Get Out of Town

Columbia’s central location makes getting away for a weekend in Missouri easy.

Here’s something to help you get packing whether you’re heading north, south, east, or west.

North

Kirksville

It takes only an hour and a half to drive up U.S. Highway 63 to Kirksville. The drive took far longer in 1933 when Don Faurot’s Northeast Missouri State Teacher’s College (now Truman State University) football team beat his alma mater, Mizzou, 26-6. The Tigers hired him away in 1935 and the rest is history.  

What to See and Do 

If you want to spend some time on the water and on the beach, hiking, camping, fishing, or viewing petroglyphs carved by Native Americans fifteen hundred years ago, visit Thousand Hills State Park and its 573-acre Forest Lake. It’s a favorite for residents and visitors alike.  

The Kiwanis Farmer’s Market fills the west side of the Courthouse Square downtown every Saturday morning from May through October. After picking up some fresh produce, flowers, baked goods, and other local items, wander around the Square and visit the shops, galleries, and restaurants.  

Osteopathic medicine was born here, and A.T. Still University’s Museum of Osteopathic Medicine is filled with artifacts. Those include one of only four fully intact human nervous systems in the world, dissected by students in 1926. You’ll need to schedule a Saturday visit.  

Where to Stay

As a university town, Kirksville has several hotels you can book. There are a few homestays, or you can book a room at Brashear House Bed & Breakfast. If you’re visiting Thousand Hills, reserve a cabin or a spot in the campgrounds where you can pitch a tent or hook up your camper or RV.  

Where to Eat and Drink

The DuKum Inn offers a rotation of twenty-four draft beers on tap. Across the street is The Wooden Nickel featuring barbecue, Italian dishes, and steaks. Sip Downtown offers small plates, a large wine list, and handcrafted cocktails. TK Prime serves steaks, seafood, and a full-service bar. There’s also Lakeside Grille at Thousand Hills with deck seating. For hearty breakfasts, try Pancake City or Rosie’s Northtown Café.

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South

Lebanon

You won’t take Route 66 from Columbia to get to Lebanon, but you will end up on The Mother Road. It takes under two hours to wend your way south of the Lake of the Ozarks and down Missouri Highway 5 to get there. 

What to See and Do

The history of Route 66 is everywhere, even if the road itself is now I-44. Take a tour through the Route 66 Museum or see the murals in Boswell Park. The Munger Moss Motel, The Manor House Inn, and Wrinks Market are all original 66 stops. And if you want to relive its heyday, don’t miss the Route 66 Festival held every June.  

About two thousand people converge for opening-day trout season at Bennett Spring State Park, where more than one hundred million gallons of fresh spring water gushes daily. There’s a large park store, dining lodge, and hatchery you can visit without putting on your hip-waders.  

There are no fewer than eleven antique malls, shops, and stores to visit in Lebanon. Route 66 isn’t the only famous byway here. The town is part of Missouri’s “Antique Trail.”  

Where to Stay

Lebanon’s proximity to I-44 means there are several hotels. There are also several resorts, including Riverwood, Big Bear, Sand Spring, and Larry’s Cedar Resort. Bennett Spring State Park offers cabins and campgrounds. There’s also Bennett Spring Homestead Hotel, Bennett Spring Inn, and a variety of homestay options. The historic Munger Moss Hotel and The Manor House Inn also still book guests.  

Where to Eat and Drink

For local flavor, try The Rail 1868 Restaurant and Tavern in a restored downtown building or Brickhouse Bar & Grill. Mel’s on Madison features barbecue. Dowd’s Catfish House offers up award-winning southern fried catfish. Lunch Box Café has been serving all-day breakfast and dinner delights to locals and visitors for more than fifty years. And you can grab a cup o’ joe at Jude’s Coffee Company.

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East

Ste. Genevieve

Ste. Genevieve is the oldest permanent European settlement west of the Mississippi River. To get there, take interstate highways in about two hours, forty-five minutes, or the scenic route via Missouri Highway 50 for a longer trip. 

What to See and Do

The architecture is a can’t-miss. There’s the Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park. Many of the homes and buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. And three of the five buildings in the country using poteaux-en-terre construction are located here.  

The French Heritage Festival is celebrated every June. See people dressed in period costumes, eat traditional foods, and tour historic homes amid live music and folk dancing. Travel during the holidays to what AAA Magazine has rated as the Midwest’s second-best Christmas celebration.  

If you want outdoor experiences, check out the water features, wilderness, trails, and camping at Hawn State Park. Or visit Hickory Canyons Nature Area known for microclimates where glacial relics thrive as do more than a dozen species of fern.   

Where to Stay 

There are several homestays available, with some in historic homes, like Aunt Katie’s Corner or 1810 House. Book luxury accommodation in a tiny house on Baetje Farm or spend time watching rescued big cats while staying at Crown Ridge Towers Lodging. There are also traditional hotels as well as several B&Bs, such the Southern Hotel built in the 1790s and operated continuously since 1805.  

Where to Eat and Drink 

Eat a forty-ounce steak (if you dare) at Old Brick House. Stop at The Terrace at French Village to sample Missouri and French wines and a selection of beers. Browse antiques while sitting at the historic soda fountain at Sara’s Ice Cream. Pat’s Pastries serves up old-fashioned baked goods. And Oberle Meats is famous for its traditional German sausage. Farm-to-fork food and delicious wines are on the menu at Grapevine Grill at Chaumette Vineyards and Winery. There are several other wineries to visit, including Charleville Vineyard, Winery & Microbrewery.  

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West

Weston

It takes less than two and a half hours to get to historic Weston from Columbia if you travel across I-70 and up I-29. Perched above a bend in the Missouri River, Weston produces its own beer, whiskey, wine, cigars, and roasted coffee. 

What to See and Do 

Visiting downtown feels like stepping back in time. Weston’s old brick buildings house a variety of shops, including Celtic Ranch, McCalley’s on Main, The Candy Jar, La Bella Cucina Italian Market, Weston Bend Candle Company, and Renditions Polish Pottery. Galleries like Back Roads Art and Northland Artist’s Gallery feature original artwork. And don’t forget to stop at The Farmer’s House Market.  

Antique shoppers can stop at WD Pickers Antique Mall before heading downtown to hunt for treasures at 1837 Emporium, Cactus Creek, Else-Wares, and Weston Main Street Antiques. For a real picking experience, don’t miss Jeff’s Architectural Salvage and Variety Shop.  

For outdoor adventure, visit Weston Bend State Park with miles of paved trails and scenic views of the Big Muddy. If you come in the winter, you can ski, snowboard, and tube down the slopes at Snow Creek.  

Where to Stay 

Weston Brewing Company hosts guests at the historic St. George Hotel, The Inn at Weston Landing, and Mandrake Place. The Coal House Lodge is a cozy B&B in — you guessed it — an old coal house. Enjoy a hot tub and cool country views at Hippie Hills AirBnB. Or check in at one of several B&Bs, like Firefly Inn, Hatchery House, or Weston Steamboat Inn.  

Where to Eat and Drink 

Holladay Distillery, home of McCormick Distilling Company, still produces whiskey using its 160-year-old recipe. Enjoy food and award-winning wines at The Vineyards at Pirtle Winery and Weston Wine Company. Weston Brewing Company’s O’Malley’s 1842 Irish Pub and American Bowman Restaurant are institutions. Green Dirt Farm Creamery serves charcuterie featuring its own cheeses. And start the morning at Weston Coffee Roastery.