Columbia V I S I T O R S
G U I D E
BBQ!
SOME LIKE IT HOT
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Hilton Columbia Center South Carolina
Experience our intimate and upscale Hilton ® Columbia Center hotel in South Carolina, ideally located in the center of the financial, entertainment and historic district. Elegant in atmosphere and striking in detail, the Hilton ® Columbia
Center is the ideal
setting for business and leisure travelers.
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Our meeting facilities are fully equipped to host any event and include a stunning ballroom, professional meeting rooms and executive boardrooms, complete with banquet and meeting amenities, audiovisual equipment and event planning services, the perfect space for your event
Featuring the Hilton Serenity Bed with the Serta Suite Dreams® mattress, down duvet and pillows, and 250-thread count linens
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Ruth’s Chris® Steak House Restaurant, a fullservice fine dining restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner
Each guestroom is equipped with complimentary wired and wireless high-speed Internet access, two dual-line telephones with voicemail, coffeemaker, iron and ironing board, hair dryer, make-up mirror and high-definition 32" flat-screen LCD television
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Outdoor pool
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State-of-the-art business center for faxes, e-mail and photocopies
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Fitness center with Precor equipment
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Located in the center of the unique Congaree Vista District, you are steps away from museums, restaurants, nightlife, art galleries and antique shopping
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The Hilton is adjacent to the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center
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924 Senate Street | Columbia, SC 29201 | Ph: 803-744-7800 | Fax: 803-744-7777 Visit our website at www.hiltoncolumbia.com
THEY WEAR RED COATS, BUT SOMETIMES A CAPE MIGHT BE MORE APPROPRIATE. At the COLUMBIA MARRIOTT, our Red Coat program provides you with dedicated on-site consultants, committed to making your event planning centaur_roman_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;',./ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQ RSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:"<>?_å ∫ç∂郩˙î ∆˚¬µñø πœ®ß†ü √∑≈ ¥Ωà¡™£¢ ∞§¶•ªº –≠"'«…æ ≤≥ ÷|ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔ ÒÂ˜Ø ∏ Œ‰Íˇ¨ ◊„˛Á¸`⁄Í‹›fifl‡°·‚—±"'»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõ ÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ centaur_italic_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;',./ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~! @#$%^&*()_+{}|:"<>?_å ∫ç∂郩˙î ∆˚¬µñø πœ®ß†ü √∑≈ ¥Ωà¡™£¢ ∞§¶•ªº– ≠"'«…æ ≤≥ ÷|ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔ ÒÂ˜Ø ∏ Œ‰Íˇ¨ ◊„˛Á¸`⁄Í‹›fifl‡°·‚—±"'»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ centaur_bold_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;',./ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQ RSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:"<>?_å ∫ç∂郩˙î ∆˚¬µñø πœ®ß†ü √∑≈ ¥Ωà¡™£¢ ∞§¶•ªº –≠"'«…æ ≤≥ ÷|ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔ ÒÂ˜Ø ∏ Œ‰Íˇ¨ ◊„˛Á¸`⁄Í‹›fifl‡°·‚—±"'»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿã ñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ centaur_bold_italic_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;',./ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTU VWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:"<>?_å ∫ç∂郩˙î ∆˚¬µñø πœ®ß†ü √∑≈ ¥Ωà¡™£¢ ∞§¶•ªº– ≠"'«…æ ≤≥ ÷|ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔ ÒÂ˜Ø ∏ Œ‰Íˇ¨ ◊„˛Á¸`⁄Í‹›fifl‡°·‚—±"'»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙ ÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ
simple and seamless. For your next meeting, enjoy the unmatched level of service you’ve come to expect from Marriott. Call For Special Group Rates
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Columbia Marriott Columbia, SC To reserve your room, call 1-800-MARRIOTT or visit Marriott.com. Rates are per room, per night, based on availability, not available for groups of 10 or more rooms.
Unparalleled excellence, Service and valUe.
Stay in the Heart of Historic Congaree Vista District The Hampton Inn is walking distance from the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, University of South Carolina, State Capitol Building, downtown businesses, historic points of interest, and unique dining and shopping. Groups will find that our flexible meeting space is ideally suited for small business meetings and receptions. Our staff will be happy to suggest outside catering, floral or entertainment options specifically suited for your group. Whatever the size your group, our staff will happily assist in making your function a memorable one.
Complimentary Parking â&#x20AC;˘ Complimentary Breakfast â&#x20AC;˘ Complimentary Wi-Fi
822 Gervais Street Columbia, SC 29201 803.231.2000 | 803.231.2826 (fax) www.hamptoninncolumbia.com
[welcome]
You’re here!
[greetings]
Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau 1101 Lincoln Street, Columbia, SC 29201 800.264.4884, Fax: 803.545.0050 columbiacvb.com
President & CEO Richard A. “Ric” Luber
In Columbia, our history truly lives with us every day. Our history isn’t just confined within the walls of our many museums, it’s thriving in historic buildings that have found new purpose as restaurants or storefronts and in our historic homes, like the Robert Mills house, that are still standing. It’s such a pleasure to be able to walk or drive around and see history weaved throughout the city.
Vice President of Sales & Marketing Kelly Barbrey
Director of Media Relations & Publications Nicole Smith
Manager Columbia Regional Visitors Center Jill Asouzu
Published By:
Bob Coble Mayor MULTIMEDIA GROUP TM
Weaver Multimedia Group Sales Office: 7001 St. Andrews Rd., PMB 323 Columbia, SC 29212 803.732.3110, Fax: 803.732.3112
The graciousness of our community is second to none! Everywhere you go people welcome you with smiles and hospitality. It’s like you’re a part of the family.
Corporate Office: 800-303-9328 www.weaver-group.com
Publication Team
William Derrick Lexington County Council
Publisher: Rebecca Carity Director of Editorial: Teri Vannoy Graphic Designer: Jeff Kuenzel Senior Publications Manager: Jennifer Barrett
Sales Associate Publisher: Anna Bigham
Every morning, I run along the Congaree River by way of our riverwalk, and it just amazes me how crisp and clean the water that flows through our city center is. As a 12month destination, we’re able to kayak, canoe and run along our rivers. Lake Murray is also beautiful and is our area’s premier fishing and boating location.
Ric Luber Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports & Tourism
Chief Executive Officer: Peter J. Koclanes Chief Financial Officer: Dianne Gates Vice President of Publishing and Web Services: Lynne Craig Executive Vice President of National Sales: Mark Schmidt
Columbia has really become a hot spot for entertainment. From downtown city center to the suburbs, the nightlife sizzles with opportunities. My family and I enjoy live jazz bands that play in local restaurants and the spring and summer concerts in the parks, entertainment and shopping districts.
Milton Pope Richland County Administrator
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Support and Leadership Senior Innovation and Content Manager: Kevin Day Creative Manager of Design: Kelly Faigin Contributing Writers: John Daters, Anne Marie Kelley, Keith Lin, Ryan Peacock, Lisa Pogue Photography: Nicole Cross, Andrea Golod Ad Design: Chris Gregori, Sean Mahaffey, Sami Wallingford Digital Imaging: Michelle Graham Advertising Coordinators: Sarah Bivens, Laura Everitt, Emily Hagen, Travis Owen
Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
Listings in this publication are based on information provided by bureau partners as of November 2008. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication. ©2008 by the Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau. No portion of this publication may be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or reproduced in any way without the express written permission of the Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau. Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau (“CMCVB”) and Weaver Multimedia Group (“Weaver”) make no endorsement, representation or warranty regarding any goods or services advertised or listed in this publication. Listings and advertisements are provided by the subject companies and CMCVB and Weaver shall not be responsible or liable for any inaccuracy, omission or infringement of any third party’s rights therein, or for personal injury or any other damage or injury whatsoever. Corporate information and advertising specifications available at www.weaver-group.com.
The Whitney Hotel is committed to treating each one of our guests with uncompromising courtesy and superior service.
Experience the best of Southern hospitality at The Whitney Hotel. The Whitney Hotel is Columbia’s Premier suite hotel. From the moment you enter our foyer, you’ll experience the same level of hospitality and attention to detail you would expect if you were visiting close friends
in the South.
• Minutes away from a multitude of of Columbia attractions • One- and two-bedroom suites with full kitchens, washer and dryer • Complimentary airport transportation, breakfast, newspaper and parking • Passes to the Hampton Hill Athletic Club • Room service by Harper’s Restaurant • Prompt and talented service staff
700 Woodrow Street, Columbia, SC 29205 803-252-0845 • 800-637-4008 www.whitneyhotel.com
Contents Table of
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theWhoWhatWhereandWhy
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Features 8 10 Capital Ideas Top attractions 14 I Spy Take a public art walking tour 16 Bank on This Explore our rivers
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18 Pride & Jewel Discover Lake Murray 19 If Walls Could Talk Historic Columbia’s house museum tours 20 Viva la Vista Set off on a progressive dining and art tour 22 Barbecue Some like it hot
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24 3 Points About Shopping in Five Points Sample Columbia’s local style 26 Kid Tested, Mother Approved Best bets for families 28 Congaree’s Canopy Escape to this enchanting National Park
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30 Reel Time Nights at The Nick, Columbia’s indie movie theater
Itineraries 10 Hot Pursuits Nostalgic? Artistic? Plan your day based on your mood 12 Go Native Savvy locals help you plan a perfect day
Planning Essentials 32 Plan Must-have visitor info 38 Slumber Where to rest your head ©Andrea Golod/ Weaver, ©Columbia Museum of Art, ©Andrea Golod/Weaver, ©Lake Murray Country, ©Courtyard Columbia Downtown USC, ©Benedict College/ Floyd Ingram, ©Shandon Day Spa & Salon, ©Andrea Golod/Weaver.
PHOTOS (from top):
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Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
47 Engage Museums, history tours, farmers markets, spas and more 58 Applaud Music, theater, art and dance 60 Play Recreation in the great outdoors 63 Splurge The best places to shop
Sheraton Columbia Downtown Hotel is the most unique and historic hotel in Columbia! Discriminating guest rooms feature Sheraton Sweet Sleeper beds, two flat screen televisions, an honor-bar, dual shower heads, jacuzzi tubs, Wi-Fi and in-room Starbucks coffee. The Vault Martini Bar unlocks a treasure of decadent cocktails! The Link@Sheraton keeps guests conncected 24-7. Come by our Starbucks Cafe or dine at one of our fine restaurants P.O.S.H. or Main Street. You don't just stay here--you belong.
Book a room today!
sheratoncolumbiahotel.com 1400 Main Street I Downtown Columbia I P 803.988.1400 I F 803.988.1401
Describe the Southern city of your imagination.
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©Andrea Golod/Weaver
Is it gracious? Historic? Sultry? Columbia, South Carolina, is all of these and so much more! Surprisingly seductive, Columbia draws you in with a refreshing, comfortable pace; plentiful playgrounds such as Lake Murray, rivers, parks, gardens and Riverbanks Zoo — one of the best in the country; the University of South Carolina and Fort Jackson; and its reverent regard for history, celebrated in museums, historic homes and even in repurposed buildings now enjoying life as shops and restaurants. Once you’ve been touched by the allure of Columbia, you’ll be so glad you stopped to visit.
Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
©CMCVB/Jeff Amberg
Just because Columbia delivers serenity... doesn’t mean there’s no sizzle! As a college town and the Palmetto State’s capital, Columbia’s fiery vibe nourishes a vibrant arts scene while an indie spirit fuels several invigorating entertainment districts full of locally owned boutique shops, eateries and nightclubs. Adventure-seekers can feed their spirits on the rivers, trails or in Congaree National Park. With more than 450 restaurants, food-lovers can easily pick a new feast for every night of the week. There’s enough variety to keep things interesting, but all within easy reach. Columbia is totally hot, but never a bother! Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau • columbiacvb.com
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©Andrea Golod/Weaver Multimedia Group
Capital Ideas
Capital trivia: test your Columbia knowledge with these fun questions; answers are at the bottom of page 9.
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Riverbanks Zoo & Botanical Garden 803.779.8717 • www.riverbanks.org Please turn to page 26.
Q:
How many animals call Riverbanks Zoo home?
©Riverbanks Zoo
South Carolina State House 803.734.2430 • www.scstatehouse.net Even if you’re not from around these parts or don’t venture inside the historic building, a visit to South Carolina’s State House is worth your while. The first African-American monument to grace any U.S. state capitol property joins more than two dozen other memorials decorating the State House grounds. On the western facade of the building, you’ll notice six bronze stars. These markers point out the scars left behind when Union forces occupied the city in 1865, and cannonballs struck the unfinished structure. Inside, the history lesson of the state and building continues. To get all the goods, check out the gift shop and take a tour.
Q:
Columbia Museum of Art 803.799.2810 • www.columbiamuseum.org The Columbia Museum of Art, South Carolina’s international art museum, has an extraordinary collection of European and American fine and decorative art that spans centuries. From ancient Rome and Greece to Renaissance Italy and Claude Monet to Thomas Sully to Louis Comfort Tiffany — the Columbia Museum of Art is your window to the world in the heart of downtown.
Q: How many pieces are in the Columbia Museum of Art’s collection?
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Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
©Andrea Golod/Weaver
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How many pennies could be made with the copper covering the State House dome?
Q:
How many hands-on exhibits can your little ones experience at EdVenture?
Q: How many years has the museum been edu-taining guests?
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©National Park Service
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South Carolina State Museum 803.898.4922 www.museum.state.sc.us To get a glimpse of “South Carolina Under One Roof,” stop for a spell at the South Carolina State Museum, housed in a four-story former textile mill built in 1893. Visitors get to take a stroll through a Charleston Courtyard or enjoy the sights and sounds of a mountain cove. The daring can even get face to face with an ancient 40-foot giant white shark. Believe it or not, South Carolina’s lower coastal plain was once the swimming grounds of the giant white shark, believed to have the largest teeth of any shark species.
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Congaree National Park 803.776.4396 www.nps.gov Please turn to page 28.
Of the park’s 24,000 acres, Q: how many make up the old-growth
Q:
Lake Murray 866.SC.JEWEL www.lakemurraycountry.com Please turn to page 18.
How many miles of shoreline are there at Lake Murray?
bottomland hardwood forest, the largest remaining tract on the continent?
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Historic Columbia 803.252.1770 South Carolina Relic Room & Military Museum www.historiccolumbia.org 803.737.8095 • www.crr.sc.gov Please turn to page 19. This Columbia attraction, next to the State Museum, isn’t just for Civil War buffs. It’s for all who want What historic Columbia home to learn about South Carolina’s military history and impact. Founded in 1896 — making it the has the distinction of being one oldest museum in the area — the of the few South Carolina homes owned Relic Room & Military Museum by free blacks in antebellum days? presents artifacts and education from the Revolutionary War to the War on Terror. Even though Lexington County Museum it’s been around for more than 803.359.8369 a century, each visit is a new www.teachingushistory.org/ experience thanks to rotating qt-lex/ displays and temporary exhibits With 30 historic structures, such as the tribute to World War I, costumed tour guides and many “Forgotten Stories: South Carolina of the appointments of everyday life in antebellum Fights the Great War,” on display Lexington County, the Lexington County Museum now through Dec. 6, 2009. is truly a living history complex. Along with the oldest documented house in the town of Lexington — the How many square feet are dedicated to Lawrence Corley Log House — the museum includes slave South Carolina’s martial history? quarters, a smokehouse, a one-room schoolhouse, a cotton gin house and more.
Q:
©SCRR&MM
©SC State Museum
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EdVenture Children’s Museum 808.779.3100 • www.edventure.org Please turn to page 26.
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Q:
For more wondrous facts on things to see and do, visit columbiacvb.com.
Q:
When did a Revolutionary War soldier build the Lawrence Corley Log House?
Answers...#1: 2,000; #2: 8 million; #3: Over 7,000; #4: Over 350; #5: 20; #6: 11,000; #7: 650; #8: 17,000; #9: Mann-Simons Cottage; #10: 1772 Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau • columbiacvb.com
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Hot Pursuits [passion]
[whimsy]
When you wake up to a gorgeous day in Columbia, hundreds of activities await. Whether it’s a touch of Southern nostalgia for the historic past that tugs on your sleeves, an artistic drive to experience some culture, the need for a little peace and greenery or the call of personal adventure, what sort of day you have depends entirely upon your mood. Let us help you find the perfect day in Columbia for your frame of mind.
Nostalgic
Green
Your journey into South Carolina’s past begins with a trip to the Columbia Regional Visitors Center, where you’ll find maps, brochures and a little Southern orientation. Next, spend your morning at the South Carolina State House, a historic building with a Revolutionary War past, plenty of notable monuments and an art gallery full of portraits of such country leaders as Robert E. Lee, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Continue your introduction to Columbia with a visit to the South Carolina Governor’s Mansion and Gardens. This exquisite home is surrounded by nine acres of gardens and fountains, perfect for a breath of fresh air before lunch.
Verdant forests surround Columbia, but exploring natural wonders with a hike through Congaree National Park is not the only way to “go green” here. In the morning, embark on a wildlife tour of the world with a day trip to the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, two-time winner of the Governor’s Cup for South Carolina’s Most Outstanding Tourist Attraction. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy while you stroll through the 170-acre site known for its breathtaking botanical gardens. An excellent afternoon of greenery can be found at the Columbia State Farmers Market or The Farmers Shed, where you can feast your eyes on the fruits of the region. With fruits, flowers and trees growing yearround, there’s always something fresh to enjoy. As the afternoon wanes, take a break from the world with a Zen-like spa experience in the downtown area. Enjoy a rejuvenating massage or a refreshing facial as you cool down with the night.
A historic afternoon is best spent at one of Columbia’s many fascinating museums. The South Carolina Confederate Relic Room & Military Museum is the oldest museum in the Columbia area and will guide you through South Carolina’s distinguished martial heritage, from the Revolutionary War to the present. Or, go “shopping” in an early-20th-century country store at the South Carolina State Museum, where art, natural history, science and history exhibits delight visitors of all ages. If you wish to expand your own historic collection, Columbia’s antique corridor along Meeting Street is full of nostalgic treasure troves. Top it off with a real South Carolina barbecue dinner filled with the local flavors of sweet tea, barbecue and delicious peach cobbler.
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Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
Artistic Columbia’s cultural scene beckons to your artistic side. Explore the rich visual talents of international artists from ancient Rome and Greece to modern-day American masters at the Columbia Museum of Art. With impressionist pieces by Monet, the glassworks of Louis Comfort Tiffany, renowned changing exhibits and many other masterpieces, the museum is a true cultural jewel that will keep you enthralled all day. When the sun begins to set, and the Southern air starts to cool down, the weekend music scene in Columbia heats up. Enjoy music alfresco by spending a Saturday or Sunday evening attending one of many free summer concerts in Finlay Park, Virginia Hylton Park and the West Columbia Riverwalk Amphitheater. Top your evening off with a stunning music, dance or theatrical performance by Columbia’s renowned talent. The Columbia City Ballet is the city’s largest performing arts organization, with five full-length productions presented at the Koger Center for the Arts. A local favorite, Dracula: Ballet with a Bite, is performed during the Halloween season and is sure to send chills down your spine. Whatever your music taste, Columbia offers an eclectic array of options to fit your mood. Enjoy a down-home bluegrass band, the soothing vocals of our choral group, the Palmetto Mastersingers, or a stirring performance by the SC Philharmonic orchestra. Columbia is also home to a vibrant theatrical scene including the oldest community theater in the United States, the Town Theatre and the South Carolina Shakespeare Company.
Adventurous A day in Columbia offers the chance to choose your own adventure. Outdoor escapes, heart-pounding athletic games and nightlife hot spots are just a few of the exciting adventures available. Spend the morning experiencing the rush of Columbia’s rivers with kayaking or canoeing trips down the Congaree, Broad and Saluda, which all flow through the downtown area. In a town so proud of its athletic prowess, it’s no wonder Columbian athletes have a fire within that makes for thrilling spectator sports. University of South Carolina Gamecock games are true to their feisty mascot, fighting tooth and nail to win games in a variety of sports.
Benedict College’s Tigers heat up the competition in Division II, while boasting a campus with five buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. Watch the Columbia Blowfish baseball team heat up the summer season at Capital City Stadium. The excitement doesn’t stop when the sun sets. Columbia offers a lively nightlife for every taste. Drift away on the sultry sounds of celebrated jazz musician Skipp Pearson or ignite the dance floor with some sizzling salsa dancing at Salsa Cabana.
Photos: (clockwise from top opposite). Blowfish game; Williams-Brice Stadium; Governor’s Mansion; Trustus Theatre. ©Andrea Golod/Weaver Multimedia Group, ©South Carolina Athletic Media Relations, ©Andrea Golod/Weaver Multimedia Group, ©Trustus Theatre
Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau • columbiacvb.com
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Go Native
Locals Help You Build a Perfect Day Morning
Marnie Hudson, a 24-year-old teacher, recommends starting your day at the Liberty Tap Room (828 Gervais St., 803.461.4677, libertytaproom.com), a popular weekend brunch spot among locals in the Vista neighborhood. The menu is noted for items like shrimp and grits in a creamy Cajun sauce or bananas Foster toast, a unique twist on classic French toast. A short drive away, the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden (500 Wildlife Pkwy., 803.779.8717, riverbanks.org) is home to more than 2,000 animals. Hudson says a trip to the zoo is not complete without a walk through its 70-acre botanic gardens. Turn to page 26 for more info.
Afternoon
Two rivers, the Broad River and the Saluda River, converge in the heart of Columbia to form the Congaree River. It’s a natural playground with unique views of the cityscape that Dianne Woodcock, a 47-year-old owner of Fitness Outfitters, a fitness equipment company, escapes to for scenic There are three amazing canoe trips. On the rivers that flow through the riverfront, Saluda Shoals Park (5605 Bush heart of Columbia. River Rd., 803.731.5208, icrc.net/saludashoals/default.aspx) offers full-day rentals of kayaks and canoes. For those who prefer to stay on land, Woodcock says the park has miles of hiking trails that meander along the shoreline and a popular water playground for kids.
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Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
Evening
The city has a great Pam Young, a 47-yeartheater scene — you old office manager, loves Columbia’s can see everything from performing arts. The Broadway productions Workshop Theater of to outside-of-the-box South Carolina (1136 performances. Bull St., 803.799.6551, workshoptheatre.com) is a 199-seat auditorium known for Broadway productions. In 2009, the theater will host the Tony Award-winning The Producers. Young also likes Trustus Theatre (520 Lady St., 803.254.9732, trustus.org), a historic venue often filled with shows by local talent. “The performances here are edgier,” she says. “They serve wine and have La-Z-Boy recliners for seats.”
After Hours
For great live music, Dan Cook, a 40-year-old editor, likes to head to Five Points Pub (2020 Devine St., 803.253.7888, myspace.com/5pointspub), an intimate venue that has a calendar packed with national and local musicians. “If you’re looking for a hidden gem that you won’t find in guidebooks, try the Art Bar,” Cook says. Art Bar (1211 Park St., 803.929.0198, artbarsc.com), the ultimate food-art hybrid, draws a diverse crowd. And Cook says one of the best places to grab a beer is the Hunter-Gatherer Brewery (900 Main St., 803.748.0540), a casual hangout with a great selection of handcrafted brews.
Photos: Liberty Taproom (top). Riverbanks Zoo (far left). Karaoke at the Art Bar (left). ©Liberty Taproom, ©Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, ©Jen Ray/Art Bar
ASSEMBLY
Question:
Where is the best place to go for a great getaway weekend?
trustus theatre
kelly’s pub
blossom
elmwood
ruth’s Chris steakhouse
flying saucer bella vista bridal & wedding boutique
liberty tap room Paul’s philadelphia eatery
hampton inn downtown historic district
The answer is always the Vista. www.vistacolumbia.com. The Vista—Columbia, SC’s Arts and Entertainment District the congaree river
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I Spy...
Columbia’s Public Art Walking Tour
The city’s dedication to art is one of the many splendid revelations you’ll experience on a visit to Columbia. See how many treasures you can spy.
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Exit the Convention Center via Lincoln Street and walk north (left) until you reach Gervais Street. Head west on Gervais (turn left). At 700 Gervais Street you’ll find the Railway Murals, including The Yardmaster (1997) by Ralph W. Waldrop.
2
Head east on Gervais (turn right from Lincoln). Pass Nonnah’s, a restaurant displaying the work of local artists. Head south (turn right) on Park Street. You will pass Generations (1999) by Eric Lake on the side of the Research Planning, Inc. building.
For information on more artsy artifacts, visit columbiacvb.com.
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Reverse course back to Gervais Street and head east toward the historic, copper-domed State House. Circle the grounds until you get to Main Street, directly across from the entrance to the State House. Turn to page 8 for info on the State House.
Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
4
Head north down Main Street and look for these sights: Imported Italian tiles on the Arcade Sylvan Bros. Clocks Architecture of the 1913 Palmetto Building
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Across from Boyd Plaza, next to Sylvan Bros. Jewelers is Never Bust (2000) by famous local artist Blue Sky. The welded chains in this link are 25 feet long and five feet wide.
5
Stop at 1501 Main Street, the Columbia Museum of Art and Boyd Plaza, for:
The Boyd Plaza Sculpture, created with steel and fiberglass by the American artist Nade Haley Apollo’s Cascade, a 27-foot-tall sculptural fountain by Rodney Carroll Upright Motive, No. 8 created with bronze by the English artist Henry Moore The Gressette Fountain, which flows over 10 granite monoliths
7 9
Travel northwest on Main Street to 1530 Main Street, outside Jammin Jazz Cafe and you’ll see The Palmetto Building door from the Saxon Home Door Project.
8
Turn east (right) on Taylor Street to Busted Plug Plaza to see:
Continue northwest on Main Street to Taylor Street. Look for the mural on the Columbia Conservatory of Dance (take special note of the side facing Hampton Street).
The world’s largest fire hydrant, a 39-foot fountain created by Blue Sky and unveiled in 1999 Blue Sky’s Tunnelvision (1975) Farther to the left you can find Blue Sky’s The Other Side of the Tunnel (2000)
All photos: ©Andrea Golod/Weaver Multimedia Group
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Return to Main Street and resume walking northwest. Continue until you reach 1701 Main Street, The Courthouse.
Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau • columbiacvb.com
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Bank on This
[tranquility]
Rolling on Columbia’s Rivers
The swiftly flowing waters of the Broad, Saluda
and Congaree rivers congregate in Columbia. Along their banks lie riverfront parks, walks and gardens that beckon both visitors and locals chasing the warm afternoon breezes to the water’s edge. Near the water’s edge, you’ll find a handful of outfitters providing kayaks, canoes and inner tubes for rides down the river system, so don’t worry about having to travel far to enjoy a ride atop the water’s flow. Saluda Shoals Park, near the Lake Murray dam’s spillway, is one of the most popular put-in points. If you’d prefer a guided trip, a number of outfitters are happy to oblige and will help you hop aboard a raft with an expert at the oar.
Anglers who chance to cast in a line along the water’s banks often
find themselves in a fight with a striped or black bass. Each river has its popular fishing grounds, and while locals won’t divulge each and every fishable eddy, they are in agreement that an easily accessed and near-sure bet for catching fish is Senate St. Landing, near the Gervais St. Bridge on the Congaree River. Nearby, several marinas and fishing outfitters rent fishing equipment — visit columbiacvb.com for specifics.
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Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
Three Rivers Greenway is easily accessed along an
expansive stretch of the city’s riverbanks. Abutting the perpetually flowing waters of both the Broad and Congaree rivers, this peaceful walk connects a handful of welcoming city parks. Among the most popular is Riverfront Park, near the three-river confluence. It’s a sprawling grassy area where picnickers and people looking to dip their toes in the water congregate to enjoy the area’s inviting natural attributes. Kayak and canoe rentals are available nearby, and it’s common to see water enthusiasts conquering a small rapid or two. The ½-mile segment alongside Granby Park’s 24 acres was the genesis of Columbia’s riverwalk system in 1998. Hike south along the greenway among trees whose boughs create a leafy canopy over the paved walkway. Plenty of overlooks create optimum conditions for snapping scrapbook-worthy pictures of the Congaree River and its greenery.
Now that you’ve worked up an appetite, visit columbiacvb.com for nearby restaurants.
Photo: Canoeing on the Congaree River. ©Andrea Golod/Weaver Multimedia Group
Working Progress
Introducing the Medallion Center, a 43,000-square-foot, full service contemporary event facility that welcomes guests with a combination of warm hospitality and gourmet cuisine that make each event uniquely spectacular. This high-end, unique facility is an oasis of beauty, centrally located off interstate 77 in Columbia, South Carolina - just a short drive from Charleston, Greenville, Charlotte, Augusta or Myrtle Beach. This gracious and modern facility features rich upholstery, recessed lighting, warm colors and upscale architecture. The interior consists of a 13,500-square-foot grand ballroom, four board rooms, a spacious entrance foyer and walkways as well as a salon that opens to an outdoor courtyard - all of which radiate an atmosphere of elegance and class. A large conference or a business forum will be attended to by the latest technology, unmatched service and the experience of 17 years of event design.
Trust Troncoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.
The Medallion Center 7309 Garners Ferry Road | 803-256-1222 | www.troncos.com
Pride & Jewel Lazy Days on Lake Murray [refresh]
Spread like the intricate fingers of a snowflake, Lake Murray’s innumerable coves and inlets allow for both quiet solitude and family enjoyment. Found just west of the Columbia city center, the lakeshore encompasses nearly 80 square miles. Lakeside rental homes, multiple marinas and easily accessed boat launches sit perched on its warm-water shores.
Water, Water Everywhere. While the majority of Murray’s shoreline is rocky, a few prime beaches do exist — if you know where to look. One of the lake’s most popular is Sandy Beach. Found in the southeast section of the lake — a few miles from the earthen Saluda Dam — this white-sand oasis is ideal for barbecues, swimming, tanning or reconnecting with your family. As small waves lap the shore, visitors can’t help but feel they’ve been transported to a coastal beach. If you’ve rented a boat at one of the lake’s full-service marinas, you can beach it right on shore and save yourself the hassle of anchoring. In addition to sandy beaches, secluded coves and inviting inlets, Lake Murray also features a peppering of tiny islands. Among the most interesting is Goat Island. And oddly enough, goats do meander around this particular island, perfect for a quirky photo opportunity. The lake itself is a self-contained tourist attraction. Shoreside vacation rentals provide easy and anytime access to
Murray’s banks, while restaurants overlook its placid waters. On select occasions, including the Fourth of July, the lake hosts floating concerts. During these much-anticipated events, a dock is moored in the lake and bands take to the stage, with crowds cheering from their own boats and floats. Water Wise. The best time to take a dip is March through November, when the water is at its warmest. For anglers, consider purchasing a seven-day fresh-water fishing permit and try your luck against largemouth, striper and crappie. The Dreher Island State Recreation Area is composed of three islands in Lake Murray. Each is linked via bridges. This park system is ideal for those who want to enjoy the lake sans watercraft. Camping, hiking, fishing and picnic sites are all available.
Photos: Playing on the waters and shores of Lake Murray. All photos ©Suzette Morganelli
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Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
If Walls Could Talk Historic Columbia’s House Museum Tours Walk in the steps of an enslaved Charlestonian midwife, the architect of the Washington Monument or among the wealthy in Civil War times by going on Historic Columbia’s house museum tours. Properties: Mann-Simons Cottage Robert Mills House and Park Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens
©Andrea Golod/Weaver Multimedia Group
The Woodrow Wilson Family Home is temporarily closed for restoration
Guided tours: Tues.–Sat., 10am–4pm (last tour begins at 3pm) Sun., 1–5pm (last tour begins at 4pm) Purchase tickets at Robert Mills House, 1616 Blanding Street 803.252.1770
Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau • columbiacvb.com
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Viva laA Progressive Vista
Dining & Art Tour Craving a widespread menu of art and food? Head to the Congaree Vista, where you’ll find more than 45 restaurants and bars mingling with antique shops, art galleries and studios. Crafted by both artists and visionaries, this former warehouse district has transformed its railroad stations and textile mills into a lively arts community with a creative dining scene.
Vista Flavor
Vista Culture
Try the following for a progressive Vista sampling: Visit Gervais & Vine (620 Gervais St., 803.799.VINE, gervine.com) for authentic Mediterranean tapas and a raved-about wine list.
Stop in to these art spots along your way: Watch artists’ intricate techniques at One Eared Cow Glass (1001 Huger St., 803.254.2444, oneearedcow.com). The Vista’s sole hand-blown glass art studio welcomes onlookers in its public workspace.
Sample Low Country seafood starters at the Blue Marlin (1200 Lincoln St., 803.799.3838, bluemarlincolumbia.com) — think crab cakes, Gulf oysters and shrimp with grits. Follow your taste buds to a cache of Southern dishes at the Palmetto Pig (530 Devine St., 803.733.2556), where you can indulge in all-you-can-eat pulled pork barbecue, hash, slaw and crispy fried chicken while sipping sweet tea. Grab a sweet-tooth-satisfying nightcap at Nonnah’s (930 Gervais St., 803.779.9599, nonnahs.com). This Vista original is open late and offers some of the city’s best baked meringue and pecan pies. Locally made watercolor and multimedia artwork line the walls. It’d be a shame to call it a night without stopping in for a cocktail at Blue Tapas Bar & Cocktail Lounge (721 A Lady St., 803.251.4447, www.bluecolumbia.net). Blues, jazz and even the hits of the ’80s keep the vibe hot, while the Southeast’s only ice bar keeps your cocktail icy cool.
Visit multilevel City Art Gallery (1224 Lincoln St., 803.252.3613, cityartonline.com) for Columbia’s largest gallery and a professional artist supply store. Take an art class or wander through rooms filled with sculpture, jewelry, charcoal drawings and oil paintings. If contemporary art is more your style, pop into if Art Gallery (1223 Lincoln St., 803.238.2351, ifartgallery. blogspot.com) and see the latest creations by young area artists. Learn all about regional art and natural history at the South Carolina State Museum (301 Gervais St., 803.898.4921, museum.state.sc.us). Browse everything from state seal gold cuff links to South Carolina cookbooks in the attached museum shop — the largest in the Southeast.
For more delicious ideas and cultural happenings, visit columbiacvb.com. Photo: Nonnah’s dessert and art. ©Andrea Golod/Weaver Multimedia Group
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Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
Come and enjoy one of Columbia’s landmark restaurants. For over 25 years, Hennessy’s has been a favorite place to meet, romance and dine in unique comfortable surroundings. Join us in the lounge overlooking Main Street for your favorite cocktails, cordials or desserts.
Columbia’s Premiere Tapas Bar. We have over 50 wines from around the world by the glass, a Mediterranean-inspired tapas menu, a large selection of domestic, imported and microbrew beer, premium spirits and much more!
1649 Main St. • 803.799.8280 • www.hennessyssc.com
620-A Gervais St. • 803.799.VINE • www.gervine.com
Enjoy casual fine dining in Columbia’s oldest and finest Italian restaurant. Located in a historic 19th-century firehouse, Villa Tronco boasts an extensive wine list and serves traditional Italian favorites: veal, pasta, fresh seafood, homemade Italian bread, Carmella’s Famous Cheesecake and wonderful Square pizza that Mama Tronco introduced to Columbia.
Columbo’s Italian Eatery and Prime Steaks is a casually elegant restaurant featuring Italian cuisine, the finest prime beef and private dining. Columbo’s Lounge features big-screen sports, a superior wine list and your favorite cocktails and beverages.
1213 Blanding St. • 803.256.7677 • www.villatronco.com
2100 Bush River Rd. • 803.744.2200 • www.columbos.net
[spice it up]
Barbecue Some Like It Hot [saucy]
When in the South, you must eat a Southern meal: mouthwatering, taste-bud-tackling, cooked-to-perfection barbecue. Columbia offers plenty of spots where you can indulge in this age-old gastronomical tradition — an experience you’ll remember forever. Before you go any further, follow this step-by-step guide to full stomach satisfaction.
Step 1:
Start your Engines Come hungry. You want the whole experience, so bring as much belly room as you can. Don’t be shy. We’ll make you feel right at home. Take a seat and get ready for an indoor picnic extravaganza. Rev up and step up with your paper plate and your appetite. Maybe stretch a bit, just to be safe.
Step 2:
Load Up Take a gander at the buffet or the menu and don’t feel too overwhelmed. Whatever you pick, you can’t go wrong. The main event here is the barbecue. No, not the coal cooking hood in your yard used for grilling hamburgers, we mean the meat itself, and we mean business. In South Carolina, it’s slow-cooked pulled pork, and you can usually get it in a sandwich or a basket. In some places, hash, chicken and ribs grace the menu, as well.
Step 3:
Get Saucy and Choose Sides This is where it gets interesting. Spicy, tangy or sweet, every barbecue joint has its own recipe for success. In the Midlands area around Columbia, a lot of restaurants use a mustard-based sauce known as Carolina Gold. Now, a barbecue meal isn’t a meal without a little accompaniment. Dress up your plate with beans, potato salad, coleslaw or hush puppies.
Step 4:
Enjoy and Leave Happy Sit yourself down, lift your fork and ensure that your napkin is handy. Take a bite. Take another bite, and another, and another. Wash it all down with a sip of our famous sweet tea. Take another sip. Repeat steps two and three until all that’s left at your table is a full belly and a serving of tantalizing peach cobbler, another must-have Southern treat. Can’t get enough barbecue? Want to re-create your experience at home? Before you leave, take a minute to talk to the owner about his or her barbecue theories — everyone’s got a personal style of cooking down here, and most are eager to share. Remember, y’all come back now, you hear?
Photos (clockwise from top): Sweet iced tea; pulled pork sandwich; all the sides worth fixin’. ©iStockPhoto/Gustaf Brundin, ©iStockPhoto/Danny Hooks, ©iStockPhoto/David Smith
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Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
Try joints like Granny’s Carolina Bar-B-Que, DOC’s Barbecue, Hudson’s Smokehouse and Maurice’s Gourmet Barbeque, all in the Columbia area.
Points About 3 Shopping in
Five Points
Five Points, one of the best places to sample Columbia’s local style, has retained its character as a laid-back bohemian area since it first emerged more than 75 years ago.
1
Big-Name Retailers Don’t Reside Here If you are looking for familiar names such as The Gap, Target or Best Buy, you’re in the wrong spot. Corporate logos don’t clutter the landscape (except, of course, for the one Starbucks location).
[Five Points is] a very eclectic group of locally owned stores in an urban, funky neighborhood. The personalities of these independent retailers vibrate throughout the area.
— Merritt McHaffie, Executive Director of the Five Points Association
2
The Area Just Got a Multimillion-dollar Facelift Five Points’ recent $36 million renovation project added new trees, street lights and better parking access. Along with the eclectic shopping, the pedestrian-friendly area is great for people watching and seeing historic architecture (nothing is taller than two stories).
3
Shopping Here Is All About Browsing and Exploring Explore places such as a music store with an amazing selection of rare jazz CDs (Papa Jazz Record Shoppe, 803.256.0096), a women’s consignment store that carries names like Chanel and Prada (Revente, 803.256.3076), a rare bookseller with more than 10,000 titles (Five Points Bookshop, 803.799.7182) and a neighborhood café with a wide selection of international cheeses and wines (The Gourmet Shop, 803.799.3705).
You can always find cool and unique items that you won’t see anywhere else — everything from rock-n-roll baby onesies to funky hipster jewelry.
— Courtney Phillips, manager of the trendy clothing and gift store Sid & Nancy’s
Photos: The Gourmet Shop sells cookware, wine, cheese, pastries and sandwiches made to order (top); shopping for records at Papa Jazz Record Shoppe (left); Doors of Devine shopping (below). ©Andrea Golod/Weaver Multimedia Group, ©Five Points Association, ©Andrea Golod/Weaver Multimedia Group
What’s Behind the Doors of Devine? Whatever door you pick, you’re gonna be delighted. The Columbia dining and shopping district known as The Doors of Devine is a collection of upscale specialty shops and restaurants perfect for an afternoon of strolling, window shopping or splurging! 803.201.2690 • www.doorsofdevine.net
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Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
300 Senate
A Southern State of Taste Lunch Served M – F l 11am – 2pm Private Evening Dining l Banquets Located in downtown Columbia 4 blocks from the convention center
Lunch Buffet $8.49 Dinner Buffet $11.32 Daily Specials Thursday: Pork Chops and Ribs Friday: Fried Catfish and Fried Shrimp Saturday: Smoked Sausage and Ribs Sunday: Honey Glazed Ham OPEN Tuesday and Wednesday: 11am - 2pm Thursday thru Saturday: 11am - 8pm Sunday: 11am - 2pm Highway 6, Irmo side of the dam 2261 North Lake Dr., Columbia, SC 29212 803-781-1616 www.grannysbbq.com
Distinctive “Southern Comfort” Cuisine Private Dining Room Riverview Alfresco Dining Beer, Wine and Cocktails On-site Parking 300 Senate Street l Columbia, SC 29201 803.748.8909 www.vistaeventsonline.com
Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau • columbiacvb.com
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KidTested, Mother Approved
One family, a gazillion options and only a few days in Columbia. The problem isn’t the kids getting bored, it’s choosing from the vast selection of family-friendly choices Columbia has to offer. Puppet shows, miniature golf, recreational parks, reading rooms, museums, farm tours…the list goes on and on. A great place to kick off the family-friendly fun is the EdVenture Children’s Museum (808.779.3100, www.edventure.org), which opened in 2003. In a few short years, the museum has become a must-see destination for children. After all, if it’s fun enough for Eddie — officially the world’s largest child at 40 feet and 17.5 tons — it’ll be entertaining enough for your kids, who will inevitably revel in the interactivity of the museum’s exhibits. They’ll have the opportunity to learn by experience through hands-on activities: measuring their own oxygen levels, anchoring their own TV shows, recording their own music and much more. Learning has never been so cool. For the outdoor equivalent, visit Riverbanks Zoo and Garden (803.779.8717, www.riverbanks.org), consistently voted as one of the best in the country. Photos: Summer camp at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden (top); quilt-making at EdVenture (left), the EdVenture entrance inspires from the get-go.
More than 2,000 animals represent some 350 species, giving children the age-old opportunity to marvel at 20-foot giraffes, playful penguins and the slow-moving Galapagos tortoise. But the zoo isn’t just a place to watch from a distance. Kids can get up close and personal with mystery animal hunts, diving expeditions, safaris and Other Kid-Friendly even overnight camps.
Attractions
So fret not, Columbia is officially kid tested and mother approved, and the children have permission to let their adventurous spirits run wild and get their hands a little dirty. Now that’s a vacation.
©Riverbanks Zoo/Jenn McCollum, ©EdVenture/Kerry Johnston, ©EdVenture/Kerry Johnston
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Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
1. Carolina Children’s Garden 2. Columbia Marionette Theatre 3. Frankie’s Fun Park 4. Saluda Shoals 5. Children’s Room, Main Library 6. Funzone for Kids 7. Columbia Fire Museum 8. Virginia Hylton Park 9. Cottle Strawberry Farm (April –June) 10. South Carolina State Museum
[wilderness]
Congaree’s Canopy [serene sanctuary]
If you were a dragon, fairy or gentle giant, Congaree National Park would most certainly be on your short list of desired places to live. Even those of us who are less mythical find South Carolina’s only national park and its 2.5-mile boardwalk, towering trees and the river running through it, the Congaree, a magical playground. Just 30 minutes southeast of Columbia’s city center, Congaree National Park is the tallest deciduous forest on the planet and is home to several champion trees, the largest of their kind. The area is inundated with floodwaters eight–10 times per year when the river overflows its banks, typically between December and April. This frequent reinvention helps to make the park appealing to an incredibly broad array of wildlife. Photos (from top): A resident of Congaree; the elevated boardwalk.
If you only have an afternoon to spend, a great introduction to all the wonders
All photos ©Andrea Golod/Weaver Multimedia Group
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Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
of the park is to walk the elevated Boardwalk Trail using the free brochure you can pick up at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center. This self-guided tour gives you some of the history and ecology of the park. For birders, canoeists and kayakers there is an enormous amount of diversity to keep you enthralled for much longer. And it’s free to everyone! To start planning your trip, visit www.nps.gov/cong. The visitor center is open daily except for Christmas, 8:30am–5pm, 803.776.4396.
great meals
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Reel Time [popcorn]
©Nickelodeon Theatre
[indie film scene]
It’s easy to schedule time during your trip to enjoy South Carolina’s only nonprofit art house film theater. Every day of the week, the Nickelodeon Theatre presents independent, foreign and documentary films, many not typically viewed out of major metropolitan areas. You can’t go wrong even if you don’t plan ahead, but to get in on a little something extra, consider looking for the following from the Nick’s special programming:
Premiere Night @ The Nick Wednesday night is twice the fun at the Nick — you have the chance to see back-to-back screenings of two different films! At 6pm, the final screening of the previous week’s film runs, and at 8:30pm, the premiere of the new film running the following week helps pack the 77-seat theater. Along with munchies from local restaurants, the Nick’s non-trans fat popcorn, soda and spirits are available very reasonably.
Second Saturdays at the Nick
Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers As a venue for the Southern Circuit, the nation’s only regional tour of independent filmmakers, the Nick offers a forum for film lovers to discuss films and their meanings with the filmmakers six times a year. For schedule info, check the Web site at www.nickelodeon.org.
Second Saturdays, a family program to champion the shared viewing, conversation and experience of films among youth and adults, is held the second Saturday of every month at 10am. For only $1, 3 to 10-year-olds can get an early start in a life-long appreciation of cinema.
Columbia Jewish Film Festival
Indie GRITS Film Festival
Check the Web site, www.nickelodeon.org, for details and schedules for the All of Us film series, which includes screenings, panel discussions and receptions specially selected by representatives of the Nick’s diverse community of supporters from the African American, Native American, Latin American and GLBT communities.
In the spirit of creating exhibition opportunities for works that might not get show time at other festivals, the Indie GRITS Film Festival is dedicated to bringing people together to celebrate and share their interest in independent film production. The festival hits the Nick every April. For more information, visit www.indiegrits.com.
937 Main St., adjacent to the University of South Carolina campus; film schedule: 803.254.3433, www.nickelodeon.org
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Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
Documentaries and acclaimed films created by and about Jewish culture are celebrated at this festival March 21–23, 28–29, 2009.
All of Us
SpringHill Suites® by Marriott® Columbia Downtown The newest hotel in Columbia. Opening in June 2009.
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Great location in Downtown, Vista area. Walking distance to Convention Center, State House, University of South Carolina and great dining and shopping Marriott® Rewards points available. Suites are 25% larger than a comparably priced hotel room, giving you room to succeed. Luxury bedding – crisp linens, thicker mattresses, custom comforters, fluffier pillows.
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511 Lady St., Columbia, South Carolina 29201
Suites are innovatively laid out, stylishly furnished and smartly designed. They feature pantry areas with a small refrigerator, sink and microwave. Large well-lit desk, voice mail and free high-speed Internet access. Complimentary continental Suite Seasons Breakfast® buffet. Complimentary on-site parking.
www.marriott.com/caesh
888-236-2427
Fairfield Inn® by Marriott® Columbia Columbiana Mall/Northwest Easy access to I-26, I-20 and the heart of the capital, Columbia.
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Adjacent to the Columbia Mall and Harbison Boulevard. Located less than 10 miles from Downtown Columbia. Dozens of choices for dining and shopping. Marriott® Rewards points available. Comfortable guest rooms at a superior value for both business and leisure travelers.
320 Columbiana Dr., Columbia, South Carolina 29212
803-732-4436 | 888-236-2427
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The new bed from Fairfield Inn® – custom comforters, crisp linens, thicker mattresses. Large, well-lit work desk. Remote-controlled TV with free cable. Free continental breakfast. Complimentary on-site parking. High-speed Internet access. Indoor pool/spa.
www.marriott.com/caefn
Planning Essentials
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Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
©Andrea Golod/Weaver ©U.S. Army
©CL Children’s Theatre/Jim Litzinger
©Congaree Vista Guild
©Embassy Suites Hotel
©Benedict College
Now that you’ve been oohhed and aahhed by the possibilities of a visit to Columbia, it’s time to get down to the nuts and bolts of planning your trip. In this section, we’ve pulled together all the must-have info you’ll need to make planning a cinch!
Coming soon ress Holiday Inn Exsp Hotel and Suite “Welcome Home” Immerse yourself in downtown and enjoy the convenience while staying at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites! Located in the historic Vista District on the corner of Taylor and Huger Street, just minutes away from shopping, dining, historical locations, attractions, sporting events and much more.Whether business or leisure let our talented and dedicated staff accommodate your needs to make your stay superb.
Call and book your reservations today! 803.744.4000 501 Taylor St., Columbia, SC 29201
The perfect hotel for business or leisure travelers. Located just one mile from Fort Jackson and near a number of Columbia’s attractions: Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, University of South Carolina, South Carolina State Museum and the Columbia Centre.
Visitors will enjoy nearby Richland Fashion Mall, Dutch Square Center, golf courses, putting greens and driving ranges as well as the many restaurants within walking distance.
Hotel Amenities Include
• High speed internet access • Indoor heated pool and spa • 37" flat screen tvs • Free expanded continental breakfast
Book your stay at the Comfort Inn 800-695-5555 www.choicehotels.com 7337 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, SC 29209 Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau • columbiacvb.com
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[friendly]
columbiacvb.com [online connection]
A vital tool in your trip-planning arsenal is the official tourism Web site of Columbia — columbiacvb.com. Packed with info, searchable databases and interactive features, columbiacvb.com is the perfect complement to your other planning efforts. Some of the hottest features are listed below.
Be our friend! We’re Famously Hot, but we’re also surprisingly hip! Get a glimpse of Columbia’s best features at our MySpace page, YouTube Channel and even our visitor blog — all linked to from columbiacvb.com.
Search Narrowing down all the options to create a customized itinerary perfect for you is so much easier with a little technical help. That’s why columbiacvb.com’s searchable database of places to stay, dining, attractions and calendar of events is the place to firm up your plans.
Virtually There
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Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
©Andrea Golod/Weaver
You can chart your own path by using the interactive map available on columbiacvb.com. With just a few keystrokes, you can plot where you want to stay and what you want to see. From columbiacvb.com you can also view a virtual version of this guide and sign up for our e-newsletter.
Homewood Suites by Hilton®
Make Yourself at Home®
Our Homewood Suites by Hilton® Columbia hotel is located just three miles from downtown Columbia, South Carolina, and offers easy access to major interstate highways. Our central location gives our short-term and extended-stay hotel guests the opportunity to visit some of the biggest attractions the area has to offer, such as: • Columbia Museum of Art • Finlay Park • Riverbanks Zoo and Garden • EdVenture Children’s Museum • University of South Carolina
Our spacious studio and one-bedroom suites feature separate living and sleeping areas. Each has a fully equipped kitchen with full-size refrigerator, microwave, two flat-cook-top stoves and dishwasher.
230 Greystone Blvd., Columbia, SC 29210 803-239-4663
Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau • columbiacvb.com
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©Andrea Golod/Weaver
Good to Know Getting Here By Air Columbia Metropolitan Airport 3000 Aviation Way 803.822.5000 www.columbiaairport.com Just six miles southwest of Columbia’s business district, the Columbia Metropolitan Airport is served by seven airlines, including American Eagle, Continental, Delta, Northwest, Spirit Airlines, United and US Airways. The airport offers free wireless Internet access.
By Car Columbia has three major interstate highways serving the metropolitan area: I-26, I-77 and I-20. I-95 is only 60 miles away.
Distance & Driving Times to Columbia City Miles Asheville, NC 150 Atlanta, GA 221 Birmingham, AL 366 Cleveland, OH 610 Charleston, SC 115 Charlotte, NC 94 Gainesville, FL 454 Hilton Head Island 160 Indianapolis, IN 610 Jackson, MS 595 Knoxville, TN 264 Louisville, KY 505 Myrtle Beach 150 Nashville, TN 420 New York, NY 690 Philadelphia, PA 610 Raleigh, NC 210 Savannah, GA 146 Washington, DC 470
Hours 2.5 3.5 6 10 2 1.5 7.5 2.5 10 10 4.5 8.5 2.5 7.0 11.5 10 3.5 2.5 8.0
Roadside Assistance South Carolina Department of Transportation Call *HP from your cell phone if you need basic auto repair assistance such as changing a flat tire, jump starting your car and providing fuel and water.
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Visitor Info Columbia, SC
Visitors Centers
The Columbia, South Carolina area consists of six counties — Richland, Lexington (including the city of Columbia), Kershaw, Calhoun, Fairfield and Saluda — with approximately 650,000 people, making it South Carolina’s largest metropolitan area.
Columbia Regional Visitors Center 1101 Lincoln St. 803.545.0002, 800.264.4884 www.columbiacvb.com Mon.–Fri. 8am–6pm; Sat. 10am–4pm; Sun. 1–5pm
Packing List Columbia is a dress-to-impress city, but whether you dress up or down, you definitely want to remember we’re Famously Hot.
Climate Columbia may be Famously Hot, but the forecast is quite consistent: mostly sunny, most of the time! At night, plan on light breezes and comfortable temperatures. Forty-five inches of rainfall annually help cool things down, but rarely does it get cool enough to snow.
Average Highs & Lows (in Fahrenheit) Month January February March April May June July August September October November December
High 57 60 68 77 84 89 92 91 85 76 67 58
Low 34 36 42 50 59 67 71 70 64 51 41 35
Average figures from National Weather Service
Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
Whether visiting friends or family, conducting business or attending a meeting or event, be sure to stop by the Columbia Regional Visitors Center. Our knowledgeable and friendly staff is eager to assist you with area information. You’ll find maps and brochures with information about restaurants, accommodations, attractions and more. We’re located at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in the historic Congaree District, just blocks way from the Gervais Street bridge and the South Carolina State House.
Capital City/Lake Murray Country Visitors Center 2184 N. Lake Dr. 803.781.5940, 866.SC.JEWEL www.scjewel.com Mon.–Fri. 9am–5pm; Sat. 10am–4pm; Sun. 1–5pm University of South Carolina Visitors Center 816 Bull St. 803.777.0169, 800.922.9755 www.sc.edu/visitorcenter Mon.–Fri. 8:30am–5pm; Sat. 11am–3pm West Metro Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center 1006 12th St., Cayce 803.794.6504, 866.720.5400 www.westmetrochamber.org Mon.–Fri. 8:30am–5pm
Dining & Nightlife If you can’t stand the heat, Columbia has more than 450 dining options to get you out of the kitchen. How can you choose? We’ve outlined the top tips to keep your dining and nightlife sizzling: 1. Search columbiacvb.com for your options by cuisine type, price range or location. 2. Stroll along the sidewalks of one of Columbia’s entertainment districts such as The Congaree Vista, Five Points or Devine Street, and stop when something strikes you or the smells wafting through the air get your taste buds tingling.
©Andrea Golod/Weaver Multimedia Group
3. When in town, pick up Columbia’s free weekly, Free Times, and its sister publication, Bites & Sights, for the latest scoop on all the things to do and the current rundown of dining options. 4. Lean on your gracious hosts for recommendations. Columbians are as friendly as the day is long, and whether you rely on your hotel’s concierge, the visitors center staff or even the resident you pass along the street, you can count on getting some helpful suggestions.
Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau • columbiacvb.com
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slumber ©Hilton Columbia Center
To learn more about Southern comfort, Columbiastyle, visit columbiacvb.com.
Icon Legend Airport shuttle service Complimentary deluxe breakfast
Comfort Suites Downtown – Soon to be a Holiday Inn $$ www.choicehotels.com • 803.744.4000
Indoor pool
Country Hearth Inn & Suites $ www.countryhearthcolumbia.com 803.252.2000 • 621 S. Assembly St., Columbia 29201
planning essentials: [slumber]
$: $$: $$$:
less than $100 $101–150 $150 and up
Homewood Suites by Hilton $$ www.columbiasc.homewoodsuites.com 803.239.4663 • 230 Greystone Blvd., Columbia 29210
The Inn at Claussen’s $$
Outdoor pool
Room Rate Legend
924 Senate St., Columbia 29201
501 Taylor St., Columbia 29201
Complimentary continental breakfast Pet friendly
Hilton Columbia Center $$ www.hiltoncolumbia.com • 803.744.7800
Courtyard Columbia Downtown at USC $$ www.marriott.com/caecd • 803.799.7800 630 Assembly St., Columbia 29201
www.theinnatclaussens.com • 803.765.0440 2003 Greene St., Columbia 29205
Inn at USC $$ www.innatusc.com • 803.779.7779 1619 Pendleton St., Columbia 29201
Columbia City Center The 1425 Inn $$ www.the1425inn.com • 803.252.7225 1425 Richland St., Columbia 29201
Chesnut Cottage Bed & Breakfast $$ www.chesnutcottage.com • 803.256.1718 1718 Hampton St., Columbia 29201
Clarion Hotel Downtown $ www.clariontownhouse.com • 803.771.8711 1615 Gervais St., Columbia 29201
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Embassy Suites Hotel $$ www.columbiagreystone.embassysuites. com • 803.252.8700 • 200 Stoneridge Dr., Columbia 29210
Marriott Columbia $$ www.marriottcolumbia.com • 803.771.7000 1200 Hampton St., Columbia 29201
Extended Stay America Columbia West $
Residence Inn $$
www.extendedstayhotels.com 803.251.7878 • 450 Gracern Rd., Columbia 29210
www.residenceinn.com/caedt 803.779.7000 • 150 Stoneridge Dr., Columbia 29210
Hampton Inn Historic District $$
Rodeway Inn Governors House Hotel $ www.choicehotels.com • 803.779.7790
www.hamptoninncolumbia.com 803.231.2000 • 822 Gervais St., Columbia 29201
Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
1301 Main St., Columbia 29201
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With functionality and convenience, Courtyard by Marriott® is perfect for your next leisure trip. Whether it’s our high-speed internet access or a hot breakfast, you’ll get the most out of your stay.
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Columbia Downtown at USC 630 Assembly Street Columbia, SC 29201 To reserve your room, call 1-800-MARRIOTT or visit Marriott.com. Rates are per room, per night, based on availability, not available for groups of 10 or more rooms.
Rose Hall Bed & Breakfast $$ www.rosehallbb.com • 803.771.2288 1006 Barnwell St., Columbia 29201
Columbia North
Columbia SE & Fort Jackson
Budget Inn $ 803.252.5000 • 1601 Sunset Dr.,
Americas Best Value Inn $
Columbia 29203
Sheraton Columbia Downtown Hotel $$$ www.starwoodhotels.com • 803.988.1400 1400 Main St., Columbia 29201
SpringHill Suites by MarriottColumbia/Vista – Opening Fall 2009 $$$ www.marriott.com/caesh • Intersection of Lady St. and Huger St., Columbia 29201
www.americasbestvalueinn.com 803.695.3485 • 131 Veterans Rd., Columbia 29209
Coronet Motel $ 803.754.1510 • 6320 N. Main St., Columbia 29203
Candlewood Suites – Columbia/Ft. Jackson $$
Days Inn Columbia $ www.daysinn.com • 803.754.4408
www.candlewoodsuites.com 803.727.1299 • 921 Atlas Rd., Columbia 29209
133 Plumbers Rd., Columbia 29203
Glass Manor Motel $ 803.754.1914 • 5810 N. Main St.,
Comfort Inn & Suites Fort Jackson Maingate $ www.choicehotels.com • 803.695.5555
Staybridge Suites Columbia – Opening January 2009 $$$
Columbia 29203
www.staybridgesuites.com/columbia • 803.451.5900 • 1907 Huger St., Columbia 29201
Grand Motel $ 803.254.4770 • 3003 Two Notch Rd.,
7337 Garners Ferry Rd., Columbia 29209
Columbia 29204
Country Inn & Suites Southeast $ www.countryinns.com/columbiasc 803.776.6660 • 220 E. Exchange Blvd., Columbia 29209
Parkview Inn $ 803.256.2255 • 3301 Main St.,
Studio Plus $ www.extendedstayhotels.com 803.771.0303 • 180 Stoneridge Dr., Columbia 29210
Columbia 29203
Super 8 Motel – Fairfield Rd. $ www.super8.com • 803.735.0008
Days Inn Southeast $ www.daysinn.com • 803.783.5500
5719 Fairfield Rd., Columbia 29203
The Whitney Hotel $$$ www.whitneyhotel.com • 803.252.0845
7300 Garners Ferry Rd., Columbia 29209
700 Woodrow St., Columbia 29205
planning essentials: [slumber]
In preparation for your next meeting, we’ve planned your every need.
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At the Hilton Garden Inn — near the Columbiana Center Mall and just 2 miles from Lake Murray — you’ll find 3,500 sq. ft. of divisible meeting and banquet space, a private boardroom and full-service in-house catering. Well-appointed guest rooms feature complimentary high-speed Internet access, fridge, microwave and coffeemaker. Plus, an indoor pool, workout facility and more — all for less money than you’d think. ®
Everything. Right where you need it.® To book your next meeting, banquet, ceremony, celebration or group room block contact our sales department today. 434 Columbiana Drive, Columbia, SC 29212
803-407-6640
Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
1-877-STAY-HGI
columbiaharbison.stayhgi.com
Econo Lodge $
Sleep Inn SE $
Comfort Suites Harbison $$
www.choicehotels.com • 803.738.0510 4488 Fort Jackson Blvd., Columbia 29209
www.sleepinn.com • 803.776.6263 200 E. Exchange Blvd., Columbia 29209
www.comfortsuitesharbison.com 803.407.4444 • 750 Saturn Pkwy., Columbia 29212
Fort Jackson Inn & Suites Soon to be Best Western Fort Jackson Inn & Suites $ 803.695.0666 • 240 E. Exchange Blvd.,
TownePlace Suites by Marriott – Opening Spring 2009 www.marriott.com • 803.695.0062 250 E. Exchange Blvd., Columbia 29209
Columbia 29209
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites – Fort Jackson $$ www.hiexpress.com/fortjackson 803.695.1111 • 7329 Garners Ferry Rd., Columbia 29209
La Quinta Inn & Suites – Maingate Fort Jackson $ www.6310.lq.com • 803.783.5410
Irmo – St. Andrews/ Harbison American Inn St. Andrews $ 803.731.5533 • 1337 Garner Ln.,
America’s Best Inn $ www.americasbestinn.com • 803.772.7200 200 Zimalcrest Dr., Columbia 29210
Best Western Executive Inn & Suites $ www.bestwestern.com • 803.561.9027 1720 Bush River Rd., Columbia 29210
7251 Garners Ferry Rd., Columbia 29209
Rodeway Inn & Suites $ www.choicehotels.com • 803.738.1642
www.marriott.com/caenw • 803.731.2300 347 Zimalcrest Dr., Columbia 29210
Days Inn $ 803.750.7550 • 1144 Bush River Rd., Columbia 29210
Columbia 29210
7333 Garners Ferry Rd., Columbia 29209
Quality Inn & Suites Fort Jackson Maingate $ www.choicehotels.com • 803.776.1700
Courtyard by Marriott Columbia NW $
Comfort Inn – Bush River Road $ 803.798.5101 • 911 Bush River Rd.,
Econo Lodge & Conference Center $ www.econolodge.com • 803.772.7275 773 St. Andrews Rd., Columbia 29210
Economy Inn Columbia $ 803.772.0270 • 1029 Briargate Circle, Columbia 29210
Extended Stay Deluxe $ www.extendedstayhotels.com 803.781.8590 • 1170 Kinley Rd., Irmo 29063
Columbia 29210
planning essentials: [slumber]
494 Beltline Blvd., Columbia 29205
Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau • columbiacvb.com
41
Fairfield Inn by Marriott @ Columbiana Mall $ www.marriott.com/caefn • 803.732.4436
InTown Suites Columbia West www.intownsuites.com • 803.216.9092
Ramada Limited I-20 $ www.ramadainn.com • 803.731.9997
1633 Broad River Rd., Columbia 29210
1315 Garner Ln., Columbia 29210
320 Columbiana Dr., Columbia 29212
Knights Inn Columbia NW $ www.knightsinn.com • 803.772.0022 Hampton Inn Harbison $ www.hamptoninn.com/hi/ columbia.harbison • 803.749.6999 101 Woodcross Dr., Columbia 29212
1803 Bush River Rd., Columbia 29210
10 Berryhill Rd., Columbia 29210
Microtel Inn & Suites $ www.microtelinn.com • 803.772.1914 411 Piney Grove Rd., Columbia 29210
Hilton Garden Inn Harbison $$ www.columbiaharbison.stayhgi.com 803.407.6640 • 434 Columbiana Dr., Columbia 29212
www.hiexpress.com/columbiasc 803.732.2229 • 211 Lanneau Ct., Columbia 29212
Hyatt Place Columbia/Harbison $$ www.hyattplace.com • 803.407.1560
Motel 6 Columbia West $ www.motel6.com • 803.798.9210
Scottish Inn $ www.bookroomsnow.com • 803.772.5833 127 Morninghill Dr., Columbia 29210
Quality Inn $ www.qualityinn.com/sc377 • 803.451.2400 1335 Garner Lane, Columbia 29210
Sleep Inn NW $$ www.columbiasleepinn.com • 803.731.9999 1901 Rockland Rd., Columbia 29210
Quality Inn Harbison Area $
InTown Suites Columbia Northwest
Radisson Hotel Columbia & Conference Center $$
www.intownsuites.com • 803.732.7377 330 Columbiana Dr., Columbia 29212
www.radisson.com/columbiasc 803.731.0300 • 2100 Bush River Rd., Columbia 29210
planning essentials: [slumber]
1130 Kinley Rd., Irmo 29063
www.choicehotels.com/hotel/SC154 803.798.0500 • 499 Piney Grove Rd., Columbia 29210
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Royal Inn – St. Andrews $ 803.750.5060 • 1323 Garner Ln., Columbia 29210
1776 Burning Tree Rd., Columbia 29210
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites – Harbison $
Red Roof Inn Columbia West $ www.redroof.com • 803.798.9220
Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
TownePlace Suites $ www.towneplacesuites.com • 803.781.9391 350 Columbiana Dr., Columbia 29212
Travelodge Columbia West $ www.travelodge.com • 803.798.9665 2210 Bush River Rd., Columbia 29210
Western Inn & Suites $ 803.772.9672 • 827 Bush River Rd., Columbia 29210
Wingate by Wyndham Harbison $ www.wingateinns.com • 803.407.6166 217 Lanneau Ct., Columbia 29212
Lexington County Able House Inn Bed & Breakfast $ www.virtualcities.com • 803.532.2763
Leesville Lodge www.leesvillelodge.com • 803.532.1082 605 E. Columbia Ave., Leesville 29070
Quality Inn & Suites Lexington $ www.choicehotels.com/hotel/sc081 803.359.3099 • 328 W. Main St., Lexington 29072
Ramada Limited Lexington $ www.ramadainn.com • 803.356.6533 1015 S. Lake Dr., Lexington 29073
244 E. Columbia Ave., Leesville 29070
Comfort Suites – Lexington $$ www.choicehotels.com/hotel/sc304 803.996.2000 • 325 W. Main St., Lexington 29072
Value Place – Lexington www.valueplace.com • 803.356.1303 4920 Augusta Rd., Lexington 29073
Hampton Inn Lexington $$
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites-Lexington $$ www.hiexpress.com/lexingt0nsc 803.808.0800 • 131 Innkeeper Dr., Lexington 29072
7700 Two Notch Rd., Columbia 29223
Comfort Suites Northeast – Opening Soon $$ www.choicehotels.com • 803.678.4266 1540 Dauton Dr., Columbia 29223
Courtyard by Marriott NE $ www.marriott.com/caene 803.736.3600 • 111 Gateway Corporate Blvd., Columbia 29203
Days Inn Blythewood $ www.daysinn.com • 803.691.1200 114 Blythewood Rd., Blythewood 29016
Wingate by Wyndham – Lexington/ Columbia $$ www.lexingtonwingate.com • 803.957.5000 108 Saluda Point Ct., Lexington 29072
www.lexingtonsc.hamptoninn.com 803.356.8300 • 601 Columbia Ave., Lexington 29072
Comfort Inn NE Fort Jackson $ www.choicehotels.com • 803.788.5544
Days Inn Columbia/Fort Jackson $ www.daysinn.com • 803.736.0000 7128 Park Lane Rd., Columbia 29223
Richland NE & Fort Jackson Comfort Inn Blythewood $ www.choicehotels.com • 803.754.1441
Extended Stay America Ft. Jackson $ www.extendedstayhotels.com 803.782.2025 • 5430 Forest Dr., Columbia 29206
436 McNulty Rd., Blythewood 29016
Introducing Hyatt Place® Columbia/Harbison. A new kind of hotel that puts style, innovation and The Hyatt Touch ® within your reach. Where you’ll find a 42� flat-panel HDTV in every room, our Hyatt Grand Bed,™ free Wi-Fi, a complimentary continental breakfast and freshly prepared food available 24/7 in our Guest Kitchen. Discover for yourself how perfectly Hyatt Place fits your lifestyle. It’s so you.™ Call 888 HYATT HP (888 492 8847) or visit HyattPlaceColumbiaHarbison.com. Hyatt Place Columbia/Harbison 1130 Kinley Road Irmo, SC 29063 803 407 1560
Hyatt, Hyatt Place® and Hyatt Grand Bed™ names, designs and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation. ©2008 Hyatt Corporation. All rights reserved.
Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau • columbiacvb.com
planning essentials: [slumber]
See what happens when a hotel is designed around you.
43
Fairfield Inn & Suites $ www.marriott.com/caefs • 803.760.1700 •
Hudson Motel $ 803.754.7307 • 10500 Farrow Rd.,
Quality Inn Fort Jackson $ www.choicehotels.com • 803.736.0822
120 Blarney Dr., Columbia 29223
Blythewood 29016
8104 Two Notch Rd., Columbia 29223
Hampton Inn Columbia I-20/ Clemson Frontage Road $$ www.columbiai20clemsonroad.hampton inn.com • 803.788.4901 • 1021 Clemson Frontage Rd., Columbia 29229
Hampton Inn NE $$ www.hamptoninn.com • 803.865.8000 1551 Barbara Dr., Columbia 29223
InTown Suites Columbia East www.intownsuites.com • 803.419.0330 8310 Two Notch Rd., Columbia 29223
Jameson Suites Columbia $ www.jamesoninns.com • 803.736.6666
1011 Clemson Frontage Rd., Columbia 29229
Holiday Inn Express Hotel Blythewood $ www.hiexpress.com/blythewoodsc 803.333.0315 • 120 Creech Rd., Blythewood 29016
Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites $$
LaQuinta Inn Columbia NE/ Fort Jackson www.lq.com • 803.736.6400
Marlboro Inn Fort Jackson $ 803.787.1504 • 5133 Forest Dr., Columbia 29206
Microtel Inn NE $ www.microtelinn.com • 803.736.3237 1520 Barbara Dr., Columbia 29223
Red Roof Inn Columbia East $ www.redroof.com • 803.736.0850 7580 Two Notch Rd., Columbia 29223
Residence Inn Columbia NE $$ www.marriott.com/caeri • 803.788.8850 2320 LeGrand Rd., Columbia 29223
Super 8 Motel Fort Jackson $ www.super8.com • 803.790.1133 5321 Forest Dr., Columbia 29206
Value Place – Elgin Motel 6 Columbia East $ www.motel6.com • 803.736.3900 7541 Nates Rd., Columbia 29223
www.valueplace.com • 803.699.1413 931 Spears Creek Ct., Elgin 29045
Wingate by Wyndham NE $ www.wingateinn.com • 803.699.9333 8300 Two Notch Rd., Columbia 29223
©Hilton Columbia Center
planning essentials: [slumber]
www.holidayinn.com/columbiasc 803.736.5600 • 8105 Two Notch Rd., Columbia 29223
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www.ramadacolumbia/fortjackson.com 803.736.3000 • 7510 Two Notch Rd., Columbia 29223
7525 Two Notch Rd., Columbia 29223
1538 Horseshoe Dr., Columbia 29223
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites-Clemson Road $ www.ichotelsgroup.com • 803.419.3558
Ramada Columbia NE $
Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
West Columbia/Cayce/ Airport
Country Hearth Inn & Suites – Cayce $ www.countryhearth.com • 803.794.7500
Airport Inn $ 803.936.0015 • 1935 Airport Blvd.,
3020 Charleston Hwy., Cayce 29033
Cayce 29033
West Columbia 29169
613 Knox Abbott Dr., Cayce 29033
www.countryinns.com/columbiasc_airport 803.794.6200 • 2245 Airport Blvd., Cayce 29033
Americas Best Value Inn & Suites $ www.americasbestvalueinn.com 803.796.2700 • 114 McSwain Dr., West Columbia 29169
Cambridge Plaza Hotel Columbia West $ www.cambridgeplaza.com • 803.796.9400 650 Cherokee Ln., West Columbia 29169
www.mastersinn.com • 803.791.5850 2125 Commerce Dr., Cayce 29033
Masters Inn Knox Abbott $ www.mastersinn.com • 803.796.4300
Country Inn & Suites Columbia Airport $ American Inn West Columbia $ 803.796.3714 • 1617 Charleston Hwy.,
Masters Inn I-26 $
Quality Inn West Columbia $ www.choicehotels.com/hotel/sc320 803.791.5160 • 2516 Augusta Rd., West Columbia 29169
Executive Inn I-26 & Hwy 378 $ 803.796.4934 • 1107 Harbor Rd., Riverside Inn $
West Columbia 29169
Hampton Inn West Columbia Airport $$ www.hamptoninn.com • 803.791.8940 1094 Chris Dr., West Columbia 29169
www.riversideinncolumbia.com 803.939.4688 • 111 Knox Abbott Dr., Cayce 29033
Sleep Inn Airport $ www.choicehotels.com • 803.926.9260 2208-A Edmond Hwy., West Columbia 29170
Carolina Lodge $ 803.796.9905 • 2204 Airport Rd., West Columbia 29169
Holiday Inn Airport $ www.holiday-inn.com/cae-airport • 803.794.9440 • 500 Chris Dr., West Columbia 29169
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Travelers Inn $ 803.796.9900 • 2200 Airport Blvd., West Columbia 29170
Comfort Inn Airport $ www.choicehotels.com • 803.796.0044 110 Branch Rd., West Columbia 29169
Knights Inn Columbia Airport $ www.knightsinn.com • 803.794.0222 1987 Airport Blvd., Cayce 29033
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Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau • columbiacvb.com
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Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
©Congaree Vista Guild
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©Liberty Taproom
©EdVenture Children’s Museum
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Education, entertainment and easy living. Visit columbiacvb.com for more attractions.
Amusements AMF Columbia Lanes www.amf.com/columbialanes • Open Mon.– Thurs., noon–11pm; Fri., noon–2am; Sat., 9am–2am; Sun., noon–11pm. 803.798.1310 • 1733 Bush River Rd., Columbia 29210
AMF Park Lanes www.amf.com/columbialanes • Open Mon., 9am–2am; Tues.–Thurs., 9am–midnight; Fri., noon–2am; Sat., 9am–2am; Sun., 1pm–midnight. 803.796.6300 • 900 Axtell Dr., Cayce 29033
Anchor Bowling Lanes www.anchorbowling.com • We are a great place for family fun. So grab the gang and join us today! Our 40 lanes offer state-of-theart bowling equipment for both league and recreational bowlers. 803.732.7880 • 1000 Columbia Ave., Irmo 29063
Frankie’s Fun Park
Palmetto Falls Mini Golf
www.frankiesfunpark.com • A 14-acre family fun center located in the Harbison area. Attractions include go-kart tracks, mini-golf, bumper boats, rock climbing wall, air bungee, batting cages, arcade, laser tag arena and Frankie’s Grill featuring burgers, sandwiches, pizza and other munchies. 803.781.2342 • 140 Parkridge Dr., Columbia 29212
A miniature golf course where having fun could get you a hole in one! 18-hole course. Parties available. Group discount rates. 803.794.8620 • 3209 Charleston Hwy., West Columbia 29172
Funzone II Irmo www.funzoneforkids.net • 8,000 square feet of fun and excitement. Three separate play areas: one for toddlers, one for medium age and one for the big kids. 803.732.8900 • 105 Ministry Dr., Irmo 29063
Harmon’s Tree Farm www.harmontreefarmllc.com • Enjoy Southern hospitality at its finest on a beautiful 75-acre cultivated historical farm with animals, a playground and more. 803.359.4454 • 3152 Augusta Hwy., Gilbert 29054
J C’s Lexington Bowl www.jcslexingtonbowl.biz • Open Sun., 1–8pm; Mon.–Thurs., 10am–10pm; Fri.–Sat., 10am–2am. 803.359.2695 • 5380 Augusta Rd., Lexington 29072
Plex Indoor Sports www.plexindoorsports.com • Located at the Village at Sandhill Plex. Features two indoor turf fields, an inline hockey rink, volleyball courts, indoor skate park and wellness center that includes Healthtouch Rehabilitation and Xcelerated Athletics. 803.360.7300 • 741 Fashion Dr., Columbia 29229
Plex Indoor Sports & Ice www.plexindoorsports.com • Plex Indoor Sports is adding ice hockey and skating to the growing list of indoor sports they offer to the Midlands. This location features an NHL-sized ice rink for hockey games and figure skating and Learn to Play hockey classes. 803.732.1900 • 1019 Broad Stone Rd., Irmo 29063
Red Wing Rollerway Roller Skating 803.736.0253 • 2632 Decker Blvd., Columbia 29206
Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau • columbiacvb.com
planning essentials: [engage]
Attractions
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Royal Z Lanes
James R. Sease Farms Inc.
Sandhill Farmers Market
www.royalzbowl.com • 32-lane bowling center with snack bar, lounge and games. 803.788.9208 • 8512 Two Notch Rd., Columbia 29223
April–May you-pick/we-pick fresh strawberries. Call ahead for daily picking and availability of strawberries. Peaches and mixed vegetables available June–mid-Aug. Open Mon.–Fri., 9am–6:30pm; Sat., 9am–5pm, April–Aug. 803.359.3276 • Hwy. 1, Gilbert 29054
www.clemson.edu/sandhill/www.sandhill farmersmarket.com.page Tues., 3:30–7pm, April 29–Thanksgiving week. Fresh local produce, meat, poultry, eggs, butter, milk, cheese, honey, plants, flowers, shrubs and baked goods. Many products are organic. 803.788.5700 • 900 Clemson Rd., Columbia 29229
Skate Station USA Roller Skating 803.356.3500 • Oak Dr. & Hwy. 1, Lexington 29073
Kershaw County Farmers Market ww.kcfarmersmarket.org • Open Sat.,
Farmers Markets
7:30am–12:30pm from the second Sat. in April to the second Sat. in Dec. Fresh fruits, vegetables, free-range meats, flowers/plants, baked goods, honey, organics, farm-fresh eggs, cheese and more. 803.432.0150 • Corner of DeKalb and Church sts., Camden 29020
Columbia State Farmers Market www.scda.state.sc.us • Ranked in the top 10 in the nation for sales volume, the Columbia Market gives farmers a place to market directly to consumers, retailers and wholesalers and gives consumers a place to buy fresh, safe, wholesome produce and colorful plants. 803.737.4664 • 1001 Bluff Rd., Columbia 29201
The Farmers Shed www.farmersshed.com • Open year-round. Mon.–Fri., 10am–7pm; Sat., 10am–6pm. Fruits, vegetables, jams, flowers, pickles, cheese, gift baskets, grits, home-style meals, corn maize (seasonal), school tours, SC specialty products. 803.996.9122 • 2514 Augusta Hwy., Lexington 29072
Harmony Hills Farm May–Dec. Vegetables, flowers, pecans, peaches, berries and plums. 803.892.5504 • 402 Main St., Gilbert 29054
Northeast Farmers Market 3pm–dark every Thurs. at Lake Carolina Town Center. Fresh fruits, vegetables, free-range meats, flowers/plants, baked goods, honey, organics, farm-fresh eggs, cheese and more. 803.432.0150 • Lake Carolina Town Center, 300 Long Point Ln., Columbia 29229
Rikard’s Country Market April–Oct. Local fruits and vegetables, pine straw, boiled peanuts, potting soil, bedding plants, hanging baskets, etc. 803.359.4438 • 2165 Hwy. 378, Gilbert 29054
Ringo’s Produce Market Mon.–Sat., 9am–7:30pm; Sun., 10am–6pm. Fruits, vegetables, honey, cider, hot boiled peanuts, ornamental plants and gift shop. 803.783.0108 • 10545 Garners Ferry Rd., Eastover 29044
Learning Centers Challenger Learning Center www.thechallengercenter.com • A simulated space science environment where students and educators work in teams to solve real-life math, science and technology problems during a space flight. $ 803.929.3951 • 2600-A Barhamville Rd., Columbia 29204
SC Archives and History Center www.state.sc.us/scdah • A great resource for genealogical research. Building houses public records of the state of South Carolina, including reference room, exhibit gallery and meeting facilities. Free. 803.896.6100 • 8301 Parklane Rd., Columbia 29223
USC Melton Memorial Observatory www.physics.sc.edu/~melton/ • Located on the campus of the University of South Carolina, the observatory offers views of many of the night sky’s wonders. Public viewing sessions are held most clear Mon. nights. April–Sept. 9:30–11:30pm; Oct.–March 8:30–10:30pm. Free. 803.777.4180 • USC Department of Physics & Astronomy, Columbia 29208
Get up close and personal to over 2,000 animals at the largest zoo, aquarium and botanical garden in the Southeast. Riverbanks Zoo and Garden has more than 350 animal species represented from around the world. You don’t want to miss the adventure. Plan to visit Riverbanks Zoo and Garden on your next trip to Columbia.
planning essentials: [engage]
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www.riverbanks.org Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
SC CONFEDERATE RELIC ROOM & MILITARY MUSEUM
The State’s Military History Museum Now on Display!
Visit Columbia’s oldest museum to experience the state’s martial tradition from the Revolutionary War to the present War on Terror.
Forgotten Stories: SC Fights the Great War
Courtesy Russell S. Wolfe, Jr.
301 Gervais Street, Columbia, SC 29201 Tue.-Sat., 10:00-5:00, 1st Sun. of Month, 1:00-5:00 803-737-8095 ~ www.crr.sc.gov
Libraries
Museums
Lexington County Public Library www.lex.lib.sc.us • Designed to meet the
Cayce Historical Museum www.historysc.com • The museum interprets
needs of the growing population of Lexington County, the main library is a 48,000-squarefoot building located on a five-acre site on Augusta Rd. (U.S. Hwy. 1). 803.785.2600 • 5440 Augusta Rd., Lexington 29072
the architectural, social and cultural heritage of Old Saxe-Gotha, Granby, Cayce and West Columbia areas. Exhibits depict periods of Colonial trade, Indians, agricultural development and transportation from the 18th century to the present. $ 803.739.5385 • 1800 12th St., Cayce 29171
museum in the South. The 67,000-square-foot facility houses eight spectacular galleries, a 200-seat community theater, a library, two unique resource centers and the world’s largest child, Eddie! Designed for children 12 and younger, this high-tech and high-touch educational facility boasts 450 individual exhibits. $ 803.779.3100 • 211 Gervais St., Columbia 29201
Columbia Fire Department Museum
Fort Jackson Museum
Richland County Public Library www.myrcpl.com • This spectacular 242,000-square-foot main library serves as the nucleus of the library system. Contemporary architecture features bold piano curves, garden atria and more than 20 pieces of original artwork. The Children’s Room is highlighted by a whimsical, 46-foot mural and two freestanding figures from Maurice Sendak’s picture book classic, “Where the Wild Things Are.” This is the only time Sendak has authorized such use of his art. Free. 803.799.9084 • 1431 Assembly St., Columbia 29201
South Caroliniana Library www.sc.edu/library/socar • Completed
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in 1840, this structure, designed by Robert Mills, marked the first use of a free-standing academic library building in the United States. 803.777.3131 • USC Horseshoe, 910 Sumter St., Columbia 29208
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www.columbiasc.net/index. php?pageid=65 • Highlights the importance of the Columbia Fire Department with exhibits of historical data, photos, equipment and other items of interest to enlighten the public about the heroic traditions and the men and women within its service. Free. 803.545.3701 • 1800 Laurel St., Columbia 29201
Columbia Museum of Art www.columbiamuseum.org • Largest international fine art museum in South Carolina with a world-class collection of American and European fine and decorative art, from early Renaissance through contemporary. Permanent collection includes works by Monet, Botticelli, Canaletto and Remington. Changing international exhibitions, concerts, gallery talks and family and children’s programs are scheduled throughout the year. $ 803.799.2810 • Main at Hampton St., Columbia 29201
EdVenture Children’s Museum www.edventure.org • Largest children’s
www.jackson.army.mil/museum • The museum covers the history of Fort Jackson and training and education of the new soldier. Free. 803.751.7419 • Bldg. 4442 Jackson Blvd., Fort Jackson 29207
Lexington County Museum www.teachingushistory.org/qt-lex/ • A complex of restored 18th- and 19th-century buildings depicting everyday life in Lexington County in antebellum period. Collections include furniture, decorative arts, quilts and household artifacts. Costumed guides give tours lasting about one hour. $ 803.359.8369 • Corner of Fox St. & U.S. Hwy. 378, Lexington 29071
McKissick Museum www.cas.sc.edu/mcks • Located at the head of the university’s historic Horseshoe, featuring changing exhibitions of art, science and regional history and folk art. Permanent exhibits include the Baruch Silver Collection and the Mineral Library. The Folklife Resource Center contains material on South Carolina traditional arts. Free. 803.777.7251 • USC Horseshoe, 816 Bull St., Columbia 29208
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Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
Confederate Relic Room & Military Museum is the oldest museum in Columbia. The museum focuses on South Carolina’s military history from the Revolutionary War to the present and offers visitors the opportunity to discover the state’s military heritage through unique and informative exhibitions. $ 803.737.8095 • 301 Gervais St., Columbia 29201
SC Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame www.sccja.org/Hall%20of%20Fame.htm • Exhibits on historical and contemporary aspects of law enforcement. Special student programs. Free. 803.896.8199 • 5400 Broad River Rd., Columbia 29212
SC Military Museum www.scguard.com/museum/index.html • The rich history of the SC National Guard is captured in the South Carolina Military Museum’s many exhibits. From the SC Guard’s early days during the Colonial Wars to its current efforts in the Middle East, each time period is included and weapons and artifacts from each era are displayed. The museum has four of the most important collections in the country. Free. 803.806.4440 • 1 National Guard Rd., Columbia 29201
SC State Museum www.southcarolinastatemuseum.org • A comprehensive museum with extensive exhibits in the disciplines of art, science and technology, cultural history and natural history. In one stop it encompasses all that South Carolina was, is and can be. South Carolina’s largest museum and one of the largest in the Southeast. $ 803.898.4922 • 301 Gervais St., Columbia 29201
US Army Adjutant General Corps Museum www.jackson.army.mil • The museum is dedicated to the history of the Army’s Adjutant General’s Corps from 1775 to present. Historical documents, photos, uniforms and equipment depict the diverse history of the Corps. Today’s AG Corps serves as human resource manager for the Army. Open to the general public. Group tours available by appointment. Free. 803.751.1747 • Building 4392, Strom Thurmond Blvd., Fort Jackson 29207
US Army Chaplain Museum www.usachcs.army.mil/museum/nav1/ mainpage.htm • Established in 1957, this museum chronicles the men and women who have aided and served the Army both spiritually and militarily. Exhibits span from the establishment of the Chaplain Corps in 1775 to a piece of the destroyed Pentagon wall from 9/11. Free. 803.751.8079 • US Army Chaplain Center and School, 10100 Lee Rd., Fort Jackson 29207
US Army Finance Corps Museum www.finance.army.mil • Traces the 221year history of the Finance Corps, one of the Army’s oldest branches. Exhibits cover military pay and how it affects military life from the American Revolution to the present. Free. 803.751.3771 • 10,000 Hampton Pkwy., Fort Jackson 29207
Spas Bamboo Day Spa www.bamboodayspa.com • Open Tues.– Sat., 9am–6pm. 803.660.5793 • 7534 Woodrow St., Irmo 29063
Divine Massage Therapy www.divinemassagetherapy.com • Appointments accepted Mon.–Sat., 8:30am– 6:30pm. 803.254.5484 • 3304 Millwood Ave., Columbia 29205
Elante Day Spa and Salon www.elantedayspa.com • Mon., 9am–4pm; Tues.–Thurs., 9am–8pm; Fri., 9am–6pm; Sat. 9am–4pm. 803.808.7747 • 108 Palmetto Park Blvd., Suite E, Lexington 29072
European Skin and Hair Clinic www.europeanskinandhair.com • 803.738.0903 • 4700 Forest Dr., Suite 103, Columbia 29206
Big Fun. Big Place. Discover the joy of learning at one of the nation’s largest children’s museums.
211 Gervais Street | Columbia, SC 29201 Tuesday - Saturday 9:00 - 5:00, Sunday 12:00 - 5:00pm Open Mondays Memorial Day through Labor Day 803-779 -3100 www.edventure.org
Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau • columbiacvb.com
planning essentials: [engage]
SC Confederate Relic Room & Military Museum www.crr.sc.gov • Founded in 1896, the SC
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Keefer & Company Hair Design & Day Spa
Tranquil Moments Day Spa & Boutique
Lake Tours, Inc. “The Southern Patriot” www.lakemurraytours.com • Welcome
www.keeferandcospa.com • Mon.–Fri., 9am–7pm; Sat., 9am–5pm. 803.781.2562 • 7601 St. Andrews Rd., Irmo 29063
www.tranquilmomentssalon.com • Tues.– Sat., 10am–7pm. 803.254.4055 • 715 Queen St., Columbia 29205
Logan Raye Spa – Salon – Gallery www.loganraye.com • Mon., 10am–5pm;
Urban Nirvana
aboard! The Southern Patriot is a 65-foot double-deck cruise boat located on beautiful Lake Murray just a few miles northwest of Columbia. 803.749.8594 • P.O. Box 526, Ballentine 29002
Tues., 9am–8pm; Wed., 9am–5pm; Thurs., 9am–8pm; Fri., 9am–5:30pm; Sat., 9am– 4pm. 803.929.1130 • 801 Gervais St., Columbia 29201
Urban Nirvana – Lexington www.urbannirvana.com • 803.356.0119 • 920 N. Lake Dr., Lexington 29072
The Retreat Salon & Day Spa www.retreatsalonandspa.com • Tues., Wed. and Fri., 9am–6pm; Thurs., 9am–7pm; Sat., 9am–4pm. 803.732.0360 • 800 Columbiana Dr., Suite 112, Irmo 29063
Shandon Day Spa & Salon www.shandondayspa.com • Tues. and Thurs., 10am–8pm; Wed. and Fri., 10am–6pm; Sat., 9am–5pm. 803.254.1111 • 141 S. Shandon St., Columbia 29205
South Carolina Massage & Esthetics Institute www.scmassage.com • 803.939.9600 • 1905 Sunset Blvd., West Columbia 29169
Tonic Day Spa www.tonicdayspa.com • Mon.–Thurs., 9am–7pm; Fri., 9am–6pm; Sat., 9am–5pm. 803.776.9734 • 5910 Garners Ferry Rd., Columbia 29209
www.urbannirvana.com • 803.790.4897 • 4840 Forest Dr., Columbia 29206
Tours D’Tours Step-on guide/receptive operator service providing historic tours of Columbia for large or small groups. Costumed guide available. 803.939.8382 • P.O. Box 246, Lexington 29071
Ghosts and Legends of Columbia www.theghostsofcarolina.com • A storyoriented evening walking tour, departing at 8pm daily from the George Washington monument on the north side of the State House. Call for availability. Schedule may vary seasonally. $ 803.765.1837 • 58½ Broad St., Charleston 29401
Historic Columbia Foundation www.historiccolumbia.org • Bus and walking tours of greater Columbia, heritage education programs and complete heritage packages are offered through historic Columbia’s historic area tours. 803.252.7742 • 1601 Richland St., Columbia 29201
Palmetto Tours & Convention Services www.palmettotoursandconvention services.com • Palmetto Services is a fullservice agency that is ready to make your next convention, meeting or tour an exceptional experience. 803.312.8914 • 1930 Hampton St., Columbia 29204
Zoo Riverbanks Zoo & Garden www.riverbanks.org • A 170-acre park featuring two distinctly unique areas along the scenic Lower Saluda River. Riverbanks Zoo houses more than 2,000 animals. A short walk or tram ride takes visitors across the Saluda River to the Botanical Garden, 70 acres devoted to woodlands, gardens, historic ruins, plant collections and visitor facilities. Riverbanks also offers gift shops, indoor restaurants and other food and refreshment stands, rides on the Endangered Species Carousel and a picnic area. $ 803.779.8717 • 500 Wildlife Pkwy., Columbia 29210
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Discovering People, Places & Progress
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istoric Columbia showcases the rich cultural heritage of South Carolina’s capital city. With house museums and historic properties as our centerpiece, Historic Columbia offers educational activities, garden tours, lectures and workshops as well as walking tours and group tours of historic sites throughout the city. Well suited for tourists, family reunions, school groups and individuals interested in topics ranging from historic gardens and neighborhoods to architecture and restoration, we invite you to discover Historic Columbia Foundation.
For more information, please contact Historic Columbia at (803) 252.1770 HistoricColumbia.org 1616 Blanding Street Columbia, SC 29201
Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
F
ind your muse.
From ancient Rome, Greece and Asia, to Renaissance Italy, Monet’s garden at Giverny, and modern day America – the Columbia Museum of Art is your window to the world in the heart of downtown.
Dale Chihuly: Seaforms September 5 – November 30 Inspired by the artist’s love of the sea, colorful, undulating shell-like forms surprise and delight. Dale Chihuly is widely recognized as the world’s premier glass artist and is the subject of many books and PBS specials. Dale Chihuly Rose Mist Seaform Set with Jet Lip Wraps, 2001 10 x 24 x 14” Photo by Scott Mitchell Leen
Eye to the East: The Turner Collection of Chinese Art December 18, 2008 – February 8, 2009 From rare and ancient painted ceramics to superb bronzes, vessels, tomb figures and Buddhist sculpture from the Golden Age of China – Eye to the East highlights the Museum’s newest collection of Asian art. Anonymous Chinese, T’ang Dynasty Lotus Leaf Jar, 618 - 906 marble Gift of Robert Y. Turner
Turner to Cézanne: Masterpieces from the Davies Collection, National Museum Wales Exhibition presented by the Blanchard Family March 6 – June 7, 2009 Turner to Cézanne features 53 stunning works of art, seen together in the U.S. for the first time. Masterpieces by Cézanne, van Gogh, Monet, Corot, Manet, Pissarro, Renoir, Turner, Whistler and others are included. Vincent van Gogh, Rain-Auvers (detail), 1890, Oil on canvas, 19 ¾ x 39 ½ inches (50.3 x 100.3 cm) National Museum Wales; Miss Margaret S. Davies Bequest, 1951 (NMWA 2463), Courtesy of American Federation of Arts
Main at Hampton Street | Columbia, South Carolina | columbiamuseum.org | 803.799.2810
Heritage & History African American Heritage African American History Monument www.discoversouthcarolina.com/products/3783.aspx • First of its kind on any of the nation’s state house grounds, the monument captures the rich history of African Americans and their contributions to South Carolina from arrival in Charleston to the 21st century. Modeled after an African village. 803.734.2430 • South Carolina State House Grounds, Columbia 29201
Allen University See listing under Universities & Colleges.
Benedict College See listing under Universities & Colleges.
Big Apple www.historiccolumbia.org • Built as the House of Peace synagogue around 1907. In 1936, it became an African-American dance hall called the Big Apple Club and it was where the Big Apple dance craze was born. The building was moved to Hampton St. from its original locaion at 1318 Park St. and renovated by the city of Columbia. 803.252.7742 • 1000 Hampton St., Columbia 29201
Booker T. Washington High School www.sc.edu/usmap/bldg/btw.html •
planning essentials: [engage]
Opened in 1916 as the second public school for African Americans, this building was a cultural and social center. The property is now part of the University of South Carolina. 803.777.0169 • Blossom, Wheat & Marion on USC Campus, Columbia 29201
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Harriet Barber House
Randolph Cemetery
www.harrietbarberhouse.org • Significant for its association during the late 19th century with the South Carolina Land Commission, a unique attempt by a Southern state to give freedmen the opportunity to own land, the Barber House has remained in the same family since 1872. • Hopkins 29061
Founded by 19 African Americans in 1871, the cemetery is a memorial to Benjamin A. Randolph, a member of the Reconstruction General Assembly who was assassinated in Abbeville in 1868. Randolph and eight other African-American legislators are buried here. • Adjacent to Elmwood Cemetery, Columbia 29201
Ladson Presbyterian Church The oldest African-American church in the city (1838) began as a mission of the First Presbyterian Church. Under the leadership of Rev. Mark G. Johnson from 1876 to 1921, Ladson became a center for religion, education and community service. 803.765.9192 • 1720 Sumter St., Columbia 29201
Mann-Simons Cottage www.historiccolumbia.org • Formerly owned by Celia Mann in 1850, this house marked the beginning of her life after she bought her freedom in Charleston and walked to sovereignty. Tickets available in the Museum Shop on the grounds of the Robert Mills House. 803.252.1770
Modjeska Monteith Simkins House www.historiccolumbia.org • Second home of the social activist and community leader who died at age 92. Founding member and secretary for the South Carolina conference of NAACP chapters and an unflinching challenger of the social order during this country’s period of segregation. Helped draft the Briggs Petition, part of the historic case, Brown v. Board of Education, that reached the United States Supreme Court. Visitors to this house have included Thurgood Marshall, Andrew Young and other Civil Rights leaders. 803.252.1770 • 2025 Marion St., Columbia 29201
Experience the Luxury
Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
The Renaissance Foundation Bethel Cultural Arts Center www.renaissancefoundationsc.org • Bethel AME Church was built in 1921 by James Anderson Lankford, the first registered African-American architect in the United States, and will reopen as a cultural arts center and museum. 803.733.5634 • 1247 Sumter St., Columbia 29201
Waverly Historic District Columbia’s first suburb, Waverly evolved into a community of black artisans, professionals and social reformers. The district’s concentration of educational facilities (Benedict College and Allen University) served the South’s African Americans when racial discrimination denied them the opportunities for higher education. 803.779.2809 • Columbia
Zion Baptist Church www.zion-baptist-church.com • Oldest black Baptist church in Columbia. Originally founded in the basement of a house on the corner of Hampton and Gadsden streets (now the site of the Vietnam Memorial Park) in 1861. Organized by the Rev. Frank Dobbins. 803.779.2809 • 801 Washington St., Columbia 29201
Adluh Flour Mills www.adluh.com • Adluh’s plant opened in 1900 and is the only flour mill still operating in South Carolina. The plant grinds white and yellow cornmeal and white-to-yellow stoneground grits and packages a variety of seafood, chicken and all-purpose breeders as well as biscuit, hush puppy, cornmeal and corn muffin mixes. 803.779.2460 • 804½ Gervais St., Columbia 29201
Chesnut Cottage Bed & Breakfast www.chesnutcottage.com • Chestnut Cottage was the wartime home of Confederate General James Chestnut and his wife, Mary Boykin Chestnut, author of “Diary from Dixie.” President Jefferson Davis visited in October 1864 and gave a speech to the citizens of Columbia from the front porch of the cottage. Now a bed and breakfast with tours by appointment only. 803.256.1718 • 1718 Hampton St., Columbia 29201
Ebenezer Lutheran Church www.ebenezerlutheran.org • Dedicated as Columbia’s first Lutheran church in 1830, the original church burned in 1865. Call for tour information. 803.765.9430 • 1301 Richland St., Columbia 29201
Elmwood Cemetery & Gardens Founded in 1854, Elmwood Cemetery has been the metropolitan area’s most prestigious cemetery. Encompassed in miles of newly paved roadways, you will also find two veterans gardens, two additional bronze marker sections and numerous family monument sections. Historical walking tour maps available in the office, open Mon.–Fri., 9am–5pm. 803.252.2133 • 501 Elmwood Ave., Columbia 29201
Ensor Keenan House www.columbiasc.net • Dr. Joshua Fulton Ensor built this house in 1868 for his family as he served as superintendent for what was then the South Carolina State Hospital. Call for tour information. 803.733.8510 • 801 Wildwood Ave., Columbia 29203
Equitable Arcade Building The Arcade Mall was Columbia’s first indoor shopping center. Constructed in 1912 at a reputed cost of $200,000, the Arcade Mall was strategically situated within a very popular section of this main commercial district. The structure’s proximity to the Barringer Building, Columbia’s first skyscraper, undoubtedly ensured its tenants exposure to large numbers of pedestrians conducting business downtown. • 1332 Main St./1216 Washington St., Columbia 29201
First Baptist Church www.firstbaptistcolumbia.com • Site of the first Secession Convention in Dec. 1860. The church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Stop by the office for tours. 803.256.4251 • 1306 Hampton St., Columbia 29201
First Presbyterian Church www.firstprescolumbia.org • Presbyterians organized their first congregation in Columbia in 1795. The 188-foot steeple was once Columbia’s tallest structure. Churchyard tours available. Call for reservations. 803.799.9062 • 1324 Marion St., Columbia 29201
Governor’s Green www.scgovernorsmansion.org • A nine-acre complex consisting of the South Carolina Governor’s Mansion, built in 1855; the Lace House, built in 1854 and the Caldwell-Boyleston House, built in 1830. 803.737.1710 • 800 Richland St., Columbia 29201
Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens www.historiccolumbia.org • Built in 1818, this restored antebellum mansion is furnished with Hampton and Preston family pieces. Tickets available in the Museum Shop on the grounds of the Robert Mills House, 1616 Blanding St. 803.252.1770 • 1601 Richland St., Columbia 29201
Hebrew Benevolent Society Cemetery In 1822, the DeLeon family, some of Columbia’s earliest residents, granted the Hebrew Benevolent Society a portion of the block bound by Gadsden and Taylor streets for the establishment of a Jewish cemetery. Four years later the Hebrew Benevolent Society officially formed and is one of the earliest-established societies still active in Columbia today. • Corner of Gadsden and Taylor sts., Columbia 29201
Big Fun. Big Place. Discover the joy of learning at one of the nation’s largest children’s museums.
211 Gervais Street | Columbia, SC 29201 Tuesday - Saturday 9:00 - 5:00, Sunday 12:00 - 5:00pm Open Mondays Memorial Day through Labor Day 803-779 -3100 www.edventure.org
Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau • columbiacvb.com
planning essentials: [engage]
Historic Sites
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Kensington Mansion
SC State House
The Supreme Court of South Carolina
www.kensingtonmansion.org • An Italianate Revival mansion completed in 1854 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. Tours available Thurs.–Sat. $ 803.353.0456 • Hwy. 601 South, Eastover 29044
www.scstatehouse.net/studentpage/tour. htm • One of Columbia’s and South Carolina’s most historic buildings. Construction began in 1855 and withstood Sherman’s march on Columbia in 1865. Today, six bronze stars mark the impact of shells from Union cannons. The building was completed in 1907. Please call for tour schedule. Free. 803.734.2430 • Main St. at Gervais St., Columbia 29201
www.judicial.state.sc.us/supreme/index. cfm • Guided 20- to 45-minute tours appropriate for the seventh grade and above by appointment only. The tour includes the large courtroom downstairs where the seal of the Supreme Court is displayed, the portrait gallery and the library. Courtrooms are not shown when court is in session. Visits without tour may be possible on short notice. 803.734.1080 • 1231 Gervais St., Columbia 29201
Richland Presbyterian Church This church has its roots in a mission Sunday school established in the area in 1873. This church is significant because it is a virtually unaltered example of 19th-century rural vernacular church architecture, which features an octagonal entrance tower with a Gothic arched portal. • South Carolina Rd. 1313
Robert Mills House & Park www.historiccolumbia.org • This restored mansion was built in 1823 and was designed by South Carolina’s most famous architect, Robert Mills. Tickets available in the Museum Shop on the grounds of the Robert Mills House. 803.252.1770 • 1601 Richland St., Columbia 29201
SC Governor’s Mansion www.scgovernorsmansion.org • Built in 1855 as a residence for the officers of the Arsenal Military Academy, the Governor’s Mansion has served as home of the governor since 1868. Also located on the grounds are the Lace House, ca. 1855 and the CaldwellBoylston House, ca. 1830. Reservations required. Free. 803.737.1710 • 800 Richland St., Columbia 29201
Seibels House and Garden www.historiccolumbia.org • Possibly the oldest house in Columbia, the Seibels House dates from approximately 1796. The Seibels House today is a pleasing blend of several architectural styles. Doric columns, supporting a piazza stretching the entire length of the building, dominate its front facade. The interior is accentuated by Colonial Revival details, including molding and medallions that enhance the building’s rooms and foyer. A sun porch, added in the 1920s, offers grand views of the garden. The house was donated to the Historic Columbia Foundation in 1984 and converted into office and rental space. 803.252.7742 • 1601 Richland St., Columbia 29201
St. Peter’s Catholic Church www.visitstpeters.org • This church is the oldest church for Catholics in the Midlands, dating to 1824. The current church structure dates to 1906 and has unique, original art by Christian Thee as well as Art Nouveau Tiffany stained-glass windows. Its recent renovation won a Southeastern Regional Merit Award from the American Institute of Architects. Call in advance to arrange group tours. Free. 803.779.0036 • 1529 Assembly St., Columbia 29201
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral www.trinityepiscopalcathedral.org • Built in 1846, Trinity was spared in 1865 when General Sherman’s troops burned much of Columbia. Six former governors are buried in the churchyard. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Through their music programs and events, visitors and parishioners of all ages learn about liturgy and explore the rich heritage of sacred music. Free. 803.771.7300 • 1100 Sumter St., Columbia 29201
Washington Street United Methodist Church www.washingtonstreetumc.org • Built in 1872, the current structure replaced the church, which was destroyed in Sherman’s burning of Columbia on Feb. 17, 1865. Please call for tour information. 803.256.2417 • 1401 Washington St., Columbia 29201
Get up close and personal to over 2,000 animals at the largest zoo, aquarium and botanical garden in the Southeast. Riverbanks Zoo and Garden has more than 350 animal species represented from around the world. You don’t want to miss the adventure. Plan to visit Riverbanks Zoo and Garden on your next trip to Columbia.
planning essentials: [engage]
we’re waiting
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www.riverbanks.org Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
Wesley United Methodist Church
Benedict College
This church is one of the few remaining early 20th-century buildings on a major thoroughfare that once boasted many architecturally significant structures. The high-style building was a rarity for an African-American congregation during the Jim Crow era in Columbia. • 1725 Gervais St., Columbia 29201
Benedict College was founded in 1870 on an 80-acre plantation in Columbia by the American Baptist Home Mission Society. This new school was established for the recently emancipated people of African descent. A branch of the NAACP was founded at Benedict in 1937. Five buildings on the campus are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The college also offers an array of performing arts programs and sports teams. 803.253.5000 • 1600 Harden St., Columbia 29204
Woodrow Wilson Family Home www.historiccolumbia.org • Woodrow Wilson, the nation’s 28th president, spent four years of his youth in Columbia. He and his family lived in this home built by his parents in 1872. This site is currently closed due to renovation. 803.252.1770 • 1705 Hampton St., Columbia 29201
universities & colleges Allen University Probably the first private black school in the state. Established in 1870 primarily to educate clergy for the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Five buildings situated around a camp green are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Allen University offers liberal arts and teacher education. 803.376.5700 • 1530 Harden St., Columbia 29201
Columbia College Columbia College is a private liberal arts women’s college with a coeducational evening college and graduate school. Founded in 1854, the college is the 11th-oldest women’s college in the United States. Columbia College is regarded as one of the leading liberal arts colleges for women in the South. The college also offers an array of performing arts programs. 803.786.3871 • 1301 Columbia College Dr., Columbia 29203
Columbia International University In a 1948 publication celebrating CIU’s (then called Columbia Bible College) 25th anniversary, McQuilkin wrote: “Neither a Bible institute nor a liberal arts college, CBC offers a curriculum with the spiritual advantages of the former, cultural advantages of the latter.” In other words, what our founder was describing is a biblical university. 803.754.4100 • 7435 Monticello Rd., Columbia 29230
Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary One of the oldest Lutheran seminaries in North America, Southern is a fully accredited graduate school of theology preparing women and men for the ordained and lay ministries of the church. The beautiful, wooded 17-acre campus sits atop Seminary Ridge, the highest point in the midstate area. Founded in 1830, the seminary moved to its present location in 1911 with the construction of Beam Residence Hall, which is listed on the National Historic Register. 803.786.5150 • 4201 N. Main St., Columbia 29203
Midlands Technical College The present-day Midlands Technical College is the product of a rich and unique history. In 1964, three separate career-oriented institutions merged to form Midlands Technical College (MTC), a comprehensive two-year college providing career and transfer education. One of South Carolina’s largest two-year colleges, MTC is comprised of six locations including Beltline, Airport, Harbison, Batesburg-Leesville, Fort Jackson Center and the Northeast Campus adjacent to the Carolina Research Park. 803.738.8324 • P.O. Box 2408, Columbia 29202
University of South Carolina Chartered in 1801 as South Carolina College, the university has grown from one building on the historic Horseshoe to more than 155 facilities on more than 358 acres. USC Columbia offers more than 350 undergraduate and graduate courses of study. Programs range from liberal arts and sciences to business, law, medicine and other professional studies. USC is a member of the Southeastern Conference and the home of the Fighting Gamecocks. 803.777.0169 • 911 Sumter St., Columbia 29201
istoric Columbia showcases the rich cultural heritage of South Carolina’s capital city. With house museums and historic properties as our centerpiece, Historic Columbia offers educational activities, garden tours, lectures and workshops as well as walking tours and group tours of historic sites throughout the city. Well suited for tourists, family reunions, school groups and individuals interested in topics ranging from historic gardens and neighborhoods to architecture and restoration, we invite you to discover Historic Columbia Foundation. For more information, please contact Historic Columbia at (803) 252.1770 HistoricColumbia.org 1616 Blanding Street Columbia, SC 29201
Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau • columbiacvb.com
planning essentials: [engage]
Discovering People, Places & Progress
57
applaud ©University of South Carolina/Jason Ayer
Learn more about our scene-stealing arts scene and hot new shows at columbiacvb.com.
Art House Nickelodeon Theatre www.nickelodeon.org • The Columbia Film Society’s 77-seat theater provides an intimate setting for international and independent cinema and shows more than 125 films each year. • 803.254.8234
Arts Associations/ Organizations
planning essentials: [applaud]
Columbia Music Festival Association www.cmfa.net • CMFA is mandated to
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educate, discover, develop, train, assist and promote through its affiliate organizations. • 803.771.6303
Cultural Council of Richland & Lexington Counties www.getcultured.org • The Cultural Council of Richland & Lexington Counties is the centralized resource for the arts community, providing leadership, funding and business expertise to artists and arts organizations and offering a single source of arts-related information to patrons and media. • 803.799.3115
Choral, Orchestra, Concert Bands The Árpád Darázs Singers www.adsingers.org • The Árpád Darázs Singers is a unique choral ensemble in the Midlands — a group of talented musicians who create a superior blend of mixed voices performing a varied repertoire of classical and contemporary works. • 803.926.7306
Columbia Choral Society
Palmetto Opera
www.columbiachoralsociety.org • Known originally as the Shandon Choral Society, the purpose of the organization then, as it is now, is to stimulate and broaden interest in musical activities and to actively engage in the rehearsal and rendition of choral music. • 803.933.9060
www.palmettoopera.org • The Palmetto Opera opened its first season with an exciting schedule of performances. • 803.787.0287
Columbia Community Concert Band www.cccb.bandlink.org • The Columbia Community Concert Band, founded in 1981, is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization with more than 80 musicians that presents an average of five concerts each season, September until June. • 803.781.9781
The Greater Columbia Children’s Choirs www.thegccc.org • Since 1987, The GCCC has sung to the glory of God and served the community by offering quality music instruction, significant music making and numerous performing opportunities. • 803.776.0544
Lexington County Choral Society www.lexcochoralsoc.org • A community choral group that specializes on not just major choral works, but on the vast repertoire of choral anthems that exist. • 803.359.8794
Palmetto Mastersingers www.palmettomastersingers.org • The Palmetto Mastersingers, a premier 90-member all-men’s choir founded in 1981, continues its mission, as South Carolina’s Musical Ambassadors, of entertaining around the world. • 803.765.0777
Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
Sandlapper Singers www.sandlappersingers.org • The Sandlapper Singers gives you the best in American music with performances that are filled with music to engage your mind, energize your body and inspire your spirit. • 803.749.9443
South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra www.scphilharmonic.com • One of the leading orchestras in the Southeast, the Philharmonic performs and promotes high-quality professional symphonic music. • 803.254.PHIL
Dance Companies Borenya Dance Company www.borenya.org • Honors the authentic integrity of West African musical arts and brings the music and dance of Africa to people of all ages. • 937.287.6044
Carolina Ballet www.carolinaballet.net • Carolina Ballet is an educational outreach civic ballet company. Participants are encouraged not only to be exceptional performers, but also to develop skills for organization, time management and civic responsibility. • 803.771.6303
Columbia City Ballet
Vibrations Dance Company
Town Theatre
www.columbiacityballet.com • Columbia City Ballet ranks as Columbia’s largest and most-attended performing arts organization. Founded in 1961, the company has grown from a civic company doing only two performances a year to a full professional company of more than 30 dancers with five full-length productions and more than 90 performances a season. • 803.799.7605
www.vibrationsdancecompany.org • Vibrations Dance Company’s repertoire includes traditional, experimental, avante-garde approaches to dance expression. • 803.361.5262
www.towntheatre.com • The Columbia Stage Society/Town Theatre is the oldest continuously operating community theater in a building architecturally designed as such in the United States. Its mission is to provide quality live family-oriented musicals, comedies and dramas to the Midlands and visitors to South Carolina. • 803.799.2510
Columbia City Jazz Dance Company and School www.columbiacityjazz.com • The Columbia
munity Theatre presents comedies, classics, thrillers and original works. • 803.240.8544
Columbia Classical Ballet www.columbiaclassicalballet.org • The Columbia Classical Ballet is dedicated to providing South Carolina audiences with the experience of classical ballet, while actively supporting the community through an extensive outreach program. The hallmark of this outreach program is the annual production of LifeChance. • 803.252.9112
The Power Company www.thepowercompany.org • The Power Company is a professional dance company in residence at Columbia College. • 803.786.3825
Chapin Community Theatre www.chapintheatre.org • Chapin Com-
Columbia Children’s Theatre www.columbiachildrenstheatre.com • Columbia Children’s Theatre was founded to serve a need in the Midlands and surrounding areas of Columbia for professional live theater for young audiences. • 803.691.4548
Columbia Marionette Theatre www.columbiamarionettetheatre.org • South Carolina’s leading educational and entertaining puppetry center. • 803.252.7366
South Carolina Shakespeare Company www.scshakespeare.org • Composed of classically trained actors who have honed their talents on a worldwide stage, the company wants the citizens of Columbia, and the entire state of South Carolina, to benefit directly from their talent. • 803.787.2273
Unbound www.freewebs.com/unbounddance • Unbound is a new professional contemporyjazz company. • 803.528.9011
Trustus Theatre www.trustus.org • Trustus celebrates 21 years as the Midlands’ award-winning professional theater. • 803.254.9732
USC Department of Theatre & Dance www.cla.sc.edu/thea • Productions of The University of South Carolina featuring performances by professional-actors-in-training, backed by professional direction and design, in two modern theaters: Drayton Hall, a remodeled proscenium theater and Longstreet Theatre, a theater-in-the-round, Greek revival structure built in 1855. • 803.777.5208
Village Square Theatre www.villagesquaretheatre.com • Founded in August of 1960 to encourage and stimulate practice and appreciation for the arts. • 803.359.1436
Workshop Theatre www.workshoptheatre.com • For 40 years, the creative domain of many of the area’s most talented actors, directors and technicians. • 803.799.6551
Catering • Deli Trays • Box Lunches Specialty Items • Delivery Enclosed patio available for bridal luncheons, baby showers, and social gatherings
Monday – Saturday 10am to 6pm Saturday Brunch 10am to 1pm Sunday 10am to 4pm • Brunch 10am to 2pm ph 803.779.0606 • fax 803.779.0628 342 Pickens Street • www.dipratos.com Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau • columbiacvb.com
planning essentials: [applaud]
City Jazz Company is an internationally known not-for-profit pre-professional jazz dance troupe named by Dance Spirit as one of the Top 50 Companies in the U.S. • 803.252.0252
Theaters
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play ©Andrea Golod/Weaver Multimedia Group
Who says recess is just for kids? For more ways to play, visit columbiacvb.com.
Boating/Kayaking/Canoeing
planning essentials: [play]
Congaree National Park www.nps.gov/cong • Just 20 miles from Co-
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lumbia, Congaree National Park encompasses almost 27,000 acres of floodplain forest. Come escape the city life amid towering trees and astonishing biodiversity in this ancient wilderness. Facilities include 2.1-mile boardwalk loop, 20+ miles of hiking trail, paddling trails, campsites and the Harry Hampton Visitor Center. Numerous free programs are regularly scheduled, but some require reservations. 803.776.4396 • 100 National Park Rd., Hopkins 29061
River Alliance www.riveralliance.org • The mission of the River Alliance is Regional Community Development of the Saluda, Broad and Congaree rivers. Currently constructing the 12-mile Three Rivers Greenway on the Cayce, Columbia and West Columbia riverfronts. Twenty miles of scenic paddling from Peak to the Richland County River Center near I-20. Camp at Harbison State Forest. Blueway map and guide available. The Midlands rowing site. 803.765.2200 • 420 C Rivermont Dr., Columbia 29210
Saluda Shoals Park www.icrc.net • Open every day 7am–8:30pm. Visitors to Saluda Shoals Park discover an escape from the hustle and bustle of life. With 300 acres of pristine forest along the banks of the Saluda River, the park offers a variety of recreational, educational and cultural opportunities. The park provides a feeling of seclusion, when in actuality it is within minutes of downtown Columbia. With easy access to I-20 and I-26, the park provides the optimum place at which to gather corporate meetings, family reunions, even a wedding ceremony. 803.731.5208 • 5605 Old Bush River Rd., Columbia 29212
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources www.dnr.sc.gov • Licenses may be purchased a number of different ways: (1.) from a authorized DNR license vendor such local bait and tackle shops, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, etc. (2.) Online at www.dnr.sc.gov, (3.) by calling the toll-free license number 866.714.3611 to buy a license 7 days a week 24 hours a day, (4.) download the online license application and mail it in. 803.734.3833 • Rember C. Dennis Building, 1000 Assembly St., Columbia 29201
Local Outfitters Adventure Carolina
Fishing Frank’s Fly Arts www.franksflyarts.com • Fly fish with the pros in the three scenic rivers that run through South Carolina’s capital region. Relax as you kayak the cool waters of the lower Saluda and Broad rivers to their confluence at the headwaters of the Congaree, and stop along the way to enjoy some of the best fishing the Southeast has to offer. 803.673.0238
Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
www.adventurecarolina.com • Enjoy guided canoe and kayak trips with Adventure Carolina. Named one of the top 10 canoeing outfitters by Paddler Magazine. 803.796.4505 • 1107 State St., Cayce 29033
Palmetto Outdoor www.palmettooutdoor.com • 803.360.4697 • 731 Meeting St., West Columbia 29169
River Runner Outdoor Center Retail paddle-sports store. Rental equipment and guided trips available. Outfitter for Saluda Shoals Park. 803.771.0353 • 905 Gervais St., Columbia 29201
Harbison State Forest
Located at the Clemson Institute for Economic & Community Development at the Sandhill Research & Education Center, the garden is open daylight to dusk daily. Within approximately two acres of land are many theme gardens designed for children. 803.788.5700 • 900 Clemson Rd., Columbia 29229
www.state.sc.us/forest/refharb.htm • Bounded along its northeastern edge by the Broad River, the state forest encompasses 2,177 acres of forestland only nine miles from downtown Columbia. Its unique urban location makes Harbison one of the largest public green spaces inside the city limits of a metropolitan area in the eastern United States. 803.896.8890 • 5600 Broad River Rd., Columbia 29212
Cayce Riverwalk
Hopkins Park
Carolina Children’s Garden
www.riveralliance.org • Cayce Riverwalk and its Riverwalk Extension provide 37 acres of the 12-mile linear park Three Rivers Greenway. Cayce Riverwalk is located on the west bank of the Congaree River between Knox Abbott Drive and State Street in Cayce. The park is dog friendly and offers bridges, boardwalks, overlooks, bank fishing, and one and a half miles of lighted central paths that accommodate all levels of physical access, including baby carriages and wheelchairs. 803.765.2200 • Axtell Dr. at Namples Ave., Cayce
Crooked Creek Park www.icrc.net/crookedcreek/index.htm • Community recreation center and athletic fields, including gymnasiums, fitness center, aerobics room, meeting rooms, indoor walking track, racquetball courts, art studio, lighted tennis courts, soccer, basketball and softball fields, walking trails, picnic shelters and playgrounds. 803.345.6181 • 1098 Old Lexington Hwy., Chapin 29036
Dreher Island State Recreation Area www.southcarolinaparks.com • Located on Lake Murray, 348 acres and 12 miles of shoreline make this an ideal place for water recreation and family outings. 803.364.4152 • 3677 State Park Rd., Prosperity 29127
Earlewood Park www.columbiasc.net • Located in the historic Earlewood neighborhood just north of downtown Columbia, this 48-acre park offers a walking trail, playground, water spray, tennis courts, ball fields and a disc golf course. 803.545.3100 • 1111 Parkside Dr., Columbia 29203
Finlay Park www.columbiasc.net • One of the most popular parks in Columbia. A wonderful waterfall acts as the background for festivals, concerts or picnics. 803.545.3100 • 930 Laurel St., Columbia 29201
Granby Park www.riveralliance.org • This 12-mile river park, located at the end of Catawba Street, is the first portion of the Three Rivers Greenway. 803.545.3100 • 100 Catawba St., Columbia
Guignard Park www.cityofcayce-sc.gov • Guignard Park is a wooded park, located in the heart of Cayce. The park provides a relaxing getaway for adults and children. Visitors will find a stream running through the middle of the park, picnic tables and a play area. 803.796.9020 • 199 Knox Abbott Dr., Cayce 29033
www.richlandcountyrecreation.com • A 30acre facility that includes a recreation building, gymnasium, game room, clubroom, kitchen, ballfields, playground, swimming pool and picnic facilities. 803.783.6559 • 150 Hopkins Park Rd., Hopkins 29061
Lexington Family YMCA www.columbiaymca.org • Beautiful 160-acre facility with lake, trails, covered pavilion, etc. Boating or swimming in the lake from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Fishing year-round. Walking track and nature trails. Outdoor basketball and tennis courts and soccer fields. 803.359.3376 • 401 YMCA Rd., Lexington 29073
Martin Luther King, Jr. Park www.columbiasc.net • Community Center, softball field, indoor court, picnic tables, playground. 803.733.8452 • 2300 Greene St., Columbia 29205
Maxcy Gregg Park www.columbiasc.net • Location of the Cancer Survivor’s Garden. 803.545.3100 • 1806 Blossom St., Columbia 29205
Memorial Park www.columbiasc.net • This seven-acre park is dedicated to the memory of those who fought and died in service to their country. The Vietnam Memorial Monument features two freestanding granite walls inscribed with the names of South Carolinians killed or lost in action in Vietnam. 803.545.3100 • 700 Hampton St., Columbia 29201
The Nature Conservancy, Peachtree Rock Preserve www.nature.org • Located in southern Lexington County near Swansea, the preserve encompasses 305 acres of diverse ecosystems. The actual Peachtree Rock is a geologic wonder: it has stood for millions of years and is a natural testament to the ancient marine environment which was once here. 803.254.9049 • P.O. Box 5475, Columbia
Polo Road Park www.richlandcountyrecreation.com/ polo.asp • Amenities include a recreation building with gymnasium, game room, fitness room, classrooms and kitchen and several ballfields. 803.736.1657 • 730 Polo Rd., Columbia 29223
Riverfront Park www.columbiasc.net • Opened in 1983 for recreational usage, the original waterworks for the City of Columbia was situated here. This was also the site of the world’s first electrically operated textile mill and the hydroelectric plant, the oldest — and still operating — one in the state. The park is approximately 167 acres and offers popular jogging/walking trail, wonderful views of the river, a beautiful brick amphitheater and self-guided walkway by the old parts of the water plant. 803.545.3100 • 312 Laurel St., Columbia 29201
SC Governor’s Mansion Garden www.scgovernorsmansion.org • The Governors Mansion Garden is home to some of the largest trees in the state: magnolia and crepe myrtle. The garden is true to history, complete with paths of unique crushed stone and is home to impressive fountains. 803.737.1710 • 800 Richland St., Columbia 29201
Sesquicentennial State Park www.southcarolinaparks.com • This 1,419-acre park, situated in the middle of the sandhills region, features a beautiful 30-acre lake surrounded by trails and picnic areas. The park’s proximity to downtown Columbia and three major interstate highways attracts both local residents and travelers. The park was originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. 803.788.2706 • 9564 Two Notch Rd., Columbia 29233
Seven Oaks Park www.icrc.net/sevenoaks/index.htm • Community recreation center and athletic fields including gymnasiums, fitness center, aerobics room, meeting rooms, art studio, lighted tennis courts, football, soccer, baseball and softball fields, walking trails, picnic shelters, playgrounds. 803.772.1228 • 200 Leisure Ln., Columbia 29212
Southeast Park & Tennis Center www.columbiasc.net • 62 acres wilderness/ nature site, four soft and 12 hard tennis courts, primitive campground. 803.730.8507 • 951 Hazelwood Rd., Columbia 29209
Trenholm Road Park www.richlandcountyrecreation.com • A 10.7-acre facility that includes a recreation building, new enlarged gymnasium, game room, club room; eight lighted tennis courts; playground; swimming pool; a lighted Dixie Youth baseball field; lighted Pony League field; football/soccer field; picnic facilities with shelter. 803.787.0216 • 3900 Covenant Rd., Columbia
Virginia Hylton Park www.lexsc.com/parkinfo.htm • Located behind Town Hall in downtown Lexington, amenities include a paved 1,980-foot path, playground, special needs playground, koi pond, brook, day lily garden and three covered gazebos with grills. 803.359.4164 • 111 Maiden Ln., Lexington 29073
West Columbia Riverwalk www.riveralliance.org • Encompassing 4.5 acres of the Three Rivers Greenway, this halfmile path is located between Gervais Street and Knox Abbott Drive and accommodates all levels of physical access, including baby carriages and wheelchairs. The amphitheater is a wonderful gathering place for concerts and events. Canoe landing is available at the New Orleans Restaurant. 803.765.2200 • Gervais St.
Woodland Park www.columbiasc.net • Community center, softball field, indoor courts, eight tennis courts, picnic tables. 803.545.3100 • 6500 Old Knight Parkway, Columbia 29209
Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau • columbiacvb.com
planning essentials: [play]
Parks & Gardens
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Golf – Public
Holes
Par
Slope
Pkgs
Columbia Charwood Country Club www.charwoodcc.com 803.755.2000 222 Clubhouse Dr.
27
73
118
Y
LinRick Golf Course 803.754.6331 356 Campground Rd.
Northwoods Golf Course 803.786.9242 201 Powell Rd.
Oak Hills Golf Club
www.oakhillsgolf.com 803.735.9830 7629 Fairfield Rd.
71
138
Y
18
73
125
Y
18
72
122
Y
18
72
131
Y
9
27
•
N
www.goldenhillsgolf.com 803.957.3355 100 Scotland Dr., Lexington
Indian Trail Golf Course
803.532.9010 1304 Willis St., Batesburg-Leesville
Persimmon Hill Golf Club 803.275.3522 Route 3, Box 364, Saluda
TimberLake Golf Club
www.signaturegolfgroup.com/ timberlake/home.html 803.345.9909 284 Club Dr., Chapin
803.776.2177 9560 Garners Ferry Rd., Hopkins
Golf Course of SC @ Crickentree 803.754.8600 1084 Langford Rd., Blythewood 803.438.1917 1608 Ridgeway Rd., Lugoff
White Pines Golf Club
62
18
71
•
Y
18
71
131
Y
18
71
134
N
18
72
127
Y
18
72
129
Y
18
72
139
Y
18
72
113
N
18
72
127
Y
Southwest of Columbia Hidden Valley Golf Club 9
72
120
N
18
72
125
Y
planning essentials: [play]
803.432.7442 614 Mary Ln., Camden
Pkgs
Southeast of Columbia Sedgewood Country Club
Northeast of Columbia
Green Hill Golf Club
Slope
Golden Hills Golf & Country Club 18
Riverside Golf Center 803.750.1015 1600 Garner Ln.
803.781.0114 2121 Lake Murray Blvd., Irmo 803.894.3666 700 Wagner Hwy., Leesville
803.776.9900 1300 Butternut Dr.
803.955.0080 200 Congaree Hunt Dr.
Par
The Club at Rawls Creek
Cooper’s Creek Golf Club
Hickory Ridge Golf Course
Indian River Golf Club
Holes
Northwest of Columbia
Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
803.794.8087 147 Excaliber Ct., Gaston
©Andrea Golod/Weaver Multimedia Group
splurge
To find all the ways to splurge in Columbia without breaking the bank, go to columbiacvb.com.
City Center Partnership www.citycentercolumbia.sc • Enjoy live jazz and blues music nightly at Mac’s On Main as well as talented musicians playing at Jammin Jazz Cafe. Have a nice dinner, visit the art museum and listen to live blues and jazz music... all in one evening! 803.233.0620 • Columbia City Center
Congaree Vista www.vistacolumbia.com • Once a vital warehouse district, the Vista played a central role in the growth and development of Columbia. Today, it’s again the center of activity as a premier location for commercial, residential, shopping, dining and cultural offerings. 803.269.5946 • Columbia City Center
Doors of Devine www.doorsofdevine.com • Stroll along this shady street for unique upscale shopping and dining which features clothing, home furnishings, restaurants and gift shops. 803.799.7405 • Columbia City Center
Five Points www.fivepointscolumbia.com • The heart of Columbia culture for college students, young professionals, families and senior citizens, Five Points offers eclectic boutiques, casual bistros, fine dining and active night spots. 803.748.7373 • Columbia City Center
Rosewood www.rosewoodmerchants.com • Growing and diversified, the Rosewood corridor offers a mix of shops and services. 803.931.8787 • Columbia City Center
Almost Antiques 803.781.6830 • 1709 Lake Murray Blvd., Columbia 29212
Antiques on Meeting 803.791.0008 • 614 Meeting St., West Columbia 29169
Armory Auction House 803.600.4200 • 1101 Augusta St., West Columbia 29169
Attic Treasures Antiques & Gifts 803.939.9225 • 1516 Augusta Rd.,
West Vista
West Columbia 29169
www.westvistaguild.org • Located in the historic West Columbia area, West Vista features antiques. 803.796.4229 • West Columbia/Cayce/Airport
Carolina Imports 803.748.9889 • 847 S. Stadium Rd.,
Shopping – Antiques Columbia is sprinkled with charming antique shops, markets and an internationally renowned auction house. 763 Meeting Street Antique Mall www.763antiquemall.com • 803.796.1516 • 763 Meeting St., West Columbia 29169
Warehouse 10, Columbia 29201
Charlton Hall Galleries, Inc. www.charltonhallauctions.com • 803.779.5678 • 912 Gervais St., Columbia 29201
City Market Antiques Mall 803.252.1589 • 705-709 Gervais St., Columbia 29201
Columbia Antique Mall 803.765.1584 • 602 Huger St., Columbia 29201
Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau • columbiacvb.com
planning essentials: [splurge]
Shopping Districts
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Marketplace on Meeting 803.794.1000 • 550 Meeting St., West
West Columbia Antique Mall 803.794.7197 • 205 Wattling Rd. at U.S. 1,
Columbia 29169
West Columbia 29170
Old Barn General Store www.oldbarngeneralstore.com • 803.951.2276 • 2549 Augusta Hwy., Lexington 29072
Old Mill Antique Mall 803.796.4229 • 310 State St., West Columbia 29169
Ole Town Antique Mall, Inc. www.oletownantique.com • 803.772.9335 • 2956 Broad River Rd., Columbia 29210 Outdoorwood Furniture & Gifts www.outdoorwood.com • 803.794.9921 • 718 Meeting St., West Columbia 29169
Parks Furniture Antiques LTD 803.791.4071 • 3131 Sunset Blvd., West Columbia 29169
Safran’s Antiques 803.254.8448 • 1015 Whaley St., Columbia 29201
Spring Valley Antique Mall 803.736.7575 • 8808 Two Notch Rd., Columbia 29223
Vista on the West Antiques & Gifts 803.939.9738 • 602 A Meeting St., West
Columbiana Station
Shopping – Indoor Mall
Columbiana Grand Theatre, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Michaels, Circuit City. Harbison Blvd. at Bower Pkwy., Irmo 29063
Columbia Place
Shoppes at Flight Deck
www.shopcolumbiaplace.com • Dillard’s, JCPenney, Rich’s, Macy’s, Sears, American Eagle, Limited, Old Navy, Eddie Bauer, Structure, The Disney Store, The Gap and Victoria’s Secret. 803.788.4678 • 7201 BU/650 Two Notch Rd., Columbia 29223
Columbiana Centre www.columbianacentre.com • Anchored by Belk, Dillard’s, Parisian and Sears; large food court and operational antique carousel. 803.732.6255 • 100 Columbiana Circle, Columbia 29212
Dutch Square Center www.dutchsquare.com • The mall features Belk, Burlington Coat Factory, Office Depot, General Cinema, Dress Barn and more than 40 specialty stores. 803.772.3864 • Broad River Rd. at Bush River Rd., Columbia 29210
Midtown at Forest Acres www.midtownatforestacres.com • Featuring Belk, Parisian, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, TGI Friday’s, S&S Cafeteria, Regal Cinema plus unique specialty shops and services. 803.738.2995 • 3400 Forest Dr., Columbia 29204
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www.shoppesatflightdeck.com • A unique shopping experience in historic Lexington. 803.957.0303 • 109 Old Chapin Rd., Lexington 29072
Shoppes at Woodhill Major retailers: Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Cost Plus/World Market, Pier 1 Imports 6000 Garners Ferry Rd., Columbia 29209
Trenholm Plaza Major retailers: Publix, The Fresh Market, Books-A-Million, Stein Mart, Starbucks 4840 Forest Dr., Columbia 29206
Village at Sandhill www.villageatsandhillonline.com • We welcome you to South Carolina’s newest lifestyle venue offering the very best in shopping, dining, entertainment, working, living and more — all in one exceptionally beautiful and convenient location. 803.419.0235 • 481-2 Town Center Pl., Columbia 29229
©Andrea Golod/Weaver
planning essentials: [splurge]
Columbia 29169
Shopping – Open-air Mall
Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
It’s kind of like how people in New York go to the Hamptons. I look forward to coming to Columbia because it’s all about rest and relaxation.
©Sofia Magnusson
— Brian Blue, orthopedic surgeon and Columbian weekend resident
Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau • columbiacvb.com
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Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been expecting you!
W W
e invite you to see why the Clarion Hotel Downtown is one of the most talked about destinations in our city.
. Carolinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lounge & Restaurant . Jacuzzi Suites Available . Oversized King & Double Queen Rooms . Room Service . Complete Fitness Center . Complimentary Airport Shuttle . Free Ground Level Parking
Beautiful King Bedding Package!
www.clarionhotelcolumbia.com
Clarion Hotel Downtown Columbia 1615 Gervais Street . Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 771 - 8711 . (803) 252 - 3010 . (800) 277 - 8711
[welcome]
You’re here!
[greetings]
Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau 1101 Lincoln Street, Columbia, SC 29201 800.264.4884, Fax: 803.545.0050 columbiacvb.com
President & CEO Richard A. “Ric” Luber
In Columbia, our history truly lives with us every day. Our history isn’t just confined within the walls of our many museums, it’s thriving in historic buildings that have found new purpose as restaurants or storefronts and in our historic homes, like the Robert Mills house, that are still standing. It’s such a pleasure to be able to walk or drive around and see history weaved throughout the city.
Vice President of Sales & Marketing Kelly Barbrey
Director of Media Relations & Publications Nicole Smith
Manager Columbia Regional Visitors Center Jill Asouzu
Published By:
Bob Coble Mayor MULTIMEDIA GROUP TM
Weaver Multimedia Group Sales Office: 7001 St. Andrews Rd., PMB 323 Columbia, SC 29212 803.732.3110, Fax: 803.732.3112
The graciousness of our community is second to none! Everywhere you go people welcome you with smiles and hospitality. It’s like you’re a part of the family.
Corporate Office: 800-303-9328 www.weaver-group.com
Publication Team
William Derrick Lexington County Council
Publisher: Rebecca Carity Director of Editorial: Teri Vannoy Graphic Designer: Jeff Kuenzel Senior Publications Manager: Jennifer Barrett
Sales Associate Publisher: Anna Bigham
Every morning, I run along the Congaree River by way of our riverwalk, and it just amazes me how crisp and clean the water that flows through our city center is. As a 12month destination, we’re able to kayak, canoe and run along our rivers. Lake Murray is also beautiful and is our area’s premier fishing and boating location.
Ric Luber Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports & Tourism
Chief Executive Officer: Peter J. Koclanes Chief Financial Officer: Dianne Gates Vice President of Publishing and Web Services: Lynne Craig Executive Vice President of National Sales: Mark Schmidt
Columbia has really become a hot spot for entertainment. From downtown city center to the suburbs, the nightlife sizzles with opportunities. My family and I enjoy live jazz bands that play in local restaurants and the spring and summer concerts in the parks, entertainment and shopping districts.
Milton Pope Richland County Administrator
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Support and Leadership Senior Innovation and Content Manager: Kevin Day Creative Manager of Design: Kelly Faigin Contributing Writers: John Daters, Anne Marie Kelley, Keith Lin, Ryan Peacock, Lisa Pogue Photography: Nicole Cross, Andrea Golod Ad Design: Chris Gregori, Sean Mahaffey, Sami Wallingford Digital Imaging: Michelle Graham Advertising Coordinators: Sarah Bivens, Laura Everitt, Emily Hagen, Travis Owen
Columbia Official Visitors Guide • Columbia, SC — Famously Hot
Listings in this publication are based on information provided by bureau partners as of November 2008. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication. ©2008 by the Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau. No portion of this publication may be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or reproduced in any way without the express written permission of the Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau. Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau (“CMCVB”) and Weaver Multimedia Group (“Weaver”) make no endorsement, representation or warranty regarding any goods or services advertised or listed in this publication. Listings and advertisements are provided by the subject companies and CMCVB and Weaver shall not be responsible or liable for any inaccuracy, omission or infringement of any third party’s rights therein, or for personal injury or any other damage or injury whatsoever. Corporate information and advertising specifications available at www.weaver-group.com.
Stay in the Heart of Historic Congaree Vista District The Hampton Inn is walking distance from the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, University of South Carolina, State Capitol Building, downtown businesses, historic points of interest, and unique dining and shopping. Groups will find that our flexible meeting space is ideally suited for small business meetings and receptions. Our staff will be happy to suggest outside catering, floral or entertainment options specifically suited for your group. Whatever the size your group, our staff will happily assist in making your function a memorable one.
Complimentary Parking â&#x20AC;˘ Complimentary Breakfast â&#x20AC;˘ Complimentary Wi-Fi
822 Gervais Street Columbia, SC 29201 803.231.2000 | 803.231.2826 (fax) www.hamptoninncolumbia.com