Get in
By car
Columbia is easily reached by Interstate 20, Interstate 26 and Interstate 77, or by U.S. Highway 1.
By air
Columbia is served by the '''Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE)'''.
There are non-stop flights to Columbia Metropolitan Airport from the following cities (some cities may be seasonal or only offer service certain days of the week): Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas Fort Worth, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Memphis, New York, Philadelphia and Washington [http://flyhere.com/Columbia-Metropolitan-Airport-CAE/].
By train
An '''Amtrak''' station is located at 850 Pulaski Street in the Vista. Columbia sits on the main north-south line on the East Coast. Trains depart daily for Miami and New York; however, most of the trains pass though Columbia at night, and are frequently delayed.
Get around
Most people use a car to get around Columbia, but more pedestrian-friendly areas of the city include downtown, The Vista, the University Hill/USC area, and Five Points. There is bus service around town provided by provided by [http://www.gocmrta.com CMRTA]. It is generally geared towards locals rather than tourists. Taxi service is also available 24/7 if one calls in advance, and can usually be hailed on the street in Five Points and The Vista at night.
See
Fort Jackson. ocated off of I-77. ttp://www.jackson.army.mil/. Fort Jackson is one of the major draws of visitors to Columbia. Essentially, there are three types of visitors to Fort Jackson: 1. the miserable private going through Basic Combat Training; 2. friends and family of graduating basic trainees; 3. A.I.T. students. For those visiting for BCT graduation, graduation will be held at Hilton Field or, in the case of inclement weather, the Solomon Center. A word of advice is that you should not surprise the soldier you're visiting, because he/she will need to report whether he/she is going home with a family member or by government expense. Failure to not alert your soldier will cause him/her to be required to leave on government transportation. Furthermore, leave contact info with your soldier, so his/her drill sergeants can alert you to any changes in plans.
Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens. 615 Blanding Street. 803)252-1770. ues-Sat. 10-3; Sun 1-4. or house: $5; $4 (age 65+; college students and military) $3 ages 6-17. One of the few houses left from antebellum Columbia, it was built in 1818 and has many authentic furnishings.
'''The South Carolina Statehouse'''. With a copper dome and bronze stars marking places where Sherman's cannonballs struck, the Statehouse is well worth the trip for fans of history and architecture alike. Though the Confederate flag no longer flies on the top of the dome, it stands atop a memorial directly in front of the building at the intersection of Gervais and Main. The grounds include several monuments and a small Italianate rose garden.
Riverbanks Zoo. 00 Wildlife Parkway. ocated about a mile outside of downtown, and easily accessible by Interstate 126. ttp://www.riverbanks.org/. Riverbanks Zoo has grown tremendously in the past decade. Recent additions include a gorilla habitat and koala bears donated from their native Queensland. Considered to be in the top ten US zoos, it has the added benefit of being small enough for those with difficulty walking to manage. Children will enjoy the petting zoo, pony rides, and demonstrations.
South Carolina State Museum. 01 Gervais Street. ocated near the corner of Huger and Gervais (US 1) streets in a renovated textile mill. 1-(803)-898-4921. ublicRelations@scmuseum.org. ttp://www.museum.state.sc.us/. pen Tu. - Sa. 10AM - 5PM and Su. 1PM - 5PM. Open Mondays Memorial Day through Labor Day. losed on New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. This museum is often visited by South Carolina school groups, and tourists on rainy days. Children may enjoy the hands-on exhibits, but parents will note that this place is long on reproductions and short on explanations. Come prepared for lessons on history, geography, industry, and economics. The gift shop has many South Carolina themed items.
'''Edventure Children's Museum'''. Located right near the State Museum, it opened in 2004. Lots of fun for those with small children.
Columbia Museum of Art. 1-(803)-799.2810. ttp://www.columbiamuseum.org/. Smack in the middle of Main Street, the Columbia Museum of Art has several small, but interesting collections. The Monet exhibit and the blown-glass and medieval works are worth the price of admission. The museum often brings in traveling exhibits.
Congaree National Park. 00 National Park Road. 1-(803)-776-4396. 1-(803)-783-4241. ttp://www.nps.gov/cosw/. ntrance and tours are free. he Harry Hampton Visitor Center is open from 8:30 AM until 5:00 PM. During daylight savings time (DST), the Harry Hampton Visitor Center will be open until 7:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. losed Christmas Day. Located about twenty miles south of the city, the nation's newest national park doesn't even have admission gates yet, leaving you the pleasure of federally-protected landscape without the price. One of the last old-growth forests in the southeast, the swamp actually isn't a swamp at all, but a floodplain of the nearby Congaree River. Wild pigs, deer, turkey, alligators, and other wildlife abound; the largest cypresses in the world are located here. The cypress knees and tupelo trees create something that looks like a set of Lord of the Rings. The boardwalk is several miles long and handicapped accessible; the park contains great hiking trails and even the opportunity for canoeing (rent in Columbia). The visitor's center has useful information and a helpful staff, but if you're planning on returning to your car after five, be sure to leave it in the overnight parking lot near the entrance of the park.
Do
Nickelodeon. 37 Main Street. ust below the state house. 803)254-3433. For independent film in Columbia, this is your place. Also has several film festivals throughout the year and is a comfortable movie theater.
'''Kayaking'''. Columbia has some of the best kayaking available in an urban area in the US. Put in the Saluda River at north end of the Riverbanks Zoo parking lot, get out in the Congaree just past the Gervais Street bridge, on either side.
'''
'''St Patrick Day Festival''' An Irish celebration that is located in Five Points. Features an elaborate parade. There's a wide variety of family entertainment like petting zoos and rides for kids. There's three stages of music by local and national musicians, and great food from local restaurants and caterers.
Learn
<listing name="University of South Carolina" alt="USC" address="" directions="" phone="" url="http://www.sc.edu/" hours="" price="" lat="" long="" phoneextra="" tollfree="" email="info@sc.edu" tags="">The campus is just south of the Statehouse. The oldest part of campus, known as "The Horseshoe", survived the burning of Columbia and has lovely buildings dating from 1805.</listing>
Buy
Five Points. 002 Blossom Street, Columbia, SC 29205. ttp://www.fivepointscolumbia.com/directory/index.php?m=bl&c=2. District of Columbia that features a wide selection of primairly locally-owned shops and boutiques, including a unique bookstore and music store. A must-visit for shoppers in Columbia.
Dutch Square Mall. 21 Bush River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210. ttp://www.midtownatforestacres.com/default.asp. Older, smaller mall that is good for bargain hunters at stores such as Burlington Coat Factory.
Midtown at Forest Acres. 400 Forest Dr, Columbia, SC 29204. ttp://www.midtownatforestacres.com/default.asp. Upscale shopping center including stores such as Belk, Barnes & Noble, and a Regal Cinemas.
Eat
Some of the most popular ones include, the '''Blue Marlin''', which features seafood prepared in the South Carolina Lowcountry tradition; '''Bull Market Restaurant''', which serves Southern cuisine with a Greek Mediterranean flair; '''Dianne's on Devine''', an upscale fine dining restaurant offering Italian dishes; the '''Hampton Street Vineyard''', best known for its extensive selection in fine wines; and '''SakiTumi Grill & Sushi''', which specializes in Pacific Rim cuisine. In all, Columbia offers over 450 dining options. '''Terra''' in the West Bank/State St. area in West Columbia is a new upscale eatery that has caught the attention of locals.
Rockaway's. 719 Rosewood Drive. 1:30-12AM. nder $10. Columbia Institution, best burgers in town and pimiento cheese fries... It's an unassuming brick building with metal shutters on Rosewood across from the Rite Aid. The service sucks and the wait staff is lacking but that is part of the experience.
Budget
Passable regional chain restaurants have locations in and near town, including '''Five Guys Burgers and Fries''', '''Mellow Mushroom Pizza''', '''Moe's Southwest Grill?''', '''Groucho_fs Deli''', '''Atlanta Bread Co?''', '''Firehouse Subs''' and '''Sonic Drive-In?''' (many 24h).
Mid-range
Birds on a Wire. 901 Devine St.. 03 254-2445. 11:30AM-9PM; Tu-Sa 11:30AM-10PM. Stylish decor and high-backed booths complement the well-prepared Southern-style food.
Delhi Palace. 029 Briargate Cir. n Broad River Rd just off I-20. 03 750-0866. ttp://delhipalacesc.com/. u-Th 11:30AM-10pm; F-Sa 11:30AM-10:30PM. Those in the know visit for the inexpensive but tasty Indian buffet.
Nonnah's. 30 Gervais St.. 03 779-9599. -Th 11AM-2pm, 5-11PM; F-Sa 6PM-12:30AM. Quirky drinking establishment is famous for its desserts.
Pasta Fresca. 405 Forest Dr.. -Th 11AM-9PM; F-Sa 11AM-10PM; Su 5-9PM. Large portions of superior Italian fare at reasonable prices make this one popular with people who dine out for food rather than linen tablecloths.
Thai Lotus. 12 St. Andrews Rd.. ff I-26. 03 561-0006. u-Th 10:30AM-10PM; F-Sa 10:30AM-11PM. Slow service made up for by decent Thai fare, ornate carved wood decor. Also has Japanese/Sushi items on menu.
Yesterday's. 030 Devine St.. 803)799-0196. ttp://www.yesterdayssc.com/. u.-Th. 11:30am-12:00am; F.-Sat. 11:30am-1:30am. Good moderately priced restaurant. Mostly American and Southern food. One of the more fun places to go in Five Points, with a large beer selection and plentiful food for a reasonable price.
Yo Burrito. 631 Devine Street. 803)254-2035. Friendly service and many types of burritos, including options for vegetarians. Fairly popular place just beyond Five Points.
Splurge
Columbia has a diverse, extensive array of restaurants to choose from, most notably those in the historic Congaree Vista district, Five Points, and along Devine Street.
Blue Marlin. 200 Lincoln St.. n the Vista. 803)799-3838. ttp://www.bluemarlincolumbia.com/. u. 11:30am-9pm; M-Th. 11:30am-2:30pm, 5pm-10pm; Fr. 11:30am-2:30pm, 5pm-11pm; Sat. 4pm-11pm. One of the better seafood restaurants in Columbia, Blue Marlin specializes in Lowcountry style seafood such as shrimp and grits as well as she-crab soup.
California Dreaming. 01 Main St.. 803)254-6767. ttp://centraarchy.com/califdreaming/cd-columbia/cdcola-intro.html. u.-Th. 11am-10pm; Fr-Sa. 11am-11pm. Good service; excellent salads and steaks, in addition to good desserts and a nice bar.
Ristorante Divino. 03 Gervais St.. n the Vista. 803)799-4550. ttp://www.ristorantedivino.com/index.html. un.-Thurs. 5PM-10PM; Fri.-Sat. 5PM-11PM. Fabulous Northern Italian cuisine. Wine cellar on premises. Jackets recommended. Reservations are suggested.
Garibaldi's. 013 Greene St.. n Five Points. 803)771-8888. un.-Thurs. 5PM-10PM; Fri.-Sat. 5PM-11PM. Has seafood, steak, as well as Italian food. Also, excellent desserts and good service. Reservations are suggested.
Hampton Street Vineyard. 201 Hampton St.. 803)252-0850. ttp://www.hamptonstreetvineyard.com. .-Fri. 11:30AM-2:00PM, 6:00-10:00PM; Sa. 6:00-10:00PM. Outstanding food selection. Also has an excellent wine service and good service in general. Reservations are recommended for the restaurant is fairly small inside and is pretty popular.
Mr. Friendly_fs. 001-A Greene St.. 03 254-7828. -Th 11:30AM-2:30PM, 5:30-10PM; Fri 11:30AM-2:30PM, 5:30-10:30PM; Sa 5:30-10:30PM. People dress up to visit the celebrated (and busy) Mr. Friendly_fs, known for its meaty Southern cuisine.
Solstice Kitchen & Wine Bar. 14-4 Sparkleberry Lane. n the Sandhills/Northeast. 803)788-6966. ttp://www.solsticekitchen.com/. un.-Thurs. 5PM-10PM; Fri.-Sat. 5PM-11PM. Describes itself as "New American," with an internationalist approach to Southern delicacies, Solstice is a trendy and professional restaurant in the Northeast. Owned by the same owner as the venerable Mr. Friendly's.
Terra. 00 State St., West Columbia. n the West Bank. 803)791-3443. ttp://www.terrasc.com/. ues-Sat. 5PM-11PM. Winner 2008 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. Makes a strong effort to support local farmers and uses as many locally grown ingredients as possible.
Drink
'''Five Points'''. Located around the intersection of Harden Street, Green Street and Saluda Avenue, this neighborhood has numerous bars and eateries catering to the University of South Carolina students. It gets especially boisterous on Thursday nights.
'''The Vista'''. For the more mature crowd, dozens of bars and restaurants centered on the corner of Lincoln and Gervais.
Sleep
Residence Inn by Marriott Columbia. 50 Stoneridge Drive. 03-779-7000. ww.marriott.com/CAEDT . The Residence Inn Columbia hotel is situated just outside Columbia's downtown business district in a quiet residential neighborhood.
Comfort Inn & Suites. omfort Inn & Suites Ft. Jackson Main Gate. 337 Garner's Ferry Road. xit 9 off of I-77. 1-(803)-695-5555. ttp://www.comfortinn.com/ires/en-US/html/HotelInfo?hotel=SC046. PM. 1AM. Comfortable hotel with a exercise room, pool, and free wi-fi connection.
Embassy Suites Columbia - Greystone. 00 Stoneridge Drive. 03-252-8700. ttp://www.embassysuitescolumbia.com. Just off of Interstate 126.
Inn at USC. 619 Pendleton Street. -866-455-4753. ttp://www.innatusc.com. The Inn at USC on the campus of University of South Carolina in Columbia, the Palmetto State_fs capital, features tastefully decorated guestrooms and suites in a unique setting near dozens of local attractions.
Sheraton Columbia Downtown Hotel. 400 Main Street. 1-(803)-988-1400. ttp://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1783. PM. oon. Located in an architecturally pleasing building, but that's about the only good view of the hotel - the area surrounding the hotel essentially offers views of parking garages. Located in the central downtown area of Columbia.
Staybridge Suites Columbia. 911 Huger St., Columbia, SC 29201. ttp://www.staycolumbiasc.com. Newly-built, offers extended-stay residential-style living. Fully equipped kitchens, living rooms, flat panel LCD TVs and free WiFi. Complimentary hot breakfast, 24-hour fitness center and indoor pool, business center with remote printing, and a manager's reception on select evenings.
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