Forest Park is one of St. Louis' most unique and treasured resources located in the heart of St. Louis. Forest Park officially opened to the public in 1876, is one of the largest urban parks in the United States. At 1,370 acres it is approximately 500 acres larger than Central Park in New York. In 1904 it was home to the St. Louis Worlds fair. It is the home to St Louis' major cultural institutions — the Zoo, Art Museum, History Museum, Science Center, and the Muny Opera. It also serves as a sports center for golf, tennis, baseball, bicycling, boating, fishing, handball, ice skating, rollerblading, jogging, cricket, rugby, and more. Steinberg Skating Rink is open for ice skating from November through March, depending on the weather. The hours vary. Entrance fees are charged only for skating, so the concession area can be for joggers, bikers, and those who want to watch the skaters but not participate. Skating fees are $4 for adults, and $3 for children 12 and under. The fee is for each skating session. Skate rental is $1. The rink has an indoor cafe area with food and drinks.
The hayrides are offered on Friday and Saturday nights starting in October and ending around the first week of December. Reservations are required. It is a 45 minute ride that ends in a bonfire, so bring your own hot dogs and marshmellows.
Turtle Playground features three large and four small turtles. It is at Oakland and Tamm avenues, on the south side of Forest Park. Visitors will find a snapping turtle, a soft-shelled turtle, a red-eared slider, a Mississippi map, three box turtles, and a stinkpot along with a snake that is curled to form an area for sitting and a serpent taking a bite out of the Highway 40 overpass. Seven large eggs, three with emerging turtles, adorn the sitting area, all made of conrete. The playground is open from dawn until 10pm daily. The Forest Park Golf Course has 18 holes, is 6024 yards, 71 par.
Check out the schedule at The Muny and take in a show. I have made separate entries for the zoo and the Science Center.