Took an afternoon drive and found ourselves in Tipton Park; enjoyed our lunch while my 3yr old…read moreplayed her heart out. The park is beautiful with several play structures, very well kept equipment and benches/tables to relax and enjoy the view. Nearby hills look like they'd be a blast for sledding, will definitely be bringing the family to test them out this winter. (Delayed review, but still love the park)

A Beautiful Park it has a lake and a path to walk on my sister took me through a little bit of it…read more Will continue after I do the entire park

We were looking for a way to beat the heat, and decided on going to Stark Caverns. I hopped online…read moreto purchase tickets, and saw that we would need to purchase one for my 18-month old grandson also. Unfortunately, there were not enough available tickets for all three adults and him. I called out to the Caverns to explain the issue and ask if it would be okay. Matt, who answered the phone, said it would be no problem and to just go ahead and purchase the adult tickets. Upon arrival there was ample parking and it was a beautiful place. We headed into the gift shop and checked in for our tour and checked out all of their wares. Gracie led our tour of the caverns. She was so knowledgeable and just a sweet girl. The tour was a great way to spend part of the afternoon. Everyone in our tour group (ages 1-40+) really seemed to enjoy it! If you have some time to spare, you don't want to miss this family friendly, educational, tour.

Genuinely cool cave. There are algae fossils in there from when Missouri was underwater millions of…read moreyears ago, which is a wild thing to stand next to. Sadly our guide Macy was less "passionate cave enthusiast" and more "reciting a script she's said a thousand times and stopped listening to herself." I still don't know how this part of Missouri used to be an ocean based on the tour. She gave the exact same intro four separate times. Not because groups were bumping into each other, just straight up robot mode, probably from also trying to work in the photo package pitch every single time. Ask a follow up question and you'd get a shrug dressed up as an answer. A kid asked about a mineral and got a confident "nope, not that" immediately followed by "I'm not really a gem expert," which, ma'am, pick one. Nobody could tell us where all the clay that used to be in the cave went (there's a lot of water now after the excavation), how the bootleggers pulled off their operation, or whether the cave's ever taken earthquake damage. Also they sell alcohol at the gift shop right before you head into a dark cave, which feels like a liability seminar waiting to happen. What indigenous tribe did the skeleton remains belong to? How did you know it was an indigenous person(s)? What is the difference between an arrowhead and a spear, and when did those relics be given to be on display? She said the stairs were built by child labor because there are child sized handprints in the concrete, but provided no evidence of truth or why. Was it his 18 kids? No one knows. At least it was cool inside while the weather was hot outside. The cave has a story to tell. Macy just wasn't the one telling it. Would recommend the cave, would not recommend Macy. She already told us she's had a bad Yelp review, and I'm sad to say I understand why.

Pinnacles Youth Park is a wonderful outdoor area that is enjoyed by people of all ages! There are…read moreclimbable rock structures, several trails, and an abundance of beautiful nature to take in! I went to this park a ton of times with family and college friends back in the day. It is always a delight to stop back in and explore the area!

The pinnacles are a jagged-pointy rock formation that stands about 75 feet high and stretches about…read more1000 feet long. Bordered on one side by Kelley Creek and on another by Silver Fork Creek, the two streams have been slowly pinching the mass of Burlington limestone separating them, a highly reactive stone that's dissolved by moving water. Some parts of the stone were even carved out entirely, creating little tunnel-like windows dotting the vertical rock face. From the parking area, it is a short walk past picnic shelters and some benches down to the water's edge where you can wade across or just look up at the amazing rock structures. There are hiking trails throughout the park and I saw a number of folks walking, some with dogs. I read that there's a good amount of poison ivy along the trails, so I didn't take a chance. Also, some of the walking looked uneven and following the usual rule of "Never hike alone" I decided not to risk a twisted ankle with no help. At the creek's edge, I was able to find enough stones to make a pretty rock stack. I wonder if it's still there today. [Review 19735 overall - 212 in Missouri - 707 of 2023.]

Beautiful lake, with a nice concrete trail around the whole lake. It's okay for kayaking, not much…read moreto it unless you're going to fish. There's some good fish in there. Good place to take your dogs for a walk! It can get pretty busy because it's located along new student housing and apartments but for Columbia it's cool!

Great place to get a wick run. One lap around the lake equates to a mile and a quarter.read more

This is a great park for walking, jogging, and leisurely fishing. The park is a large loop with…read moremultiple views around the trails. I loved that you could walk across the lake via bridge or walk around it completely. The playground is more for kids 4-10 but with a watchful eye littles 1-3 can have a blast too. There looked like construction for the littles playground coming in the spring. Dogs are allowed on leash so let the dogs out and be sure to clean up after them. This park is very accessible but I did not check the restroom to see if they were accessibly friendly.

Oh wow came here on vacation what a beautiful spot. The area is just peaceful and quiet. We had a…read morepicnic It was well maintained. A must to visit

Rock Bridge State Park is one of my favorite Missouri trials because of the views and…read moreaccessibility. This park is wonderful for people of all ages; especially for families! We love exploring the Devil's Icebox Cave and the Sinkhole short trail. There are parts on the trail that are easily accessible by following the wood-planked walkway, but there are also "off the beaten path" trails and spots to ride your bike. Rock Bridge State Park is absolutely beautiful and is a "Must Visit" outdoor spot in Columbia, MO!

I take my granddaughters here every chance I get. Love playing in the water in the caves. And they…read morelove the pathways and steps. I usually end up carrying one or both back out as they are exhausted. Afterwards a nice nap had by all!