Best Place to See an Animatronic T-Rex: the fun, interactive St. Louis Science Center (5050 Oakland Ave., 314/289-4400, www.slsc.org, Mon.–Thurs. and Sat. 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Fri. 9:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m., Sun. 11:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., free admission; parking $8).

Best Place to Build Your Own Cuddly Companion: the original Build-A-Bear Workshop (1440 Saint Louis Galleria, Richmond Heights,314/725-8282, www.buildabear.com, Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m.–9:30 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–6 p.m.) at the Saint Louis Galleria.

Best Place to See Hundreds of Free-Flying Butterflies: the Butterfly House (Faust Park, 15193 Olive Blvd., Chesterfield, 636/530-0076, www.butterflyhouse.org, Tues.–Sun. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. (9 a.m.–5 p.m. Memorial Day–Labor Day), $6 adult, $4.50 senior, $4 child) at Faust Park.

Best Place to Fill Up on Popcorn and Hot Dogs: a Cardinals game at Busch Stadium (Busch Stadium at 700 Clark St., 314/345-9000, http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com, $16–140).

Best Place Solve a Math Problem on a Four-Foot Calculator: the Magic House Children’s Museum (516 S. Kirkwood Rd., 314/822-8900, www.magichouse.org, $7.50 admission).

Best Place to Lunch with Lions: near the sea lion’s pond at the Saint Louis Zoo (1 Government Dr. in Forest Park, 314/781-0900, www.stlzoo.org, daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m., free).

Best Place to Cool Off During the Summer Heat: the fountain near the children’s garden at the Missouri Botanical Garden (4344 Shaw Blvd., 314/577-9400, www.mobot.org, daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Memorial Day–Labor Day open Wed. until 9 p.m., $8 adult, free for children).

Best Place to Climb Through a 20-Foot Slinky: the enormous, whimsical City Museum (701 N. 15th St., 314/231-2489, www.citymuseum.org, hours vary).

Best Place for a Paddle-Boat Ride: around the lagoon at Forest Park (Hwy. 40 between Skinker Blvd. and Kingshighway Blvd., daily 24 hours, free).

Best Place to Dream of Broadway: at a show performed by the Center of Creative Arts’ student acting company, where local kids hone big-time talent.