Michelle in STL

It’s that time of year again! Polar Express is back at Union station with a whole lot of magical memories to be made. 🎄 This is the second year my family has been on the Polar Express and each time gets better and better. This year, we were on the silver chalet and it was super spacious and comfortable. First you’ll be greeted with fun photo ops, activities for kids and more. I recommend getting there early so you can engage in all the Christmas scenes beforehand. There is a station for family photos, and a place to write letters to Santa. There is a cozy fire in the middle and lots of seating.  **Be sure to use the bathrooms before boarding the train** Once you board the train, the conductor and chefs (and elves) will sing and dance. They will also read you a story of the Polar Express. You'll get a nice warm cup of hot chocolate and a cookie. Finally at the end, Santa comes! Every child will get a bell and get to talk to Santa. It truly is a Magical experience! I hope your eveni...

 Toddlers are unpredictable and keep us on our toes. I know how anxious parents might be going on a trip to the park with little escape artists. On this list, I'm going to share a few of my favorite parks that give my toddler moms some peace of mind! 1. Logan's Community Playground (South County) Logan's Community Playground is small and fully fenced in. The ground is turf and soft for little ones in the event of a fall.The equipment is age appropriate for toddlers and young children. I like the bright color scheme and the fact that this park is not so intimidating because it is on the smaller side. 2. Fillmore Park (Kirkwood) Fillmore Park is a great place to bring your toddlers. Similar to Logan's, the playground area is pretty manageable in size and there is a fence all the way around. The grounding is turf and again makes a good environment for toddlers learning to walk. There is also a short walking path around the vicinity of the park. 3. DeMun Park (Clayton) This...

 Planning on attending a Cardinals' game this season? I have the perfect hack for you!  Did you know there is a whole area at Busch Stadium dedicated to children? Check out the Family Pavilion located on the first level between gates 5 and 6. Kids must have socks and remove shoes. Kids 11 and under are allowed to play on the equipment for FREE! There are also additional paid activities you can select if you choose to do so. Picture source: St. Louis Cardinals Aside from these listed, there is a large playground with climbers and slides. The material is all soft to help ease the fall. I recommend heading here when your littles get antsy. They have TVs so you can keep an eye on the game while spending time there.  I hope this helps your trip to Busch Stadium a little easier and more enjoyable for the whole family!

 Hartry Park in Shrewsbury is such a cute and quaint little place to play. It is fully fenced in and small, so it allows you to keep your eye on your little ones quite easily. Hartry Park is the smallest park located in the City of Shrewsbury. The park is one acre of pure enjoyment and is located at 4100 Exeter Ave. There is a playground and a multi-purpose court for all to use.                     

 Do you have an older kiddo that gets bored at typical playgrounds? Don't worry, I got you. Check out these 3 parks that are great for big kids! 1. The Heights- The Heights is located in Richmond Heights behind the recreation center. It is a fenced in playground with multiple playground structures for children of varying ages. I chose this one as one for older kids because it has a 3 story structure with large slides. Another aspect of this park that I love is the nature playscape in the back. It allows for kids to explore nature in a safe environment. Picture Credit: Play St. Louis Blog Check out her blog, its amazing! 2. Indian Camp Creek- Indian Camp Creek recently added a new incredible playground to the park. It offers multiple structures of varying sizes for kids of all ages. I included this one in this blog post because, it too, offers a 3 story climbing structure. This park is located in Foristell, MO. Even though its a ways away from St. Louis, it's worth the trip! Pic...

 Over my 12 years as a mom, I've been to a lot of parks. Once you spend so much time at different places, you begin to realize what works for you and what doesn't. One thing I looked for in a park when my kids were younger was a fence. Fenced in parks hold all the power for letting your little one run and play to their heart's desire. Here is a list of 2 parks that are fenced in: 1. Fillmore Park (Kirkwood) Fillmore is an excellent park for littles. It's small and fenced in with turf flooring. The equipment is not too big for toddlers and it has good shade in the summer. Enjoy a picnic at the picnic tables under the pavilion or take a little stroll around the paved path. Picture source: Google images 2. Walker Park (Kirkwood) Walker Park is another little gem that you guys are guaranteed to love. Its charming aesthetic with the shade of large oak trees is the perfect place for a hot summer day. The playground is small and manageable and there is a wall all the way aroun...

 Hi friends! I'm so happy you're here. If you've made it to this page that probably means you're a local from St. Louis or a surrounding area. Let me start with a brief introduction then I will describe the content I intend to share here on this blog. My name is Michelle Mueller. I am married to my high school sweetheart and together we have 3 kids. We live in the city of St. Louis and have loved every second of it. Aside from being a wife and mom, I also teach preschool part time. I absolutely love teaching and am grateful to have that aspect in my life. I started an instagram page in 2022 called "Play STL". I currently run that page alone and have built a following of geniune, fun and incredible parents/nannies/grandparents from all over the area. I've made so many friends through this platform and it ultimately became the reason I decided to start this blog. I want to have a more organized space to share my content with you all. I intend for my content ...