- For Immediate Release: June 5, 2014 - 

~ Find Your Fun This Summer in Columbia ~

  Columbia Convention
& Visitors Bureau

800-652-0987
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[email protected]
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Finger Lakes State Park

 

Katy Trail State Park

 

Rock Bridge Memorial State Park

 

Flat Branch Pub and Brewing

 

Broadway Brewery

 

Logboat Brewing Company

 

Rock Bridge Brewing Company

 

Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival

 

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Stephens Lake Park, on the outskirts of Columbia's downtown district, is a great place to pass the lazy summer days.
Make the most of the warm summer months by planning a visit to Columbia and spend some time outdoors with friends and family at Columbia's many parks and conservation areas. After a day in the sun, cool off with a handcrafted beer from Columbia's four impressive breweries. And, as summer wanes, rock out at the largest music festival in Columbia. For more information on summertime fun around Columbia, please read on. And, for more information on all the events, attractions, and dining and lodging options around Columbia, please checkout www.VisitColumbiaMO.com.
THREE STATE PARKS OFFER LOTS OF OUTDOOR FUN AROUND COLUMBIA
The summer months are perfect for exploring the natural bounty that the state of Missouri offers. With numerous parks, conservation areas and trails around Columbia, there are plenty of options for hiking, biking, swimming, fishing, camping and more in the beautiful outdoors. There are ample opportunities to enjoy summer's splendor at Columbia's three area state parks.
 

Finger Lakes State Park - This 1,128-acre park was once the site of a coal strip-mining operation, which created the park's namesake lake configurations and rough terrain. The rugged landscape of Finger Lakes has been recycled into more than 70 miles of off-road motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle trails, only one of two Missouri state parks which allows off-road vehicles. For those looking for the more typical state park experience, the numerous finger-shaped lakes allow activities such as swimming, fishing, canoeing and scuba diving. Nearly a dozen small, isolated lakes left by the mining company were joined together by a series of dams and canals. The result is a long, narrow strand of water that runs more than a mile and a half along the eastern edge of the park, perfect for canoeing and kayaking. A sand swimming beach is located on one of the eastern finger lakes and fishing holes are scattered throughout the park. For more information on Finger Lakes State Park, visit TinyURL.com/FingerLakesStatePark

 

Katy Trail State Park - Visitors can hike, bike or stroll along the MKT Trail and Katy Trail for a view of the beautiful Missouri countryside set against an impressive backdrop of limestone bluffs that run along the Missouri River. The longest rails-to-trails program in the US, the Katy Trail State Park covers 240 miles of scenic Missouri landscape from Clinton on the west side of the state to Machens on the east. Much of the Katy Trail follows the Missouri River through forgotten railroad towns and along fields of corn and soybeans and placid pastures of cattle. The trail has stops along the way where home-cooked food is served in friendly restaurants and bed and breakfast inns. Rocheport, on the Missouri River west of Columbia, is a quintessential Katy Trail town, with lodging, restaurants, shops, the award-winning Les Bourgeois Vineyards and the only railroad tunnel on the trail. For more information on the Katy Trail, visit TinyURL.com/KatyTrailStatePark

 

Rock Bridge Memorial State ParkLocated just five miles south of the glow of Columbia's downtown lights, Rock Bridge Memorial State Park offers weekend wanderers the chance to scramble, hike and bicycle through some of the most popular trails in the state. The 2,272-acre park is home to fascinating geological formations, picturesque wooden boardwalks, a namesake rock bridge (pictured), sinkholes, a natural spring and underground stream in the impressive seven-mile long cave system that makes up the "Devil's Icebox." And, with advanced registration, Devil's Icebox also can be explored in its entirety with a day-long, guided wild cave tour complete with headlamps and kayaks. For more information on Rock Bridge State Park, visit TinyURL.com/RockBridgeStatePark.

TWO NEW BREWERIES OPEN IN COLUMBIA

Columbia has long been known as a college town, but it is quickly establishing itself as a bonafide "beer town," as well. The longtime favorite brewpub of locals, visitors and alumni is Flat Branch Pub and Brewing, located near Flat Branch Park in downtown, which is known for it's wide selection of in-house beers and diverse menu options. Broadway Brewery, which is located in the heart of downtown on Broadway Street, opened just a few years back and features a rotating list of craft brews and a seasonal menu comprised of locally-sourced produce and meats. Within the last couple of months, two more breweries have opened their doors and begun sharing their passion for the age-old art of beer making.

Logboat Brewing Company is located northeast of downtown at 504 Fay Street.

 

Logboat Brewing Company - The founders of Logboat wanted to create a space for friends to come together to celebrate camaraderie and handcrafted beers in a relaxed and friendly environment. The brewery, which opened its doors just over a month ago, features a taproom, which has a rustic, yet modern flavor, as well as a manicured lawn christened "the Shipyard" where visitors can sit and sip out-of-doors and even sign up for local bocce ball and croquet leagues. As for libations, Logboat offers four flagship beers - a Snapper IPA, Shiphead Ginger Wheat, Lookout APA, and the Mamoot Mild Ale - all of which are on tap and can be savored in the brewery's taproom Tuesdays through Thursdays from 3-10 p.m., Fridays from 3 p.m. until midnight and Saturdays from noon until midnight. For more information on Logboat, visit www.LogboatBrewing.com.

 

Rock Bridge Brewing Company As of April 12, Rock Bridge Brewing Company became Columbia's first wholesale brewery. The new company's business model differs from Flat Branch Pub & Brewing, Broadway Brewery and Logboat because, while the latter three make and sell their own beer on the premises, Rock Bridge makes its beer at its warehouse-turned-brewery and distributes it to various restaurants, bars and grocery and liquor stores around Columbia as well as the state of Missouri.  Rock Bridge currently produces six signature beers: Sif's Blonde, Saison, Occident Coast IPA, Rye You Lil' Punk IPA, Tailgate Brown and the Black Fog. For more information on the brewery, the brews, and where their beers can be found, visit www.RockBridgeBrewery.com.

 

For complete information on the beers and menu items offered at Flat Brach Pub and Brewing, please visit www.FlatBranch.com.  And, for comprehensive information on the beers and menu items at Broadway Brewery, please visit www.BroadwayBrewery.com.

ROOTS N BLUES N BBQ FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES PARTIAL LINEUP FOR 2014

Organizers for the  2014 Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival  (RnBnBBQ) have unveiled a partial lineup of musical acts in anticipation for the 2014 festival, which takes place Sept. 26-28.

 

The Avett Brothers bring their acclaimed, high-energy live performances to Columbia for Roots N Blues N BBQ.

Although there are still more names to be announced, festival organizers are excited about what's in store for attendees. On the marquee this year is a member of country music royalty, Roseanne Cash; venerable folk music troubadour John Prine; the highly acclaimed folk-rock outfit The Avett Brothers; Grammy award-winning latin rock band, Los Lobos; and a slew of other genre-bending bands and performers. For a full list of already confirmed performers, visit RootsnBluesnBBQ.com/Artists.

 

The 116-acre Stephens Lake Park offers ample space for festival performances, events, vendors and amusement rides.

Due to the overwhelming amount of positive feedback from last year's festival, Roots N Blues will once again be held in the picturesque Stephen's Lake Park, just 1.5 miles east of downtown Columbia. This is the eighth installment of this nationally recognized annual three-day event, which features musicians from all over the world performing a variety of blues, country, bluegrass, gospel, folk and soul music on two main stages. Roots 'n Blues also features a sanctioned half-marathon and 10k, mouth-watering barbeque and the inspiring "Blues in the Schools" program, which is a music education program provided to Columbia's elementary schools to encourage an appreciation for blues music and its history through mentorship with an artist in residence.

 

Passes for the 2014 fest are on sale now, so order yours today at RootsnBluesnBBQ.com/tickets. For more festival information, including musical lineups and registration forms for the marathon and 10k, please visit RootsnBluesnBBQ.com. 

Columbia features a mix of small town charm and friendliness with the amenities and cultural offerings of a big city. There is always something exciting to see and do in Columbia, so for more information on these and other ways to have fun in Columbia, please contact Megan McConachie
at the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800-652-0987 or at VisitColumbiaMO.com.
 

Attention Media: Let us play host and show you around Columbia. For more information, media assistance, high-resolution photography, or to schedule a press trip hosted by the Columbia CVB, please call The Beenders-Walker Group toll-free at 800-544-8474 or email Marjorie, Kyle or Jo.