If you’ve seen one zoo, you haven’t seen them all. Every zoo offers something special, and the St. Louis Zoo, with its abundance of unique, family-friendly activities, is definitely worth a stop. Young kids will love the Emerson Children’s zoo, an interactive zoo within a zoo where youngsters can get hands-on with furry (and some not-so-furry) critters. One cool feature in Emerson Children’s zoo is a slide that extends through the otter pool (with clear walls on all sides, of course). Your kids can shoot down the slide while otters swim and splash around them. The zoo also recently added a Tasmanian devil exhibition, where families can view two of the unique endangered creatures.

There’s a beautiful carousel in the zoo (it’s ADA accessible), plus a fun 20-minute railroad ride on a vintage-looking steam locomotive (one of the zoo’s most popular attractions). Here’s the best part: zoo admission is absolutely free! However, some attractions, like rides and shows, do cost extra. But families can save money by purchasing the Safari Pass, which includes admissions for Emerson Children’s Zoo, Zooline Railroad, Sea Lion Show, Conservation Carousel and Motion Simulator. The St. Louis Zoo is located within Forest Park.