Author picks fun places for holidays

St. Louis author Ann Seebeck has been telling St. Louisans where to find fun for the whole family since 1988. This month, she highlighted a dozen places that are especially good for holiday visits.

Young Saint Louis.com asked the Kirkwood mother to update her holiday selections in an exclusive listing for our readers.

We've had samples in the past from her book, "Favorite Places to Go with Kids in St. Louis." (To see a previous holiday list in Dec. 2001, click here. For a summer listing in May, 2001, click here.)

This year's favorite holiday list is a mixture of old favorites together with some new offerings. In each case, Ms. Seebeck scouts out the places personally to make sure she can recommend it to families.

In all listings, both new and old, she's updated opening-closing dates and times. Also, admission prices, if any, are current.

If your family would like to purchase the complete book, you can contact Seebeck by e-mail (rlseeb@swbell.net) or write to her at 1018 Edgeworth, Kirkwood, Mo. 63122. Books are $6 each plus $1 for postage.

The books are also available at most local bookstores. The bookstore price is $7.

Here are her "Top 12" holiday choices for the 2004 season:

By Ann Seebeck

The holidays are just around the corner and it is time to start thinking about what you'd like to do when you are off school.

It's great fun to spend time with your family and friends and explore some new places.

Here are my holiday recommendations from "Favorite Places to Go with Kids in St. Louis:"

1. Tilles Park, Litzsinger Rd. and McKnight Rd., Ladue. (314) 615-7275. Hours from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily, except Saturdays and Dec. 24 and Dec. 31. Tickets are $9 per car at the gate.

From Nov. 24 to January 2, Winter Wonderland is a beautiful holiday light display with a river of lights, waterfalls, Santa's sleigh and many other figures all lit up. You drive through the park in your car and see miles of lights.

2. Santa's Magical Kingdom, Eureka, MO. (636) 938-5925. Take I-44 west to the Six Flags exit, turn left and follow the signs. This is open every night from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., starting Nov. 15 through Jan. 5.

This is another wonderful light display that you drive through with 35 acres of sparkling lights, animated figures and joyful Christmas music. You see Yogi Bear, the Flintstones, a candy cane village and Santa's workshop.

3. Breakfast with Santa. At several Dillard's stores and the Famous-Barr downtown. Call your local stores for dates and times of reservations. Programs start Dec. 11. But remember, they fill up fast.

The stores have a program during the month of December where kids can have a breakfast with Santa and many elves. There is singing, magic, clowns and balloons. A great time for all.

4. The Magic House, 516 S. Kirkwood Rd., Kirkwood. (314) 822-8900. Admission is $6.50 per person. Please call for hours and days.

In December, kids can come and make holiday crafts and there is a special holiday program and breakfast with Santa on Dec. 5.

5. Christmas at Adams Mark Hotel, 4th and Chestnut Sts, in downtown St. Louis. (314) 241-7400.

In the lobby of this beautifully decorated hotel is a village of gingerbread houses made out of real gingerbread, icing and candies. A small toy train runs through the village.

6. Wild Lights at the St. Louis Zoo, Forest Park. $5 per person. Begins Nov. 26 and 27, then Thurs.-Sat. through Dec. 11, then nightly starting Dec. 16.

Come to the Zoo and walk amongst the sparkling lights and animal figures and listen to the music of the season. Kids can make take-home craft projects and the refreshment stand is open.

7. Nutcracker Suite Ballet, at Edison Theatre, Washington University. (314) 935-6543. Dec. 10 through Dec. 19. Prices range from $19 to $29 per ticket.

Some of the performances are a shorter version of the play for smaller children. Call for times and reservations.

8. The City Museum, 701 N. 15th St., downtown St. Louis. (314) 231-CITY. Admission is $7.5 per person. Hours are Wed. and Thurs., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Fri. 9 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Sat. 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Sun., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Snowflake Lady will be on the 3rd floor of the City Museum making and teaching you how to make paper cutout snowflakes. They are beautiful. Enjoy all the museum with its many rooms of caves you can crawl through, slides, aquariums, circus, art studios and many more.

9. Old Courthouse, a Victorian Christmas, 11 N. 4th St., downtown St. Louis. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

There is a huge, beautifully decorated Victorian Christmas tree on for the month of December.

10. Sing-out St. Louis, Union Station Center, downtown St. Louis. (314) 421-6655.

On Dec. 18 at 4 p.m., join hundreds of joyous St. Louis people and come caroling on this candle-lit evening.

11. Missouri History Museum, Lindell and DeBaliviere St. in Forest Park. (314) 746-4599. "Baseball as America," an exhibit from the Baseball Hall of Fame, starting Dec. 19. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and until 8 p.m. on Tues. Entrance to museum is free. On Tuesdays, admission is free for the exhibit. On other days, the special exhibit admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and students, and children 6 and under are free.

This was a special year with the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. On your holiday break, come relive some memories of baseball. The specials exhibit from the Hall of Fame has over 500 displays. These include record-setting bats from Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Roger Maris and Babe Ruth. Also included will be another exhibit from the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame.

12. Cut your own Christmas tree. There are several places you can go and cut down your own fresh tree. Some have wagon rides to the trees along with hot chocolate and snacks.

• Christmas Tree Valley, Pacific, MO. (636) 742-3436.
• Pea Ridge Farm, near Hermann, MO (636) 932-4687.
• Meert Tree Farms, at Festus and Mehlville, MO (636) 487-5824.
• Eckert's, Belleville, IL (618) 233-0513.