Mother-Daughter Missouri Road Trip: Kansas City to Columbia

My mom and I like to plan at least one mother-daughter trip each year. This year we decided to visit her Missouri college town. My mom, Penny, attended Columbia University in the 1960’s when it was an all girls school called Christian College. We were excited to see her alma mater, take a peek at her dorm building and explore a bit of Columbia.

We both live in Kansas City, so it was a quick 3 hour road trip from Kansas City to Columbia and a great chance to stop along the way for a few excursions each direction and try out my new adidas Durano Lightmotion running shoes.

Fashion First

Even though it was a short road trip I wanted to be super comfortable, but also bring the right shoes and clothes that can double as workout gear and cute enough to wear on our excursions.

Durano Lightmotion Running Shoes

The adidas Lightmotion running shoes are very comfortable and I found that they run true to size. They are very light and flexible as well. I found them comfortable to wear for a full day on the road and sight seeing.

adidas Warp Knit Skort

I am also wearing the adidas warp knit skort in the above photo. While this is a great option for pickleball, tennis or golf, I think it’s a cute casual skirt.

Now that you know what shoe and skort you need for your next road trip, here are some of my top recommendations for things to do between Kansas City and Columbia and while you are in Columbia, Missouri:

Side Trip to Arrow Rock

While we loved visiting my mom’s college campus, I think we had the most fun at a few detours we planned. On our way from Kansas City to Columbia, we stopped in the tiny village of Arrow Rock. The entire village is part of the National Historic Landmark Arrow Rock Historic District.

Arrow Rock is a small and charming town that is easily walkable. When I say small, it has a population of 62. The town is packed with history, early American architecture, and charm. A great place to start your visit is at the Visitor Center, where you can learn about the area’s first inhabitants and the salt works that put the area on the map in the early 1800s.

You’ll also learn about Arrow Rock’s role in westward expansion, state commerce, slavery, and the Civil War. Be sure to check out the J. Huston Tavern, which dates back to 1834 and is the oldest continually serving restaurant west of the Mississippi River.

Tip: The Huston Tavern often is booked solid. Make a reservation in advance!

For art enthusiasts, a visit to George Caleb Bingham’s house is a must. The renowned painter’s home has been transformed into a museum, showcasing his iconic works and offering a glimpse into his creative process.

There is also a one-room jail, that might have been our favorite just because it was such a quirky find!

History Buff Fun Fact: Arrow Rock is where the Santa Fe Trail crossed the Missouri River; a pivotal crossroads in the nation’s westward expansion.

3 Favorite Things in Columbia

Visiting Columbia University

The first thing we did when we arrived in Columbia was to drive to Columbia College to see my mom’s alma mater. Her old dorm room is now an administration building and the oldest building on campus. This is what she was most excited to see and we were able to explore a bit of the main hall which my mom said the stained glass windows, huge fireplace and the winding staircase were all exactly the same.

Exploring the Devil’s Icebox

Devil’s Icebox is a cave located in Rock Bridge Memorial State Park just a few minutes from downtown Columbia and said to be one of the longest caves in the state of Missouri. We took the short, flat Devil’s Icebox trail to the cave. It was a really fun adventure into nature. We visited in summer during a heat wave, so the fact the cave is 56 degrees all year round was a great way to escape the summer heat.

Staying the the Historic Tiger Hotel

voco The Tiger Hotel offer a upscale luxurious accommodations in a historic setting. This is where we stayed during our visit to Columbia. The hotel has everything you need including an on-site coffee shop, taproom, speakeasy, and restaurant. It is also in the heart of downtown Columbia making it easy to walk to just about anything of interest in town including shops, restaurants, the University of Missouri, sculptures and pillars at Boone County Courthouse .

Fun Fact: The Tiger Hotel was the first skyscraper located between Kansas City and St. Louis.

And then we Met Shaq

During our stay, my mom and I ran into Shaquille O’Neal aka DJ Diesel at the Tiger Hotel. He was in Columbia for his 2023-24 DJ tour and we just happened to arrive the night of the show!

Full disclosure: this is not the best photo of me or my mom, but when you get a photo with Shaq, it’s a must to share it!

Rocheport Winery Town for Lunch

On our way from Columbia back to Kansas City, we stopped in Rocheport, a town on the Missouri River with a winery, restaurants, the Katy Trail, bed and breakfasts and lot’s of antique shops.

Only 240 people live here, but it’s absolutely worth a stop. Although, the main street, is so small, you could easily drive by without realizing there are plenty of things to do. We loved the mercantile store, that have a little bit of everything including some very cute clothes and where we each bought a wrist-let. We had lunch next door, at the Rocheport General Store. It was surprisingly quaint and food was amazing! I had a grilled brie salad with apples and strawberries (that I would drive an hour to have again!)

Recommended Travel Resources

*_{World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads or any other travel insurance company. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.} 

• Travel Insurance: World Nomads*.
• Transport: CheapOAir and Skyscanner (Best Sites to Research Flight Prices) 
• Best Car Rental Deals: Rentalcars.com
• Best Sites to Find Hotel Deals: Hotels.com and Booking.com
• My Favorite Hotel Review Website: TripAdvisor
• Best Tours: Viator and Get Your Guide

The adidas Durano Lightmotion running shoes, skort and socks were purchased with a gift card I was given due to being part of the adidas Blogger Community. As always all opinions are my own.

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