Skyview Balloons

2.2 mi

Oh boy. What is there to say. Think, think, think. Ok, to start this event was poorly planned…read morelogistically and poorly executed. It has to be pretty bad for event goers to openly start conversating about it at the event. There were several activities that Vicki had planned that had to be paid for by the patrons with inadequate time to complete these before it was too dark to see other than by flashlight. If I wanted to stand in the dark, I would have gone to a cave and that is free. Parking? Oh yeah there was a charge however not adequate parking provided. Moreover, while standing in line, another event goer wanted to do an activity they didn't pay for but was allowed to cut the line and do it for free after telling the clerk she didn't have cash with her. So why did the rest of us have to pay? The fact is that she wasn't without money, just without the proper form of payment. So what happens when we get in contact with Vicki? After three emails she decides to call us and explain from the first word that "there is nothing I can say that will make you happy". How about I apologize? That would be a start. Instead we got an earful about how hard her life is and how busy she is. This, of course, after admitting that she ignored our emails instead of answering them politely and appropriately like a responsible business owner. Then this, dare I say, lady, of mature age tried to give us a quick block of instruction on how Facebook works. Outcome? You guessed it! She was completely incorrect. She was delusional at best. Remember that famous episode of Kitchen Nightmares where Gordon Ramsay went to Amy's Baking Company? She was Amy. According to Vicki hot air balloons are dangerous. So if you think about hiring her, I'd put my safety in the hands of someone.... a little more stable or at least a better business owner that doesn't cut corners and then make excuses about how that is ok because her life is hard.

Dollar Tree Stores

4.0

2.0 mi

The Dollar Tree is one of my go-to places for holiday and party shopping! I even go here for random…read moresupplies like batteries, paper plates, greeting cards, and bath supplies. Their name says it all, everything is $1, everything! You can get some decent decorations, candy, and party supplies here. Everything from themed party supplies, including helium balloons, to toys, books, home goods, kitchen gadgets, cleaning supplies, candy, food, drinks, EVERYTHING. I don't know if I mentioned this, but everything is $1.00! If you are going around an upcoming holiday, the early bird really does get the worm. Sometimes when something sells out, they never get it back in. So, plan ahead and shop early! Enjoy!!!

Skydive Flying V Ranch

(4 reviews)

37.0 mi

I've jumped at the V-Ranch 3 times now and each time I've enjoyed it tremendously. Van his wife…read more(pilot) Emiko and Steve are all awesome people who make your skydiving experience memorable. They have 10,000 ft and 13,500 ft tandems as well as solo jump options. Bring a jump drive to capture your moment or purchase a DVD for $49 which they cut and create right there while you wait. There's so much to do on the ranch you'll just have to go check it out.

Had such an incredible experience today with Flying V Ranch. I don't think this was just a…read more"checking off my bucket list" type of item. I will be back!!!

Newest and Safest Parachutes to set you down softly!

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Lake Ozark Helicopters

4.9

(14 reviews)

53.5 mi

We had such a great time!!! My husband is a little nervous about heights so I didn't chose a long…read moreride, but DEFINITELY should've chosen a longer flight. The sights were beautiful and the pilot was great.

You guys! Do not even hesitate to do this! What an amazing time! My husband and I popped in 2…read moreweeks ago and had an absolute blast. So exhilarating--and the views! Do the longer one if you can--15 mins was perfect for us. Every employee was friendly and very professional. One rockstar was our pilot, Rico (or Greco? He told me his name with the flap flap flapping of the rotor going--ha)! He was absolutely fantastic--I felt like he was capable, always informing us through the headsets what to expect next. He was an awesome tour guide, pointing out interesting bits with genuine enthusiasm. Just a really nice guy, and I felt like I could just relax and enjoy the ride (if you knew me, you'd know what a big deal that really is). It was a great time, and I highly recommend it! Enjoy!

The beautiful Lake of the Ozarks

Ha Ha Tonka Castle

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The Magic Dragon car show on the Bagnell Dam Strip!

AIRO

1.0

53.5 mi

I'm putting one star because Yelp forces this, but I'm really offering zero stars on this company…read more I know this sounds like I'm being a jerk - but honestly, I was shocked at this operation. First, not a single person from the desk clerks to the young lady who led me out to the copter were remotely friendly. And the pilot - he was openly rude. To top it off, I paid for two seats because that was the minimum to have them go up, and I was the only passenger. Also, I paid for the Ultimate package which was advertised as a 30 minute trip (around $400 for the two seats). We landed slightly under 15 minutes after going up. I honestly have never felt so poorly served - and I had been so excited to do this.

From the owner: Think you've seen Lake Ozark You haven't seen it all until you've seen it from a helicopter! From…read moreBagnell Dam, to Ha Ha Tonka, to Margaritaville, and everything in between. Whether it's a date night, or family adventure, AIRO makes it special. Now offering Christmas light tours for the first year ever!

Find us at local events and festivals!

Helicopter tours over Lake Ozark

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Albert-Oakland Park

(6 reviews)

4.7 mi

A top notch park in Columbia full of rec activities for all ages. You have swimming, tennis,…read morewalking/running trails, disc golf and more. On top of that, it's immaculately maintained. Any city across the country would love to have park like Albert-Oakland (sadly many don't). I came for the disc golf. Two 18 holes courses (wow!). The original winds through gentle slopes and wooded areas, complete with tough dog legs and water hazards. The newer course mostly takes you up and down a large hill. While this newer course's layout is a bit simpler than the original, you will be throwing around plenty of well-placed trees and other obstacles. You could spend all day here and never be bored. I hope to be back the next time I'm in Columbia!

I've never seen an aquatic center with no chairs or loungers for people to sit on. It's absolutely…read moreridiculous. The pictures that I saw online showed zero chairs around the pool. Also, I spoke to some female on the phone and I when I said thank you for the information she said, "yup" Unprofessional.

Fun in the Sun with Sissy

Front entrance

Water park swimming pool

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Chilli Bay Water Park

(3 reviews)

87.4 mi

Very clean, tons and I mean tons of lifeguards, staff was excellent and very friendly. $10 for most…read moreto get in, non swimmers/ seniors/ small children are cheaper but I don't remember the price. They take cash or credit which is awesome in my book. Now for the park.. tons of stuff to do for all ages. Lazy river, 3 larger slides, two little ones for smaller kids in the splash pad area, rock wall high and low dive etc. They do have a concession stand as well. Would highly recommend for a family fun day.

It's the best place to go in town according to my child. The slides are the number one thing to…read moredo.He can't wait to get there and doesn't want to leave.

Osage View

4.2

(6 reviews)

41.2 mi

The food was very tasty and if you want to take it home . The time that was told to pick up was…read moreright on time.

The food and serixe are always amazing here. The food is super cheap, huge portions, and so food…read more The grilled shrimp, pretzels, quesadilla, and sweet potato fries are my top favorites so far. The salads are good as well. We couldn't ask for better service . We were recently there after closing due to a storm and thet were nice enough to go back to the kitchen and srsy late to feed us. The servers are always friendly and attentive, usually a lot of college kids and they are great.

4 lanes of duckpin bowling available to rent by the hour

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Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf

Very nice people and very nice mini course - we only played 18 holes but enjoyed it very much. Many…read morevery creative holes with water hazards!! Too much fun.

Staff were helpful and friendly. There are two courses. We did Blackbeard's challenge. Course is…read moreclean and has great waterfalls as scenery. Fun course nicely laid out. Parking is plenty. You get different colored balls for each person. Bring water because there is not a lot of shade. Great family fun.

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Midway Golf & Games

(24 reviews)

3.4 mi

This is a great family friendly, data night cozy kind of outdoor experience. Many options for fun…read moreand spending time together. Everyone is super nice and helpful. The clubhouse is comfy when you need to get out of the heat. Plenty of space for a party or just a family outing.

We stopped in for a free concert and had a great time. The drinks were amazing and the service was…read moregreat. We sat in big wooden lawn chairs and enjoyed a great rock show. The opening band was decent, but young and still learning. The crowd was warmed up when Hang Your Hate took the stage. They totally rocked the place and everyone was jumping.

Sliders

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Stephens Lake Park

4.7

(20 reviews)

3.4 mi

This is a great park for walking, jogging, and leisurely fishing. The park is a large loop with…read moremultiple views around the trails. I loved that you could walk across the lake via bridge or walk around it completely. The playground is more for kids 4-10 but with a watchful eye littles 1-3 can have a blast too. There looked like construction for the littles playground coming in the spring. Dogs are allowed on leash so let the dogs out and be sure to clean up after them. This park is very accessible but I did not check the restroom to see if they were accessibly friendly.

Oh wow came here on vacation what a beautiful spot. The area is just peaceful and quiet. We had a…read morepicnic It was well maintained. A must to visit

Fishing area

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Shelter Gardens

4.8

(11 reviews)

1.5 mi

This is the cutest garden with so much to offer. I really enjoyed my visit. The rock tree mosaic…read morewas my favorite feature. Those who get to visit often are so lucky.

Great place to stop for nature when visiting Columbia Missouri. Some flowers are already in bloom.read more

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Karen T.

5 years ago

What a fun ride. Ben was so gracious and accommodating for a few special needs. Landed with only a slight bump. Impressive. Stellar pilot. Highly recommend. Saw our balloon reflection in the water and silhouette in the trees read more

Skyview Balloons - hot_air_balloons - Updated August 2026

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4.0

(19 reviews)

This place is great! I went here on a class trip today and I genuinely enjoyed it the staff were…read morenice and the play place was fun and chaotic but it was a great experience I would genuinely come back again 5 Stars!

They took one look at me and decided that I would have to pay $23 + tax for a $20 package even…read morethough the price on their board right behind the register shows the $20 price. Do not go here! I make it a rule to only patronize businesses that don't discriminate.

Tiger Bounce

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This place is great. Wonderful. Amazing even, just absolutely wonderful I just love it hereread more

If heaven for toddlers + chaos had a name, it'd be called Tiger Bounce. Our 3 and 6 year old love…read moreit! Plenty of bouncy items to jump on, things to climb, and benches for parents to sit on. It's like Lord of the Flies came alive but with less violence. Bring noise cancelling headphones and a fully charged phone to avoid the ambiance. At $8 a kid, totally worth it on our trip to Columbia to tire out the wee ones during our winter break trip to visit the in-laws. We've been twice this week.

Tiny Play Cafe

4.6

(5 reviews)

we went back winter 2026 and it's definitely been played with hard. It was less enthusing this…read moretime, seems to need an update, but I realize kids are hard on things. Seems pricey for what you get. This time I have a 4 and 2 year old. The owner was there, but not super friendly to customers. She just looked at us and kept doing what she was doing. The place is still well decorated and cute, can just tell it's used. I didn't have any food this time.

What a fun morning. We were visiting Columbia for an event at Mizzou with an infant and a…read morepreschooler. Weather was iffy so we wanted an indoor place for them to play. Stumbled on tiny play on the web and so glad we booked. The online reservation process was a little much for a one time visit, but it worked out. The play area was so clean, staff were friending and the kids were thrilled. Enjoyed the separate baby area. They have a coffee bar and separate birthday party rooms. We will go again if in Columbia.

Record Breaking Ranch

We have been going to Record Breaking Ranch for the last 3 years as a family of 4…read more We love RBR! The lodge, the food, the hunting and the hospitality are over the top. So fun! We have mounts for the game room and meat for the table for the whole year. Highly recommended. Never too early to start your family tradition. Thank you Amy and staff... See you soon!!

Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area

Eagles Bluff is a peaceful and wonderful conservation area with lots of creatures to look at:…read moreincluding eagles! Eagles Bluff has a lookout point, several trails, picnic tables next to the water, and a beautiful view of the constantly moving waters. I would go to Eagles Bluff all the time while attending college at Mizzou to get away from stressors and to relax outdoors. It's a wonderful spot to study or read because of how peaceful it is! This is also a popular conversation area to go fishing (make sure to look at park instructions on fishing in the area). Check out Eagles Bluff on the outskirts of Columbia next time you are in the area!

Twin Lakes Recreation

3.9

(12 reviews)

The common bathrooms here were disgusting. Full of mice poop everywhere and so unclean! Yuck!read more

Went here yesterday, it was nice, but....... The grass was not kept and looked like it needed to be…read morecut. Trash cans were full to the brim and stunk of doggy poop. overall it was a nice experience, however the upkeep of grounds needs serious attention!

Capen Park

Capen Park is more than just an outdoor area: it has walkable and bikeable paths as well as…read morestunning scenic lookout points. You might see lovely engagement or family photos taking place at this spot because of the gorgeous views. The unique part about this trail is that you don't have to travel far away and is found within Columbia city limits. There are countless college students that will walk to this trail to get away from school stressors! Capen Park is a "Must Visit" trail to experience next time you are in Columbia!

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