Missouri Mornings, Music, and a Pontoon Named Trust Me
- 1nonblonde
- Jun 30
- 4 min read
May 2025: Ah, Columbia, Missouri - home of Mizzou, wild weather swings, and, for one magical week, us. We rolled into Cottonwoods RV Park ready to enjoy some quality time with Darren’s niece Carolyn and her crew - Curtis, Caden, and a little bit of Cullen (Carliegh, we missed you, but we assume college is still worth it!).
Cottonwoods RV Park was a lush little gem tucked behind a road that may or may not have been inspired by the pothole policies of Louisiana and Indiana. We bounced in like popcorn kernels in hot oil, but once we settled, the charm of this older park grew on us.
Despite being packed in like sardines at a family reunion, our pull-through site was plenty long enough to park the truck on either end of our camper and still get the porch down with room for activities. Gravel under the rig, concrete under the picnic table - a real choose-your-own-texture adventure.
The bathrooms? Solidly functional and clean, with a classic locker room vibe — showers lined up on one side, toilet stalls on the other. Nothing fancy, but everything worked, and they were well-maintained throughout our stay. If you’ve ever been to summer camp or a rec center, you’ll know the setup. Bonus points for hot water and actual hooks to hang your stuff.
But let’s talk soundtrack for a moment. Highway noise gave us a solid bassline of semis and sirens, spiced up occasionally by the rumble of a distant train and a few overenthusiastic neighborhood dogs. Honestly, it was like being inside a Missouri-themed white noise machine.
Slice of Local Life: Shakespeare’s Pizza
Our first night in town, Carolyn, Curtis, and Caden met us at Shakespeare’s Pizza, a Columbia institution that serves up thin crust slices with a side of nostalgia and college-town buzz. The decor was delightfully chaotic - like a pizza place that got hit with a thrift store tornado - and the atmosphere was lively, even on a weekday.
We caught up with the family over giant, cheesy slices, cold drinks, and the kind of laughter that makes your face hurt. The boys inhaled their meals like seasoned pros, while the ladies tried to act like we weren’t going back for seconds. Spoiler: we did.
Cooper’s Landing: Music, Beer, and Jonathan’s Not-So-Sketchy Pontoon
Carolyn and Curtis took us to Cooper’s Landing Marina & Campground, and let me tell you: this place oozed riverfront personality. It’s wedged right along the Missouri River, with small campsites that might be better suited for tents and Matchbox RVs - we wouldn’t have squeezed our 5th wheel in there with a crowbar and divine intervention.
But it didn’t matter - we weren’t there to camp. We were there for vibes. And “Open Road,” a live band that knew their way around a cover tune, plus local craft beers, made the evening especially golden. It had the kind of laid-back feel that makes you want to adopt a river dog and start writing country songs.
Now, we know what you’re thinking: Don’t get on a boat with a stranger named Jonathan. But this Jonathan? Salt-of-the-earth, pontoon-owning, KEEN sandal-wearing river guy who invited the four of us (yes, including Carolyn and Curtis) for a spin up the Missouri River. And surprisingly, it wasn’t sketchy at all. In fact, it was serene - if a bit windy.
Biking the Trails & a Fort Collins Flashback
One sunny afternoon, we loaded up the e-bikes and hit the trails. We explored the local MKT Trails (Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad Trails), Bear Creek Trail, and Perche Creek Trail, among others, all scenic gems. They offered all the things we love in a trail: tree-lined paths, gently rolling hills, and zero traffic. We cruised along, stopping here and there to admire nature, question whether that was a hawk or just a loud squirrel, and soak in the Missouri greenery.
Midway through our ride, we rolled into Trail Stop Brewing Company for a lunch break. The food hit the spot (flat bread pizza, crispy salads, and refreshing beer - Columbia’s trifecta of joy), but the best part wasn’t on the menu.
We struck up a conversation with a couple at the next table and, as small talk turned into shared details, jaws hit the floor: they were former Fort Collins residents, and not just in a “we’ve heard of it” kind of way. Their house? ON DARREN’S OLD UPS ROUTE. We’re not saying the universe is small - we’re saying it might be a cul-de-sac.
The Art of Odd: Boathenge
Just when we thought Columbia couldn’t get any quirkier, Carolyn introduced us to Boathenge - and yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like. Take one part ancient mystery, one part Midwestern ingenuity, and one large helping of “What if we used old boats instead of stones?”
Boathenge is tucked near the Missouri River (just down from Cooper's Landing), in what feels like a secret little slice of weird Americana. Fiberglass vessels planted stern-down into the earth, arranged in a Stonehenge-esque circle, silently honoring… I don’t know, fishing? Summer camp? Boat ghosts? Whatever the inspiration, it was oddly beautiful and wonderfully offbeat - basically the Missouri version of a selfie trap.
Fireside Feels: Grilling & Chilling
Back at Cottonwoods, we wrapped up our evenings in the best way we know how - grilling at the campsite. Jumbo S'mores sizzling over the flames while the sun filtered through the trees made for the perfect wind-down. We shared laughs, swapped stories, and may have over-served ourselves in the name of “balancing the bike rides.”
Columbia, you were unexpectedly charming. You gave us gritty roads, cool river hangs, clean showers, and a pontoon named Trust Me (okay, we named it that, but it still counts). We’ll see you again someday - just maybe not during pothole season.
Cheers!
Comments