Some nearby fun visits during the holidays

(Editor's note: Young Saint Louis.com asked local travel author Julie Douglas to pick 10 of her favorite places for kids to visit during the upcoming holidays. Here are her selections from her book, "A Parent's Guide to St. Louis." If your family would like her whole book, just click here to order the book from Amazon.com )

Winter Fun in St. Louis

By Julie Douglas

Are you looking for ways to have fun with your family during your winter break? Don't let the cold stop you from exploring some of these St. Louis hot spots!

* Wild Lights at the Zoo, St. Louis Zoo, Forest Park. www.stlzoo.org . December 11-12, December 26-30.

The Zoo is a St. Louis favorite all summer long. But, have you ever wandered around the Zoo in the winter? Bundle up and take a magical evening walk through Wild Lights at the Zoo. From late November to the end of December, visitors can enjoy twinkling lights and special displays, craft activities, a ride on the Carousel and a trip to the Penguin and Puffin Coast.

* Upper Limits, 326 S. 21st St., St. Louis, MO 63103 Tel: (314) 241-ROCK. www.upperlimits.com

If being cooped up indoors has you climbing the walls, head over to Upper Limits near Union Station. Upper Limits is a state of the art climbing gym where even beginners can have fun. Not sure about climbing up a wall? Try bouldering, also know as unroped climbing. Great for beginning climbers, bouldering involves climbing sideways at very low heights and does not require instruction or a partner. Upper Limits is a fun place to get some exercise and learn a new sport.

* City Improv, Union Station, 1820 Market St., St. Louis, MO 63102. Tel: (314) 241-1527. www.cityimprov.com

If you love to laugh (and who doesn't), you'll find plenty to tickle your funny bone at City Improve. The "family-friendly" shows begin at 7:30 p.m. and feature non-offensive comedy for all ages. Call for specific dates and shows, as well as ticket prices.

* Butterfly House, 15193 Olive Blvd., Chesterfield, MO 63017. Tel: (636) 530-0076. www.butterflyhouse.org

Winter won't last forever, but sometimes it seems like it might. The Butterfly House in Faust Park feels like spring all year long. That's because the butterflies who live there need a warm climate. You'll meet all kinds of colorful butterflies when you visit. If you like insects, the Butterfly House has some of the biggest, creepiest bugs you've ever seen.

* St. Louis Children's Aquarium, 416 Hanley Industrial Court, Brentwood, MO 63144. (Tel: (314) 647-9594. www.childrensaquarium.com

Would you like to pet a real, live shark? At the St. Louis Children's Aquarium, children can see and feel all kinds of sea creatures. The aquarium is home to sharks, hermit crabs, turtles and starfish, as well as a variety of fish. Exhibits also feature cave dwellers, Amazon wildlife and Mississippi River fish. The Children's Aquarium is a great place to get face to face with lots of different creatures.

* Dierberg's School of Cooking. www.dierbergs.com

Cook up some winter fun at a Dierberg's School of Cooking class. The classes are offered at several Dierberg's stores in the St. Louis area, so check your local store for schedules. Kids can learn to create delicious snacks, meals and desserts. Holiday cooking, gingerbread houses and classes with a "wizard" theme are popular this time of the year.

* Worldways Children's Museum, 15479 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO 63017. Tel: (636) 207-7405. www.worldways.org.

Can't get away for the winter holidays. Worldways has the next best thing. Visitors can explore hands-on exhibits and play areas featuring Senegal, China, the Philippines and Mexico. Learn the customs and play with real objects from these countries at this imaginative museum.

* Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, 11715 Cragwold Rd., Kirkwood, MO 63122. Tel: (314) 301-1500. www.conservation.state.mo.us

You'll still find plenty of nature to explore at Powder Valley in the winter. Hike the trails through the woods (weather permitting), check out the 3,000 gallon aquarium full of Mississippi River fish and learn about wildlife at one of the many educational displays.

* Repertory Theatre of St. Louis-Imaginary Theatre, 130 Edgar Rd., Webster Groves, MO 63119. Tel: (314) 968-4925. www.repstl.org

Take your family to see a special production of The Snow Queen on the main stage of the St. Louis Repertory Theatre. Playing on December 20, 22 and 23, The Snow Queen is the perfect tale for a wintry day. For ticket information, visit the website.

Steinberg Skating Rink, Forest Park, St. Louis, MO 63110. Tel: (314) 361-6404. www.stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/parks/forestpark.

Ice skating at Steinberg in Forest Park is a St. Louis tradition. Strap on your skates and zip around the outdoor rink. And while you are in Forest Park, you can stop in for a visit at the Art Museum, the History Museum and the Science Center--all great places to spend some time during your winter break.

(Another editor's note: In July, 2003, YSL.com featured another summary of choices by author Julie Douglas. In that article, she picked some of her favorites for nearby summer vacation trips. If you'd like to read that earlier article, click here.)