With the weather heating up, outdoor activities are a must. St. Louis has many options for those warm spring afternoons. Anything from the St. Louis staples to its hidden gems, you are sure to have fun in the sun this spring with these activities.

Laumeier Sculpture Park:

This 105 acre park, located in St. Louis County, is filled with 60 large-scale outdoor sculptures. Guests can gaze upon popular sculptures such as Eye, Ball? Ball! Wall? Wall! and many more. Laumeier Sculpture Park is open year round and is free of charge.

Busch Stadium:

With baseball season in full swing, Busch Stadium is a popular attraction for more than just overly devoted baseball fans. Baseball games are a great way to get out in the sun and root on your favorite Cardinal’s players. With 81 home games this season, there is sure to be some excitement as Cardinal fans watch their favorite team take down their opponents.

Grandma’s Cookies:

Another historic sweet shop to visit this spring is Grandma’s Cookies, located on Main Street in downtown St. Charles. They offer a variety of cookies ranging from their famous chocolate chip to their sugar and snickerdoodle cookies. These delicious desserts can be enjoyed while taking a stroll down Main Street. Grandma always says, “A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.”

Botanical Gardens:

If plants are more your style, be sure to check out the St. Louis Botanical Gardens this spring. The flowers are in full bloom and ready to be admired. The Botanical Garden’s calendar is stocked full of special events such as the Chinese Culture Days on April 22-23 and the Whitaker Music Festival which features free evening concerts under the stars every Wednesday beginning in late May and continuing until early August.

St. Louis Zoo:

The St. Louis Zoo, located in the heart of Forest Park, is one of many free attractions STL has to offer. A warm spring day is perfect for wandering the zoo and looking at the 14,840 exotic animals the zoo has to offer. The popular exhibits include the Penguin & Puffin Coast, Sea lion Aqua Tunnel and the recently opened Polar Bear Point. The zoo is open year-round from 9a.m. to 5p.m.

Gus’ Pretzels:

If sweets aren’t your thing, Gus’ Pretzels is the place for you. Since 1920, Gus’ has been serving up savory pretzels to St. Louisans and visitors from all over. It has expanded from just twisted pretzels to selling pretzel sticks, pretzel sandwiches and custom ordered party pretzels. Customers are able to watch the entire pretzel production process in the viewing area at various times throughout the day.

Klondike Park:

For the more adventurous people, Klondike Park is a beautiful place to hike the day away in the spring sunshine. Located in Augusta Missouri, this 250 acre park features 4 miles of natural and paved trails for hiking and biking. The bluff outlook in the park provides picturesque views of the Missouri River Valley, as well as the Katy Trail.

Ted Drewes:

“Get your kicks on Route 66” and enjoy some scrumptious frozen custard from Ted Drewes. The outdoor custard stand will send you on a blast to the past with its historic location on Route 66. Ted Drewes Frozen Custard is famous for their upside-down concretes. This sweet treat is available from 11a.m. to 10:30p.m., and is most commonly enjoyed after a day spent in the city.

St. Louis is a city filled with adventure. Most times we do not even realize the amazing city that is not far from where we live. Whether you are looking for an adventure of a lifetime or just a sweet treat, St. Louis is the place to be.