Picks Of The Litter

Youngsters sound off on St. Louis’ top child-friendly attractions.

Saint Louis Science Center

Budding Bill Nyes will go crazy for this sprawling, three-building science museum that’s chock-full of interactive exhibits covering topics like flight, architecture and the environment. Astronauts-to-be will feel right at home at the on-site James   S. McDonnell Planetarium, which illustrates life on the International Space Station and allows visitors to see the night sky sans weather, pollution and city lights.

Camden, 5

Hometown: Cape Girardeau, MO
Future occupation: “Do science.”
Favorite museum exhibit: “The NASA space exhibit... you get to see what it’s like being an astronaut.”

Alex, 12

Hometown:O’Fallon, MO
Future occupation:“A toy-maker.”
Favorite museum exhibit:“The dust thing when you turn the wheel to make a sandstorm; you get to control the wind yourself, and I like sandstorms.”

Winnie, 4

Hometown: House Springs, MO
Future occupation: “A space girl.”
Favorite museum exhibit: “The dinosaurs, ‘cause I just love dinosaurs.”

5050 Oakland Ave; 314-289-4400; www.slsc.org

City Museum

This former shoe warehouse was magically transformed into an impossible-tocategorize funhouse of attractions, featuring indoor tree houses; a 10-story spiral slide; a life-size, walk-through whale; a one-ring circus; an aquarium; the Shoelace Factory; vintage pinball machines; the “world’s largest pencil”; and the astounding MonstroCity outdoor playground, complete with retired jets, a fire truck, a log cabin and two ball-pits. A giant praying mantis perched on the roof watches over it all.

Michael, 5

Hometown: Sylvania, OH
Future occupation: “A musician”
Favorite museum exhibit: "The whale you walk through, and the art room"

Andy, 10

Hometown: DuQuoin, IL
Future occupation:“I really don’t know, I’m just waiting for destiny to take its course. I wouldn’t mind being a steam-train engineer, though.”
Favorite museum exhibit: “Climbing around in the playground — it’s a bumpy ride!”

Elliana, 18

Hometown: Florissant, MO
Future occupation: “A professional circus performer.”
Favorite museum exhibit: “Circus Harmony.’ You can watch youth circus shows and see kids doing acrobatics, juggling, walking the tight wire and on the trapeze.”

701 N 15th St; 314-231-2489; www.citymuseum.org

The Magic House - St. Louis Children’s Museum

Kids are spellbound at this fantastical spot, where they can become detectives; let loose in a water playground; climb a three-story beanstalk; play oversized musical instruments; put on hardhats and bang around in the Kids Construction Zone; and get their photos taken with their hair sticking up as they touch the Van de Graaff static generator.

Kiara, 9

Hometown: De Soto, MO
Future occupation: “A nurse.”
Favorite museum exhibit: ““The 'Bob the Builder' part, because there are little cars you can sit in with the characters.”

Mikayla, 6

Hometown: Bowling Green, KY
Future occupation: “Owner of the Magic House!”
Favorite museum exhibit: “The Bubble Room. You can get inside a big bubble.”

Scotty, 4

Hometown: Bolingbrook, IL
Future occupation: “An army guy, just like my dad.”
Favorite museum exhibit: “The pretend icecream stand, because you can give it out to people.”

516 S Kirkwood Rd; 314-822-8900; www.magichouse.org