There are several great parks in Columbia. Probably the biggest and best for a play area and is Cosmo Park which is really quite close to the conference hotel. It could be walking distance if I 70 wasn't in the way! But from the hotel you would just go across I 70 to the access road and turn right and drive down to the park entrance which is on your right.

Rock Bridge State Park is a great park for hiking easy trails. The trail to Devil's Ice Box is a favorite. Devil's Ice Box is deep sink hole that goes down to a cave. There is a board walk all the way there through the woods. It also goes along the stream and under the "Rock Bridge" It is an easy walk but there are a considerable number of stairs. It is located in the South Part of Columbia, probably a 15 minute drive from the hotel.

The ARC (Activities and Recreation Center) is run by Parks and Rec. It is a great rec center for kids and adults. There is an indoor recreational pool with a "lazy river", a whirlpool, a 3 storey slide and climbing stuff. There are multiple basketball courts, a running/walking track and all the exercise equipment you could ever want. There is even an electronic "game" room. I think the cost for a day pass is $5.00 for adults and maybe $3.00 for kids or something close to that. It is located about a 5 min. drive from the hotel.

There are also several outdoor public pools in town that should be open by that weekend. The most fun one for kids is probably Oakland Park Pool because it has a kids section w/fun stuff to play on or the best one I think is Twin Lakes pool and Little Mates Cove. It is a lake to swim in w/slides etc into it and then a large wading depth water park type place w/slides, fountains etc. It is great for young kids and adults can even enjoy it. Oakland pool is in the North part of town and about a 10 min drive and Twin Lakes is in the South part of town and also about a 10 min drive.

The Columbia Mall is across the street for those that need a mall fix and Toys R U is a block away for those that can't live a weekend without them. There is also a Chuck E Cheese which apparently some Dad's like to hang out in with kids.

The MKT trail which comes off the KATY trail runs through Columbia and there are several entrances. It is a beautiful trail that we really enjoy walking/running and biking on. The easiest entrance from the hotel would be to go south on Stadium (which is where the hotel is) about maybe 6 minutes to the Stadium entrance. That time of year the trail is beautiful and that section goes over several bridges w/ creeks that the kids always love.

There is a great downtown area which has restaurants, shops and a funky movie theatre called Ragtag, but actually the movies there are not very kid oriented. There are 2 other movie theatres in town that are also South on Stadium and easy to get to.