Columbia is quite an underrated destination in South Carolina. While most tourists flock to Charleston, many miss out on all the great outdoor activities and delicious cuisine that Columbia has to offer.
Find affordable hotels in Columbia, SC: 10 best hotels in Columbia
Saluda River Walk in Columbia South Carolina
The Three Rivers Greenway Trail is a great place to walk, bike, fish, or simply just pack a picnic under the trees. We loved how close this nature trail is from downtown and how many shaded areas it provided. This trail is dog friendly and stroller/wheelchair accesible.
Day Trip to Congaree National Park from Columbia South Carolina
Congaree is one of the LEAST visited National Parks in the US and often gets a bad rep. I think a lot of visitors come to this park and leave without really knowing what makes it SO special. To really appreicate Congaree National Park, one must know much more than what meets the eye. It’s not about the jaw dropping scenery (although I think it’s beautiful!) here but more so what makes this park so biodiverse.
For starters, you can find 23 Champion trees in Congaree. You normally get maybe 1-2 types of tall trees in parks like Sequoia. Congaree is also one of the few places you can watch the synchronous firefly but you need a lottery permit to view them in the park. I highly recommend taking the Canoe Tour by Palmetto Outdoors to really have a full experience with a naturalist guide.
Spend A Day Out The Water in Lake Murray
Lake Murray is a beautiful area to spend a day boating, paddle boarding, or kayaking. You can even rent a beautiful lake house for a peaceful getaway. We rented a paddle board here from California Republic SUP and had a great morning paddling the lake. We saw all kinds of wildlife from turtles to Bald Eagles.
Go Tubing Down Saluda River
Another fun activity in Columbia is going tubing. We thought this was both a relaxing and thrilling experience with multiple rapids on the 3 hour trip. It’s very easy to set up your shuttle drop off and rental through Palmetto Outdoors. Expect to float through some beautiful Spanish Moss and spot wildlife throughout the trip.
Devine Cinnamon Roll Deli
I am drooling just thinking about this place. As if cinnamon rolls aren’t already a delicious treat, the Devine Cinnamon cooks up cinnamon rolls with unique flavors like strawberry cream cheese, banana foster, maple bacon, and more. You have to add this stop to your Columbia South Carolina itinerary.
Savage Craft Aleworks Columbia South Carolina
There are a few breweries in Columbia but one we really enjoyed was Savage Craft. They have a unique design and a huge dog friendly outdoor area. I’m not much of a beer drinking but my bf loved his dark beer. The food here is worth trying as well! We enjoyed their fish tacos and fried chicken sandwich.
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