The Missouri Botanical Garden keeps a whole Missouri in miniature for its smallest explorers. The Doris I. Schnuck Children’s Garden, nearly two acres opened in 2006, packs the state’s landscapes into one adventure: a limestone cave to duck through, a wetland boardwalk, a steamboat to captain, a treehouse, a pioneer village and a waterfall to splash beside in summer.
The design is secretly brilliant pedagogy — kids absorb watersheds, habitats and plant life by playing through them — but no child has ever noticed the lesson through the fun. Shaded rest spots, a nature-play ethos and the rest of the garden beyond make it an easy half-day, and it is included with regular garden admission.
Bring a change of clothes for the splash zone. Trust every St. Louis parent on this.
The Children’s Garden is at the Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard. Details at mobot.org.
