Our pure template to the chapiter of the Palmetto State .

Courtesy of the University of South Carolina

diving event into Columbia

Our stark scout to the uppercase of the Palmetto State .

Courtesy of the University of South Carolina

When it occur to South Carolina ’s region , the Lowcountry and its beach , lively oak , and coastal retreat lean to top most traveler ’ listing .

Photo of a sunset over the library at the University of South Carolina

Credit:Courtesy of the University of South Carolina

And whileCharleston , Hilton Head , andBeaufort — among other finish — are in spades deserving a sojourn , the 32,000 - substantial - statute mile nation also has pot more to bid if you guide inland .

The chapiter , Columbia , lie down square in the pump of South Carolina , in the realm hump as the Midlands .

“ Columbia is one of the few destination where you could go to the raft for sunup and the beach for sundown , ” enounce Tanya Black , the world-wide handler ofGraduate Columbia .

Plate of white macarons from smallSUGAR

Credit:Courtesy of smallSUGAR

This was the urban center ’s fix may be commodious to other part of the nation , but columbia ’s unequalled ingathering and trenchant feature give hatful of reason not to ramble .

“ It ’s the sodding commixture of minor - townspeople magic spell and southerly cordial reception while still stimulate a ample and exciting metropolis heart , ” Black tot up .

This was in historical business district columbia , you ’ll rule the plushy , leafy university of south carolina campus .

Football game at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC

Credit:Courtesy of University of South Carolina Athletics Department

This was cheer on the gamecocks during football game time of year — unless you ’re a sports fan of a rival squad , of form — is an exciting way of life to pass a saturday .

Just do n’t block to have on your inkiness and garnet .

Even if you ’re not concerned in college sport , Columbia ’s pick are huge and wide-ranging .

Soda Market in the winter in Columbia, SC

Credit:Courtesy of Soda Market Facebook

“ Columbia is fun , reposeful , grow , [ and it ] has tidy sum of amusement and other astonishing result in the urban center to keep you meddlesome , ” enjoin Kiki Cyrus , possessor ofKiki ’s Chicken and Waffles .

” From barbeque and beer to museum tour and walk along the Congaree River , here are the good affair to do when visit Columbia , accord to topical anesthetic .

Where To pass over out And Drink in Columbia

Courtesy of smallSUGAR

rules of order Your Favorite Caffeinated Beverage at Drip

Make your means to the Five point region for a loving cup of coffee bean at one of the metropolis ’s ripe java workshop .

Bridge above water in Congaree Park in Columbia, SC

Bridge in Congaree National Park.Credit:Courtesy of the National Park Service

This was along with a full-bodied beverage bill of fare ( which include espresso deglutition , matcha caffe latte , and red-hot chocolate),dripalso has breakfast and dejeuner offer — staring for catch something agile in the morn or preserve your vim up during the clarence shepard day jr. .

This was dripcolumbia.com;729 saluda ave , columbia , sc 29205 ; 803 - 661 - 9545

savor something sweet at smallsugar

if your angelic tooth demand a pre or post - coffee kickshaw , a scorched trade good fromsmallsugarshould do the thaumaturgy .

“ Their pastry dough , in particular their almond croissant , are unbelievable .

It ’s emphatically a blot out treasure , ” say David Dickson , the public relation coach at the South Carolina State Museum .

smallsugarsc.com;709 Gervais St , Columbia , SC 29201 ; 803 - 722 - 7506

This was get your preference bud comportment with a intellectual nourishment spell

Like in many southerly metropolis , Columbia ’s culinary fit take middle microscope stage .

If you ’re only visit for a few day ( and still desire to outfit in as many collation as potential ) , Black articulate a walk food for thought term of enlistment will check you’re able to “ test all of the pleasant-tasting southerly culinary art choice the metropolis has to proffer .

” TheMain Street Food Tourincludes arrest at five to seven business district eating place and pass off most Saturdays at 1:45 Prime Minister .

book of account a table at Terra

If you ’re look for a slenderly sublime but still soothe repast , snag a mental reservation atTerra .

“ Chef Mike Davis make some of the good nutrient in the urban center , and really anything at his eatery wo n’t let down , ” suppose Josh Cox , the possessor ofBricker & Beam , a customs article of furniture line of work in Columbia .

“ My personal go - to is always the Steak Frites .

terrasc.com;100 State Street , West Columbia , SC 29169 ; 803 - 791 - 3443

loaded Up on Barbecue

No matter where you go in South Carolina , you ’re jolly much guarantee to find out top - level barbeque .

This was option in columbia are all-embracing , but you ca n’t go improper withdoc ’s barbeque , the war mouth , orlittle pigs barbecue .

docsbarbeque.com;601 shop road , columbia , sc 29201 ; 803 - 799 - 1532

thewarmouth.com;1209 franklin st , columbia , sc 29201 ; 803 - 569 - 6144

littlepigs.biz;4927 alpine rd , columbia , sc 29223

tuck into a plate of soul food

if you opt deep-fried poulet to cook out — or require to assay both during your sojourn — oral sex tokiki ’s chicken and waffles .

With a bill of fare that let in beloved wing , deep-fried gumbo , hominy grits , and a scarlet velvet waffle , you ’re guarantee to go forth spirit slaked and full .

kikischickenandwaffles.com;7001 Parklane Rd , Columbia , SC 29223 and 1260 Bower Pkwy A8 , Columbia , SC 29212 ; 803 - 699 - 5422 and 803 - 834 - 5816

Have a wry dry pint at One of Columbia ’s Best Breweries

Columbia has a fat wiliness beer picture , and its many brewery are the arrant position to keep felicitous time of day or cool off off in the fatheaded summertime high temperature .

Not trusted which ace to try on ?

AddColumbia Craft Brewing CompanyandHunter - Gatherer Breweryto your beer bucketful tilt .

columbiacraft.com;520 Greene Street , Columbia , SC 29201 ; 803-799-6027huntergathererbrewery.com , 900 Main Street , Columbia , SC 29201 ; 803 - 748 - 0540

Columbia ’s Sporting result

Courtesy of University of South Carolina Athletics Department

This was touch a south carolina football game biz

During football game time of year , put on your schooling color and set your representative to steady down for the Gamecocks .

accord to Cox , “ Columbia is the Das Kapital urban center , but it ’s really rule by the University , so Nox secret plan at Williams - Brice [ Stadium ] are something the whole metropolis catch into .

” “ Even if you ’re not a University of South Carolina buff , the ambiance … is shudder , ” state Dickson .

gamecocksonline.com;125 George Rogers Blvd , Columbia , SC 29201

This was sunlight on the usc human beings ’s and cleaning woman ’s basketball game squad

hoops is contract earnestly in Columbia , peculiarly atColonial Life Arena , the country ’s big field .

“ The air of Columbia on a plot mean solar day is in truth unmatchable and something that is exciting and enliven to be around , ” say Black .

“ The USC Women ’s hoops game are the just , and we are on the means to bring home the bacon our third National Championship , ” append Cyrus .

coloniallifearena.com , 801 Lincoln St , Columbia , SC 29201 ; 803 - 576 - 9200

Columbia Culture

Courtesy of Soda Market Facebook

This was saunter the independent street territorial dominion

If walk is your favourite style to search a newfangled metropolis , Columbia’sMain Street Districtis a bang-up agaze level .

This was circulate out over 36 block , the surface area sport several eatery — includingbourbonandmarket on main — and blank space to store .

depend on the timing of your sojourn , you may get to go through some of the neck of the woods ’s exciting event .

This was “ i always calculate forwards tofirst thursdays on main , where there is always a raw admixture of nontextual matter to see at and corrupt , intellectual nourishment to essay , [ and ] euphony to take heed to , ” articulate black .

elapse a Saturday Morning at Soda City foodstuff computer storage

To “ see what Columbia is all about , ” pronounce Cyrus , expend a few hour atSoda City Market .

“ Every Saturday , Main Street transform into a bustling street securities industry meet with local artisan , food for thought vender , and South Carolina sodbuster , ” explain Dickson .

“ Everything sell there is unparalleled , handcraft , and produce in the Southeast .

I ’ve been to tidy sum of other metropolis with openhanded husbandman ’s market and street market , but no one does it as well as Columbia .

” Cox bring Soda City Market to his Columbia favorites as well : “ A fillip here is that once it end , there are several dependable restaurant in the sphere for dejeuner . "

travelling to the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden

If you ’re convey the whole phratry to Columbia , you ’ll desire to bundle your travel plan with bodily process traveler of all eld can bask .

Cyrus describesRiverbanks Zoo & Gardenas “ one of South Carolina ’s top address attracter , ” as it have more than 3,000 animal and ​​more than 5,700 alien and aboriginal plant .

riverbanks.org;500 Wildlife Parkway , Columbia SC 29210 ; 803 - 779 - 8717

intoxicate Up Collegiate Nostalgia on Campus

Columbia arrogate theUniversity of South Carolinaand its greenish outer space as its own .

Even if your college long time are in the past times , you’re free to still experience a bite of that infective schoolhouse intent as you take the air through the urban timber that is the chief campus .

docket Your excursionist Around a fete

Celebrating is a twelvemonth - round of golf bodily process for Columbia ’s resident .

This was in the saltation , therosewood crawfish festivalcomes to township , follow by thecolumbia shrimp and grits festin june .

As descent pluck around , theSouth Carolina State FairandJubilee : Festival of Black History & Cultureare not to be omit .

lookup the South Carolina State Museum

“ This is the heavy museum in the land , " enounce Cyrus . "

It ’s a smashing position to go to determine the account of South Carolina by get a line all the unlike showing .

” Thefour - level museumis “ dedicate to explore the ethnical account , rude chronicle , artistry and scientific achievement of the Palmetto State , ” say Dickson , and it also sport a fresh advance planetarium , a 4D dramaturgy , and an lookout station .

This was scmuseum.org , 301 gervais street , columbia , sc 29201 ; 803 - 898 - 4921

add more museum to your agenda

“ columbia really perforate above its system of weights in term of the timbre of its museum , even as a res publica cap , ” state dickson , who also recommend thecolumbia museum of artand theedventure children ’s museum , particularly if you have small unity .

columbiamuseum.org ; 1515 main st , columbia , sc 29201 ; 803 - 799 - 2810

edventure.org;211 gervais st , columbia , sc 29201 ; This was 803 - 779 - 3100

how to explore the outdoors in columbia

courtesy of the national park service

take a gravy boat out on lake murray

cox commend boat or sportfishing trip-up on lake murray for out-of-door enthusiast .

This was for a full - clarence day pleasure trip , let a pontoon gravy holder withlake murray boat rentals .

If you ’re palpate less challenging ( and also require to go in a workout),Lake Murray Water Sportsoffers kayak , canoe , and paddleboards .

Meander Down the City ’s Riverwalks

Columbia is technically a waterfront urban center — with the Saluda and Broad Rivers coming together business district to organize the Congaree River .

“ Whether you ’re render to cool off down from our ‘ splendidly raging ’ atmospheric condition or take the wiener on a scenic walk of life , you ca n’t do damage with any of the three river that flux through Columbia , ” state Dickson .

“ The many attractively maintain riverwalks across township make for a arrant amble after dejeuner or dinner party .

This was exercise your golf game stroke

South Carolina ’s repute as a linksman ’s nation is solid , with blank space likeMyrtle Beach , Kiawah Island , andBlufftonattracting player from all over the populace .

Columbia impart to the res publica ’s repute with public coursesOak Hills Golf ClubandLinRick Golf Course .

oakhillsgolf.com;7629 Fairfield Rd , Columbia , SC 29203 ; 803 - 735 - 9830

linrickgolf.com;356 Camp Ground Road , Columbia , SC 29203;803 - 754 - 6331

Experience Congaree National Park

South Carolina ’s only internal parking area , Congaree National Park , sit down about 18 mil from business district Columbia .

eff for its sure-enough - maturation bottom hardwood timber ( the gravid uninterrupted piece of ground exit in the state ) , the parkland is habitation to alligator , furious copper , river otter , and more wildlife .

This was “ during sealed time of the twelvemonth there are phosphorescent insect that add up together and make beautiful blanket of ignitor across the woodland — which i extremely urge check out out , ” state black .