Consider yourself a craft beer lover? An outdoor adventurer? Or maybe you’re just finally trying to get that family road trip on the books that you’ve been talking about for months.
Enter: Columbia, SC — a quick ~3-hour drive away.
We rounded up a few sample itineraries (courtesy of Experience Columbia SC ), to help you plan your perfect weekend trip this spring (which locals say is the best season to visit).
Outdoor adventurers
Need a break from the hustle + bustle?
At Palmetto Outdoors , you can rent tubes for a laidback float down the Saluda River, or take a guided or self-guided kayak tour. Read: For adventurers who like a game plan but want the thrill of whitewater rapids.
Rather stick to dry land? Pop over to the Cayce Riverwalk Park + walk, jog, or bike down the 12-mile path that overlooks the Congaree River, or explore Congaree National Park, the largest intact expanse of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the Southeast.*
Family-friendly
Add this interactive art park in West Columbia to your family-friendly itinerary | Photo courtesy of Marquita Wright
Traveling with kiddos can be daunting even for the most well-prepared parent. Luckily, COLA comes jam-packed with family-friendly activities
like these at EdVenture Children’s Museum:
- The busy bee farm
- The neighborhood market
- The FLIGHT exhibit, where little ones can sit in the cockpit and experience the sensation of flying over Columbia 🛫
- Pro tip: The kids can climb Eddie (a 40-foot tall, 10-year-old-boy) to explore the human brain, heart + stomach
Bonus: EdVenture shares a parking lot with the South Carolina State Museum. With a digital planetarium, 4D interactive theater, and Boeing observatory deck, the whole fam will dig this spot.
Girls’ getaway
Cheers to dinner + drinks at Goat’s in Five Points | Photo courtesy of Sean Rayford
Kick off your girls’ weekend
with a late lunch at The Gourmet Shop before popping across the street for boutique shopping on Saluda Avenue. A few musts include:
- Wildflower
- Vestique
- Revente
Then head to Hunter-Gatherer Brewery at Curtiss-Wright Hangar (open at 4 p.m. on Fridays) for some craft beer or wine + afternoon snacks.
Freshen up at your homebase, Hotel Trundle (this boutique gem has an eclectic décor style that will have you swooning) before walking to the Vista district for drinks + dinner.
History buffs, craft beer connoisseurs, art lovers + more can find your ideal itineraries here .
Happy weekend-ing, Raleigh.*