Columbia, Mo. is the perfect place to spend your college years. This college town has a little bit of something for everyone and is adjacent to downtown Columbia, so there are so many shops, restaurants, art galleries, concert venues, etc. for you to explore while you're living in this town. I've compiled a list of some places you absolutely must check out while visiting in town, on a Sunday when you have nothing to do, or even after your classes on a Tuesday when you're looking for something to occupy your free time.

1. Rock Bridge Memorial State Park
   
   • 5901 South Hwy 163, Columbia, MO 65203
   • (573) 449-7402
   • Mon. - Fri. 9.a.m. - 12 p.m. and 1-4 p.m.
     
   • Awarded a Certificate of Excellence by Trip Advisor
   • Visitors can hike and bicycle through this beautiful park while getting a peek of Missouri's underworld. This park is home to some of the most popular hiking trails in the state. There is a large cave system with its rock bridge, sinkholes, a spring, and an underground stream at the popular Devil's Icebox. You can also explore Connor's Cave in the light of the opening if you're feeling brave.
2. Shelter Gardens
   • 1817 West Broadway, Columbia, MO 65203
   • (573) 214-4595
   • This is a park where one can enjoy peaceful walks with amazing scenery. It is a very relaxing place and the best part about it is that it's free! It's one of Columbia's hidden gems.
3. Ragtag Cinema
   • 10 Hitt Street, Columbia, MO 65201
   • (573) 441-8504
   • Mon. - Fri. 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
   • Awarded a Certificate of Excellence by TripAdvisor
   • It is an adorable little cinema with a bakery attached. It is also next door to one of the last VHS/DVD rental stores. There are comfy seats, great film selections, good customer service, AND you can bring your own food and drinks into the theater which is a plus!
4. Stephens Lake Park
   • 2001 E Broadway, Columbia, MO 65201
   • This park is a great place to visit that's close to campus. You can get in a great workout either running or walking on its two paved paths. There is a spray ground you can also get in if it's warm enough outside. The Mizzou Rockin' Against Multiple Sclerosis (RAMS) 5K was held here this past year and was a huge success!
5. Columbia Art League
   • 207 9th Street, Columbia, MO 65201
   • (573) 443-8838
   • Tues. - Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Sat. 11 - 5 p.m.
   • When you're downtown looking for something to do with your free time, this is the place you should turn to. It is filled with art by locals on display and for sale. The offerings often change due to shows so you never know what you will see when you walk through their doors.
6. Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area
   • 6700 W Rte K, Columbia, MO 65203
   • (573) 445-3882
   • This place is the definition of beautiful Midwest nature...or should I say neature? It's not a great place to hike but in the colder months, you will be able to see several dozen bald eagles depending on what time of day you go.
7. The Candy Factory
   • 701 E Cherry Street, Columbia, MO 65201
   • (573) 443-8222
   • Mon. - Thurs. 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., Fri. 9:30 a.m. - 8 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
   • This is a candy store that makes their own chocolates and let me tell you, they will NEVER disappoint. They have a huge variety of goodies such as chocolate-covered strawberries, chocolate-covered oreos, chocolate-covered pretzels, many different flavors of truffles, etc.! Their chocolate-covered strawberries are so good that you can expect a line out the door during their peak season. But don't worry, they've figured out how to get that line moving to satisfy your sweet tooth and get you in and out of the store in no time!
8. Shryocks Callaway Farms
   • 12 miles east of Columbia off I-70
   • (573) 592-0191
   • This is a farm that features a seed plot and a new corn maze every season, which means every year it's a different paved maze to find your way through! It is tons of fun for people of all ages. They serve some very delicious kettle corn and even have a gum ball machine that is two stories tall!
9. Mizzou Arena
   • 1 Champions Drive, Columbia, MO 65201
   • (573) 882-6501
   • This place is home to many of Mizzou's sports teams but also, it prides itself as a great concert venue! Besides Mizzou's Men's Basketball, you can get into the games for free with your student ID! The parking is easy to get in and out of and you could even walk to it if you live on campus.
10. Finger Lakes State Park
    • 1505 E Peabody Road, Columbia, MO 65202
    • (573) 443-5315
    • Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sat. - Sun. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
    • This park is very unique in the fact that there are both trails and motocross tracks. This is one of two ATV parks in the state parks system. It's built in a former coal mining area, and it's also home to a spacious campground, rolling hills, tall trees, and a small beach with a swimming area. Finger Lakes also holds Missouri's newest mountain bike trail, the 2.25 mile Kelley Branch Trail.
11. The Blue Note
    • 17 N 9th Street, Columbia, MO 65201
    • (573) 874-1944
    • Mon. - Fri. 12 - 6 p.m.
    • The acoustics at this venue are awesome. There is a small bar on the first floor and there are bands who come to play here. Tickets are fairly priced and it is in the heart of downtown, so it is easy to find. It's also right by La Siesta, a student favorite, where you can get good Mexican food and margs!
12. Perche Creek Golf Club
    • 5500 W Van Horn Tavern Road, Columbia, MO 65203
    • (573) 445-7546
    • 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
    • It's a three-par golf course so it's a great place for starters and families. They also have mini-golf, batting cages, and a golf hitting range.
13. Tropical Liqueurs (Trops)
    • 515 E Broadway, Columbia, MO 65201
    • (573) 442-8098
    • Mon. - Sat. 12 p.m. - 1 a.m.
    • This is the perfect place to go on a hot day. It is a frozen drink place with so many combinations you could never try them all. They have different sizes and also non-alcoholic drinks for drivers or non-drinkers.
14. The Heidelberg
    • 410 S 9th Street, Columbia, MO 65201
    • (573) 449-6927
    • Mon. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 1 a.m., Sun. 10 a.m. - 12 a.m.
    • It has been a cornerstone of the MU campus since 1963. They have great food, exceptional service, a year round patio, and good food and drink specials. This place has got character.
15. The Pinnacles
    • From the intersection of I-70 and Hwy 63 in Columbia, travel north on Hwy 63 for 12 miles and turn right (east) onto Pinnacles Road. Follow the road about a half a mile east to the park entrance.
    • (573) 449-7946
    • This 27-acre unique Ozarkian geologic formation in North Missouri will lead you to explorations of the curvy Rocky Fork and Silver Fork Creeks. In this beautiful piece of nature in Columbia, you can look for crinoids, fossils of ancient sea animals, and take some really breathtaking pictures.
16. The MKT Trail
    • Major Accesses
      • Flat Branch Park, 101 S 4th Street
      • 501 South Providence Road (No Parking)
      • 800 W Stadium Blvd
      • 2701 Forum Blvd
      • 3800 Scott Blvd (east side)
      • 3725 Scott Blvd (west side)
    • This is an 8.9 mile, 10-foot-wide limestone trail. There are fitness stations at Stadium and Forum so you'll be sure to get in a full workout. There are drinking fountains and restrooms placed along the trail. This trail is my favorite place to be in the spring when we have warmer weather.
17. Flat Branch Pub and Brewing
    • 115 S 5th Street, Columbia, MO 65201
    • (573) 499-0400
    • 11 a.m. - 12 a.m.
    • Placed in historic downtown Columbia, this pub gets its name from a nearby creek which was the water source for Columbia's first settlers. Flat Branch was Columbia's first brewery since 1841. They have some of the best food under this roof and I've never tried something there that I didn't like. The pub occupies a 1927 brick warehouse with a curved, barrel-trussed roof that was once a Hudson car dealership. Food and a dose of Missouri history all in one, it doesn't get much better than that.