"Forest Park Forest Park is to St. Louis what Central Park is to New York—but it’s even bigger in size. Opened in 1876 and host of the 1904 World’s Fair, the 1,300-acre green space serves as a scenic backdrop to the city, featuring everything from waterways and wildlife to historic homes and monuments. With 13 million visitors annually, the park sees loads of locals and tourists, who spend their leisure days here walking, picnicking, and exploring the five major cultural institutions on-site (including the Missouri History Museum, The Muny amphitheater, the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Saint Louis Science Center, and the Saint Louis Zoo). There’s also a tennis center, a revered golf course, and, come winter, a skating rink, plus places where you can rent paddleboats, canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards for a fine day on the water."