Turtle Playground

If you’ve driven down River Des Peres Boulevard and somehow missed the giant turtles, I genuinely don’t know how. This place is a St. Louis classic — oversized turtle and snake sculptures that kids absolutely lose their minds over, perfect for climbing and honestly some of the best photo ops in the city. Beyond the sculptures, there’s a solid setup of swings, slides, and a climbing structure for the 3-12 crowd. It’s right by the zoo, so it makes an easy add-on to a full day out, and parking is free which — in this city — you never take for granted.