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Columbia Museum of Art 1515 Main St. 799-2810, columbiamuseum.org Yes, the Columbia Museum of Art brings in top-flight traveling exhibitions and features a stellar permanent collection. But your kids are bored to tears by that. Luckily, the museum offers plenty of fun programming for kids, from its Passport to Art semi-monthly open studio program to its weekly Wee Wednesday art exploration sessions to its summer camps and school programs.
Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum 301 Gervais St. 737-8095, www.crr.sc.gov For more than a century, the Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum’s has collected and preserved the military history of this state.
Congaree National Park
Columbia Marionette Theatre
Photo by Austin Price
W
ith the myriad options for children’s programming on television these days, it’s tempting to plop your kid down in front of the flatscreen to keep him or her occupied. But kids like to be active, and we know you dig that whole quality-time shebang. So we at FT Parent have put together a select list of places where you and junior can play … and play together.
776-4396, nps.gov/cong This 22,000-acre park boasts the largest old-growth, floodplain forest on the continent. It’s also an International Biosphere Reserve, a Globally Important Bird Area and a National Natural Landmark. Activities include hiking, boating, camping, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, nature walks and more. Located in Hopkins, 20 miles southeast of Columbia.
Cottle Strawberry Farm 2533 Trotter Rd. 695-1714, cottlestrawberryfarm.com This 30-plus-year-old strawberry farm tucked in Southeast Columbia is open to the public every spring — usually from April through May, and sometimes into June. Mmm … freshly picked strawberries.
Dreher Island State Recreation Park Bouncerific 921 Longtown Rd. 865-7939, bouncerific.com No, Bouncerific isn’t a place to send your kid to learn to be a doorman; it’s an indoor party and play center for kids and families. Inflatable bouncers, slides, dress-up, games, more.
Carolina CrossFit 1804 Blanding St., carolinacrossfit.com Offers kids’ crossfit classes.
Challenger Learning Center 2600A Barhamville Rd. 929-3951, thechallengercenter.net The Challenger Learning Center of Richland County School District One is an aeronautics- and space-themed learning program designed to provide interactive learning experiences, integrating science, technology, engineering and math curricula with 21st century life skills.
Chuck E. Cheese’s 1775 Burning Tree Dr. 772-0435, chuckecheese.com The motto of the nationwide family entertainment center chain: Where a kid can be a kid. Often home to birthdays,
play groups and school fundraising events, Chuck E. Cheese’s features games, rides, prizes, food and entertainment for all ages.
City of Columbia Parks & Recreation columbiasc.net/parksandrec Family-friendly Columbia boasts 52 public parks where your wee ones can run and jump and skip and play, plus a host of community gardens, three swimming pools, one splash pad water park, and a public skate park. The city also offers a host of youth sports — baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, volleyball — and outdoor environmental programs.
Colonial Life Arena 801 Lincoln St. coloniallifearena.com When Disney princesses and the Sesame Street gang come to Columbia, this is where they play.
Columbia Arts Academy 787-0931, columbiaartsacademy.com The largest music school in the state of South Carolina, the Columbia Arts Academy boasts a large and qualified staff to train your kids in electric and
acoustic guitar, voice, piano, bass, drums and year-round rock band classes.
Columbia Blowfish 254-3474, blowfishbaseball.com Take ‘em out to the ballgame: During the summer months, Capital City Stadium hosts the Columbia Blowfish, which play in the Coastal Plain League, a collegiate wood-bat summer league. And, yes: They sell peanuts and Crackerjack.
Columbia Children’s Theatre 3400 Forest Dr, 691-4548 columbiachildrenstheatre.com Professional theater company for young audiences and families.
Columbia Marionette Theatre 401 Laurel St., 252-7366 cmtpuppet.org Founded in 1988 by famed puppeteer Allie Scollon and her son John, the Columbia Marionette Theatre has established itself as a premiere children’s theater in South Carolina. Its mission is to entertain and educate children and adults through the long-standing tradition and artistry of puppetry.
3677 State Park Rd. 364-4152, southcarolinaparks.com Located 30 miles northwest of Columbia in Prosperity, the Dreher Island recreation area consists of three islands encompassing 12 miles of shoreline on Lake Murray. Especially popular for fishing and boating, Dreher Island also offers lakefront camping, cabin and villa rentals, water skiing and picnicking.
Drew Park Splash Pad 2101 Walker Solomon Way drewwellnesscenter.com Sure, there’s a playground, a jogging track and a gazebo, but you’re coming here to get wet in the gigantic spray pad and lighted fountain. (Many of the city’s public parks offer smaller spray pools, too.)
EdVenture Children’s Museum 211 Gervais St. 779-3100, edventure.org The South’s largest children’s museum, with more than 70,000 square feet of cool stuff to keep the kids occupied.
Frankie’s Fun Park 140 Parkridge Dr. 781-2342, frankiesfunpark.com This Harbison-area entertainment