Theme & Amusement Parks in Farmington

In 1976, Joan Barnes—a Californian mom frustrated with the lack of spaces where she could take her kids for safe and age-appropriate play time—took matters into her own hands and founded Gymboree Play and Music. In the decades since Gymboree’s founding, Joan’s vision of a safe place where youngsters could build confidence and creativity has come to fruition and spread to 30 countries around the globe. Staffed by attentive and expertly trained instructors, each Gymboree outpost adheres to a curriculum of activities designed by experts to foster the development of children’s’ cognitive, physical, and social skills through structured play and close readings of Goodnight Moon. The staffers also conduct entertaining classes that cover subjects ranging from music to sports, imparting valuable lessons of imagination and physical activity to developing minds. To further set apart her business, Barnes employed nationally renowned playground designer Jay Beck to design the proprietary play equipment at her centers.

At Pink Galleon Billiards and Games, dozens of hot-pink pool tables make up just part of a colorful and enticing backdrop. Beach-themed decor abounds, and life-size airbrushed murals of pirates, mermaids, and nautical displays sprawl out across the walls. Since the first cue ball was hit in 1993, Pink Galleon Billiards and Games has expanded to three locations spread throughout the Saint Louis area. In addition to pool, Pink Galleon blitzes boredom with ping-pong, foosball, unlimited thumb wars, and arcade games. The family-owned business also boasts a menu of finger-friendly eats, ice-cold beers, and mixed drinks, all of which helped its South County location earn the title of Best Neighborhood Bar in South County from the Riverfront Times.

Tucked within Planet Fun's indoor play facility, two stories of colorful, interweaving tubes, tunnels, and slides coax sock-clad youngsters into its labyrinthine space for crawling and climbing exploration. After emerging from the tubed tangle, guests can try their hand at more than 30 redemption games in the arcade, such as air hockey and skee-ball. A plenitude of pizza and snacks nourishes exhausted kids, while a toddler arena engages newborns with age-appropriate versions of the older children's tube and slide attractions. Along with tots and tykes dropping by during open play, Planet Fun accommodates birthday kids with party packages and numerous group events, including lock-ins and field trips.

As cool breezes cut summer heat and the leaves fade into sunset hues, Pin Oak Farms celebrates autumn with pumpkin picking, bonfires, and other activities. Tractors full of hay bales and visitors rumble out toward vegetable fields, happy shouts spiraling back toward areas for face painting and petting farm animals. A 5-acre corn maze or smaller straw-bale maze test one’s sense of direction or ability to crack open a compass and eat the good parts. Kids plop themselves down in a giant tub of corn, clamber around in bounce houses, or putt games of pumpkin-themed mini golf. At dusk, bonfires warm hands and bring to life dancing shadows behind groups and scout troops.

There are a lot of places sinister ghouls can hide in 29 acres of forest. But unfortunately for STLFear’s guests, only the light of the moon will guide them as they navigate the forest’s haunted depths, forcing them to rely on their wits as they make their way through the leaf-strewn paths. Visitors can test their mettle on Friday and Saturday nights in October until 11 p.m. when the staff closes off the gates. STLFear also offers passes so that guests can skip the line and a coffin in which brave visitors can take novelty photographs.