk. It may be easier to take the Metrolink - even if for one or two stops. I would add the new City Garden to the itinerary. For kids, I would add the Magic House and Zoo.

[wustu87]

The City Museum is definitely very unique and worth a visit. It is open late in the evenings primarily for adults who like to go there at night. Where else can adults go and climb through fake caves and play on big metal structures at midnight? The aquarium there is interesting but not worth the added $6 price IMHO, although I know some kids do like it a lot. It definitely depends on the kid, although my guess is a tween would be less impressed than an 6-8 year old would be. If you do both the arch and the City Museum the same day you should go to the Arch early in the morning and get your tram reservations as early as you can. You can tour the arch museum and watch the arch movie before your tram ride.

I believe the City Museum is about 1 mile from the arch which shouldn't be too bad just walking down Washington or Olive. In terms of safety, during midday I'd be more afraid of lost, distracted driving tourists at crosswalks than of any criminal activity in the area.

[Eyeam]

Concerning the arch - I think the arch is a very cool and unique monument, it definitely adds character to the city. The problem comes in when you head up to the top. The skyline of STL isn't much to look at (most of what STL has to offer doesn't come from the city itself, so the city is pretty undeveloped). The IL side of the river is what really kills it though. When you go up there and see all the industry, destroyed buildings and that extremely flat land - it's kind of depressing! I would say if you've never been up there, do it once just because it's neat to be that high up, but if you've already done it, I'd skip the arch, just appreciate the way it looks from the ground.

[AJohnston_STL]

Originally Posted by Eyeam

Concerning the arch - I think the arch is a very cool and unique monument, it definitely adds character to the city. The problem comes in when you head up to the top. The skyline of STL isn't much to look at (most of what STL has to offer doesn't come from the city itself, so the city is pretty undeveloped). The IL side of the river is what really kills it though. When you go up there and see all the industry, destroyed buildings and that extremely flat land - it's kind of depressing! I would say if you've never been up there, do it once just because it's neat to be that high up, but if you've already done it, I'd skip the arch, just appreciate the way it looks from the ground.

lol, here you go again.

Dead wrong. Let people figure these things out for themselves.

I look at downtown and think it is absolutely gorgeous. Why would you want to taint what someone else thinks?

I think you need to get a life.

[Eyeam]

How many stupid remarks can you say in one day? First you fail at formulating an argument by implying that logic and reason have anything to do with city limits, and now you're telling me that my opinion on an issue that can only be based on opinions is "dead wrong." Please show me where the handbook on factual information concerning aesthetics is located. I'd like to find the facts on what defines beauty. Where does it say in that handbook (which only you seem to have) that the Mona Lisa is a beautiful painting based on fact. I would ask you if you've ever heard the phrase 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder' but based on the apparent size of that thick skull of yours I'd say that one probably didn't make it in. Please grow up and stop being such a whiny little crybaby. I think you need a timeout from the forums. Come back when you've got something to contribute besides only criticizing what others have to say because you're insecure. Take the time off to think about what's lacking within you that all you're capable of doing is shooting down what everyone else has to say behind the social safety of a computer screen.

[SoStLouis]

The reason the city museum is open so late is because the diverse group of patrons. maybe you're mistaken as to what sort of museum this is. it's total chaos. man made caverns, giant 2 floor slides and other nonconventional fun. It's a great place for adults who can appreciate a truly unique aesthetic, endless fun for those with the energy to scale the cave walls and every other square inch of this place. plus the outside is insanity, so much fun and such a great place to just look and appreciate the art in it all.

also the museum has lots of pretty cool events and whatnot, about a year ago they had all the greatest tattoo artists from the country come to show their work as well as perform their art. to those who just enjoy art, they could look at all their work and take in the greatness of it, to those looking to get some ink put down, you could achieve something no tattoo parlour around here could (not knocking the locals but this was truly the best of the best). overall its a great place and i'm surprised to see someone actually spending their hard earned $$$ to visit this place.. PM me if you want other cool places to go, i know this city like the back of my hand.

edit- yeah hit up the zoo (its free!), check out "the hill" our Italian district, great food. If you want to know what St. Louis pizza is all about YOU MUST visit Serra's Pizzeria, a bit of a drive from metro STL but hands down the best pizza I have ever had. It's in Maryland Heights, right off Highway 70 & st. charles rock road. next door is a great little mom and pop donut diner as well, great home-made style doughnuts, breakfast sammiches and so forth.

[TakesTwo]

Thank you for all the information. Much to consider. First thought we'd bring 2 kids but it looks just like one. Would a young tween enjoy the city museum with just the parents along? (albeit we are cool & able adults). In other words, would it be more enjoyable with someone like minded, in which case we will save it for next year. I am getting to this museum one way or another b/c I want to see it too!!!! Quite impressed from the web, you tube, etc. Was kind of excited when I found it on the web last year.

As for the "scenery" on the IL side. We know its there and it is a shame. We pass through while driving I70. Our final destination from the east coast is always KCMO so we have never really stopped in St. Louis, just because we've usually overnighted somewhere in IL. But--am determined to see your great city. It really should be a destination on its own.

Used to live in NJ so seeing the IL side would be OK enough. Its to be expected in large Metro areas, especially near water transportation. Most people driving I95 heading past NYC and Newark think NJ is an ugly place. It's not...it actually deserves its states name "Garden State" once you look past the industry area. I think the arch is cool enough, something to experience and our kid has been "teased" each year we drive by.

I may stay on the ground, did it as a kid, heights became an issue in adulthood...but DH will gladly go up with this tween.

Thanks again.

[wustu87]

I am sure a tween would have more fun with another kid around at the City Museum, but the truth is there will definitely be lots of other kids around! And if you are indeed "cool & able" adults (i.e. not just followers or bench sitters), you'll just be an older, wiser "kid" there too! In some places in the caves and climbing places it is easier for a small child to crawl/climb through and in some places it works better to be somewhat bigger and stronger. I haven't been a tween in a decade or two (okay, maybe three) but I definitely never just sit around waiting for my kids at the City Museum when there is all this cool stuff around! Often those are some of the funniest moments there when you see a 30 or 40 something year old parent actually having fun, zooming down a slide or getting stuck in a passageway!