Travel Midwest Magazine Travel Midwest Digital ReplicaSUM17 | Page 158

Time and time again, visitors are delightfully surprised by Columbia. From picturesque parks and clever cuisine to amazing art and superb shopping, visitors find that Columbia is more than your average college town. We like to think of Columbia as a cool neigh- borhood in a big city, with a young vibe and an active buzz. We’re also a friendly and welcom- ing place, with a thriving downtown and an abundance of cultural opportunities. Think you know Columbia? Here are a few things about our city you might unexpect. Love ice cream? Love wine? Of course you do. Could we interest you in some wine ice cream? Check out Sparky’s Homemade Ice Cream in downtown Columbia for flavors only a genius could think up. Think lavender-honey, pineapple upside-down cake, red wine-dark chocolate or green tea. With a couple dozen flavors always in rotation, you never know what one-of-a-kind concoction will be tempt- ing your taste buds. The University of Missouri campus is beautiful to explore, but did you know that the entire campus is a botanic garden? The Mizzou Botanic Garden is a living museum of thou- sands of plants displayed among historic buildings and monuments. The garden serves as both a delight to visitors and as a learning tool for students at Mizzou. Columbia I S E X A C T LY W H AT Y O U U N E X P E C T Plenty of cities boast film festivals. However, Columbia’s True/False Film Fest is one of the most respected events in the world for the documentary film community, and the event is truly Columbia at its best. The festival not only showcases incredible films but also musical showcases, a game show and the weirdest parade you’ll ever see. These are just a few ways that Columbia is What You Unexpect. We truly believe the ex- periences you have, the people you meet, and the memories you take with you will all exceed your expectations. “From picturesque parks and clever cuisine to amazing art and superb shopping, visitors find that Columbia is more than your average college town.” 156 | Summer 2017 | Travel Midwest