Photos Courtesy of Amy Higgins Stambaugh, Angad Arts Hotel, Bryan and Catina Topash, Evolve Now that the holidays have wound down, the winter months truly start setting in. While some thrive during the wet and cold weeks, others dream of warmer days with beach vacations. Though mid-Missouri traditionally lacks such summery opportunities during this time, […]
Who doesn’t love a vacation? Personally, after the last two years, I think we’ve all earned at least one good, long vacation. But that isn’t always workable. Schedules, costs and even paperwork can become barriers to a lengthy trip, but you can’t let that stop you from disconnecting and checking out what lies beyond mid-Missouri. We’ve provided some tips for five weekend getaways to help get you started. Whether you’re looking for a solo sojourn, a family affair or a romantic respite, there’s something for everyone in these getaways. Drive safe!
It seems like every year the leaves are only *just* right for about a week. They’re either not quite turned, or they’re brown. It can be so easy to miss that sweet spot.
To take full advantage of the sporadic nature of fall colors, consider going..
There are so many things that make Columbia a wonderful place to live and work — certainly more than 10, but if we listed out all the things you should do in Columbia, well, we would fill decades worth of magazines (see what we did there?).
Feel free to disagree with our list, but if you haven’t done one of the below things, just trust us and try it out. There is just something special about the energy at a University of Missouri football game and something awe-inspiring about the Big Tree. Better yet, when you do head to these local favorites, snap a pic and tag us. We can’t wait to see your experiences!
Whether you’ve been to Napa every year since you can remember or still prefer Moscato as your wine of choice, chances are you’ll find a Missouri wine you love. Missouri’s wine-making history began in the 1850s in the Hermann area and expanded in the 1870s as Italian immigrants founded wineries near St. James, according to […]
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published June 1, 2020, be sure to check hours of operation for restaurants and attractions described below, as they may have changed since time of publication. With the alluring promise of swimming, boating, fishing or just simple relaxation, a lake getaway in the summer is practically a rite of […]
**Due to COVID-19, restaurant hours and offerings may change. Please check with the restaurant ahead of time before visiting. With so many laudable local restaurants, it’s easy to stay within the confines of Columbia for cuisine. But there are some spots a little farther afield that are well worth a trip. Here are six area […]
People J’den Cox Hometown hero J’den Cox easily captured Columbia’s heart with his winning moves on the wrestling mat, first for Hickman High School and then at the University of Missouri, where he was a three-time NCAA Division I national champion and four-time All-American. But he would go on to capture much more: a bronze […]
What do spine surgery and camping gear have in common? A lot, according to Josh Hendershott. The spine-specialist turned inventor launched a line of pocket-sized camping gear in 2017 and recently one of his products was featured on “NewsWatch.” But, according to Hendershott, the idea for his company, Pike Trail, started much earlier than 2017. […]
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 Excelsior Springs, located northeast of Kansas City on Highway 10, about a two-hour […]
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 other things to see and do in the area. Eminence […]
Rock Bridge Memorial State Park has long been a mid-Missouri gem. For Columbia residents, and those who visit the city, the scenic park offers plenty of outdoor fun from hiking and mountain biking to cave exploring and wildflower spotting. The namesake of the park is a massive, tree-topped limestone rock bridge that was separated from […]
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 where you can chill out and cool off. Lake […]
Something unusual happens at Table Rock Lake and Indian Point Marina in January: People show up in their swimsuits, eager to get in the lake’s frigid waters. Of course, they first put on wetsuits and don oxygen tanks and other scuba gear, but indeed, Table Rock Lake is a popular destination in the Midwest for […]
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 Scioto, Ohio, where some of the early settlers originated. In 1860, the name was […]
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 car. Let’s explore!
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, a National Historic Landmark, is one of the little-known wonders of the state — […]
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, it is. Thousands of people agree. Wonders of Wildlife was voted America’s Best New […]
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 at with the grand opening of the Arch’s new entrance, visitor […]
I was running late. Hannibal was still an hour away. So I took a short cut. My car was making good time on the back roads, slicing down straightaways that squeezed between flat soybean fields, where traffic is sparse. The phone lines drooped and rose in rhythm from one telephone pole to the next. My […]
