Columbia fun isn’t restricted to any particular time of day. This state capital is chock full of places to visit and sights to see- day or night. Check out this list of fun things to do in Columbia:
Enjoy the Day Away
Consume Culture
Fans of art and culture will find Columbia offers many opportunities to enjoy and appreciate these fine pleasures. South Carolina State Museum, located in downtown Columbia along the beautiful riverbank, is the state’s largest museum. It tells the story of South Carolina through a wide array of engaging exhibitions and honors its rich and fascinating history. Exhibitions include a collection of South Carolina art, a survey of the area’s natural history and an entire floor dedicated to local achievements in science and technology. The Columbia Museum of Art is a must visit for art lovers with over 25 galleries exhibiting collections of art from all corners of the globe and every era in history. Priceless masterpieces include works by Claude Monet, Edward Hopper, and Andy Warhol. The museum offers adult art classes, lectures, and tours as well as a children’s program. Families must not miss EdVenture Children’s museum, where young ones can explore eight different galleries packed with fun, educational hands-on learning opportunities, from the wonders of cooking to the miracle of flight.
Take a Hike
South Carolina is a nature lover’s dream and one of the most biologically diverse places in the United States. Hike the trails of Sesquicentennial State Park or Congaree River Park for a true experience of the great outdoors, hike the urban Palmetto Trail or just take a leisurely stroll along the beautiful Riverwalk- either way, you will enjoy a beautiful day in any season.
Explore History
Nature isn’t all there is to see here. South Carolina played a very important role in the Civil War and has a long and fascinating history, which, as said, is well-represented in the South Carolina State Museum. Check out the state house to see where it was hit with six cannons and visit the Civil War museum to learn more about this enthralling chapter in the nation’s story. You can explore even further into the state’s past with a day trip to Charleston.
Visit the Zoo
Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is one of the nation’s best and most beautiful zoos. Home to more than 2,000 beautiful animals from all over the world it attracts approximately 1 million visitors every year. It’s gorgeous botanical garden blooms year-round with over 4,000 native and exotic plants and has 3-acre interactive children’s garden. Spending a day at Riverbanks is an opportunity to experience the magic of the natural realm for the whole family- the flowers will inspire you to enhance your garden and the beauty of it all will give you just the mood-boost you need after a long week. It is also a historical site, with structural remains from the Civil War in various location across the grounds.
Live It Up After Dark
Destination: The Vista
Nightlife in Columbia is buzzing, especially at the Vista. It’s an upscale neighborhood where you can find some of the best bars in the city. Jazz it up in Rust (don’t forget your tie), catch a live show at Hush and feast on wine and tapas at Gervais and Vine- these Vista spots are sure to light up your night.
Destination: Five Points
While the Vista is fancy and more high-end, Five Points is where Columbia’s college town spirit is most prevalent. University of South Carolina students attends the area’s lively bars and restaurants by the hordes, making it the perfect neighborhood for a party. Cover 3 is always packed, Delaney’s Music Pub & Eatery offers Irish fun (St. Patrick’s day, every day) and Moosehead Saloon has a mechanical bull. What more could you possibly wish for?
Sing!
Columbia folk are known for being open, friendly and fun loving, so it is little wonder why karaoke is one of the city’s favorite nightly pastimes. Whether you’re a closet Barbra or the worst singer in the world, belting out your favorite songs to a room full of friends and strangers while mildly to outrageously drunk is one of the greatest pleasures life has to offer. At Tsubaki’s, the city’s oldest authentic karaoke spot, you can sing your heart out in a number of Asian languages including Korean and Tagalog (as well as in English, of course) while enjoying classic refreshments like chicken wings and shrimp cocktail. You can also catch a karaoke night at Art Bar or Uncle Fester’s.
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