Shelter Gardens

(20 reviews)

3.2 mi

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

Fishing area

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Stark Caverns

4.9

(135 reviews)

48.0 mi

Locally owned & operated

Established in 1950

This was a cool cave, but what made it exceptional was the tour guides Macy and Ethan. Macy,…read moreanswered all of our questions and was funny. Ethan, was our escape room expert/guide he was very kind and really got into character which made the experience even better. Overall, this was a very unique and fun cave experience!

Blacklight tour was awesome!!! Dane was a great guide that gave us a awesome overview of the cave!!!read more

Minerals that glow under a blacklight that you can see while taking the black light tour.... Hands down WORTH IT!!!

Entrance to cavern

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Cosmo Park

4.5

(11 reviews)

0.8 mi

Great little park. Several play areas available for a variety of age levels. Swings, sandbox,…read moremultiple playgrounds and slides. Bathrooms available during open season. Shelter with picnic tables.

It's a fun park! They had a huge playground area. We'd went right after rain with a 4 and 2 year…read moreold, but will definitely be back after they grow. My kiddos played on the smaller playground for almost 3 hours before we had to leave. We also had a picnic at one of the shelters. It was well kept and felt safe.

Sign

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Nifong park

(3 reviews)

5.1 mi

This place is the very best. It's typically so quiet and serene, and it has such a fantastic…read moreMissouri feel. The sunsets are always incredible, no matter what season it is!

Nifong Park is a hidden gem- always quiet and serene, this park is a great stop for viewing…read morehistorical buildings, and a prime choice for family photos or an engagement shoot. In the fall, the park comes alive for Heritage Festival, which is always fun to see. Any other day of the year though, it's not uncommon to be the only person wandering the grounds. The Maplewood Barn Theater also operates out of the park- though I've never been to a show, I've heard great things and I can't imagine watching a play in the park would be anything less than delightful.

Amber Garrett Photography

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Amber Garrett Photography

Rock Bridge Memorial State Park

4.6

(31 reviews)

6.6 mi

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!

Fossils in a rock on the trail

Fossils in river rocks

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Twin Lakes Recreation

3.9

(12 reviews)

2.0 mi

The common bathrooms here were disgusting. Full of mice poop everywhere and so unclean! Yuck!read more

Went here yesterday, it was nice, but....... The grass was not kept and looked like it needed to be…read morecut. Trash cans were full to the brim and stunk of doggy poop. overall it was a nice experience, however the upkeep of grounds needs serious attention!

A morning regular with her peanut

A regular jim and fritz

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Whos your momma

Albert-Oakland Park

3.7 mi

A top notch park in Columbia full of rec activities for all ages. You have swimming, tennis,…read morewalking/running trails, disc golf and more. On top of that, it's immaculately maintained. Any city across the country would love to have park like Albert-Oakland (sadly many don't). I came for the disc golf. Two 18 holes courses (wow!). The original winds through gentle slopes and wooded areas, complete with tough dog legs and water hazards. The newer course mostly takes you up and down a large hill. While this newer course's layout is a bit simpler than the original, you will be throwing around plenty of well-placed trees and other obstacles. You could spend all day here and never be bored. I hope to be back the next time I'm in Columbia!

Diving boards, kid's water play area, water slide and a snack bar. Excellent pool!read more

Fun in the Sun with Sissy

Front entrance

Water park swimming pool

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Garth Nature Area

3.8

(8 reviews)

2.3 mi

It's a dog park. Not all pet owners are cognizant of dog behavior. We had a nice visit. The…read moreoff-leash area is very large with a pond. Lots of shady seating with lovely scenery. Plenty of wide open running space. Nice path for humans. Quite a few trees. Well maintained and picked up. Only a few balls left behind and no litter. I really appreciated the shady parking area. And nearby restrooms. The nicest dog park I've visited.

We stop here every roadtrip. So close off i70, totally fenced in, and has shaded picnic tables to…read moresit while your dog swims. My dog always refuses to leave the pond! There's also a little path around the pond, some dog agility training features, and a hose to rinse off. Very pleasant place

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A. Perry Philips Park

4.5

(2 reviews)

5.8 mi

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

Walking trail

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Trail

Albert-Oakland Park

3.7 mi

A top notch park in Columbia full of rec activities for all ages. You have swimming, tennis,…read morewalking/running trails, disc golf and more. On top of that, it's immaculately maintained. Any city across the country would love to have park like Albert-Oakland (sadly many don't). I came for the disc golf. Two 18 holes courses (wow!). The original winds through gentle slopes and wooded areas, complete with tough dog legs and water hazards. The newer course mostly takes you up and down a large hill. While this newer course's layout is a bit simpler than the original, you will be throwing around plenty of well-placed trees and other obstacles. You could spend all day here and never be bored. I hope to be back the next time I'm in Columbia!

Diving boards, kid's water play area, water slide and a snack bar. Excellent pool!read more

Fun in the Sun with Sissy

Front entrance

Water park swimming pool

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Chilli Bay Water Park

4.3

(3 reviews)

86.5 mi

Very clean, tons and I mean tons of lifeguards, staff was excellent and very friendly. $10 for most…read moreto get in, non swimmers/ seniors/ small children are cheaper but I don't remember the price. They take cash or credit which is awesome in my book. Now for the park.. tons of stuff to do for all ages. Lazy river, 3 larger slides, two little ones for smaller kids in the splash pad area, rock wall high and low dive etc. They do have a concession stand as well. Would highly recommend for a family fun day.

It's the best place to go in town according to my child. The slides are the number one thing to…read moredo.He can't wait to get there and doesn't want to leave.

Osage View

4.2

(6 reviews)

42.3 mi

The food was very tasty and if you want to take it home . The time that was told to pick up was…read moreright on time.

The food and serixe are always amazing here. The food is super cheap, huge portions, and so food…read more The grilled shrimp, pretzels, quesadilla, and sweet potato fries are my top favorites so far. The salads are good as well. We couldn't ask for better service . We were recently there after closing due to a storm and thet were nice enough to go back to the kitchen and srsy late to feed us. The servers are always friendly and attentive, usually a lot of college kids and they are great.

4 lanes of duckpin bowling available to rent by the hour

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Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf

Very nice people and very nice mini course - we only played 18 holes but enjoyed it very much. Many…read morevery creative holes with water hazards!! Too much fun.

Staff were helpful and friendly. There are two courses. We did Blackbeard's challenge. Course is…read moreclean and has great waterfalls as scenery. Fun course nicely laid out. Parking is plenty. You get different colored balls for each person. Bring water because there is not a lot of shade. Great family fun.

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Midway Golf & Games

4.3

(24 reviews)

2.7 mi

This is a great family friendly, data night cozy kind of outdoor experience. Many options for fun…read moreand spending time together. Everyone is super nice and helpful. The clubhouse is comfy when you need to get out of the heat. Plenty of space for a party or just a family outing.

We stopped in for a free concert and had a great time. The drinks were amazing and the service was…read moregreat. We sat in big wooden lawn chairs and enjoyed a great rock show. The opening band was decent, but young and still learning. The crowd was warmed up when Hang Your Hate took the stage. They totally rocked the place and everyone was jumping.

Sliders

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Stephens Lake Park

(20 reviews)

3.2 mi

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

Fishing area

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L C.

0

3

0

13 years ago

Shelter Insurance has been a HORRIBLE company to work with! Was rear ended by their insured. Deny, deny claims has happened over and over again! NEVER USE SHELTER!!! Denied paying rental car AFTER telling me they would pay for it! Then refused to pay for $2,000 worth of repairs. Never use Shelter. read more

Shelter Gardens - parks - Updated August 2026

People who viewed Shelter Gardens also viewed

Stephens Lake Park

(20 reviews)

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

Twin Lakes Recreation

3.9

(12 reviews)

The common bathrooms here were disgusting. Full of mice poop everywhere and so unclean! Yuck!read more

Went here yesterday, it was nice, but....... The grass was not kept and looked like it needed to be…read morecut. Trash cans were full to the brim and stunk of doggy poop. overall it was a nice experience, however the upkeep of grounds needs serious attention!

Capen Park

Capen Park is more than just an outdoor area: it has walkable and bikeable paths as well as…read morestunning scenic lookout points. You might see lovely engagement or family photos taking place at this spot because of the gorgeous views. The unique part about this trail is that you don't have to travel far away and is found within Columbia city limits. There are countless college students that will walk to this trail to get away from school stressors! Capen Park is a "Must Visit" trail to experience next time you are in Columbia!

Albert-Oakland Park

A top notch park in Columbia full of rec activities for all ages. You have swimming, tennis,…read morewalking/running trails, disc golf and more. On top of that, it's immaculately maintained. Any city across the country would love to have park like Albert-Oakland (sadly many don't). I came for the disc golf. Two 18 holes courses (wow!). The original winds through gentle slopes and wooded areas, complete with tough dog legs and water hazards. The newer course mostly takes you up and down a large hill. While this newer course's layout is a bit simpler than the original, you will be throwing around plenty of well-placed trees and other obstacles. You could spend all day here and never be bored. I hope to be back the next time I'm in Columbia!

Diving boards, kid's water play area, water slide and a snack bar. Excellent pool!read more

Indian Hills Dog Park

4.0

(2 reviews)

Very nice dog park. It does not have the double gate foyer type entrance. The grounds are kept…read morenice. Plenty of room to run. There is a picnic table under some shade trees. There are a few deep holes to look out for.

This little dog park is awesome!…read more It's located on the Northeast side of CoMo, which for those who don't live on the west side and go to Twin Lake, is super convenient! It's a pretty sizable park with lots of grass for pups to run around in! There's also a little oasis in the middle with a picnic table for the adults to go grab a seat in the shade on a hot summer day. I didn't see any water fountains right near the park but assume there's some close by since it's surrounded by baseball fields, kids parks, etc. Only suggestion I'd make it to upkeep the grass a bit more. Was a little long when we went!

Mlk Memorial Park

Nice flat trail with lots of trees. Great views place for walking or biking. It is easy to walk to…read moreother joining trails through Columbia. Nice way to see the city. Well maintained and always nice people along the way.

Cosmo Bethel Park

This park has a great playground, lake, and walking trail. There are fields for tossing a frisbee…read moreor throwing a ball. A great park to visit if you're in Columbia!

Tiny Play Cafe

4.6

we went back winter 2026 and it's definitely been played with hard. It was less enthusing this…read moretime, seems to need an update, but I realize kids are hard on things. Seems pricey for what you get. This time I have a 4 and 2 year old. The owner was there, but not super friendly to customers. She just looked at us and kept doing what she was doing. The place is still well decorated and cute, can just tell it's used. I didn't have any food this time.

What a fun morning. We were visiting Columbia for an event at Mizzou with an infant and a…read morepreschooler. Weather was iffy so we wanted an indoor place for them to play. Stumbled on tiny play on the web and so glad we booked. The online reservation process was a little much for a one time visit, but it worked out. The play area was so clean, staff were friending and the kids were thrilled. Enjoyed the separate baby area. They have a coffee bar and separate birthday party rooms. We will go again if in Columbia.

American Legion Park

4.0