Spend A Picture-Perfect Day Exploring Columbia, South Carolina's Charming Capital City
By Marisa Roman|Published August 15, 2022
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Marisa Roman
Author
A New Jersey native with over 15 years of writing experience, Marisa has studied at both New York University and Florida International University. She has lived all over the country, including a decade stint in South Florida. Marisa is well-versed in exploration as she travels a good majority of the year in her self-converted Sprinter van. Her articles have been featured in various notable publications over the years, she has a published collection of short stories, and three completed screenplays under her belt.
As the capital city of South Carolina, Columbia is a quintessential spot deeply rooted in traditions and values, with tons of fascinating attractions. With a population shy of 150,000 residents, Columbia is the second-largest city in the state and perhaps one of the most charming, too. It’s not difficult to fall head over heels for Columbia with just one visit – the quaint beauty of the downtown area, the friendliness of the people, the fact you can walk for hours, enjoying murals, mom-and-pop shops, and flourishing nature – all add to the overall appeal.
After exploring Columbia, South Carolina, for an afternoon, I’ve pieced together some fun, exciting things to do to get as much out of this incredible city as you have time for. It doesn’t get much better than history, food, and antique shopping.
Steeped in rich history and southern charm, there is no better place to get a glimpse into the southern United States than a visit to Columbia, South Carolina.
Spending an afternoon exploring the capital city is a rewarding experience for anyone.
Our adventure began with a stroll through the Downtown Columbia area. With plenty of parking up and down the Main Street District, it was easy to pull in and set off on foot.
The architectural evolution of the area alone is worth admiring, from the brick sidewalks to the historic buildings.
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There are little pockets of history throughout the Main Street District, including the Nickelodeon Theater, which is still a premier place to sip a beer and watch a film downtown.
Founded back in 1979 by UofSC students Carl Davis and Linda O’Connor, this delightful theater is still the perfect place for people to gather in order to indulge their love of cinema.
Opting for a lighter fare in order to continue our travels, we grabbed a bite to eat at Good Life Cafe, situated in the W. T. Grant Building.
With lofted ceilings, modernist mid-century decor, and plants hanging from every crevice, this restaurant was the perfect reprieve.
The plant-based menu is filled with scrumptious gems, from the Eggplant Bacon wrap to the Spinach Artichoke Quesadilla. They also serve craft cocktails, too!
Our favorite part of the general store was the gargantuan selection of vintage and modern candies. Rows upon rows of barrels stuffed to the brim with sweets from root beer barrels to peppermint sticks and beyond.
The downstairs area of Mast General Store is filled with hiking equipment, perfect for anyone planning an adventure in the great outdoors.
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Another fun discovery as we ventured around Columbia is that there are quite a few murals throughout the city, too! We stopped by Tunnel Vision by artist Blue Sky, a massive mural that adorns the side of the Land Bank Lofts downtown.
Inspired by a dream, this local artist set out to create an illusionary mural cleverly painted in order to look three-dimensional. Plenty of visitors to this area stop by the mural to snap some social-media-worthy photos in front.
There are other murals around the city decorating the sides of buildings, including the famed Five Points Postcard by Chad Brady! This is a great introduction to the Five Points area with tons of food, bars, and clothing stores.
After snapping a few photos of the Tunnel Vision mural, we walked through the parking lot to see another great wonder of the city - the world’s largest fire hydrant within Busted Plug Plaza.
Created again by artist Blue Sky, Busted is a 40-foot tall, 675,000-pound steel fireplug built to withstand a direct hit from a tornado. Perhaps artist Sky’s most famous and widely-recognized works, this 2001 structure is often the backdrop for many tourist videos and photos.
After Busted Plug Plaza, we hopped in the car and headed to West Columbia’s historic River District in hopes of finding a few antique stores worth perusing.
We ended up grabbing an espresso and fresh lemonade at Cafe Strudel before continuing on. This quaint cafe offers a delightful menu of made-to-order food, plus local artwork adorning the walls.
A block away from Cafe Strudel is the Old Antique Mall, which is quite possibly the largest selection of antiques I’ve ever seen. Rows upon rows of vintage treasures and collectibles are offered by over 75 different dealers all under one roof.
Make sure to take your time here - there is so much to see in each area, and you don’t want to miss out on anything! There is even a second story up a set of steep wooden steps that offers antique furniture, glassware, and military memorabilia.
Also, keep in mind you won't find air conditioning in this warehouse, although there are fans throughout.
By the time we finished antique shopping, we decided to call it a day. However, it was easy to see just how much more this area offered to visitors and why perhaps an entire weekend should be dedicated to enjoying it all.
While we only spent a day exploring Columbia South Carolina, we’ve already made a plan to return in hopes of finding even more pockets of history and hidden gems worth indulging in.
Have you ever been to Columbia, South Carolina before? Share with us your experience in the comments section! Or, if you want to find a bit more inspiration regarding a visit to the capital city, check out the Columbia, SC website.
To discover more incredible boots-on-the-ground adventures across America from our team of local travel experts, check out all of the articles in OnlyInYourState’s Everyday Explorers series. What destinations would you like to see featured next on OnlyInYourState’s Everyday Explorers? Tell us where we should go on our nominations page.
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