Discover Columbia: Nature, Culture, and Special Experiences

Columbia combines impressive park landscapes with museums, history, art, and special experiences for a variety of travel days. Anyone looking for a vacation rental in Columbia can tailor their stay according to their interests with walks along the water, cultural activities, a visit to the market, or an excursion into the world of wildlife.

Experience Nature at Riverfront Park

A defining place for recreation and scenery is Riverfront Park. The nearly 167-acre linear park lies between the Columbia Canal and the Congaree River. For planning your day, there is a three-mile-long linear trail and a one-mile-long branch through a floodplain forest. This allows different trail lengths to be included in your travel plans without limiting your stay to just one way of exploring.

Granby Park is also part of the Three Rivers Greenway's history: it was the first completed section of this greenway. Those interested in the development of parks and the nature surrounding Columbia can also consider the various guided programs offered by the City of Columbia's park rangers. They cover the history and special features of the local parks as well as their wildlife.

Museums and History for Varied Days

The South Carolina State Museum presents ongoing and changing exhibitions across four floors covering the history, art, natural history, and science and technology of South Carolina. An additional special feature is the 55-foot digital dome planetarium, the BlueCross and BlueShield of South Carolina Planetarium. This allows a museum visit to be tailored to different themes, depending on whether you are more interested in regional history, art, nature, or science.

The Columbia Museum of Art features an international collection focusing on American, Asian, European, modern, and contemporary art. More than 7,000 works there reflect over 5,000 years of human history. The South Carolina State House offers guided tours, preceded by a 15-minute film about the building's history and architecture. These offerings also make Columbia appealing to travelers who enjoy filling their days with specific cultural experiences.

Market, Zoo, and Special Family Experiences

The Soda City Market takes place year-round, rain or shine, on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Main Street. The market, supplied exclusively by producers, offers goods made or grown by the vendors themselves. The products sold are handmade and produced in the southeastern United States. A Saturday in Columbia can therefore be combined with a fixed local market date.

For a day with animals, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden offers more than 3,000 animals and lifelike habitat exhibits. The Saluda Skyride is included in the admission ticket daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In addition, giraffe feedings are offered daily from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. or until the giraffes have eaten their daily ration. These specific times help you fit such an excursion into your daily schedule.

The Right Accommodation for Your Travel Plans

When choosing your accommodation, it is worth first deciding on your preferred rhythm: Will nature trails, museums, the Saturday market, or a day at the zoo be the focus? A vacation rental can then serve as a starting point for your personal mix of culture, recreation, and shared discoveries. When searching, check which location suits your planned activities and compare the options according to your own requirements.

Discover More Destinations

A compact selection of other places: Blythewood, Woodfield, Elgin, Eastover and Hopkins.

For the overarching travel overview: Richland.