I don’t know about you, but I’m always looking for good indoor activities to do with my kids during the miserable summer months or the soul-destroying winter months. And bonus points if that activity is inexpensive. Well, I’ve got just the sort of adventure to share with you that fits both the requirement of being INDOOR and *INEXPENSIVE (*if you’re an active duty military family). Months ago while we were spending some time in St. Louis, we met some friends at The Magic House and the kids have been begging to go back ever since.
The Magic House Children’s Museum in St. Louis
Our kids got pretty used to museums in Korea. And I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: nobody does museums like Korea does. And while we didn’t experience a ton of Children’s Museums (or as they call them, Kid Cafés) because they were usually quite pricey, we did visit a few. Remember Naughty Child Café? Or JumpingGo in Sosabeol? Honestly, we were pretty blown away by Korea’s Children’s Museums and I knew they would be hard to beat – or even match. But when my friend was telling me about The Magic House in St. Louis, it was sounding very similar to what we experienced in Korea. So you know I had to jump on the chance to visit.
Even with my friend’s glowing reviews of the place, I have to admit I had pretty low expectations for The Magic House. When I learned that active duty military families get in for FREE (with proof of military ID), I was excited to not have to pay a dime for something that was unlikely to blow my mind. Well, I’m happy to report that The Magic House completely outdid any of the even remotely positive expectations I had for it. The exhibits were so well put together, well organized, and I appreciated how much SPACE there was in each exhibit. We were there on a Saturday so there were many other families enjoying the museum. But even with the crowds, it didn’t feel like the kids were having to “duke it out” to have a turn with the various toys and exhibits.
In addition to just a really organized and logical layout, there are also certain exhibits that change periodically. At the time we visited, they were highlighting the country of India. There was an entire floor dedicated to Indian food, art, entertainment, and so much more. We probably spent the bulk of our time in this exhibit alone. As of May 2025, it appears that they have an Argentina exhibit visiting for the spring, as well as a Mexico Cultural Exhibit that will be around until January of 2026. And although I haven’t visited during the Argentina or Mexico exhibits, I have no doubt that they are just as amazing as the India one.
Something else that I appreciated about the museum were the dedicated areas for children of different ages. Most of the museum is available to all ages, but there were certain spaces made specifically for the little ones. And, listen, my youngest is almost four at this point – and anyone who knows her knows that she is very capable of keeping up with the bigger kids. But that wasn’t always the case. When I had a 2-year-old and a baby, I was always appreciative for designated areas where those little ones could play – without having to worry about older kids stomping through the area and accidentally hurting one of them. The Magic House provides these kinds of areas AND they have employees stationed at the entrance and exit points to make sure the rules are being followed. When I was a kid, that would have annoyed me. But as a mother, I’m all about it.
There is really something for everyone at The Magic House. Their exhibits include a bubble room, Children’s Village, Story Time Magic, a STEAM center, a stage and auditorium (for plays and musicals – complete with a backstage area, costumes, and props), soccer training center, music stations, a three-story super slide, and SO MUCH MORE. We spent HOURS exploring the different exhibits and not ONE of our kids got bored (which is saying something because I have one child in particular who is almost always saying she is bored).
The next time you find yourself in St. Louis with your kids and you’re needing something to do, check out The Magic House. Even if you aren’t eligible for free admission, I can promise it is absolutely worth the cost to visit.
’til next time…
Ash
Things to know before visiting The Magic House
Directions & Parking: The Magic House is located at 516 South Kirkwood Road in St. Louis. There is a large parking lot directly in front of the building and parking is FREE. There is a second location in St. Louis called The Magic House MADE for Kids. We haven’t visited this one, but the hours seem to be the same as The Magic House and the military and foster family discounts still apply. When we visit MADE for Kids, I’ll be sure to make a post all about it.
*Cost:
The Magic House
General Cost – $15.00
Children under 1 – FREE
Groups of 15 or more – $7.50 per person
Active Duty military and their immediate family: FREE (with proof of military ID)
Foster families also receive FREE admission with proof of appropriate paperwork
*Please visit The Magic House Website for all current information regarding pricing and discounts.
The Magic House MADE for Kids
General Cost – $7.50
Children under 1 – FREE
Same military and foster family discounts apply.
*Hours:
CLOSED MONDAYS
School Year Hours
Tuesday – Friday: 10:30am – 5:00pm
Saturday: 9:30am – 5:00pm
Sunday: 10:30am – 5:00pm
Summer Hours
WILL UPDATE WHEN AVAILABLE ONLINE
*Please visit The Magic House Website for current or updated information on hours of operation, including holiday hours.
Know before you go
Outside Food
Outside food and drink are not allowed inside the museum, but they are allowed within the outdoor Garden Pavilion. You are allowed to leave the museum to eat and then return, provided you have kept your Magic House admission sticker on. In addition, there are food services available at the museum according to their website, though we didn’t try it ourselves. Water bottles can be brought in and filled up at various water bottle stations throughout the museum.
Accessibility
The entire Magic House facility can be accessed by strollers and wheelchairs. Keep in mind that some of the individual exhibits cannot be explored using these devices.
