There’s always something to do in Columbia. Whether you’re a shopaholic, nature buff, fine arts patron, or sports fan—Columbia has something to entertain everyone.

Shopping

No matter where you are in Columbia, it’s just a short drive to one of the many shopping centers. A variety of shops are located at the region’s largest mall, Columbia Mall (with over 100 stores), the Downtown area has many unique shops and boutiques, and you can take your pick from the many smaller shopping centers throughout the city. For more information about the Columbia Mall, call 573-445-8458 and for the Downtown Association, call 573-442-6816 or visit their web site.

Theater & Music

For those who enjoy the theater, Columbia offers a choice of professional, collegiate, and community productions. Rhynsburger Theater (573-882-2021) produces collegiate plays, Corner Playhouse Theater, Stephens College Macklanburg Playhouse, and Warehouse Theater (573-876-7199) present both collegiate and professional productions, and for community theater there is the Columbia Entertainment Company (573-474-3699) and Maplewood Barn Theater (573-449-7571). For more musical tastes, the Missouri Symphony Society (573-875-0600) holds performances in the historic Missouri Theater; and Columbia Entertainment Band, Columbia Civic Orchestra, and Columbia Choral Ensemble also have regular performances. Additionally, a wide variety of musical acts perform at several smaller bars and establishments.

Parks and Nature Trails

Outdoor enthusiasts can spend time in any of the over 40 area parks, including; Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, which has 2100 acres of hiking & biking trails, as well as a cave system; Gans Creek Wild Area; Three Creeks State Forest, which has both hiking and horse trails; and many others. The MKT Nature and Fitness Trail is a wooded pathway through the city and connects to the Katy Trail State Park, the largest rails-to-trails conversion in the nation.

Sports

Columbia has a large selection of places to golf, play tennis, swim, bowl, and skate. There are currently 15 athletic/health Clubs. The University of Missouri-Columbia attracts large crowds with its Big 12 Conference basketball and football, as well as NCAA Division I baseball, wrestling, volleyball, softball, gymnastics, and track & field. The Show-Me State Games offers a chance for amateur athletes to compete in an annual statewide, olympic-style event with many different sports.