Sometimes it's exhilarating to be out in a large crowd with your family; other times, it's just plain stressful. We asked some of the busiest St. Louis institutions how families can best avoid the crowds. Here's what they told Sprout.

Gateway Arch
The best time to ascend the arch is first thing in the morning; that's 9 a.m. during the winter months and 8 a.m. in the summer, said Lindsey Bozeman with Core of Discovery St. Louis. This is particularly true during the summer months when school is out of session. Summer is the busiest season for both the Museum of Westward Expansion and the tram ride to the top of the iconic arch.

The Magic House, St. Louis Children's Museum
Weekday mornings are magical times to visit The Magic House, according to Sarah Kahre, marketing manager for the children's museum. Also, the museum is open until 9 p.m. on Friday nights, and these evenings are often less busy than the traditional hours. The Magic House also offers free admission one Friday night a month (search the calendar with keywords: "Free Family Nights").

Saint Louis Zoo
For your best opportunity to observe the animals at the Saint Louis Zoo, visit in the fall, winter and spring. You can warm up in the Jungle of the Apes, Primate House, Herpetarium, Emerson Children's Zoo and Monsanto Insectarium, according to Zoo public relations staff. Also in the colder months, bears, tigers and snow leopards are more active. In general, the earlier you visit the Zoo, the better opportunities you'll have to see the animals and find a good parking spot. The Zoo is open every day except Christmas and New Year's Day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In the summer, the Zoo opens at 8 a.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Saint Louis Science Center
If you want relative tranquility at the Saint Louis Science Center, visit in January or mid-August through September, said Beth McClure, the center's director of communications. To ensure your kids get their hands on all the exhibits, McClure recommends visiting right when the Center opens (9:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. on Sunday) or a few hours before the Center closes at 4:30 p.m. Next summer the science center will open its 13,000-square-foot expansion, helping to accommodate even the biggest crowds.

City Museum
The tunnels, caves, slides and ramps of the City Museum are less congested on Wednesdays and Thursdays in the colder months. Sundays after major holiday weekends are also relatively quiet. In summer, visit on Mondays and Tuesdays for your best bet at avoiding large crowds, the museum recommends.

Missouri Botanical Garden
The early bird gets the crowd at Missouri Botanical Garden. Karen Hill, public information officer at the Garden, says afternoons between 3-5 p.m. are the quietest times to visit the Garden, with the exception of Wednesdays and Saturdays when St. Louis City and County residents enjoy free admission before noon. Of course as the flowers bloom, so, too, do the visitors. Hill says even in the winter months, several indoor gardens offer respite from the grayness of winter.

The Butterfly House
The Butterfly House in Chesterfield is also a great place to visit in the afternoon when crowds thin out. Thursday and Friday provide the best butterfly-to-human ratio, Hill reports.

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