Best college town in every state
By Nick Villano
Best college towns in America: Columbia, Missouri (Home of University of Missouri)
The University of Missouri is right in the middle of Missouri’s rolling hills. Rock Bridge Memorial State Park brings a ton of amenities to anyone looking to unwind in nature. Inside is the Gabs Creek Wild Area, which is home to some of the more isolated trails in the state. Some of the other trails there are definitely at a level for all hikers. There’s a large cave system and even a rock bridge in the park.
If you’re looking to check out a movie you haven’t seen the preview to yet, check out the Ragtag Cinema. It has a series of couches and chairs to share for some of the great local indie movies that make Missouri great.
Dance is a huge part of Columbia, Missouri. The ballet company is one of the few professional ones in the area. The Missouri Contemporary Ballet boasts more than 60 original works alone. There’s also the award-winning competitive dance team at Dancearts, both of which you can see play shows multiple times a year.
Like many other schools in the country, Missouri needs a good football team to have a good tailgate, but when the Tigers are rolling, the parking lots of Faurot Field are electric. If not, maybe check out the game and the insane food and drink specials at Campus Bar & Grill on Saturdays. It might be packed, but it will be worth it.