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Youth Focus: St. Louis

[ Six Flags St. Louis ]
Theme parks make great places for youth group visits, giving leaders an opportunity to turn their travelers loose for a day in a safe environment. At Six Flags St. Louis, groups find all of the best elements of amusement parks, including thrill rides, performances, great fair food and a water park.

The park has nine thrill rides, including several classic roller coasters, a drop tower and a swing ride. A trio of wooden coasters provide plenty of spine-jostling ups and downs. Batman: The Ride is a suspended steel coaster, and Mr. Freeze: Reverse Blast is an innovative coaster that sends riders 70 miles per hour in reverse. New for 2013, Boomerang will send riders hurtling forward and backward during the course of a ride.

For entertainment fans, the park offers a variety of shows and performances, some of which feature the popular Looney Tunes cartoon characters. Six Flags is also home to Hurricane Harbor, a 12-acre water park with a 560,000-gallon wave pool, a five-person raft adventure, multiple slides and a children’s play area.

[ Missouri Botanical Garden ]
Since it was founded in 1859 on the estate of a wealthy local businessman, the Missouri Botanical Garden has been one of the most beautiful and inspiring places in St. Louis. Today, the garden makes a great place for youth groups to discover the wonders of horticulture.

The 79-acre garden has a wealth of horticultural displays, including formal gardens, a demonstration garden, a Victorian garden and a special 14-acre Japanese garden. Three glass conservatories house plant life from other ecosystems, including collections of orchids and other exotic plants.

There are a variety of ways for young visitors to enjoy the botanical gardens. Tram tours offer great overview tours of the entire property. Teens can take part in a variety of special educational tours and workshops at the garden.

St. Louis CVC
Explorestlouis.com

Brian Jewell

Brian Jewell is the executive editor of The Group Travel Leader. In more than a decade of travel journalism he has visited 48 states and 25 foreign countries.