Home Activities
🎨 Family Creative Fun (At Home)
Ideas you can suggest:
DIY home scavenger hunt for kids.
Family paint night (buy canvases at Michael’s in Ellisville).
Backyard camping night (even just setting up a tent by the patio).
Making stepping stones together (kits sold at Home Depot Pacific or Hobby Lobby Washington).
Start a little raised garden bed project together (easy starter kits at Rural King in Warrenton).
At-Home Creativity: There are tons of ways for families to bond and have fun without leaving the house. Suggest some themed activity nights: for example, a DIY pizza night where everyone customizes their own mini pizza (messy fun, and dinner is done!), or a family game night rotating through classics like Monopoly or newer cooperative board games. Arts and crafts are always a hit – and it’s easier than ever to get supplies. Subscription craft kits like KiwiCo deliver monthly hands-on projects for various ages (STEM experiments, art projects, etc.) right to your door​kiwico.com. Kids get excited to unbox a new project each month – it’s like Christmas year-round and sneaks some learning into their fun. Also, consider a “theme day” at home: e.g. a Science Day where you do simple experiments (baking soda volcano, Mentos in Coke geyser outside), or a Home Film Festival where each family member picks a favorite movie and you make tickets & popcorn for a pretend theater. These little touches turn ordinary days into lasting memories.
Local Pottery Painting: For a fun outing that sparks creativity, paint-your-own pottery studios are fantastic. Pottery Hollow (with locations in the St. Louis region, including one not far from here) lets you pick a ceramic piece (mug, figurine, plate, etc.) and paint it however you like​potteryhollow.com. They glaze and fire it for you to pick up later. It’s great for all ages – kids can do handprint art for grandparents, and adults find it relaxing (many studios do BYOB nights for grown-ups). Other nearby options include Imagination Pottery Studio in Wentzville and That Painting Spot in Town & Country​yelp.com. It’s an easy afternoon or evening activity, especially on a rainy day.
Trampoline & Adventure Parks: To get the kids’ energy out (or to act like a kid yourself), check out the indoor trampoline parks. Sky Zone Fenton is one of the closest – it’s an all-walled trampoline park about 20 minutes from Pacific, where you can bounce on huge trampolines, flip into foam pits, play dodgeball in mid-air, etc. They have toddler jump times and even fitness classes​fun4stlkids.com. Another is DEFY in Chesterfield (formerly Flying Spider) which adds ninja-warrior style obstacles and silks. For an all-around family fun center, The EDGE in Belleville, IL is worth the drive – it boasts the “world’s largest laser tag arena” at 14,000 sq ft, plus indoor go-karts, bowling, bumper cars, a huge arcade, and a movie theater with dining​m.facebook.com. It’s basically an entertainment paradise under one roof. Closer to home, seasonal attractions like Six Flags St. Louis in Eureka are a go-to for thrill rides and water park fun – Missouri’s largest theme park with over 45 rides and attractions​tripadvisor.com. They also host events like Fright Fest (Halloween) and Holiday in the Park (Christmas lights). So whether it’s trampolines or roller coasters, there’s no shortage of high-energy outings around here.
Hands-On Learning Outings: Mix fun with education by visiting places like the St. Louis Science Center or Magic House (children’s museum) in Kirkwood – both are about 45 minutes away but well worth it for a day trip. However, even closer, we have Purina Farms in Gray Summit (10 min from Pacific), where kids can pet farm animals, watch incredible dog stunt shows, and learn about agriculture in a really interactive way. Shaw Nature Reserve (mentioned earlier for hikes) also offers family programs like firefly night hikes and pond studies for kids – a fun way to get hands dirty in nature. And don’t forget local libraries: the Scenic Regional Library (Pacific branch) often has free family craft afternoons, summer reading program shows (magicians, animal encounters), and take-home craft kits. It’s a superb, free resource for year-round activities.
Active Play Venues: If the weather is bad or kids need a new environment, there are indoor playplaces around. Monkey Joe’s in St. Charles and BounceU in Creve Coeur have inflatable bounce house arenas for younger kids. Myseum in Town & Country is an interactive kids’ museum with a climbing structure and STEM exhibits that aren’t as overwhelming as the big downtown museum. Epic 6 in Fenton is another hidden gem for older kids – it’s got laser tag, rock climbing, basketball dunk trampolines, and an arcade. For something different, try Bowling – Town & Country Lanes in Washington is family-friendly and not too pricey, and they often have weekend cosmic bowling (glow lights, music) which kids love. And when the summer heat hits, local public pools and splash pads (like Splash Station in Collinsville or Eureka’s The Timbers pool) are simple pleasures that keep the family cool and entertained.
Encourage Exploration: Finally, remind clients that exploring these family activities can help them get to know the community. Whether it’s chatting with other parents at a trampoline park or running into neighbors at the county fair, these fun outings often lead to new connections. As a realtor (and neighbor), I keep tabs on the family-friendly hotspots and event calendars so I can confidently suggest something to do for every age group. Moving to a new home is about more than the house – it’s also about plugging into local fun. And in Pacific and its surrounds, there’s always something fun brewing, for kids and adults alike!
