10 Best Things to Do in Columbia

Housed in a former textile mill, the South Carolina State Museum celebrates South Carolina’s history, culture, science, and nature. The first floor is a paradise for dinosaur enthusiasts, featuring a life-size prehistoric shark. The second floor explores science and space programmes, while the history-oriented third floor has Native American pottery and a replica 19th-century schoolroom.

Catch a film in the 4D cinema, which includes vibrating seats and blasts of air and water. The Observatory has both historic and cutting-edge telescopes, or you can observe the stars in the digital planetarium. Stop in at the Lipscomb Gallery on the ground floor to see traditional and contemporary work by South Carolina artists.

Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park is a delightful 167-acre area of greenery in the middle of the city. A comfortable paved trail runs for 4 miles along the embankment separating the canal from the Congaree River. The trail ends at the Columbia Canal Diversion Dam, a popular spot for fishing.

Along the way, you can check out the historic pump houses lining the canal, relics of the 19th-century Columbia Waterworks. The trail is an excellent place to spot wildlife, from deer and birds to turtles and sunbathing alligators. Our top tip is to take a picnic and grab one of the park’s outdoor tables with outstanding river views.

EdVenture Children's Museum's core mission is to get children enthusiastic about science. Beyond exhibits, the museum has laboratories, workshops, interactive exhibits, and a cinema. Kids will love creating their meals in the Cooking Lab, diagnosing animals in the Pet Clinic, or conducting experiments in the Bio Lab.

The most popular exhibit is ‘Eddie’, a 40ft statue where kids can walk around inside his heart and climb up his vertebrae to learn more about the human body. The museum store, EdCetera, has thousands of educational toys and games. From aeronautics to ecology, EdVenture does an excellent job of sparking children’s curiosity about the world.

Seating 18,000 enthusiastic fans, the Colonial Life Arena is the biggest sports arena in South Carolina. It’s home to the University of South Carolina men’s and women’s basketball teams, the South Carolina Gamecocks. A game here is an unforgettable experience featuring wildly cheering fans and an electric atmosphere.

The arena also hosts some of the biggest music events in Columbia. Taylor Swift, Elton John, Cher, and The Eagles have all played here. You can also come for a night of monster truck racing, WWE wrestling, stand-up comedy, or family shows.

Frankie's Fun Park is an energetic, family-oriented park with 3 go-kart tracks, ‘bumper’ boats equipped with water guns, and a thrilling ‘Drop Zone’ ride that spins you around in the air. There are lots of opportunities for sports, from 54 holes of mini-golf across three courses to batting cages where you can practice ‘hitting it out of the park’.

Fight off zombies in the Hologate virtual reality suite, challenge your family to a game of laser tag with an apocalyptic theme, or try to bag the high score at the interactive movie experience, XD Dark Ride. Take a relaxing break from all that fun on the spacious arcade floor, with hundreds of games like Space Invaders and Pac-Man.

Hampton-Preston House has hosted a Revolutionary War general, a State Senator, and numerous wealthy plantation owners during its 200-year history. Nowadays, it serves as a museum examining the lives of the affluent in 19th-century South Carolina. The mansion's interior is a faithful recreation of the era, with exhibits on the construction of the house and slavery in Columbia.

The elegant gardens encircling the house feature sparkling fountains and ancient trees. Themed areas around the grounds include a children’s garden, 2 arboretums, and a horticultural centre. You'll get the most out of your visit by taking a guided tour, which delves deeply into the building's colourful history as a convent, school, and Union Army base.

Segra Park is a sports stadium accommodating almost 10,000 fans for baseball games, football matches, American football, and music concerts. It is the home stadium of the Columbia Fireflies baseball team, which play games here most weeks during the baseball season.

Past concerts include a hip-hop music festival featuring Ludacris and Flo Rida, a country concert headlined by Corey Smith, and a classical concert by the South Carolina Philharmonic with a stunning fireworks display. Don't forget to visit the Mason Jar store for some Fireflies souvenirs to remember your trip.

The Columbia Museum of Art showcases an impressive collection of art from various art movements, including works by famous artists such as Botticelli, Monet, and Tiffany. The museum also has a collection of historic furniture, silver, and ceramics, as well as remarkable Chinese artwork from the 15th century.

In addition to its permanent collections, the museum hosts temporary exhibitions that explore diverse subjects such as contemporary African-American artists, women of the South, and art inspired by war veterans. On your visit, you can participate in hands-on workshops and art classes, and attend evening film screenings or chamber music concerts. Children can enjoy Cross Hatch, an interactive gallery that allows them to create their own art.

Congaree National Park is a vast expanse of wilderness, featuring old-growth forests and endless miles of creeks and rivers. You can explore the park along a boardwalk, where you might spot wild pigs, river otters, or great horned owls. Alternatively, you can take a more challenging hike along the park's trails with a park guide.

Adventurous travellers will love the opportunity to kayak or canoe along Cedar Creek, passing by ancient swamp chestnut and American elm. You can also take a fishing trip along the streams to catch catfish and striped river bass. The park's most spectacular attraction is the rare synchronous fireflies, which gather in large numbers between mid-May and mid-June.

Columbia Marionette Theater is a quirky theatre of puppets and marionettes that’s fun for kids and adults alike. The puppets – some as tall as 5 ft – are expertly made by the theatre, who also produce the sets for their 30 ft stage. Stories range from original space adventures to classic tales like Aladdin and The Wizard of Oz.

Visit for ‘Marionette Mondays’ and in addition to the show, you’ll get a backstage tour, a presentation, and a chance to try out the puppets for yourself. Check out the theatre’s craft shop, where you can buy finger and hand puppets, marionettes and wind-up toys.