Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Gamecocks, Governors & a Great State Museum: Where to Eat, Stay & Explore in Columbia, SC
28
items Some links on this list are affiliate links, so I may earn a commission. Columbia is South Carolina's capital and a big college town, so you get a fun mix of University of South Carolina fans and state government folks. The Governor's Mansion and the...
Map
Sections
5
The Capital & Its History
Gamecock Country & Downtown
Zoo, Rivers & Outdoor Fun
Where to Eat in Columbia
Where to Stay in Columbia
The Capital & Its History
This is where South Carolina's government lives, and a lot of its history too. Most of these are within a few blocks of each other, so you can see several in one day.
Start here. Walk the grounds and look closely at the outside walls for the bronze stars marking where Union cannonballs hit in 1865. The guided tours inside are free.
South Carolina State House
One of my favorite Columbia adventures. The mansion was built in 1855 as officers' quarters for the Arsenal Academy, survived the Civil War, and has been home to South Carolina's governors since 1869. Check ahead for tour times before you go.
Governor's Mansion
Another favorite of mine, and great for all ages. The museum fills a historic textile mill near the riverfront and covers South Carolina's history, science, art and natural history, plus a planetarium, an observatory and a 4D theater. Plan for a few ...
South Carolina State Museum
History buffs, add this one. It's an 1820s mansion designed by Robert Mills, the same architect behind the Washington Monument. Take the guided tour so you get the stories, not just the furniture.
Robert Mills House and Gardens
Pair this with the Robert Mills House since they're close together. It's President Woodrow Wilson's teenage home, now a museum about Reconstruction in South Carolina. It's a part of history most of us skimmed in school.
The Museum of Reconstruction Era at Woodrow Wilson Family Home
Gamecock Country & Downtown
Columbia is a college town through and through. Wear garnet and black on game days, and save time for Main Street and Five Points.
If you can catch a fall Saturday, do it. The whole city turns garnet and black, tailgating starts early, and the team runs out to the famous 2001 theme. Even non-football fans get goosebumps.
Williams-Brice Stadium
If you're in town on a Saturday morning, go. Main Street closes to cars and fills with local produce, baked goods, crafts and food from all over the world. Come hungry and bring a tote bag.
Soda City Market
Right on Main Street, so make it part of a Saturday with Soda City Market. Centuries of European and American art, plus special exhibits that change throughout the year.
Columbia Museum of Art
This is where the college crowd hangs out, with shops, restaurants and bars right next to campus. If you're here in spring, St. Pat's in Five Points is a big party.
Five Points Columbia
Take a slow walk here, even on a busy game weekend. It's the oldest part of campus, founded in 1801, with brick buildings around a big shady lawn under old oaks.
The Horseshoe at the University of South Carolina
Zoo, Rivers & Outdoor Fun
Three rivers meet in Columbia, and there's a lot to do outside: one of the country's best zoos, riverside trails, a huge lake, and a national park less than an hour away.
Plan most of a day and wear comfy shoes. It's one of the best zoos in the country, and don't skip the botanical garden across the Saluda River. It's easy to miss if you only do the zoo side.
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
South Carolina's only national park is about 30 minutes from downtown. Walk the boardwalk loop under giant old-growth trees. In late spring, look into the synchronous firefly event. Bring bug spray, y'all.
Congaree National Park
Easy morning walk or bike ride with views of the river rapids and the skyline. It's paved and flat, so anybody can enjoy it.
Three Rivers Greenway
Need a break from the city? Head west to Lake Murray for boating, fishing, swimming or a lakeside dinner. Walk the path along the dam at sunset for the best view.
Lake Murray
Got little ones? Take them here. It's a big hands-on children's museum next to the State Museum, and kids love climbing around Eddie, the giant 40-foot boy.
EdVenture
Where to Eat in Columbia
Well-loved Columbia restaurants, from Southern comfort food to barbecue and a Main Street whiskey bar.
Want a nice dinner or a Sunday brunch? Book Motor Supply in the Vista. It's in an old auto supply building, and the menu changes with the seasons around local ingredients.
Motor Supply Co Bistro
Hungry after walking campus? Mr. Friendly's has been a Five Points favorite for years, with creative New Southern cooking and a casual, friendly vibe that lives up to the name.
Mr. Friendly's New Southern Cafe
Craving Cajun and Creole? Bourbon is on Main Street with one of the biggest whiskey lists in town. It's an easy dinner stop near the State House and the art museum.
Bourbon
Date night pick. Classic Italian dishes and a big wine list in a relaxed setting. Order a pasta and settle in.
Di Vino Rosso
My pick in Columbia. Old Chicago is a casual pizza and taproom spot on Gervais Street in the Vista, and they have gluten-free pizza, which is a big win for me. Easy, relaxed, and close to the hotels downtown.
Old Chicago Pizza + Taproom
Feeding a hungry crew? Midwood does barbecue right, with brisket, ribs, pulled pork and all the classic sides. Nobody leaves hungry.
Midwood Smokehouse
Where to Stay in Columbia
Stay downtown or in the Vista and you'll be close to the State House, the museums, the university and plenty of places to eat.
If you love a hotel with personality, this one's for you. It's colorful, quirky and full of Gamecock touches, right by campus. A blast for game weekends.
Graduate by Hilton Columbia
Skip the big chains and stay here. It's a small, stylish boutique hotel right downtown, steps from Main Street, the State House and Soda City Market.
Hotel Trundle
A dependable full-service hotel in the Vista. You can walk to the State Museum, restaurants and nightlife, so you can park the car and forget it.
Hilton Columbia Center
Traveling with kids? The indoor pool alone sells it. Easy walk to the Gervais Street restaurants and the State Museum, and it's a good value.
Hyatt Place Columbia Downtown / The Vista
Visiting a college kid? Stay here. It's right next to campus, so it's handy for parents' weekends and game days, and you can walk to the Horseshoe and the State House.
Courtyard by Marriott Columbia Downtown at USC
Watching the budget? Free hot breakfast and an easy walk to the Gervais Street restaurants and the State Museum. Can't beat that.
Hampton Inn Columbia - Downtown Historic District
Want to be close to the action without paying luxury prices? Aloft is modern and colorful with a lively lobby bar. A fun, casual home base.
Aloft by Marriott Columbia Downtown