Missouri Guide and Deals

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.

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.

Prompted by the nod of the lifeguard’s head, the intrepid swimmer takes a deep breath, closes his eyes, and bravely flings his body into the dark confines of the Barracuda Blast. The slide’s gushing flume speeds its intrepid passenger down covered loops and twists until it spits him out unceremoniously into the warm waters of the pool below.

Boasting a host of aquatic activities, along with nearly 1,000 feet of water slides including the fearsome Barracuda, CoCo Key unleashes the inner merpeople of guests of all ages. Stationed along the pool and at each attraction, licensed lifeguards keep their eagle eyes peeled to ensure the safety of their guests as they play water basketball or engage in leisurely floats down Adventure River. Nearby, a zero-depth-entry kiddie pool serves as a merrymaking haven for children or recently unbottled miniature ships less than 48 inches tall, and a sun-drenched outdoor tanning deck enables visitors to bask in skin-browning rays. To prevent growling stomachs from interrupting watery romps, crews of chefs bustle about CoCo Key’s dining facilities, whipping up culinary sustenance for hungry swimmers.

When her laser makes a successful hit, the speakers in her vest fire with computer-voiced congratulations, while at the other end, her opponent's vest vibrates to ensure he knows he was tagged. Those are just two of the engrossing features of Jaegerz Laser Tag’s Lasertron equipment that help players get into the game. Opponents open fire on one another with a single pop or even a rapid burst of laser fire as they take cover behind black-lit obstacles. Players can find plenty of places to duck and run in the 6,000 square foot arena’s fog-filled room while strobe lights work to disorient players. Guests can also arrange to have birthday parties and fundraising events held at the facility.

At Bing Boing Bounce, children aged 12 and younger ricochet like excited electrons through the seven colorful bounce houses situated within Bing Boing Bounce’s high-ceilinged, brightly colored facility. In addition to houses, barefoot tykes gambol through a 40-foot obstacle course, soar down slides, or don a padded helmet and joust in the bounce arena. Once kids have burned off excess energy or perfected Buzz Aldrin impersonations, they can lounge in Bing Boing Bounce’s seating area and sip juice boxes from the concession stand.

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.