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As the weather warms up, the city of St Louis comes alive with outdoor activities for everyone to enjoy. From annual festivals to immersion in nature, you are sure to find plenty of things to keep you entertained. Read on to discover a few of our favorite summer activities in St. Louis, MO. more 3 Fun Outdoor Summer Activities in St. Louis, MO 1. Explore Forest Park Known as the green lung of the Gateway City, this park's 1,300 acres of greenery and winding waterways make it one of the most beautiful urban parks in the world. Trek through more than 30 miles of paths, paddle in the Emerson Grand Basin, or admire public art at the open-air museums. Forest Park, located at 5595 Grand Street, hosts the annual Shakespeare Festival on Tuesday through Sunday evenings from the end of May through June. Each year, a different show is performed from the famous playwright's catalog. Load up the back of your Mazda with blankets, chairs, and a picnic basket for an entertaining night under the stars. 2. Missouri Botanical Gardens This beautiful attraction is particularly stunning in full bloom over the summer. Set your GPS to 4344 Shaw Boulevard on your car's full-color display screen via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, then park your Mazda in the free parking lot, which is easy to do with the rearview monitor and cross-traffic alerts. Thursday's extended evening hours make this destination perfect for a date night. Take a sunset stroll with your sweetheart then indulge in dinner on the Sassafras Restaurant's patio. Make your adventure a family affair by bringing the little ones for brunch before exploring the Doris I. Schnuck Children's Garden. Step into a tropical rainforest at the Climatron greenhouse, which is the first geodesic dome to be used as a conservatory. Immerse yourself in peaceful harmony as you meander through the Japanese Garden and end your summer by attending the Japanese festival before driving away in your Mazda. 3. Foodie Festivals Head to Ballpark Village at 601 Clark Avenue for Taste of St. Louis. This annual weekend event is designed to promote engagement between St. Louis' residents and local establishments. Sample offerings from the numerous culinary exhibits and enjoy live music while shopping local vendors and artists. For an international flare, stop by the Festival of Nations, which is the largest multicultural event in the region with more than 75 nations being represented. Enjoy a weekend in Tower Grove Park, located at 4257 Northeast Drive, where music, flavors, and art combine to deliver an experience unlike any other. We encourage you to bring some treats home from the festival and worry-not, because your Mazda's leatherette or leather-trimmed seats are easy to clean in case something spills. What St. Louis activities are you adding to your must-do list this summer? Visit us at Bommarito Mazda West in Ellisville, MO to find the perfect vehicle for all your adventures.

Road trips are a great way to get the family together and make some fun memories. Whether you're exploring or heading to visit family, don't get stuck with cranky kids in the car. There are tons of options for high-tech ways to entertain kids, but sometimes we might want some low-tech options. Here are some technology-free ways to keep the kids busy during a family road trip. Print Books and Audiobooks If your kids are older, encourage them to bring some books along for the ride. This is a great time to catch up on reading for school or get into an exciting novel. For those who tend to get car sick when trying to read print books, audiobooks are a great option. Audiobooks can also be fun because they get the whole family involved in the story. Stop at your local library to stock up before the trip or download some audiobooks to your smartphone. Metal Baking Pan and Magnets Little ones who enjoy more tactile activities will love a simple toy like a metal baking sheet and some magnets. Be careful which magnets you choose so that you avoid any choking hazards. Bring magnets like letters and numbers that they can use to learn. Older siblings can even play along with younger ones for fun and learning for everyone. Some games like tick-tack-toe also come in a magnetic version. more Verbal Car Games Everyone remembers those car games you and your family used to play during road trips like "I Spy" and "Twenty Questions." Why not bring those back? The alphabet game is another great one where each person in the car tries to get through the whole alphabet by finding letters on road signs and license plates. The first one to z wins. There are lots of online lists of road trip games if you can't think of any. Travel-Sized Games Most department stores have a travel game section full of affordable games that are perfect for road trip fun. Get everyone laughing with some travel tablets of Mad Libs. Many board games come in travel-friendly magnetic versions. Bring along games like checkers, chess, Blokus and more, which are all available in travel size. Rubik's cubes are also great for entertaining older kids. Window Clings and Stickers Another fun option for kids of all ages is window clings. You can find these in tons of different varieties. Get some clings in different shapes or characters that your kids like. You can find alphabet and number clings as well. Stickers will also keep little ones entertained for longer than you might think. You may end up needing to peel things off your car windows, but at least the kids will give you a peaceful ride. Keep in mind that stickers and window clings can be choking hazards to really little ones. There are many ways to keep your kids well-entertained during a road trip without using technology. Stop by Bommarito Mazda West County to find a family-friendly vehicle that will keep them safe and comfortable as well. Our great selection of new Mazda models offers plenty of great options for your lifestyle. Image via Flickr by viralbus | CC BY-SA 2.0.