Things To Do in Columbia, South Carolina

Downtown Columbia Convention Center State House State Museum Colonial Center

Discover all the fun things to do in Columbia South Carolina. You’ll find wild times at the Riverbanks Zoo, plus more great things to do with kids in Columbia, SC. And for the grown-ups, there are plenty of cool things to do in Columbia, South Carolina, too. Head downtown to visit the world-class art collection at the Columbia Museum of Art, which houses works by Claude Monet and Louis Comfort Tiffany. Or get in on some serious sports action at the Colonial Center, home of the University of South Carolina’s men’s and women’s basketball teams. Travelling with the team? Staybridge Suites Columbia is just minutes from local sports complexes and fields. Whether you are here for business or leisure, the Staybridge Suites Columbia gives you the perfect location to do all the great things to do in Columbia, South Carolina.

Fun Things To Do in Columbia, SC

Downtown Columbia. Downtown Columbia offers terrific museums, entertainment and sightseeing, and is home to numerous businesses and corporations. Visit the Columbia City Ballet, Columbia Museum of Art, the Tapps Building, and the Barringer Building. During spring and fall, every Friday you can visit the Main Street Marketplace, a collection of outdoor vendors. For more information on the best things to do in Downtown Columbia, SC, visit www.citycentercolumbia.sc.

Vista Historic District. Visiting the Columbia Historic District is just one of the hip things to do in Columbia, South Carolina. The Seaboard Airline Railroad Station is the center of the historic district with its Blue Marlin Restaurant. It’s just one of the beautifully restored historic buildings you’ll find that help preserve Columbia’s rich industrial history. For more details, visit www.Columbiadevelopment.org.  [Top]

Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. The Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center offers more than 142,500 square feet of meeting space, including a stunning 17,135 sq-ft ballroom and 24,700 sq-ft column-free exhibit hall. For more information on things to do in Columbia, SC and events at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, visit www.columbiaconventioncenter.com.

Riverbanks Zoo & Botanical Gardens. The Riverbanks Zoo & Botanical Gardens is the wild home of more than 2,000 animals from more than 350 species. Experience your pick of top adventures at the Riverbanks Zoo & Botanical Gardens, it’s always a fun thing to do with kids in Columbia, SC. Go on a safari through the Africa Plains exhibit, a 2-acre recreation of an African savannah and visit the Koala Knockabout. For more information about Riverbanks Zoo & Botanical Gardens, visit www.riverbanks.org.  [Top]

South Carolina State House. The South Carolina State House is the capitol building of the state of South Carolina and a splendid example of Greek Revival architecture in the South. The impressive State House was completed in 1907 after being under construction for nearly fifty years. For more details about the South Carolina State House, visit www.scstatehouse.net.

South Carolina Governor’s Mansion. The South Carolina Governor’s Mansion has been the home to more than 30 South Carolina governors since it became the official residence in 1868. The South Carolina Governor’s Mansion was originally built as a residence for the Arsenal Military Academy, and was saved from complete destruction during the burning of Columbia in the Civil War. For more information on visiting the South Carolina Governor’s Mansion, go to www.scgovernorsmansion.org.  [Top]

South Carolina State Museum. The South Carolina State Museum displays exhibits that tell stories of South Carolina’s natural, industrial and cultural history. The South Carolina State Museum always ranks as one of the cool things to do in Columbia, South Carolina for visitors. For more details on visiting the South Carolina State Museum, go to www.southcarolinastatemuseum.org. 

Columbia Museum of Art. The Columbia Museum of Art offers a world-class collection of American and European fine and decorative arts that spans from impressionist masterpieces from Claude Monet to Old Master paintings and Florentine Renaissance works from painters such as Sandro Botticelli. The collection of 3,000 American Decorative Arts pieces at the Columbia Museum of Art includes art glass by Louis Comfort Tiffany. For more details on the Columbia Museum of Art, one of the best things to do in Columbia, SC, visit www.columbiamuseum.org.  [Top]

Colonial Center. The Colonial Center is home to the University of South Carolina men's and women's basketball teams and great entertainment. The Colonial Center arena seats 18,000 people, and acts as a multi-purpose event center for conferences and concerts. The Colonial Center is South Carolina’s largest arena. For more details on upcoming events at the Colonial Center, visit www.thecolonialcenter.com.

Carolina Coliseum. The Carolina Coliseum was the official home of the men’s and women’s basketball teams of the University of South Carolina until the Colonial Center opened in 2002. Today, the Carolina Coliseum is the home rink for the Columbia Inferno’s of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). For more information on games and things to do at the Carolina Coliseum, visit www.coliseum.sc.edu/main.asp.  [Top]