St. Louis Science Center, St. Louis

Ranked one of the top five science centers in the country, the St. Louis Science Center offers an engaging mix of high-tech and old-school science in its 700 exhibits. Catch an Omnimax 3-D film, then stop by the 10-minute “Brain Games” science fair-type demonstration of optical illusions. Create virtual fish in Cyberville, then build your own arch (and learn basic engineering principles in the process) in the Structures gallery in the sky bridge, itself an impressive feat of engineering straddling Interstate 64. Take in a panorama of 9,000 stars in the James S. McDonnell Planetarium show, then stretch your legs—and imagination—at the outside Science Park, with its giant kaleidoscope and color maze. The museum is free, but there’s a fee for the shows, the toddler Discovery Room and Lego Mindstorms program.

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