South Carolina often gets overshadowed as a southern travel destination, being nestled in a small corner between two domestic traveler powerhouse states. Wedged in as it may be, South Carolina offers all kinds of intriguing wonders, from its slice of the Atlantic Coast and sliver of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Piedmont, the Lowlands, and the only National Park in the Deep South. Columbia, the South Carolina capital city, is one of those interesting sites, filled with a unique blend of Southern charm, history, and the youthful zest of being a university town. A weekend in Columbia, South Carolina offers something for everyone, including solo travelers, couples, girlfriends, seniors and families. Our 3 days in Columbia, South Carolina itinerary will take you to the places we enjoyed, but we assure you, this city offers much more than 3 days allows.
South Carolina has a long and storied, sometimes turbulent, history. It saw more Revolutionary fighting than all other colonies, with over 200 skirmishes, and suffered great destruction in the Civil War. History enthusiasts will be enamored, immersed in these stories during a weekend in Columbia. Foodies will fall in love with the mix of local specialties, southern comfort food and diverse ethnic offerings. Families with young children will be thrilled with the historic zoo, the abundance of outdoor areas, and hands-on museums, while those with teens will be excited by the campus life atmosphere.
As already stated, in this 3 days in Columbia itinerary, we will take you with us to places we find of great interest. And, so you know, we are Tom Straka, an instructor at Clemson, in South Carolina, and Kathleen Walls, a freelance writer and regular traveler in the southern states, and regular comtributor to this website. We collaborated to create this weekend in Columbia together. (You can read our full bios at the end of this story.) Whether you are on your way to more popular tourist destinations in the southeast, touring the Atlantic coastal states, or just looking for somewhere different to get away, we think Columbia is worth your time.
A Weekend in Columbia, South Carolina
So without further small talk, let’s get on with our weekend in Columbia, South Carolina.
Where to Stay in Columbia
You can browse Trip Advisor’s Top recommended hotels for Columbia, SC right now.
3 Days in Columbia, SC – Day 1, The University of South Carolina
Breakfast at smallSugar
Columbia is filled with great restaurants, so dining suggestions are just that, suggestions. One great restaurant for breakfast, or any other meal, is smallSUGAR, part of CITY GRIT which tries to make a better life for employees and diners.
It’s a small café in the City Market owned by chefs Sarah Simmons, her husband Aaron Hoskins, and Chef/Partner Elie Yigo that offers “Carolina Cuisine” made mostly with produce sourced from smaller farms throughout the Carolinas. Sarah Simmons is the founder of CITY GRIT and is a recurring guest judge on the Food Network show, Beat Bobby Flay.
There’s a touch of culture and history here too as City Market is a mixed-use complex within Columbia’s Vista arts and entertainment district, where four of Columbia’s oldest buildings have been repurposed. smallSUGAR is an open space building with a patio. There is counter service.
Small sugar is gratuity-free because the workers are paid adequate wages as part of CITY GRIT’s principals.
The World War Memorial Building
Start your explorations at The World War Memorial Building, at the edge of the University of South Carolina campus. It’s one of hundreds of “hidden” memorials in Columbia. The limestone memorial was built in 1935 in the early twentieth-century Classical Revival architecture style honors the men and women who served in World War I. It is not open to the public, but the garden is worth a stroll. There are plaques honoring students and alumni who were killed in World War I and the Mexican border dispute.
Historic Horseshoe
A weekend in Columbia must include the University of South Carolina, and a University visit isn’t complete without a glimpse of its Historic Horseshoe.
The Horseshoe is a very long one greens space surrounded by 12 buildings that made up the horseshoe shape of the original campus
Take time to stroll the brick walkway lit by what looks like antique gas lights. There is much to see along this path. It has stood, fertile and green, for over two centuries of history and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Founded in 1801, The Horseshoe survived war, two on our own soil, War of 1812 and the Civil War, fire and riots.
They’ve welcomed famous guests such as President William Howard Taft and Pope John Paul II and endured unwelcome ones Like General Sherman.
The structures and the Horseshoe they surround tell a colorful tale of the events that shaped South Carolina. Slavery Historical Marker at the top of The Horseshoe recognizes the contributions of enslaved people in building many of these building and maintaining them.
McKissick Museum
At the top of the horseshoe is a grand building, McKissick Museum. In front of the building there is a 12-foot black granite and bronze statue of three African American students who were among the first to desegregate the university in 1963 after the Brown VS School Board Civil Rights decision.
It’s also the visitors’ center for the university. It’s named for the University of South Carolina graduate, later Dean of the School of Journalism, and university president from 1936 to 1944, J. Rion McKissick. You can see his grave near the front of The Horseshoe in front of the library. He is the only person buried on campus.
McKissick Museum has some really cool exhibits, natural history stuff. It has artifacts collected by archaeologists across the state and impressive bits of state history. They showcase over 200 quilts illustrating varied quilting traditions over the past 200 years, both fine art and folk art, and much more.
One display, a simple exhibit of politics and presidential artwork, was the most interesting, a series of presidents, ending up with the most recent.
The museum is open Monday-Friday: 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. And Saturday: 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. It is closed on Saturdays during the summer between mid-May and early August.
Lunch Choices: McCutchen House or Top of Carolina
There are many places to dine on campus but here are two great choices. The historic McCutchen House offers a restaurant operated by the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management.
Their tomato pie is one of their trademark dishes, but there are appetizers, soups and salads, sandwiches, entrees, and desserts offered. Unlike chefs and servers in traditional restaurants, these workers are being graded on their work.
It is open to the public for lunch during the university’s fall and spring semesters, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday with summer hours for the patio. Lunches are $13.95 + tax per person unless otherwise noted (lunch, beverages, and dessert included). McCutchen House is cashless, so be sure to have your credit or debit card.
If you dine on the outdoor patio, you will be surrounded by the McCutchen House Garden filled with colorful crepe myrtles and an array of shrubs including nandina, camellia, loropetalum and fatsia. If you dined inside, be sure to check out the garden.
If you happen to be spending your weekend in Columbia on an actual weekend, Top of Carolina offers a fantastic view of a different kind.
It is South Carolina’s only 360° rotating restaurant so it offers a fantastic view of Columbia from the 18th floor of the Capstone House. The restaurant is glass enclosed and revolves so you get a complete view all around the city.
w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The food is served buffet style at stations around the restaurant. Menu is elaborate and varied so there is something to please everyone; it changes weekly. The restaurant is only open for Sunday brunch starting at 11 am during school season. It is popular so make a reservation ahead of time.
College Gardens and Green Houses
After lunch, stroll around The Horseshoe and campus and visit the many gardens and monuments there.
Gibbes Green is designed around a circular brick pathway that connects McKissick Museum and Davis College and there is a pedestrian footbridge extending to the east campus.
Omicron Delta Kappa Sundial Garden is a small wrought iron fenced space between McKissick Museum and Rutledge College, with benches where you can contemplate the idea of telling time before clocks.
Maxcy Monument stands in the middle of The Horseshoe. It was sponsored in 1827 by the Clariosophic Literary Society, a debating society at the college. The Egyptian Revival style monument, one of the first in the country, was created to honor Jonathan Maxcy, the first president of the college. It was designed by Robert Mills, the architect of the Washington Monument.
w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Norma Cannon Palms Rose Garden next to Lieber College is surrounded by a red brick fence. The gate, topped with welcoming pineapple sculptures, leads you into a garden with greenery and lots of blooming roses of varying colors. Follow the brick walkway past around the fountain to the greenhouse, which grows ferns, palms, orchids, and other tropical plants for events in the President’s House and on campus.
McMaster Sculpture Garden
The South Carolina Garden is located near the entrance to The Horseshoe, behind the South Carolina Library next to the World War Memorial, has a centerpiece of a three-tiered fountain, a Civil War cannonball and a defective marble column originally intended for use on the state capitol.
If you want to wander farther than The Horseshoe, they are many other gardens and sculptures.
Longstreet Theater
South Carolina College, as the university was originally named, began construction of the Roman temple style building in 1855. It was named College Hall and originally intended to be a chapel and auditorium, but its poor acoustics made it unsuitable for those purposes. In 1968, it was renamed for college president, minister, and Georgia Scenes author Augustus Baldwin Longstreet.
The University of South Carolina is the only school in South Carolina offering an MFA in theater in both design and performance. Students perform live theater and dance that are open to the public frequently during the school year, so if your weekend in Columbia is when school is in session, buy your ticket right away before they sell out. The theater has a 312-seat arena stage.
Also, be sure to step out the back and view the beautiful fountain there.
Runner1928, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The theater has another story to tell. Lisa Gavaletz, an instructor at the university, said, “If you are here at night, you will hear noises beyond the normal noise and creaks.” Most of the activities are in the basement, with footfalls, apparitions, and an elevator that travels on its own without pressing any buttons. South Coast Paranormal Investigation (SCPI) investigated and found electromagnet activity where there was no normal reason to have any.
The reason makes sense to anyone who has investigated paranormal events. During the Civil War, it was a hospital for Confederate soldiers and what is now the Green Room was the morgue. (Note from Kathleen) When researching my ghost books, I found that any place where young soldiers died in Civil War hospitals has paranormal presences.
Dinner at Smoked
Smoked, a fairly new restaurant owned by members of the Middleton family, got its name from some family likes. Sara Middleton, one of the owners, said, “My brother had purchased a new smoker for his house. His favorite food is smoked meats and mine is smoked oysters.”
Combining their two loves, their head chef suggested serving smoked oysters with smoked meat over them and the head bartender does smoked drinks.
Smoked combines an oyster bar, smokehouse, microbrewery, and their speakeasy, Burnline, are in three 19th-century buildings combined to create the restaurant. Touches of the buildings’ history remain like the skylight over the horseshoe-shaped bar that still shows remnants of the fire that ravaged the building in the 1920s.
The Burnline, in the basement, is named after the burn lines left by Sherman’s March on Columbia in 1865. Besides the food, you can find some unique hand-crafted cocktails here.
3 Days in Columbia, SC – Day 2, Capital and Downtown
Breakfast at Drake’s Duck-In
Drake’s Duck-In is an over a century old tradition, that must be enjoyed during a weekend in Columbia. It was renovated and reopened on March 21, 2024. It’s been specializing in fried chicken since 1907, and at its present location on Main St. for the last 28 years. The building dates to the 1870s.
Owners, Matthew Bridges and Daniel Boan, brought in City Grit Hospitality Group (you met them at smallSUGAR) for the reopening.
Part of the renovation includes bright white, navy and yellow tones in the dining room furnished with booths, chairs and tables. They added counter seating with stools. Drake’s now makes its sauces, ranch, honey mustard, and others in-house.
Since it’s so famous for chicken, I suggest their chicken and Belgian-style waffles, but they have many other traditional dishes.
Kress Building
The Kress Building was built around 1934 and is the best example of the Art déco style in Columbia. Above the marquee you can still see “S.H. Kress and Co. 5-10-25 cent store” engraved. Listed in the National Register March2, 1979.
It houses Cowboys Brazilian Steakhouse, another possible dinner choice.
Columbia Museum of Art
Columbia Museum of Art is on Main Street. They have one of the largest and most impressive international collections in the southeast in their permanent collection. It includes many Renaissance and Baroque pieces.
The temporary collections rotate. When I visited, one rotating exhibit was the “(Un)Settled: The Landscape in American Art.” I enjoyed their painted art and the broader concept of landscape that includes things made from the landscape.
Boyd Plaza
Adjourning the art museum, Boyd Plaza offers a place to sit and enjoy the landscaping and fountains that make for a relaxing spot on busy Main Street. Boyd Plaza hosts many events, including yoga.
Mast General Store
Mast General Store, a couple of doors down from the plaza, is an old tradition in Columbia, a NC/SC/VA small chain.
There are just a few stores scattered in bigger cities in the region.
Photo Credit: Tom Straka, both photos
People in Columbia love it and visitors love it. You will find everything from jellybeans to cast iron Dutch ovens and almost anyything else. It reminds me of stepping back to my youth and visiting the five and dime stores.
Charles Kuralt once said, “Where should I send you to know the soul of the south? I think I’ll send you to Mast General Store.” That makes it a necessary stop during your weekend in Columbia.
The building dates back to the 1870s that over the years has housed, a grocery, clothing store, a furniture store, a meat market, a saloon, a print shop, a tailor, a shoe and boot store, a boardinghouse on the upper floor, and an undertaker’s parlor.
Soda City Market
After Mast’s, you can do more shopping of a different kind if you are there on Saturday. The market is open every Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., year-round, rain or shine. It’s a producer-only market, so vendors must make or grow their own products or make their own crafts. You’ll find an average of 150 vendors per week.
Lunch at the Market
It’s also a perfect place for lunch. There are food trucks and vendors that sell homemade ready-to-eat foods.
You will have choices ranging from Jamaican, Venezuelan, Mexican, Southern staples, and sellers like Belgan Waffle Truck, Mary’s Arepas Columbian (the county) Cuisine. Of course, you’ll find some venders selling shrimp and grits. Boyd’s Plaza is a great place to take your food to sit and enjoy if it’s not already filled with others with the same idea.
Trinity Episcopal Church
The English Gothic Revival style Trinity Episcopal Church dates back to 1894, making it the oldest church in Columbia.
It was modeled after York Minster Cathedral in England, and one of the earliest Gothic style in the South. Its stained-glass windows, created in Munich, Germany, are gorgeous. The original frame church was built in 1814.
The church wasn’t burned in 1865 by General W. T. Sherman, who was a Roman Catholic, when clever church members removed the “Episcopal” from its signs, and the placed papier mâché crosses on the edges of its roof.
One interesting result was some months later, in June 1865, the Union commander of the Columbia garrison ordered Rev. Shand, the pastor, to read a prayer from the Book of Common Prayer for President Lincoln. The commander informed the pastor a member of his staff would attend the service. When Shand began the prayer, the parishioners did a reverse version of what is now called “taking a knee.” They rose from their knees when the prayer began and did not say “Amen.”
Free cathedral tours are available 10 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays. The cathedral was listed in the National Register on February 24, 1971.
Cemetery
The churchyard, as it is called locally, is shaded by many trees. Three live oak trees were planted in the churchyard. Sire Oak was planted in 1814, commemorating the building of the first church. The second was planted in 1900 after the church was built. The third tree was planted in 1925 when the Parish House was completed. There is a wrought-iron fence around the churchyard.
Six South Carolina governors, two Revolutionary War officers, three Confederate generals, the poet Henry Timrod, the three Wade Hamptons, and eight bishops are buried in the cemetery.
Cromer’s P-nuts
For someone who embraced reverse psychology as his slogan, Cromer’s P-nuts is a Columbia tradition, making an essential stop during your weekend in Columbia.
The story goes that Julian Cromer was selling his peanuts at a farmer’s market during the depression. A competing farmer started shouting out, “Don’t buy Cromer’s peanuts. They’re no good. Mine are the best.” Comer adopted “worst in town” as his slogan.
No one remembers the competing farmer, but Cromer’s is still going strong with a third generation family member, Carolette Cromer Turner, at the helm. You can stock up on more than peanuts. They sell popcorn, candy and lots more.
As a side note, the cool Columbia Postcard used as the featured photo for this article is a Cromer’s mural.
State House
State Capitol complex sits on 22 beautifully tended acres with seven buildings and over 30 monuments. Free guided and self-guided tours of the State House are available Monday – Saturday. Visitors may enter the State House through the public entrance which is on the Sumter Street side.
The grounds are filled with palmettos, the trees that gave South Carolina its nickname, crape myrtle, dogwood, live oak, southern magnolia, and many more. There is a time capsule buried here between a water oak and an American elm that is to be opened in 2036, the 250th anniversary of the founding of the City of Columbia.
The lobby beneath of dome is what you first see when entering from the front. There’s a statue of John C. Calhoun in the center. The Senate Chambers were not open when I visited, but the House of Representatives Chamber, called General Assembly Chambers, was.
There is so much history here. It’s where South Carolina governors are inaugurated and where tens of thousands of citizens rallied on behalf of civil rights. Their African American History Monument tracing more than 300 years of African American history in South Carolina is the first of its kind on any state capital grounds.
There is much Civil War history as well. In front of the Capitol, is a statue of George Washington. It is hard to notice, but part of his cane is missing.
Surely there is someone in the state capable of repairing the cane. But it was left intentionally broken to show what Sherman’s soldiers did.
A plaque on the pedestal states, “During the occupation of Columbia by Sherman’s army, February 17-19, 1965, soldiers brick-batted this statue and broke off the lower part of the walking cane.”
Likewise, the Capital wall has damage from Yankee cannon balls, intentionally left unrepaired, with stars to note the damage, and an inscription to let visitors know what the Yankees did. The “honorable scars” are on the west side of the State House.
As we write this, the entire 2nd and 3rd floors will be closed for some renovations. Planned re-openning is mid-October, 2024.
Dinner at The Grand on Main
When you’re ready for dinner, there is an unusual restaurant on Main Street. Grand is kind of cool. It’s a refurbished theater that also has a bowling alley and classic games. There is also a Tiki Bar on the lower level.
I got Lowcountry Shrimp and Grits because it is a South Carolina traditional dish.
It’s a tasty mixture of sauteed shrimp, andouille, peppers, onions, tasso gravy, and charred corn, topped with chive, over cheese grits. The shrimp were very plump and tender and the portion was huge. It is a delicious addition to your weekend in Columbia.
I’m not surprised that The Grand won the People’s Choice Best Shrimp and Grits at the 2023 Columbia Shrimp and Grits Fest.
The Grand was once home to a 1900s theater that hosted vaudeville acts. It’s been beautifully restored but keeps many of its original features, like the exposed beams in the bowling alley. During construction, they found the original Grand marquee sign, restored it, and now display it inside the restaurant.
3 Days in Columbia, SC – Day 3, Riverbanks Area
Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens
The zoo opens from 9am to 5pm, but there is not much in the way of a breakfast restaurant in the zoo or nearby so unless you’re up for a funnel cake or a snack you may want to have breakfast at your hotel or in town.
Riverbanks Zoo is a place that requires at least a half day, easily more. It’s home to more than 3,000 animals and beautiful botanical gardens. The zoo is one of South Carolina’s leading destination attractions, hosting over one million visitors annually.
Riverbanks opened on April 25, 1974, and has grown over five decades to become one of the largest mid-sized zoos in the United States. Their gardens blooms year-round and have more than 4,300 species of native and exotic plants.
There are two sections, east and west campus divided by the Saluda River. The east side has the zoo. The west has several gardens, an amphitheater, hiking trails, Waterfall Junction complete with tree houses, a dinosaur bone dig, splash zones, and the formal Walled Garden, which is a venue for weddings and special events. There is a tram that connects the two sections.
Besides viewing the wildlife in spacious habitats, there are Animal Talks with a keeper at Sea Lion Landing, Penguin talks at The Birdhouse, and a keeper talk at Gorilla Base Camp.
Unusual for a zoo, Riverbanks is listed on the National Register of Historic Places because it is the site of structural remains dating back to the 1800s. Historic ruins remain in various locations along the footbridge linking the Zoo and Garden and along the naturally wooded River Trail where Saluda Mill ruins can be seen. There’s a log interpretive center at the intersection of River Trail and Woodland Walk that tells the history of the old mill.
Another historical remnant is the traces of a covered bridge just east of the new Saluda River Bridge that now connect the east and west sections of the zoo. There are some original large granite abutments on opposite banks of the river and supporting pier foundations at the base of two small river islands. The ruins date to February 1865 when Confederate troops burned down the old State Road Covered Bridge to keep General Sherman’s army from entering Columbia.
South Carolina State Museum
The state museum is housed in the 1893 four-story, red brick former Mt. Vernon Mill. By the mid-19th century, South Carolina was one of the leading manufacturers of cotton products and this mill was one of the largest textile manufacturers in South Carolina. Then called the Columbia Mills Building was probably the first textile plant in the country operated by electricity. The mill building was listed in the National Register on May 24, 1982.
The museum, the largest in the state, has over 70,000 artifacts, so plan to spend a long time here. Start your visit at the Lipscomb Art Gallery on the first floor.
The second floor houses the natural history section. You’ll see lots of fossils of prehistoric animals, including a dinosaur section.
The third floor has displays of science and technology. There is an exhibit about the mill with an original turbine and bell and other artifacts for the original mill.
Transportation is represented with antique cars including a model T, horseless carriage, and a truck used to transport logs. There’s a full size “Best Friend” train with passenger cars. Present day and beyond transportation include a full-size replica of a moon rover. Early forestry displays include a partially carved cypress dugout canoe, and some petrified wood.
The fourth floor is dedicated to history, beginning with early native people and the settlement of South Carolina. There are displays about the American Revolution and the Civil War. There is a full-scale model of the Confederate submarine HL Hunley and much more.
The planetarium is accessed from the first or second floor and on the fourth floor there is the Boeing Observatory. A 4D Theater is on the second floor.
The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday 10 to 5 and on Sunday 12 to 5. Admission is only $1 for guests on the first Sunday of every month at both here and the SC Confederate and Military Museum.
Lunch at Crescent Café
Crescent Café operated by The Food Academy in the museum is a good place for a light lunch. They offer soups, salads, flatbread pizza, a nice variety of sandwiches and wraps, including hot dogs and burgers.
SC Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum
This is a sub-museum in the same building as the State Museum but requires a separate admission ticket. This section is closed to general admission through October 3, 2024, due to repairs being made in the atrium where you normally enter. However, small groups can call and arrange a visit.
Don’t let the name mislead you. It is not only about the Civil War but all the country’s wars. The Vietnam section is possibly larger than the Civil War section. One of the premier exhibits relates to General William Westmoreland from Spartanburg, South Carolina, including one of his uniforms and a number of other artifacts that belonged to him. Westmoreland oversaw much of the battle planning in Vietnam.
EdVenture
If you’re traveling with youngsters, EdVenture, just across the parking lot, is a museum designed to educate kids while they are having fun. Exhibits like Eddie, a 40-ft. tall kid, where youngsters can climb around his insides and learn about body functions or learn fire safety at Dalmatian Station. Be aware adults are not admitted unless accompanied by a child.
Bierkeller Brewing Company
Scott Burgess, owner, and founder of Bierkeller Brewing Company, studied in Bamberg, Germany and worked in Bavaria before opening Bierkeller.
He began by doing pop-ups at events and in September 2023, opened his new Brewhaus on Columbia’s riverfront.
The German style brewery has a beer garden and restaurant and is open from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, noon to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
German style beer is served directly from tanks in the brewhouse. If you’re not a beer drinker, no problem, you have a choice of wine, cider, non-alcoholic beer, or soft drinks and juices.
The restaurant menu includes smoked bratwurst, schnitzel, Bavarian pretzels and many other German-style favorites.
You’re going to feel like you’ve been transported to Germany during your weekend in Columbia, whether you choose the shaded Biergarten or the spacious open Bierhall with long, communal wooden tables that look out over the water. It’s a great place for families to picnic with kids and pets since you can grab lunch or dinner and drinks from the self-service windows.
Besides German-style brews and food, Burgess says Bierkeller plans to host events celebrating German traditions including Oktoberfest, Christmas Market, Fasching (Karneval), and Maifest, as well as weekly music and activities highlighting local and international sports and other activities.
Riverfront Park
While you’re in the area, enjoy the sights of Riverfront Park, which separates the Historic Columbia Canal and the Congaree River.
The park is at the site of the world’s first electrically operated textile mill and the city’s original waterworks and hydroelectric plant. The plant is still operating and is the oldest one in the state.
There’s also a two and one-half mile trail through the park.
Photo Credit: Lake Murray Capital
Jazz featuring talented local musicians returns to West Columbia’s Riverwalk Amphitheater every Thursday evening, 6:00-9:00 PM from April through. It’s free and coordinated by ColaJazz Foundation. There are food truck offerings and beer and wine at the events. They also host Riverfest, Greekfest, and several smaller concerts, so check to see what’s happening when you visit.
Isn’t It Time You Enjoyed a Weekend in Columbia, SC?
A weekend in Columbia, South Carolina, offers a wonderful mix of history, culture, and natural beauty. With three days, you can sample a taste of what this charming Southern city has to offer, from the academic elegance of the University of South Carolina to the vibrant energy of its downtown streets, and on to the rugged beauty of its riverside parks. Each day presents an opportunity to explore Columbia’s rich past and lively present, making it an ideal destination for a memorable getaway.
We encourage you to start planning your 3 days in Columbia, South Carolina. Or, perhaps plan a few more days so you can get out to some of the small towns in the area, the nearby battlefields and forts, the gorgeous lakes Murray and Marion, and Congaree National Park. You may fall in love with South Carolina, and be planning your nexrt trip as you drive away.
Other Southern Weekends You Might Enjoy:
- A Weekend in Richmond, Virginia
- A Weekend in Savannah, Georgia
- A Weekend in Chattanooga, Tennessee
- A Weekend in Panama City, Florida
Show Us Your Southern Charm, and Pin This Please.
About the Authors
Tom Straka is a professor emeritus at Clemson University in South Carolina. He is a forestry professor with a keen interest in the natural world, and also its history. His travel and writings reflect those interests. He resides in Pendleton, South Carolina.
Kathleen Walls, former reporter for Union Sentinel in Blairsville, GA, is publisher/writer for American Roads and Global Highways. She is a photographer with many of her original photographs appearing in her travel ezine as well as other publications, contributing to many online and print publications.
She is the author of travel books, Georgia’s Ghostly Getaways, Finding Florida’s Phantoms, Hosts With Ghosts, and Wild About Florida series. Her newest book is American Music: Born in the USA in color with pictures of places related to music history.
Member of International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers (IFWTA). You can find her on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter.
