Columbia,+MO


 * Travel tips for Columbia, MO:**
 * Columbia Wikitravel Website:** [])
 * Columbia Wikitravel Website:** [])

--- Frontier doesn't fly direct to Columbia Regional Airport (COU). To fly there you have to get to Orlando first, then connect to COU or you can fly to Kansas City or St. Louis and drive there. The airport is located about twelve miles southeast of Columbia, MO and twenty-three miles northwest of Jefferson City, MO. Currently, only American Airlines (to Chicago O'Hare and to Dallas - Ft. Worth) and Frontier (three times weekly (Mon., Wed., Fri,) to Orlando) offer air service to/from the airport. The airport (Website: [] ) offers only two rental car counters: Hertz and Enterprise. There's no public transportation other than taxi's and shuttles. Columbia is home to the University of Missouri. It's the fifth largest city in Missouri (Visitor Website: [] ), and it is located two hours west of Kansas City on Interstate 70 and two hours west of St. Louis on Interstate 70. When I lived in Columbia in the late 1990's, the best restaurant was the Flat Branch Pub and Brewery (Website: [] ). On a cold day, try the Tomato Mushroom Bisque, the Sausage and Chicken Bayou Pasta, and a Raspberry Brown (or during the summer Spicy Spinach Dip, Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich, and a Blueberry Ale). Another nice brewery is the Broadway Brewery and Restaurant. The Rooster Pizza or the Mushroom Manchego Pizza are both yummy choices along with their Blonde on Blonde Beer (Website: [] ). One of the nice surprises of this area, is the Les Bourgeois Vineyards (Website: [] ). If you're visiting during the summer, head to the Blufftop Bistro and take in the natural views while enjoying some wine and food. We liked the "Fried Green Tomatos" appetizer which consists of jumbo lump crab, sriracha remoulade, and scallions paired with the Chardonel wine. There is something neat about midwestern trails where large trees shade your bike ride or run. My favorite trail in Columbia is the Bear Creek Trail (Trail website: [] ). It's about five miles long on crushed gravel. Just west of the football stadium is a nice public golf course, A.L. Gustin Golf Course (Course Website: [] ), which is the home course for the University of Missouri. Columbia has all of your typical hotels. I'd suggest Priceline for the best prices. I hope to visit again in the near future.

---