Take a day trip to this mega-amusement park located less than an hour’s drive from St. Louis. Six Flags offers dozens of rides for young children, plus rip-roaring coasters that teens will love. Highlights include BATMAN The Ride, Boomerang, Ninja and JUSTICE LEAGUE: Battle for Metropolis. New in 2016 is Ninja the park’s first virtual-reality roller coaster, where riders pilot their own fighter jets to defeat alien invaders. Also opening is Fireball, a seven-story-tall looping coaster.

In addition, Six Flags St. Louis has a water park, Hurricane Harbor, that features raft rides, a wave pool, a children’s area and other wet-and-wild attractions. The highlight is Bonzai Pipeline, a six-story slide that moves riders at speeds of 40 mph.

If you’re looking to stay overnight, nearby accommodations can be found at Holiday Inn Saint Louis West at Six Flags and Quality Inn Near Six Flags St. Louis.