Small Towns Deliver Big Surprises
Winston Churchill once said “No hour of life is wasted that is spent the Callaway.” OK, we made that up – he actually said “in the saddle.” But Sir Winston would have been right either way. Eat, drink, be merry, be serious, go shopping, go back in time, learn things…it’s all right here in Fulton & Callaway County, Missouri.
Be Merry: For an eating, drinking and being merry attraction, you just can’t beat Fulton’s downtown Brick District. 613 Court St. 573-642-8010. Enjoy locally owned boutiques, eateries and treateries, spots for relaxing cocktails. You’ll find authentic Brooklyn pizza made by Brooklynites, Cuban specialties at a family run cafe, an American gastropub, and so much more.
Indulge Your Senses: Visit Serenity Valley Winery just outside of Fulton, Canterbury Hill Winery & Restaurant in Holts Summit, and Elderblossom View in New Bloomfield provide tranquil atmospheres with spectacular views. Don’t miss sampling some boozy slushies at The Station, Fulton’s newest cocktail joint, known for their amazing variety of frozen concoctions and large patio. All of these locations offers live music during their summer music series.
Celebrate: Enjoy the coolest events the Callaway year-round – like the Fulton Street Fair, the only summer event on the Callaway County Mutton Trail. Be sure to check out our ever changing calendar of events.
Get Outside: Missouri’s Katy Trail was recently named the nation’s 13th best state park by Travel Awaits. This 220 mile trail travels along the Missouri River through the southern border of Callaway County. Not only is it popular with hikers and bicyclists, the Callaway County section from Portland to Tebbetts is also one of just two equestrian friendly areas on the trail. Just outside of Fulton, you can find Prairie Garden Trust (PGT) , which was named a birding hotspot on E-Bird. If golf is your game, Fulton’s Tanglewood Golf Course is one of the best public courses to be found in Central Missouri.
Be Serious: Pay homage to brave Missouri firefighters who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty at the Firefighters Memorial. In 2001, a statue commissioned for this memorial had just arrived in port from Italy. The Fire Fighters Association of Missouri donated that statue to New York City in honor of the heroes from the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center. A replacement statue is now on display near 5550 Dunn Dr, Kingdom City,
Go Back in Time: Without the automobile, we wouldn’t have had the suburbs, family vacations, or the Delorean time machine in “Back to the Future.” Explore automotive history at the Auto World Museum in Fulton. Yes, there’s a Delorean, as well as a 1909 Model T, a 1931 RollsRoyce Phantom, a 1963 Corvette Stingray and so much more.
Learn Things: We started out talking about Churchill and there is no better place to end than America’s National Churchill Museum. During World War II, Winston Churchill’s oratory carried England through its darkest days, from Dunkirk to the fall of Nazi Germany. Explore his extraordinary life, including his highest and lowest moments, and his famous visit to Fulton in 1946. The museum’s gallery has a fine collection of Churchill’s art. Speaking of works of art, the Church of St. Mary, the Virgin, Aldermanbury (the 17th-century church that was brought from London to house the museum) is a work of art in itself. Nearby, stands the sculpture Breakthrough - created out of sections of the Berlin Wall.
Come visit, you’ll be surprised by how much a small town can offer. Call us at 573.642.7692 for a visitor guide.