The beautifully landscaped Forest Park is larger than New York's Central Park and its leafy grounds are filled with attractions. The acclaimed St Louis Art Museum has a magnificent international collection of art, covering works from prehistoric times to contemporary, and houses one of the most extensive collections of German Expressionism worldwide. The St Louis Science Center features life-size dinosaurs along with displays and interactive exhibits on the environment, aviation, technology and more. There is also an OMNIMAX Theatre and Planetarium. Thousands of animals roam the beautiful grounds of the St Louis Zoo, with indoor and outdoor cageless displays, and a Living World Exhibition features an animated robotic figure of Charles Darwin who summarises his theories on evolution. The Missouri History Museum documents life in St Louis with old photographs and displays on river life, black music and western expansion.

Address: 5595 Grand Drive, St Louis

Website: www.stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/parks/forestpark

Telephone: (314) 289 4444 (Science Center); (314) 781 0900 (Zoo); (314) 721 0072 (Art Museum); (314) 454 3150 (History Museum)

Transport: Metrolink to the park. Shuttle Bugs travel the parks roadways between attractions.

Opening times: Zoo: daily 9am-5pm. History Museum: daily 10am-5pm (until 8pm on Tuesdays). Art Museum: Tuesday to Sunday 10am-5pm (until 9pm on Fridays). Science Center: Monday to Saturday 9:30am-4:30pm, Sunday 11am-4:30pm.

Admission: Grounds and museums are free. Some Zoo attractions, and special exhibitions at the History Museum, require an admission fee