Columbia Travel Information
Home to the University of Missouri (MU), and two other colleges,
Columbia is an educational center with an eclectic feel. It serves as
a medical, technological and cultural base for central Missouri.
Columbia’s non-student population is around 89,500. The college
crowd drives the local economy and fuels a busy downtown district.
The District, more than 40 blocks bordering MU, offers a mix of
popular restaurants, sidewalk cafes, and bars. More than 100 unique
shops and many entertainment venues bring visitors downtown. The area
is busy all day and into the night, especially on weekends. On game
nights, when sports fans fill Columbia’s stadiums and bars for MU
football and basketball games, the cheers can be heard out on the
streets. Columbia is well known for its cultural events and
venues. Visitors can enjoy theater, art galleries, comedy clubs,
symphony and a variety of concert venues including the popular Blue
Note. Music and art festivals run summer through fall. The Blind Boone
Ragtime and Early Jazz Festival is held in June and Twilight Festivals
are held in June and September. Columbia’s MKT hiking and
biking trail connects with the statewide Katy Trail State Park. Nearby
Finger Lakes State Park has 70 miles of all-terrain vehicle and
motorcycle trails. Wineries at Hartsburg and Rocheport provide
relaxing views of the Missouri River valley. Columbia is 125
miles east of Kansas City and 125 west of St. Louis. It is accessible
via Interstate Highway 70 and U.S. Highway 63. There are a variety of
hotels available.
| 
