With its great weather, affordable living, natural treasures and wonderful schools it is little wonder why Columbia is a highly sought after city for millennials. But what good would all those things do if you were bored out of your skin and had nothing fun to do? Fortunately, that’s hardly the case. Columbia is one happening town! Check out this list of fun things to do here this summer:
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Beyond BBQ
Famous for its Southern flavors, Columbia is a perfect place to sample some authentic, traditional BBQ drenched in tangy, yellow, mustard based sauce. If your plate is full of reddish, ketchup-based wannabe sauce- call your waiter on it! All it takes is one taste of the real thing and you’ll be just about ready to move. But Columbia has much more than that to please the palette- like gorgeous vegan creations at downtown’s Good Life Café, hearty burgers at Rockaway Athletic Club or spectacular sushi at Camon.
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Vintage vicinity
If you have an honest passion for antiques and often visit other antiquing towns, you will definitely appreciate Columbia’s vintage scene. With a long and elegant past as one of the country’s first colonies, this town’s antique finds never cease to amaze. The city has a few antique malls, including the Red Lion- a 10,000 square feet antiques mall located in the heart of the historic Robert Mills district in downtown Columbia. From fine antique furniture and home decor to original art, light fixtures, and rugs, you will definitely find something to add to your collection. Another must-visit is ReFind, a moderately sized and immaculately curated vintage store with a wide assortment of items from different decades. And if shabby chic is your favorite vintage style- don’t miss Ivy House Antiques.
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Community Ties
Columbia is a traditionally courteous and warm town, so if you’re the kind of person who likes the feeling of urban anonymity don’t hire movers just yet. Here it is the norm to greet strangers on the street, which makes making friends here that much easier. Makes sense for a place also known as the Capital of Southern Hospitality. Columbia, which is traditionally known as a family town it has become increasingly sought after by Millennials in recent years. In fact, the Federal National Mortgage Association expects the millennial population to skyrocket between now and 2020, but it has no intention of turning into another alienated megalopolis- Southern manners are here to stay.
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Fall Foliage Road Trip
Autumn colors are quite a sight to behold- the mountains are transformed into streaks vibrant gold, fiery red and heated orange, inspiring everyone who lays eyes on them. This annual feast of natural beauty simply calls for a road trip, and all you need to do is head northwest to the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway. With some added planning you can use the opportunity to visit the South Carolina landmarks of Limestone College, Cowpens National Battlefield, and Campbell’s Covered Bridge and take in the splendor of Table Rock State Park, Lake Jocassee and Isaqueena Falls, all of which can be worked into your road trip itinerary.
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Go with the flow
Congaree National Park is a 26,000-acre nature preserve with the largest stretch of old growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the country- this means very old, very tall trees and a unique and rare eco-system which are as beautiful and majestic as you can imagine. Exploring this exceptionally bio diverse park via kayak or canoe is one of the best ways to enjoy its awe inspiring beauty. The park’s Cedar Creek canoe trail winds 15 miles from Bannister’s Bridge to the Congaree River. Along the way, you can marvel at the ancient tall trees and spot various wildlife including river otter, deer, turtles, wading birds, and if you’re lucky, even an alligator or two. Limited ranger-guided canoe tours are scheduled around the year, definitely a fascinating and unique way to experience the trail.