There are great places to see and things to do in Jefferson City. Here is a 24-hour itinerary packed with great food, historic views, and fun activities in east Jefferson City.
Breakfast:
Oscar’s Classic Diner has a full breakfast menu to help start your day.
Morning activity:
Visit the Soldier’s Memorial at Lincoln University to honor the black Civil War soldiers who founded the college.
Lunch:
JQ’s on High is a fantastic stop for lunch. You cannot go wrong with their delicious menu!
Afternoon activity:
Pop into Premium Pets on McCarty Street to get something for the fur babies in your life or stroll down East Capitol Avenue. You can also check out The Art Bazaar in the Village Square. This place is a neat little shop full of unique pottery and décor.
Snack:
Cool off with a Daisy Delight soft-serve shake or dipped cone. Daisy Delight on East McCarty Street has been serving families for over 65 years!
Evening activity:
Looking to wind down? Relax at Riverside Park and walk the shaded Greenway trails.
Dinner:
Finish the day at Prison Brews for dinner and bocce on the patio.
Nightlife:
Take a Missouri State Penitentiary Tour. You can go in the afternoon, or if you dare, wait for a ghost tour at night!
One thing you don’t want to miss is the new Community Park.
Chris Duren
With all these activities on the eastside of town, one thing you don’t want to miss is the new Community Park at 725 Marshall St. This is a treasure for the surrounding neighborhoods and a MUST do. You can bring checkers/chess pieces to play on tables designed with the built-in game boards while the kids play on the splash pad. Ziplines, creative swings, and an impressive climbing structure all fill this fun, new park.
I would also recommend taking the time to see the historic areas in east Jefferson City. See the city’s beautiful turn of the century architecture and go visit the prison that housed famous inmates like Pretty Boy Floyd, Charles (Sonny) Liston, and James Earl Ray. Experience the deep history that Jefferson City has to teach us.
Chris Duren has lived in east Jefferson City for 25 years. She is the museum director of JCMOMA and a teacher at Lighthouse Prep Academy.
