City Museum, St. Louis

Cross Tim Burton with Tony Hawk, and you get the City Museum. In 1997, artist Bob Cassilly transformed the 600,000-square-foot former International Shoe Co. building into a surreal larger-than-life playground for all ages. From the Enchanted Caves that tower 135 feet up through the building’s spiral conveyer tunnels (with secret passages, to boot), to the five-story Slinky-like jungle gym of MonstroCity, this unforgettable museum lives up to its billing as a place “where the imagination runs wild.” The fact that kneepads are offered on a first-come first-served basis is a clue that some attractions can be rather rough and tumble at this museum, often cited as one of the best things to do in St. Louis. A toddler play area, circus performances and a (small) aquarium cater to the youngest visitors, while the 1am closing time on Friday and Saturday nights (along with the museum’s Cabin Inn bar) provide adults with late-night fun. It’s closed on Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, as well as Mondays and Tuesdays between Labor Day and March 15.Entry: $12 (ages 3 and up); $5 extra for The Roof; $6 extra for World Aquarium.

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