Frisco Train Store, Valley Park

Location: 24 Front Street, Valley Park, MO 63088

Amenities: open train table play, toy store, birthday parties, fun nights

Website: http://friscotrainstore.com/

The Frisco Train Store (formerly the Whittle Shortline Railroad) is in Valley Park. It is more than a toy store, it's an indoor miniature train paradise for kids. There are several train tables for kids to try out the merchandise or just escape on a rainy day to play. The best time to visit is after 11:30 am, as the mornings get really crowded, especially on cold or wet days. The crowds clear out quite a bit at lunchtime. They have an electric train circling the room and if you're lucky, you might even get to catch a real train going past the building right across the street! There is no fee to play but please donate or buy something to keep this awesome place in business!

 

Electric train circling the room near the ceiling

Watching a train go by outside

Lots of merch!

Here is a great article by my friend Denise who did a story on Frisco since the quarantine of 2020. 

This is a great place to have a birthday party too! My son's 3rd was here and they open up the upstairs for it. It's on the smaller side but very reasonable compared to other venues in town. 

Klondike Park, Augusta

Location: 4600 S. Missouri 91, Augusta, MO 63332

Website: https://www.sccmo.org/690/Klondike-Park

Playground Ground Cover: Rubber Mats

Klondike is a beautiful and unique park. It has more than 4 miles of natural and paved trails for hiking and biking. Once the site of an old silica sand quarry, the area has been preserved and turned into beautiful parkland. A unique lookout bluff provides picturesque views of the Missouri River Valley, as well as the historic Katy Trail.

This cozy camping retreat, nestled in Missouri’s wine country, has become a preferred camping destination. Spend a relaxing weekend camping under the stars close to home! It features six rustic cabins that sleep up to eight guests, 43 campsites with restrooms, and a shower house nearby.

With a modern meeting facility on-site, it’s the perfect location for a family or business outing. It also features a large fishing lake fully stocked with bluegill, bass, and catfish and free boat ramps to access the Missouri River. A unique birding/wildlife area, picnic shelters, and playgrounds for children are just a few more amenities to enjoy while at Klondike Park.

This is the only playground, it's mostly just a large climbing structure. 

Restrooms

Close to this playground is the 'beach' access. There is real white sand here because of its past as a silica quarry. But please don't swim here, swimming is NOT allowed. 

This is one of the 'playgrounds' but it's just 2 sling swings.