Best Places to Visit in Columbia, SC
Sometimes you just want to get out and explore. We try to strike a good balance of places that you will really enjoy. Finding ideas for family friendly outings, or interesting places to go in Columbia, SC with your friends, both are at your fingertips here with America Top 10. We aim to give you plenty of ideas without you having to do all the research. That way you can easily decide if you want to explore Columbia, SC sites or check out the sites in another state.
You have also heard how it is becoming a lot more popular to have staycations (where you stay home instead of going to far off places) and discover new and interesting places in the near vicinity. We try to make that easier for you. Check out the sites in Columbia, SC that have become local favorites easily with our site.
We hope that we have provided you plenty of choices in Columbia, SC whether this is a new area for you or your own back yard. Something a little different from the typical amusement park. If you really loved somewhere but don’t see them on our list let us know, we are always looking to improve our lists and we can only do that with your help.
Dreher Island State Park
Prosperity, SC
Dreher Island State Park spans three islands, 348 acres and provides access to 12 miles of Lake Murray shoreline. Visitors will find recreational water activities, nature trails and some of the best striped and large-mouth bass fishing spots, all only 30 miles from Columbia. It has long been a popular location and launching spot for major, national fishing tournaments.
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
Columbia, SC
Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is the southeast’s premiere destination for family fun, adventure, education, and wild animals. Located in the heart of South Carolina, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is the home to over 2000 animals from around the world.
Greenville Zoo
Greenville, SC
The Greenville Zoo is a 14-acre facility featuring hundreds of wildlife from all over the world including giraffe, monkeys, giant tortoises and elephants. Join them on a wildlife adventure through the zoo’s beautifully landscaped acres filled with up close and personal views of its residents. Through engaging programs, educational events and animal exhibits, the Greenville Zoo provides a wonderfully wild experience for the entire family that will keep you coming back all year long.
Columbia Museum of Art
Columbia, SC
The Columbia Museum of Art celebrates outstanding artistic creativity through its collection, exhibitions and programs, interacting in ways that engage the mind and enrich the spirit. South Carolina’s premier international art museum houses a world class collection of European and American fine and decorative art that spans centuries. In recent years, the Museum’s collection of Asian art and Antiquities has grown through generous gifts to the collection
EdVenture
Columbia, SC
EdVenture’s mission is to inspire children, youth, and the adults who care about them to experience the joy of learning. Their vision is to create new generations of lifelong learners.Behind EdVenture’s doors, they are proud to have eight world-class exhibit galleries, a library, learning laboratories, resource centers and other visitor amenities. Two additional outdoor gallery spaces are located just outside the museum’s front doors. Within the total 92,000 square feet that is EdVenture Children’s Museum, there are more than 350 individual hands-on exhibits.
The Abbeville Opera House
Abbeville, SC
The Abbeville Opera House is a not for profit organization with the mission to create, present, improve and enhance quality theatre. It is their goal to create opportunities for community participation in enriching theatrical experiences, thereby attracting theatre patrons and tourists to their historic community. Their focus is on inclusion and quality. They try to provide a well-balanced and artistic theatrical season. And they strive to meet with excellence all of the demands placed on their turn-of-the-century theatre.
Sesquicentennial State Park
Columbia, SC
Sesquicentennial State Park, affectionately known to locals as “Sesqui,” is a spacious, green getaway in the heart of the Sandhills region. Once you’re immersed in the 1,400 acres of pines, camping sites, and nature trails you forget just how close you are to bustling, downtown Columbia, South Carolina. A retreat center complete with a kitchen and overnight, dormitory-style accommodations make the park an ideal spot for family reunions and group gatherings. Camping sites are also available to overnight guests. The park provides kayak and canoe rentals, fishing, two nature trails and a 6-mile bicycle loop for day-use recreation.
South Carolina Military Museum
Columbia, SC
Harbison State Forest
Columbia, SC
Bounded along its northeastern edge by the Broad River, Harbison Environmental Education Forest encompasses 2,137 acres of forestland only nine miles from downtown Columbia. Its unique urban location makes Harbison one of the largest public greenspaces inside the city limits of a metropolitan area in the eastern United States.
Robert Mills House and Gardens
Columbia, SC
One of only five National Historic Landmarks within Columbia, the Robert Mills House exemplifies the skill of the first architect born and trained within the United States who designed some of the nation’s most prominent buildings, including the Washington Monument. Today, the structure stands as a testament of its designer’s architectural ability and the preservation efforts of generations of Columbians.
Not find what your looking for? Try one of these other cities. Charleston, North Charleston.
