Barbara Gibbs Ostmann 15 posts 0 comments

Think outside that box of chocolates! There are other ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day. A romantic getaway for two is ideal, not just for young lovers but for any age. Like the idea but don’t know where to start? Here’s a little help.…

As the dog days of August arrive, it’s a good time to seek an out-of-town getaway that offers a final fling of summer. Or maybe you’re thinking ahead about a ghostly Halloween outing or a Dickens-y holiday excursion. Take a look at…

School’s out, and Columbia is suddenly a different city. It’s less crowded. Parking isn’t such an issue. The lines are shorter at your favorite watering holes and eateries. People seem less rushed. It’s time to enjoy what you have right…

Nothing sounds better for a weekend getaway in July than a trip to the Missouri Ozarks. Plenty of crystal-clear, cold spring water in the Current and Jacks Fork rivers is reason enough to head south for a float trip — or one of dozens of…

Summer's here and the livin' is easy. It’s also hot and humid. Definitely time to get your feet — not to mention the rest of your body — nice and wet. To this end, we've scouted five bodies of water within easy driving distance of Columbia…

Whether you want to fish for trout, tour local wineries, explore Route 66 or enjoy the great outdoors, St. James has what you’re seeking. Originally a settlement called Big Prairie, the town was briefly known as Scioto, after the town of…

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, thoughts are turning to ... chocolate. But which wine to serve with the holiday’s iconic sweet? We turned to Rachel Holman, CEO of Les Bourgeois Vineyards in Rocheport, for her thoughts on the…

The holidays are upon us, and entertaining is in full swing. Chances are you’re planning to serve wine at your event but might be wondering which wines to serve and how much to buy. A general rule of thumb is to offer a dry red, a dry…

The word “unique” is too often misused and abused, but in the case of these three day trip destinations, the term truly applies. Only in Missouri can you find these world-class, one-of-a-kind experiences. So, pack a day bag and head for the…

This year marks the centennial of the armistice of World War I, and the place to be to recognize the importance of this event is the federally designated National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City. This museum complex,…

WOW! In a word, that’s a common reaction to the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium that opened in Springfield last September. It’s not often that the acronym for something is also the most fitting descriptor, but in this case,…

Whether this is your first trip to the Gateway Arch, or your 20th, you are in for a treat. At 630 feet, the Arch is the country’s tallest man-made monument, and that alone makes it awe-inspiring and mesmerizing. But there is more to marvel…

It was hailed as "possibly the most impressive 2 and a half minutes of your life." Do you think the total solar eclipse on Aug. 21 lived up to all the hype? Dr. Angela Speck, professor of astrophysics and director of astronomy,…

Columbia area residents are fortunate to be smack-dab in the middle of the path of totality, in which the moon blots out the sun totally, turning day into night. The eclipse will begin around 11:45 a.m., reaching totality around 1:12 p.m.…