Missouri Children's Museum

A new children's museum - Missouri Children's Museum - is coming to Columbia, MO and is scheduled to open this fall.

You can become a fan and follow the progress on their Facebook page, take the survey for families with children, or check back here as more information is released.

The plans include a fully stocked arts & crafts center, hands-on science & math activities, and a variety of other dynamic, interactive exhibits to spark imaginative learning through play.

An online survey was recently created for input from families with children; comments and suggestions are welcome via email too - just drop a note to info@missourichildrensmuseum.com.

Learn Through Play - Columbia, MO

A new learn through play center is coming to Columbia, MO in the near future and you can take a survey to provide ideas and more here:

Play Through Learn Center - Columbia, MO

You can also comment here about what types of things you'd like to see in the future!

Boating & Fishing

Relax on the water...
What better way to spend a lazy day, relaxing on the water and casting your line? Here in Mid-Missouri we have lakes, streams and rivers galore - all just waiting to be navigated and fished! Here you'll find where to rent a boat, get fishing equipment and cast your line!

Mighty Mo Canoe Rental
205 Central Street
Rocheport, MO 65279
573-698-3903 website

Description: Come paddle the Missouri River through its most picturesque Mid-Missouri scenery. The towering bluffs and forested banks rekindle the aura of the days of Lewis & Clark. Join our guided canoe & kayak excursions for a first-hand exploration of our country's great river and our nation's epic history. Our small groups of canoes and kayaks offer both beginners and experienced paddlers an intimate trip setting and scenery they will never forget.

Twin Lakes Recreation Area - Paddle Boat Rentals
Pirate's Landing
Twin Lakes Recreation Area
2500 Chapel Hill Road
Columbia, MO 65203
573-445-8839 (in-season) 573-874-7460 (off-season) website

Description: Two and four seater paddle boats available for rental to take out on Twin Lakes; boaters younger than 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Nature Centers & Gardens

Shelter Insurance Gardens
1817 W. Broadway
Columbia, MO 65216
Website

Description: Award-winning five-acre garden with more than 300 varieties of trees and shrubs, and more than 15,000 annuals and perennials. The gardens feature a replica one-room school house, a "sensory garden" designed for the visually impaired, a memorial to Vietnam Veterans, a waterfall and reflecting pool, stream, rose garden, gazebo, giant sundial and more. Free concerts on designated Sunday evenings in June & July.

Free, open daily dawn to dusk. Closed on Christmas day.

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Garden
800 S. Stadium Boulevard
Columbia MO
573-874-7460

Description: These landscaped gardens with walkways & benches provide a quiet setting for individuals or a place to hold cultural events. The writings of Dr. King are displayed as part of a sculptured amphitheater with eight triangular upright columns. Located next to the MKT Trail, the Garden is free and open to the public and has ample parking.

Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area
6700 North Route K
McBaine, MO
573-445-3882

Description: This 4,269-acre wetland area provides 10 miles of stream frontage on Eagle Bluffs. These marshes provide year-round habitat for migrating and wintering birds as well as a permanent home for wildlife.

Pinnacles Youth Park
U.S. Hwy 63 N, 12 Miles north of Columbia
573-445-9792

Description: This 70-acre private park is open to the public during daylight hours. Silver Fork Creek and Kelly Creek formed the Pinnacles, a thin 75-foot high and 1,000 foot long Burlington limestone ridge. Several trails exist to explore the rock formations.

Rock Bridge Memorial State Park
5901 South Hwy. 163
Columbia, MO 65203
573-449-7402 website
E-mail: moparks@dnr.mo.gov

Description: Open year-round, dawn to dusk, this 2273-acre day-use park features a natural rock bridge formation, tours of Devil's Icebox Cave, hiking trails, shelter & picnic areas and the Gans Creek Wild Area.

Carnahan Memorial Gardens
100 Madison St.
Jefferson City, MO 65101
573-751-3330

Description: A striking complement to the Capital Complex, the Garden, located next to the Governor's Mansion, was constructed in the late 1930s. The site is filled with flowers, pools, and walkways. After the death of Gov. Mel Carnahan, the garden was renamed the Carnahan Memorial Gardens, as a memorial to his work.

Runge Conservation Nature Center
P.O. Box 180
Mo. Hwy. 179
Jefferson City, MO 65102
573-526-5544 website

Description: At the Runge Conservation Nature Center, come and enjoy the wonders of Missouri's habitats and the fish, forest and wildlife resources found in the Show-Me State. Get acquainted with beauty as we travel from the rugged prairies of the north to the swamplands of the Bootheel.

Swimming & Aquatics

Dive in, the Water's Fine! The local swimming hole used to be the only option to jump into the water and swim...today, there are lakes and pools open (some year-round) that make swimming safer and a lot more fun!

Little Swimmers @ ARC
1701 W. Ash
Columbia, MO
573-874-7700

Ages: 5 and under
When: Monday - Thursday; 11:00-noon
Fee: $1.00
Restrictions: Friday open to ARC members only; free

Description: Come enjoy the play structures, zero-depth entry area and the lazy river of the ARC Water Zone during a time specifically reserved for the little ones and an adult playmate.
Open year-round.

Open Swimming @ ARC
1701 W. Ash
Columbia, MO
573-874-7700

Description: Call for open swim times for lap swimming, lazy river and water zone. Open year-round.

Macher Swim School
2004 Corporate Place
Columbia, MO
573-875-SWIM (7946) website
E-mail: machersim@socket.net

Description: Families who want results come to Macher for the great teaching and the warm 88 degree water! Open year-round.

Wilson's Fitness Beach Club
4600 Forum Blvd.
Columbia, MO
573-499-1488 website

Description: Facilities include a 12,000SF pool, Zero depth entry making it YOUTH friendly, 6 lane lap pool, 120' water slide, 12' diving well with two 1 meter boards, Sand Volleyball and Tennis, KIDZone Playground, Family Locker room, Snappers Swim Team, Day and Evening Swim Lessons. Membership required. Seasonal.

Oakland Family Aquatic Center
1900 Blue Ridge Rd
Columbia, MO 65202
573-474-5331 website

Description: Outdoor swimming pool with children's water play area with sprinklers and slide. Seasonal.

Columbia Swim Club
1911 Wolcott Dr
Columbia, MO 65202
573-443-4272

Southwest Swim Club
1101 College Park Dr
Columbia, MO 65203
573-445-7667

Stephen's Lake
2001 E Broadway
Columbia, MO
573-874-7460 website

Description: Swimming in designated areas. Unguarded - swim at your own risk. Seasonal.

Pirates' Landing & Little Mates Cove
Twin Lakes Recreation Area
2500 Chapel Hill Road
Columbia, MO
573-445-8839 website

Description: Little Mates Cove is for the younger children with slides, sprinklers, water cannons and falls; Pirates' Landing is for all ages and includes a 6.5-acre swimming lake - on the docks are diving boards and water slides. Seasonal.

Hickman Pool
Hickman High School
1104 N. Providence Road
Columbia, MO
573-874-7476 website

Description: Indoor pool with diving board. Open year-round. Call for hours.

Douglass Family Aquatic Center
400 N Providence Road
Columbia, MO
573-442-5019 website

Description: Outdoor pool with loop slide, a climbing wall and a wading pool with raindrop sprinkler. Seasonal.

Lake of the Woods Pool
6700 St. Charles Road
Columbia, MO
573-474-7878 website

Description: Outdoor pool with water slide surrounded by the golf course. Seasonal.

Bike & Hike Trails

Interactive Katy Trail
website

Description: America's longest "rails-to-trail" project, formerly the MKT rail line, is flat and scenic. It's ideal for hiking, running, or cycling on just about any kind of bike. The Katy Trail is a 225 mile (365 km) bike path stretching across most of the state of Missouri. Over half of it follows Lewis and Clark's path up the Missouri River, where you can ride beneath towering river bluffs while eagles circle overhead. After leaving the river, the trail meanders through peaceful farmland and small-town Americana.

This site provides an interactive map, answers FAQs, and provides a lot of information to plan a day out on the Katy Trail!

Capen Park
1300 Rock Quarry Road
Columbia, MO
573-874-7460

Description: Open 6am-11pm. Features a hiking trail, covers an area of 30 acres, with a 60-foot cliff that overlooks the rest of the park.

Hinkson Creek Trail
1600 Capen Park Drive
Columbia, MO
573-874-7460

Description: The trail begins at Grindstone Nature Area, connects to Capen Park and to the MKT Trail at the 2 mile marker. The 10 foot wide crushed stone trail is good for walking, jogging or biking. You can also get on the trail at 2011 Old 63 S!

Pinnacles Youth Park
U.S. Hwy 63 N, 12 Miles north of Columbia
573-445-9792

Description: This 70-acre private park is open to the public during daylight hours. Silver Fork Creek and Kelly Creek formed the Pinnacles, a thin 75-foot high and 1,000 foot long Burlington limestone ridge. Several trails exist to explore the rock formations.

Cosmo Park: Rhetts Run Mountain Bike Trail
1615 Business Loop 70 West
Columbia, MO 65203
573-874-7460

Description: Within Cosmo Park, a mountain biking circuit is located at the north end of park. Open 7 a.m.-dark.

Native Stone Lewis and Clark Hiking Trail to Bull Rock Historic Site
4317 Native Stone Road
Jefferson City, MO 65109
573-584-8600

Trail Open: Thursday-Sunday, 11:00AM - 4:00PM
Admission: Free

Description: The two-mile (round-trip) hike, along a wide gravel trial, leads to Bull Rock historic site, a projecting rock formation noted in Lewis and Clark's journals. The Bull Rock site is a Lewis and Clark discovery point on the Missouri River. The trail offers signage chronicling the Corps of Discovery's trip through Missouri. Trailhead is at Native Stone Winery/Restaurant/Bull Rock Brewery.

Hartsburg Cycle Depot
30 South 2nd Street
Hartsburg, MO 65039
573-657-9599

Price: Hour, $7; 4 hours, $14; day, $20

Description: Bicycle rentals, repairs, sales, accessories and clothing. Refreshments are available. Rent a bike and ride the Katy trail for great family fun. On the Katy Trail at mile marker 153.

Skating

Roller Skating

Empire Roller Rink
1305 Business Loop 70E
Columbia, MO 65201
573-443-7375 website

Description: Empire Roller Rink is the only indoor skating rink in Columbia - fun for all ages! They offer free skating lessons every Wednesday, from 6:00-6:30PM.

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Cosmo Skate Park
1615 Business Loop 70 West
Columbia, MO 65203
573-874-7460

Description: Cosmo Skate Park totals 28,000 square feet of concrete. It is an elaborate street course that incorporates transitions, flat ramps, spine ramps, pyramids, curbs, 525 feet of coping rails and 75 feet of grind rails. Open 7 a.m.-dark.

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Marvic Skate Center
301 Flora Drive
Jefferson City, MO 65101
573-635-5000 website

Price: $5.00-$6.00

Description: Marvic Skate Center is a family fun center with roller skating, skee-ball, foozball, pool tables, air hockey and video games. Limbo, musical wall games and hokey-pokey included in each session.

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Ice Skating

Washington Ice Park Arena
700 Kansas St
Jefferson City, MO
573-634-6580

Open April - October - call for details and more information.

Zoos & Animals

Walk About Acres
6800 N. Kircher Road
Columbia, MO 65201
573/474-8837 walkaboutacres@agristar.net website


Description: Walk-About Acres is a working farm featuring locally produced honey and honey products, 3 retail greenhouses with a wide variety of plants including tomato, pepper, bedding plants and Grow Native plants. Walk-About Acres has many animals to see during your visit: peacocks, rabbits, turkeys, llamas, Nubian goats and more.

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Bass Pro Shops
3100 Vandiver Drive
Columbia, MO
573-886-7100 website


Description: Come see the fish in the large indoor fish tank! You don't want to miss our fish feeding show every Saturday & Sunday at 2pm. Learn about the fish that we have in our aquarium and see how they react to different baits & live bait. Fun and educational for the entire family!

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McCoy's Pumpkin Farm
15475 N. Rt. Z
Centralia, MO
573-682-5450 website

Description: pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, pre-picked produce, and a petting zoo. Call ahead of days and times.

Miniature Golf

So you're not a golfer - that doesn't mean you won't have fun trying your hand at miniature golf - a game that builds confidence and coordination! Miniature golf is a blast - fun for adults and fun for kids!

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Perche Creek Golf Course
5500 W Van Horn Tavern Rd (take I-70 West Exit 121)
Columbia, MO
573-445-7546 website

Description: An 18 hole golf facility open to the public with a country club atmosphere. Open year round, the club boasts driving range with 100 hitting stations, a par 72 miniature golf course, batting cages, go carts, and full service discount golf pro-shop.

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179 Golf Range & Mini Golf
1744 Highway 179
Jefferson City, MO 65109
573-635-5002

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Vandiver Putt Putt
2116 Vandiver Dr
Columbia, MO 65202
573-474-8505

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GlowGolf
Glow-in-the-Dark Mini Golf
Columbia Mall
2300 Bernadette Dr. (across from MC Sports)
Suite 400
Columbia, MO 65203

573.445.4485

Monday to Saturday: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm

Sunday: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm

Golf & Driving Ranges

Golf is a great sport to develop gross motor skills and love of the outdoors while having a blast hitting a ball around! No time to hit the links for a full 18 holes? Why not hit a bucket at the driving range instead? Playing golf or just driving at the range are two family-friendly ways to spend time together while playing a sport outdoors!

Perche Creek Golf Course
5500 W Van Horn Tavern Rd (take I-70 West Exit 121)
Columbia, MO
573-445-7546 website

Description: An 18 hole golf facility open to the public with a country club atmosphere. Open year round, the club boasts driving range with 100 hitting stations, a par 72 miniature golf course, batting cages, go carts, and full service discount golf pro-shop.

LA Nickell Golf Course
1800 Parkside Dr
Columbia, MO 65202
573- 445-4213 website

Description: L. A. Nickell Golf Course is situated on a 533-acre park, Columbia Cosmopolitan Recreation Area. The course presents an adequate challenge for the lower handicappers, while offering a fun and more difficult layout with generous ball landing areas for the higher handicappers and beginners. Features include an 18-hole golf course, riding carts & continuous cart paths, and a driving range.

Also offered are youth lessons.

Tiger Tee Golf Driving Range
9689 Interstate 70 Dr NE
Columbia, MO 65202
573-474-7088

Eagle Flight Driving Range
6157 E Forsee Rd
Ashland, MO 65010
573- 657-0210

179 Golf Range & Mini Golf
1744 Highway 179
Jefferson City, MO 65109
573-635-5002