Beyond CoMo

Venture out and explore your new environs with these fun daytrips.

nn BY KATHY CASTEEL

Columbia is right smack-dab in the middle of Missouri, making the city an ideal base for quick getaways to some fabulous nearby destinations. These daytrips can take you through the heart and soul of the Show-Me State and have you back home again by nightfall.

ROCHEPORT (15 miles)

You don’t even have to leave Boone County to appreciate this tranquil little town on the Missouri River. Enjoy a spectacular view from the bluff top as you sip award-winning wines and dine on gourmet fare at Les Bourgeois Vineyards, Missouri’s third-largest winery. For the active set, Rocheport is your passport to the Katy Trail, the rails-to-trails state park that traverses the entire width of Missouri along the old Missouri-Kansas-Texas railway. Shoppers will find a bounty of antiques here, along with art galleries, artisan studios and one-of-a-kind boutiques. When COVID restrictions lift, enjoy a concert at the Rocheport General Store. Rocheport.com

BOONVILLE (25 miles)

Just a short hop down Interstate 70 is the inviting town of Boonville. Named for the sons of frontiersman Daniel Boone, the city sits just south of where Nathan and Daniel Morgan Boone operated a saltworks in the 19th century. Today’s Boonville is a history buff’s dream, adorned with architectural gems such as the Hotel Frederick, Thespian Hall and elegant homes of a bygone era. Pick up a map for a walking tour at the River, Rails, and Trails Museum in the Visitors Center at the Katy Trailhead. You’ll find access nearby to the Katy Trail, Katy Bridge and the historic Katy Depot, the only surviving Spanish missionstyle depot on the Missouri-KansasTexas railroad. Feeling lucky? Try your hand at the Isle of Capri casino for gaming and live entertainment. Rack up some “aww” moments at Warm Springs Ranch, the breeding farm of the Budweiser Clydesdales. Make your reservations to visit these gentle giants, chat with the horses’ handlers, check out the latest crop of baby Clydesdales and snap all the selfies you like. GoBoonville.com

Rocheport

FULTON (30 miles)

Winston Churchill put Fulton on the map when he delivered his Iron Curtain speech at Westminster College in 1946. The National Churchill Museum on the Westminster campus celebrates the remarkable life of this eloquent statesman. The complex includes a section of the Berlin Wall and the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury, a 17th-century London church designed by Sir Christopher Wren. Fulton is also home to Auto World Museum and its extensive collection of rare and

vintage vehicles. Downtown, the Brick District features local independently owned shops and restaurants, vintage architecture and brick streets. Enjoy locally made wines at nearby Serenity Valley Winery, complete with lakeside sipping, picnic facilities, live entertainment and glorious sunsets. VisitFulton.com

JEFFERSON CITY (31 miles)

Missouri’s capital city is the seat of political power in the Show-Me State, and it’s just a short drive away on U.S. 63. The imposing Carthagemarble State Capitol sits high atop a bluff overlooking the Missouri River; the grounds include legislative and executive spaces, statuary and art by notable artists, the Missouri State Museum, Law Enforcement Memorial and Veterans Memorial. Explore prison life on the “bloodiest 47 acres in America” in a tour of the old Missouri State Penitentiary, then celebrate the sweet taste of freedom at Central Dairy Ice Cream Parlor. Stroll through Runge Nature Center or across the Missouri River Pedestrian/Bike Bridge for a scenic view and photo-op. Check out unique museums dedicated to military history and veterinary medicine. VisitJeffersonCity.com

ARROW ROCK (43 miles)

The entire village of Arrow Rock is a National Historic Landmark where you’ll find a treasure trove of historic homes, restored buildings, museums and quaint shops. Download the Friends of Arrow Rock app for a handy walking or driving tour. Saunter down the Lewis & Clark Trail of Discovery or grab a snack at Badger’s Hideaway, an ice cream shop on the boardwalk. Dine at J. Huston Tavern, the oldest continuously operated restaurant west of the Mississippi, and check out the entertainment at Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre, mid-Missouri’s only professional theater troupe. ArrowRock.org HERMANN (65 miles)

Find a bit of Bavaria in the Missouri River hills. With 13 wineries in the area, this picturesque German town on the banks of the Missouri River is one of the state’s premier wine regions. A number of microbreweries and distilleries add to the spirited atmosphere. Soak up the Old World ambience at Oktoberfest, Maifest, Wurstfest and other events. Imbibe at the tasting rooms, dine on German cuisine, travel the Hermann Wine Trail and Missouri Spirits Expedition, pack a picnic from the Wurst Haus, and learn the intricacies of winemaking at Stone Hill’s Grapes to Glass tour. Browse antiques, art galleries and boutiques. Sample history at Hermann Farm, Deutschheim State Historic Site, the Caboose Museum and the Hermann Fire Company Museum. Wunderbar! VisitHermann.com l

MISSOURI DIVISION OF TOURISM PHOTO BY

Arrow Rock Fulton

NOTLEY HAWKINS PHOTO BY

Jefferson City

MISSOURI DIVISION OF TOURISM PHOTO BY