KAYAK - Columbia, South Carolina Travel Guide

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Columbia Travel

Popular South Carolina (SC) Destinations

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Columbia Airports

Columbia Vacations

Welcome to Columbia, capital of South Carolina! This historical city displays a love for the Arts and is an epitome of gracious southern hospitality. Showcasing an exciting variety of year-round attractions at an affordable price, Columbia consistently draws national as well as international visitors. Some come to enjoy the ice-skating shows at the Carolina Coliseum, while others are attracted to world-class Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. Visitors also enjoy the experience of traveling back in time while visiting historical homes from the 16th century. From a leisurely stroll through Congaree National Park to frolicking at The State Fair, from dining in the Gourmet Shop to a quick pizza at Za’s Brick Oven Pizza Shop, you will find whatever your heart desires. There is always something to see and do in Columbia--and the smiles are contagious!

Popular Columbia Hotels

Clarion Hotel Downtown
1615 Gervais Street

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Columbia - Downtown
501 Taylor Street

Sheraton Columbia Downtown Hotel
1400 Main Street

Wingate by Wyndham Columbia / Ft. Jackson
8300 Two Notch Road

Courtyard Columbia Downtown at USC
630 Assembly Street

SpringHill Suites Columbia Downtown/The Vista
511 Lady Street

View more Columbia hotel info »«

Top rated attractions in Columbia

1.	Frankie’s Fun Park Pay as you play at Frankie’s Fun Park. Frankie’s has three levels of road fun—the Rookie Track, The Indie Road Course, and the slick Thunderbowl track for the experienced driver. Bumper boats make for a fun time in the water. Test your golf skills or climb rock wall and challenge your physical skill. Whether it’s the go-karts, miniature golf, amusement rides, or laser tag everyone is sure to have a great time at Frankie’s. Grilled snacks make this adventure even more enjoyable. Open every day for hours and hours of fun! Discount prices are available for groups or birthday parties. Call before visiting for specific hours of operation. « hide
2.	South Carolina State Museum The South Carolina State Museum is housed in the historic 1893 Columbia Mill Textile Building. The history of South Carolina unfolds as visitors immerse themselves in the many exhibits and programs. Art, natural history, cultural history, science and technology are intertwined through these mediums and artifacts. The hands-on Stringer Discovery Center brings South Carolinian history to the level of the museum’s littlest visitors. « hide
3.	Riverbanks Zoo & Garden A wonderful experience can be found at Riverbanks Zoo & Garden. The zoo is situated on 170 acres of land and presents more than 2,000 amazing animals in their natural habitats. Highlights of the zoo include participation in adventure tours where visitors can get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how animals are cared for and trained. The Gardens, a magnificent maze of formal gardens and natural woodlands, offer a breathtaking reprieve from the busyness of life. Visitors can ride to the gardens from the zoo by tram or park and enjoy the gardens and then venture through the adjacent woodlands to the zoo. The Gardens display 4,300 species of native and exotic plants and is a popular spot for weddings and special events. Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Please call for individual and group rates « hide
4.	Lake Murray Located in the Columbia Midlands, beautiful and tranquil Lake Murray offers rest for the weary, and fun for all. Lake Murray was initially created in the 1930’s as a hydroelectric generator facility. It has now become a major recreational reservoir for the Columbia area--50,000-acres of deep freshwater offering a variety of water activities. Boating, sailing, yachting, swimming, jet skiing, wakeboarding, knee boarding, canoeing, and fishing are all included in the fun. If you enjoy water sports, you will enjoy Lake Murray. Boats, jet skis, and pontoons can be rented. « hide
5.	"Tunnelvision" This mural by artist, Blue Sky, is painted on the wall of the Agfirst Farm Credit Bank. It shows a highway disappearing through a tunnel. Don’t be tempted to drive in! “Light at the End of the Tunnel” is another mural, located at Hampton and Bull Streets. This mural represents the world on the other side of the tunnel. « hide
6.	Ghosts and Legends of Columbia This story-oriented walking tour starts each night at 8:00 pm and lasts for about 90 minutes. Ghost stories and tales from the Palmetto’s state rich folklore tradition are told. Advanced reservations are required. « hide
7.	Edventure Children’s Museum Edventure’s is the largest children’s museum in the South. A hands-on learning adventure, students, parents, and teachers will be able to participate in a variety of programs, exhibits, and events. Designed for children 12 and under Edventure’s is a wonderful learning experience. Children will encounter eight amazing learning galleries and also meet Eddie, the largest child in the world! « hide
8.	Country Adventures Carriage Service a Take a horse-drawn carriage ride through Columbia and view the city the old-fashioned way. For over a decade, Country Adventures Carriage Service has been adding to the nostalgia of the Midlands. With four carriage styles available, these horse-drawn coaches provide more than just a ride—they provide a lasting memory. Open by appointment only. « hide
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Top rated restaurants in Columbia

1.	Motor Supply Company Bistro A unique setting for a unique menu—Motor Supply, a renovated engine supply building from the 1800’s, changes its menu twice daily and is a popular dining facility for residents and visitors alike. Delicious, innovative food is their specialty, serving regional cuisine from around the country. Motor Supply offers private party bookings for groups of 30 or more on Mondays. « hide	6.	Mr. Friendly’s New Southern Café Evolving from an early 1980’s sandwich and cookie shop, Mr. Friendly’s now offers sophisticated New Southern cuisine. Ocean-fresh fish and other seafood specials, innovative meat, poultry, and wild game dishes are included on the menu. The friendly atmosphere and inexpensive prices exemplifies true southern hospitality. « hide
2.	Soltice Kitchen Soltice is different. As the seasons change, so Soltice changes--and invites you to experience the change as well. Soltice has traditional American roots, but fuses a variety of styles to create its unique and ever-changing menu that it calls “New American Cuisine.” Soltice boasts some of the regions most innovative cocktails. « hide	7.	Al’s Upstairs Italian Restaurant With an impeccable atmosphere and service, Al’s (voted Columbia’s most romantic restaurant), has become a popular site for intimate dining. This elegant facility overlooks the Columbia skyline and the swiftly-developing Vista. The building may be 100 years old, but the menu is truly innovative, including a variety of pasta creations as well as traditional specialties « hide
3.	Yesterday’s Restaurant and Tavern Yesterday’s is Columbia’s original neighborhood tavern and is still quite popular today. The restaurant serves a variety of great American food made with the freshest local produce, chicken, beef, and seafood. Confederate fried steak and Jalapeno Cheddar Poppers are amongst the favorites. Vegetarian dishes are also featured. There’s something for everyone cooking at Yesterday’s. « hide	8.	Villa Tronco Located in an historic 19th century firehouse, this casual, quaint restaurant is family-owned and operated. It serves an array of tradition Italian favorites such as homemade Italian bread, delicious square pizza, fresh seafood, veal, and pasta. The restaurant is known for Carmella’s favorite cheesecake and their extensive wine list. Lunch and dinner is served Monday through Friday and dinner only is served on Saturday. « hide
4.	M & N Diner Breakfast, lunch, or dinner, M & N Diner is the restaurant to visit for your favorite southern foods. Grits and eggs in the morning, chicken wings or a BLT for lunch, or fried chicken with chili cheese fries for dinner, you will find it all in M & N’s friendly diner. Dining options include dine-in, delivery, or catering. « hide	9.	Carrabba’s Italian Grill You’re in for a real treat when you visit Carrabba’s. This unique restaurant serves fresh, flavorful, handmade dishes cooked to order everyday. The menu caters to the health-conscious. All fish and poultry are delivered fresh to the restaurant, never frozen, and are free of preservatives. A gluten-free menu is also offered. House specialties include crispy calamari and chicken marsala. Grilled items include fresh fish, seafood, and meats—all grilled to your specifications. Children can entertain themselves with their own pizza dough while waiting to be served. Carside carry-out is also available. « hide
5.	Mac’s on Main Chef Fatback and The Groove Band welcomes you to Mac’s on Main, a jazz and blues eatery on Main Street in Downtown Columbia. Adluh yellow grits topped with shrimp gravy and served with Atlantic Coast Shrimp, smoked sausage, onions and peppers is a low-country favorite. Red hot Buffalo Chicken Wings garnished with celery slices and bleu cheese dressing is another all-time favorite, and Mac’s unique and scrumptious desserts will have you coming back for more! « hide	10.	Gervais and Vine If you enjoy wine and tapas (Spanish for “small bites”), then you will enjoy Gervais & Vine, a Mediterranean wine and tapas bar. Hosting an extensive selection of wine, beer, and spirits from around the world, you are sure to find something that satisfies your taste buds. A variety of delicious hot tapas, cold tapas, and pizza are included in the “small bites” selection. Try one, or try them all. Wine tasting and other events are a part of the agenda at Gervais. « hide

Columbia Insider tips

Warning about Five Points

Five Points is a trendy neighborhood in Downtown Columbia and is a community within itself. Businesses, specialty shops, and cafes are numerous and it is a popular spot for the college crowd. Lately, however, there has been a complaint about the undesirable atmosphere after the sun goes down. Apparently too many open bars have attracted a few homeless beggars. Although steps are being taken to eliminate the problem, for now, visit Five Points in the daytime and find another part of Columbia to occupy your evening hours « hide

Warning about Prescott Manor and Ames Manor

There has been some concern about the neighborhoods housing Columbia’s Prescott Manor and Ames Manor. A recent spike in crime and drug activity should warrant visitors to not occupy these neighborhoods unnecessarily. « hide

Columbia nightlife

Cracker Jack’s

Cracker Jack’s casual, beach-type atmosphere offers a laid back night of fun. Chic DJ’s deliver a variety of music, but there is more to do than dance. This club also houses a full-service restaurant, large bar, and versatile game room. Older club goers usually enjoy Caroline Beach Shag Nights on Tuesday and Friday, but as the night wears on, the younger set filters in. Cracker Jack hosts the annual Southeast Bikini Competition which attracts hundreds of beach lovers each year. « hide

LeVelColumbia

LeVelColumbia, Columbia’s premier nightclub, will take your partying to a new level. It is the nightclub for the hottest music and the latest in fun. This club caters to all ages and all styles, with a special night for the ladies and another for those on a college budget. Though upbeat, LeVelColumbia is also upscale so please check the website for dress code before visiting « hide

Cheap Columbia Flights

These are the cheapest* flights to Columbia found by KAYAK users in the past 48 hours. Use the links to see if you can get a better flight deal.

From $239 Flights New York (NYC) - Columbia (CAE)
From $239 Flights New York (LGA) - Columbia (CAE)
From $268 Flights Westchester County (HPN) - Columbia (CAE)
From $351 Flights Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) - Columbia (CAE)
From $221 Flights Chicago (CHI) - Columbia (CAE)
From $244 Flights Washington (WAS) - Columbia (CAE)
From $475 Flights Houston (HOU) - Columbia (CAE)
From $276 Flights Philadelphia (PHL) - Columbia (CAE)
From $262 Flights New York (JFK) - Columbia (CAE)
From $371 Flights Los Angeles (LAX) - Columbia (CAE)