Gentry MissouriATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Gentry, Missouri.
1. Payne-Gentry House
HISTORIC VICTORIAN HOME
The Payne-Gentry House is Missouri's only restored historic house with a doctor's office, built in 1870 as the summer residence of Elbridge Payne and his family. This beautifully preserved red brick home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and features many actual Payne family possessions. Tours are available on the first Sunday of each month from April to November, with special candlelight tours during the holiday season.
2. Gentry County Park
OUTDOOR RECREATION AREA
Gentry County Park offers visitors a spacious outdoor recreation area in Bridgeton, Missouri. The park provides various amenities including walking paths and open green spaces for families to enjoy. Visitors can experience nature while remaining close to the conveniences of the Bridgeton area.
3. Bridgeton Crossing Family Aquatic Park
FAMILY WATER FUN
Bridgeton Crossing Family Aquatic Park is located within the 37-acre Gentry Park in Bridgeton, Missouri. The water park offers refreshing aquatic entertainment for families during the hot summer months. Visitors can enjoy various water features and swimming areas in this community-focused recreation facility.
4. Bridgeton Community Center
LOCAL COMMUNITY HUB
The Bridgeton Community Center serves as a central gathering place within Gentry Park. This facility hosts various community events, programs, and activities for residents of all ages. The center provides valuable recreational and educational opportunities for the Bridgeton community.
5. Hickory Woods Conservation Area
NATURAL WALKING TRAILS
Hickory Woods Conservation Area is a 10.5-acre natural tract adjacent to Gentry Park in Bridgeton. The area features a one-mile walking trail winding through preserved woodland habitat. Nature enthusiasts can enjoy the tranquility and wildlife observation opportunities in this urban natural space.
6. Gateway Arch
ICONIC NATIONAL MONUMENT
The Gateway Arch stands 630 feet tall as the tallest monument in the United States and a symbolic gateway to the West. Visitors can take tram rides to the top for breathtaking views of St. Louis and the Mississippi River. The monument is part of the Gateway Arch National Park, which includes the Museum at the Gateway Arch telling the story of westward expansion.
7. Hellebusch Park
LOCAL COMMUNITY PARK
Hellebusch Park offers Bridgeton residents and visitors a pleasant outdoor recreation space. The park provides various amenities for community enjoyment and outdoor activities. Families can gather for picnics, children can play on the playgrounds, and fitness enthusiasts can utilize the walking paths.
8. Spanish Village Park
NEIGHBORHOOD RECREATION SPACE
Spanish Village Park serves the Bridgeton community as a neighborhood recreation destination. The park features open spaces and typical park amenities for local residents to enjoy. Visitors can engage in casual outdoor activities and community gatherings in this accessible green space.
9. St. Louis Zoo
WORLD-CLASS ANIMAL PARK
The St. Louis Zoo is one of the nation's leading zoological parks, home to over 12,000 animals representing 500 species. Consistently ranked as one of the top free attractions in the U.S., the zoo offers immersive exhibits like River's Edge, Penguin & Puffin Coast, and the Sea Lion Sound. Visitors can enjoy a full day exploring the 90-acre facility located in St. Louis' beautiful Forest Park.
10. Missouri Botanical Garden
HISTORIC URBAN OASIS
The Missouri Botanical Garden, founded in 1859, is the nation's oldest continuously operating botanical garden and a National Historic Landmark. The 79-acre garden features a Japanese strolling garden, a tropical rainforest inside the Climatron geodesic dome, and numerous themed gardens showcasing plants from around the world. Visitors can enjoy seasonal displays, educational programs, and special events throughout the year.
11. City Museum
PLAYHOUSE IN A WAREHOUSE
City Museum is a unique architectural marvel and playground created from repurposed industrial objects in a former shoe factory. The eclectic attraction features multi-story slides, caves, a rooftop Ferris wheel, and countless tunnels and climbing structures for visitors of all ages. This artist-created wonderland defies traditional categorization, offering a one-of-a-kind urban adventure experience.
12. Forest Park
URBAN RECREATIONAL PARADISE
Forest Park spans 1,300 acres in the heart of St. Louis, serving as one of America's great urban parks since hosting the 1904 World's Fair. The park houses major cultural institutions including the St. Louis Art Museum, Missouri History Museum, St. Louis Science Center, and the Muny outdoor theater. Visitors can also enjoy boating on the park's lakes, playing golf, hiking, biking, and attending numerous festivals and events held throughout the year.
13. Busch Stadium
HOME OF THE CARDINALS
Busch Stadium is the downtown home of the St. Louis Cardinals, one of baseball's most successful and historic franchises. The open-air ballpark offers spectacular views of the Gateway Arch and St. Louis skyline while hosting 81 regular-season games annually. Beyond baseball, the stadium hosts concerts, soccer matches, and other special events throughout the year.
14. St. Louis Science Center
INTERACTIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE
The St. Louis Science Center engages visitors with more than 700 interactive exhibits exploring various aspects of science and technology. Highlights include a planetarium, OMNIMAX theater, dinosaur exhibits, and hands-on discovery areas for all ages. As one of the only free science museums in the country, it welcomes over a million visitors annually who come to explore everything from space science to human biology.
15. Saint Louis Art Museum
WORLD-CLASS ART COLLECTION
The Saint Louis Art Museum houses one of the nation's leading comprehensive art collections with more than 34,000 objects spanning 5,000 years of history and cultures. Located in a grand Beaux-Arts building originally constructed for the 1904 World's Fair, the museum features particularly strong collections of Oceanic art, pre-Columbian art, ancient Chinese bronzes, and European paintings. Visitors can explore the main building and the contemporary East Building addition, which doubled the museum's gallery space when it opened in 2013.