Columbia, Missouri Free Vacation Attractions

Nestled half-way way between St. Louis and Kansas City is the hidden jewel of Missouri - Columbia. Columbia is home to the University of Missouri Tigers and as such has a cosmopolitan feel. With a population of almost 85,000, Columbia has the benefits of being a medium sized town with more attractions than you might expect. Read on to learn about vacation activities that just might help you and your family have a roaring good time.

Finger Lakes State Park

Visiting Finger Lakes State Park is a neat way for you and your family to see what the results of strip mining for coal can have on the environment. These 70 acres of man-made lakes and recreational areas were created by a strip mining operation. The park offers off-road motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle trails and well as a motocross track. These amenities are actually the most popular ones in the park so, if you and your family have rides, be sure and bring them. You can also swim, fish, scuba dive and canoe in a one and a half mile corridor of water. The park also features a great sand swimming beach.

In the center of the park, you will discover a wooded section that has been developed into a shaded camping area including basic and electric campsites that have modern restrooms and showers. Entrance to the Finger Lakes State Park is free but there may be a charge for camping.

Shelter Gardens

No trip to Columbia is complete without a stroll through the Shelter Gardens. These Gardens are award winning and have been carefully planned on a 5 acre plot of land. The Garden is home to over 300 varieties of trees and shrubs. Now hold on to your hats - there are also 15,000 annuals and perennials. WOW! There is a wonderful scenic path through the Gardens and you will find an original one-room school house to look through and a rose garden. In the summer months there is a free concert every Sunday evening. Admission to the Gardens is free.

Walters Boone County Historical Museum

If you and your family are history buffs, a visit to the Walters Boone County Historical Museum may be just what the doctor ordered. This museum is housed in a replica of a wood-hewn farmhouse and holds historical information on the role of banking, farming, insurance and medicine, politics and education in the growth of Boone County. The museum has a top photograph collection (600,000 images) taken of Boone County between1895 and 1970.

Within the walls of the 16,000 square feet Museum, you will be learning about the story of the westward expansion. On the Wall of Fame you can read about early Boone County settlers and on the Wall of Honor there is information on inductees such as Daniel Boone (for which the county is named).

University of Missouri Museum of Anthropology The Museum of Anthropology at the University of Missouri is free to the public and, if you call ahead, you can arrange a guided tour (see the website info at end of the description). At the Museum you will learn about Missouri's prehistory and the diversity of Native American cultures in the United States. The most popular children's program provides hands-on presentations of artifacts and information on cultures from different areas. It builds in craft projects, traditional folktales, music and games. Not bad for a free activity, huh? http://anthromuseum.missouri.edu/education.shtml

Museum of Art and Archeology The University of Missouri offers free admission to the Museum of Art and Archeology and offers special activities for families (see website and end of this description). One of the coolest offerings at the Museum is the Flashlight Tour. This tour needs to be scheduled, so be sure and call the Museum at 573-882-9498 to set up a tour so you will be sure and be able to do this fun activity. During the Flashlight Tour everyone will be given a flashlight (or you can use your own) and a clue sheet. You will then explore a darkened gallery and try to discover specific artifacts. After a certain period of exploration time, your group or family will regroup with a docent and confirm your findings. Too fun! http://maa.missouri.edu/info/families.html.

As you can see from just this small overview of free activities in Columbia Missouri, you can make your time in Columbia be a partial day trip, a day-long stop between St. Louis and Kansas City, or a multiple day event. There are many more free things to do in Columbia than could be mentioned in this article. No matter what you choose though, you will not be disappointed in any of the free activities Columbia has to offer.