Hidden Valley, Wildwood

Location: 17409 Hidden Valley Dr, Wildwood MO 63025      636-938-5373

Website: https://www.hiddenvalleyski.com/

Tubing at Hidden Valley is super fun! There is no age limit, you just need to be old enough to be able to sit in the tube.  As of 2021, they have a new height restriction of a minimum of 42".

Always check the Snow Report before coming out to Hidden Valley for updates on snow and tubing conditions. Skiing, snowboarding, and tubing are weather-dependent activities, and conditions and hours are subject to change without notice.

They have 16 total lanes for tubing but not all of them are always open. The lanes on the right of this photo are the slower ones and the lanes on the left are faster. There are attendants at the top who make sure people follow the rules and don't follow too closely to the person who just went down.  Only one person can sit in a tube however several people can link up and go down together by holding on to each other's straps.

Polar Plunge is the largest snow tubing hill in Missouri. This area is separate from the ski area which is over to the right. 

There is a floor on the bottom of the tube which is nice so snow doesn't hit your bootie. They want you to put your feet out over the logo and hold on to the straps with both hands and then an employee gives you a push and off you go!

This is the lift area. It's actually like a conveyor belt. You stand on it, hold on to the tube strap, and pull the tube behind you. You stand there and it takes you up. There is a bit of walking from the end of the tubing hill to the lift but it's level.  The tube was a bit heavy to pull for my 5-year-old.

They have a concession stand here and a bunch of tables at the base of the hill. My son was too scared to try tubing so we sat at the tables and had a hot dog and hot cocoa and watched my daughter go up and down.

The table area has a fire pit going to keep you warm on a cold night

It's not cheap to do this, the regular price is $32 per person and you get 2 hours. But sometimes they offer deals and price breaks if you go late. This place is very popular with teens and college kids so we went early at 5pm and it wasn't busy at all. By 7pm when we were leaving it was starting to get crowded. It was really fun though and my daughter LOVED it.  

Rental area

Bar & restaurant area. The prices were not great, I got a coffee, a hot chocolate, and a muffin and the bill was $14! 

Regular ski area

Wabash, Frisco, and Pacific Railroad, Wildwood

Location: 101 Grand Ave., Wildwood, MO 63038

Website: http://wfprr.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/wfprr?sk=info

The Wabash, Frisco, and Pacific Railroad is a 12-inch gauge live Steam Railroad. The Railroad is open every Sunday, May through October rain or shine. Trains start their scheduled departures from the station around 11:00 a.m. and trains depart about every 20 minutes. The final train leaves at 4:00 p.m. The ride is a two-mile round trip lasting about 30 minutes and travels along the scenic Meramec River.  The WF&P is run entirely by volunteers. The ride is very scenic, with views of the Meramec River and bluffs, and winds through the woods. The day we visited, our engine could not make it up a slight hill on the track and had to be pushed by another train. This resulted in a 20-30 minute delay on the tracks. Since it was one of the first nice fall days, it was not bad sitting in the woods with a breeze, and other frequent visitors assured me that this was highly unusual. The volunteers running the train were very professional in getting us up and going again on the track and keeping us updated as to what was going on. The train seats are not especially comfortable for an adult, but since the ride is only 30 minutes it isn't too bad. The WF&P is located within walking distance from Glencoe Park in Wildwood.

Tickets are $20 per car. We do not sell tickets per person, only per car. A passenger car can accommodate approximately 2 adults and 3 children. For larger groups, please reserve an appropriate number of cars. If you miss your reserved train, you will not receive a refund or tickets for a later train. Your reservation will be considered a donation to the railroad. Be sure to arrive early!

Check out other train activities here.

Babler State Park, Wildwood

Location: 800 Guy Park Drive, Wildwood, MO 63005

Amenities: picnic shelters, trails (hiking, bicycling, horseback riding), campground, visitor center

Website: http://mostateparks.com/park/dr-edmund-babler-memorial-state-park

Playground ground cover: Wood chips

Babler State Park offers an escape from the urban St. Louis area, close enough for a day trip, or even an overnight trip, as the park features a campground. There was one playground in the park, but it was ripped out. There is a wide open grassy field next to the former playground site which would be great for catch, frisbee, etc. 

They offer a lot of free educational programs at the visitor's center, check their Facebook for the events calendar. 

Wildwood Community Park, Wildwood

Location: 2153 Highway 109, Wildwood, MO 63038

Directions: Westbound State Route 100, west of State Route 109, first driveway on the right after 109, before Pond.

Website:  http://cityofwildwood.com/Facilities/Facility/Details/Community-Park-23

Playground ground cover: Poured rubber and wood chips

Amenities:

• ADA Accessible
• Benches
• Dog Park ($50.00 Add-on)
• Drinking Fountain
• Parking
• Pavilion
• Picnic Areas
• Picnic Shelters
• Picnic Tables
• Playground
• Restrooms
• Trails

  

This unique playground is situated among the trees at the edge of a wooded area. It was designed to fit in with the surrounding nature.

There's so much for the kids to do - and much of it is accessible for children of all abilities - including the tall slide tower. There's a rope spider web, roller slide, playhouse, musical instruments, a baby swing and adaptive swing, a modified expression swing, a saucer swing, a rope merry-go-round, a spinning ball, and a tree-themed obstacle course area.

Just beyond the playground is a creek. There is a gravel path that goes right down to it so there's no climbing necessary.

The main entrance to Community Park can be accessed by taking Highway 109 to Pond Grover Loop Road (just north of Highway 100). At the roundabout, go west on Pond Grover Loop Road. This road will take you straight into Community Park. A secondary entrance is located off of westbound State Route 100, west of State Route 109. The entrance will be the first driveway on the right, after the Highway 100/Highway 109 intersection.

The pavilion is so nice and clean! It's huge and right next to the playground so it is great for parties. 

 

The path to the creek is paved and easy to walk right down to it, no climbing required. 

The storybook walk along the trail