As a Jefferson City native growing up, and still residing on the westside, my family and I know the ins and outs. Westside Jefferson City is home to some gorgeous neighborhoods, both new and old. We are lucky to have several beautiful parks, pools, and places for kids to play. As the years go on, our restaurant and entertainment options continue to grow too.
Coffee:
Get your morning caffeine at Dunn Bros. where they freshly roast their coffee beans each day.
Breakfast:
Mel’s Café is hard to beat with their traditional décor and diner fare — the ham and cheese omelet is my go-to, and they have some of the kindest staff in town!
Morning Activity:
Stop by Studio573 for a yoga or barre class. You will be sure to get your sweat on.
Lunch:
One of our favorites is West Main Pizza. This darling spot has great pizza (be sure to try the Wild Buffalo!), and their salads are even better. You may even catch some live music.
Afternoon Activity:
Hop across the street after sharing a slice to Art 101 for one of their painting classes.
Snack:
For an afternoon snack, visit the Hy-Vee Bakery. They have amazing cupcakes, cookies, and pastries, but the brownies with cream cheese frosting are my favorite treat.
Dinner:
One of our favorite date night stops is Domenico’s. Share a carafe of wine, and don’t skip the special. Mark, the owner, will not steer you wrong! Some nights, you can enjoy fresh oysters!
Dessert:
Hear me out on this one — Sweet Smoke BBQ. They have some of the best homemade pudding and will make you the perfect root beer float. You will love it!
Evening Activity:
After all the dinner and dessert, you may be ready for a walk! The westside offers many gorgeous places to get your steps in. Stop by Binder Park for somewhere quiet, Memorial Park for the kids to play, or the Greenway trail on Edgewood if you are looking for distance.
One place you must visit is the Runge Nature Center
Lindsey Rowden
If you love nature as much as I do, one place you must visit is the Runge Nature Center. Not only do they have walking trails, bird watching, and an indoor aquarium, they host free hands-on activities and classes nearly every weekend that are fun for all ages.
Lindsey Rowden is currently serving on the Jefferson City School District Board of Education and the CITY Magazine Advisory Board. In her free time she enjoys reading, trying new things, and spending time with her three busy kids.
