St. Lou is for Animal Lovers

Whether your favorites are exotic zoo animals, wild canines, farm animals, birds or fish, St. Louis has something for animal-lovers of every sort. In fact, few places in the entire country give you as many attractions where you can get up close and personal with our furry or feathered friends as St. Louis does.

 

Day One

1. Saint Louis Zoo
Plan to stay: 2-3 hours
For more information: www.stlzoo.org
A good place to start your animal adventure is at the Saint Louis Zoo where you can easily spend the day. The zoo is a world-renowned leader in animal conservation projects and has embarked upon an innovative captive breeding strategy to ensure the survival of many of the world’s most endangered species including cheetahs, black rhinoceros, okapis and more than 80 other breeds. It’s considered among the Top Ten Zoos in the nation and is noted for its naturalistic animal habitats.

The Zoo’s Living World education and discovery center is the first facility of its kind to use high technology and live animals to teach about the diversity of life on Earth. An animatronic Charles Darwin talks about his discoveries and follows the evolution of life from the past to the future, and documentaries about the animal kingdom and worldwide animal conservation efforts run continuously in the theatre.

2. World Aquarium
Plan to stay: 30 mins- 1 hour
For more information: www.worldaquarium.net
World Aquarium is a unique hands-on, art-and-animal-filled attraction located within the City Museum. The list of please-touch stops includes tanks of baby sharks, stingrays, turtles and other assorted water-loving creatures.

3. The American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog
Plan to stay: 1 hour
For more information: www.museumofthedog.org
Commemorate the centuries-old relationship of man and his best friend. Visitors can view works by famous animal artists of the world, representing all ages from pre-Columbian pottery and Staffordshire figures, to oil paintings and photographs. Also on display are 19th century brass dog collars and huge silver trophies awarded in dog competitions. The pedigree Hall of Fame honors Lassie, Toto from the “Wizard of Oz,” The Beagle Brigade and others. Interactive touch-screen TVs and the complete library of AKC videos allows visitors to do an in-depth study on any purebred line.

4. Endangered Wolf Sanctuary
Plan to stay: 1 hour
For more information: www.endangeredwolfcenter.org
For a truly unique experience, visit the Endangered Wolf Sanctuary where you can see wolves from all over the world. The Center offers education programs about wolves and hosts a renowned captive breeding facility for endangered wolf species.

5. World Bird Sanctuary
Plan to stay: 1-1.5 hours
For more information: www.worldbirdsanctuary.org
Learn everything you ever wanted to know about wild birds at the World Bird Sanctuary, one of the largest facilities of its kind in the world. Birds and reptile species from around the globe are on display at the sanctuary, which offers a variety of special events and innovative programs. Visitors can get a behind-the-scenes tour of the WBS breeding facilities and there’s no better place to observe numerous species of local songbirds.

6. Anheuser-Busch Brewery
Plan to stay: 30 mins.
For more information: www.budweisertours.com
Take a tour of St. Louis’ historic Anheuser-Busch Brewery and see the world famous Budweiser Clydesdale’s paddock and stables. The grand horses, which live like royalty among stained glass and brass chandeliers, appear in various parades and TV commercials and have become synonymous with the Budweiser brand. “Clydesdale Camera Days,” where visitors can take photos of their friends and families with one of the massive steeds, are held on the first Saturday of each month.

7. Butterfly House
Plan to stay: 1-1.5 hours
For more information: www.butterflyhouse.org
At the Butterfly House and Education Center in Faust Park, visitors can walk through a lively butterfly habitat and thrill to the sight of hundreds of butterflies in free flight. You’ll also be able to watch the process of metamorphosis and see native butterflies in their natural environment.

Day 2

1. Grant’s Farm
Plan to stay: 2-3 hours
For more information: www.grantsfarm.com
More than 1,000 animals from six continents live in the 281-acre wildlife preserve at Grant’s Farm, the former homestead of President Ulysses S. Grant and the ancestral home of the Busch brewing family. In addition to being one of the Budweiser Clydesdale breeding and training facilities, the facility offers tram rides through a wildlife preserve, animal shows and a petting zoo. The Bauernhof courtyard complex is a 19th century farmstead that houses the Busch family’s historic carriage collection. Open free-of-charge from mid-April to mid-October.

2. Lone Elk Park
Plan to stay: 2-3 hours
One of St. Louis’ most exciting natural places is Lone Elk Park where visitors can visit a drive-through animal range where bison, deer, elk and other animals roam. Travel in that portion of the 526-acre park is in motor vehicle only to allow visitors a truly “up close” encounter with the animals in their natural habitat. Here’s a tip for your visit: plan to visit the park in the early morning or in the evening when your chances of animal sightings are best.

3. Mastodon State Historic Site
Plan to stay: 1-2 hours
For more information: http://mostateparks.com/park/mastodon-state-historic-site
For more information: You may see some wildlife scampering on the trails of Mastodon State Historic Site, but this place is known for animals from days past. Hike to the Kimmswick Bone Bed, one of the most important archaeological sites in the state, where archaeologists discovered a stone weapon with the bones of mastodons. It was the first solid evidence that humans and mastodons coexisted in North America. Then stop by the visitor center for a look at bones, tusks, teeth and human artifacts taken from the area, along with a full-size replica of a mastodon skeleton.

4.  Powder Valley Conservation Area
Plan to stay: 1-2 hours
For more information: www.mdc.mo.gov/areas/cnc/powder
Powder Valley Conservation Area features a nature center with exhibits on the botany and wildlife of Missouri and a nature preserve with three hiking trails. An underwater viewing area allows visitors to view bass, bluegill and catfish in their native habitat and a wildlife viewing area looks out onto a wooded corner where visitors can observe songbirds, wild turkey and small mammals in the feeding areas outside. The exhibit “St. Louis: Founded with Wildlife” demonstrates the role of wildlife trade in the development of St. Louis.

5. Purina Farms
Plan to stay: 1-2 hours
For more information: www.purina.com
Purina Farms is an animal education facility that gives visitors an opportunity to learn about pets and pet nutrition. Animal shows are presented throughout the day and a theatre features videos of major dog competitions on the big screen. Pet the fluffy residents of the 28-foot tall Victorian style cat house get pet training questions answered by professional trainers. At the Farm Animal Barn, you can check interact with farm animals and even catch a cow-milking demonstration.

6. Suson County Park
Plan to stay: 1 hour
Families with young children can get a glimpse of farm life with a docent-led barn tour (by reservation only) or take a self-guided stroll through the barn for a look at the goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, ducks, horses and cows that call the park home.

7. SayersBrook Bison Ranch
Plan to stay: 1-2 hours
For more information: www.sayersbrook.com
Tour a working bison ranch to see a magnificent herd of a truly native American animal. In addition to tractor-pulled wagon tours to view the herd, SayersBrook Bison Ranch offers horseback riding, fishing, skeet shooting and an annual Bison Fest each September.