Columbia, the capital of South Carolina, is a charming city that blends Southern hospitality with a vibrant arts scene and a rich history. Columbia and its surrounding areas offer a diverse range of experiences for every type of traveler. From history and nature to art and culture, you'll find something to love in this beautiful part of South Carolina! Browse information about the history of the city, entertainment opportunities, and outdoor activities.

Apart from the excellent restaurants and activities centered around downtown, Columbia has excellent outdoor opportunities such as hiking trails along the Three Rivers Greenway, a scenic riverfront trail system in Columbia, SC, that spans approximately 15.5 miles. Lake Murray offers another excellent opportunity for outdoor entertainment. Congaree National Park is about a 30-minute drive from Columbia. The 26,000-acre national park protects the largest intact tract of old-growth, bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the United States. The park contains some of the tallest trees in Eastern North America with one of the highest canopies in the world and broad bio-diversity. The park is recognized as International Biosphere Reserve, federally designated Wilderness Area, and Globally Important Bird Area.

Columbia is about 110 miles or a two-hour drive from Charleston, SC. Charleston has been named the top city in the United States by Travel + Leisure readers for 12 years in a row. In the 2024 awards, Charleston was also ranked 22nd in the world, ahead of Barcelona.

Columbia is about a three-hour drive from Blue Ridge Mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a scenic road that stretches for 469 miles through the Appalachian Mountains, connecting Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina.