Sponsored Content

Spring Break destination: Road trip with the family to Columbia, SC

Located in the heart of SC, Columbia has more things for the whole family to do than hours to do them.

Sponsored by
A slideshow of families on a bike ride, at an aquarium, inside a cabin, and playing at a children's museum in Columbia, SC.

You’ll have no problem getting the kiddos here, but we can’t promise it will be easy to get them to leave after a fun-filled weekend.

Photos by Forrest Clonts + Marquita Wright

Spring Break is coming up, and summer isn’t far behind. Looking for a destination for a family vacation? We’ve got one that’s packed with history, culture, and indoor and outdoor activities — and it won’t break the bank.

Enter: Columbia, SC, a ~3.5-hour drive from RAL.

To make the planning easy, we’ve rounded up some of the top itinerary activities for you to choose from. Enjoy exploring, RAL.

  • History: Check out the South Carolina State Museum, EdVenture Children’s Museum, walking tours of Main Street, the Capital, and more.
  • Culture: You’ll want to plan a visit to the Columbia Museum of Art, enjoy the public art around the city, and maybe catch a family-friendly musical at Town Theatre or puppetry performance at Columbia Marionette Theatre.
  • Indoor and outdoor activities: Stack your schedule with a mix of family-friendly indoor activities and outdoor options to really get a feel for Soda City.

If you’re bringing your furry family member, you’ve got the pick of the litter when it comes to pet-friendly hotels. If you’d rather wake up to fresh air, pick from camping options, or opt for a bed-and-breakfast or full-service property.

Ready, set, stay in Soda City

More from RALtoday
The annual Great Backyard Bird Count attracts over a million bird lovers nationwide to help record the bird population — here’s how you can get involved in Raleigh.
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Don’t be caught empty-handed — use our guide to classic gifts fit for your sweetheart right here in Raleigh.
Dig into Raleigh’s must-try pizza shops including NC State hangouts, high-end Detroit-style pizza, and bagel shops moonlighting as pizzerias. Whatever style you prefer, there’s pizza in Raleigh for you.
Move aside pickleball, there’s a new racket sport in town.
Get your hats and mittens — it’s finally snow season in Raleigh. While the 919 isn’t known for its wintery weather, we’re holding out hope for some history-making snowfall soon.
The Super Bowl is right around the corner, and we’ve got five local sports bars to catch the big game at with everything from raffle prizes to a soup showdown.
Plan your next snowy adventure with these 10 resorts to ski, snowboard, and tube within five hours of Oak City.
The Olympics are nearly here, and there are plenty of Olympians with local ties, from NHL players to college students.
Raleighites can get around town and the greater area through GoRaleigh and GoTriangle. Learn how to ride the bus in Raleigh for public transportation through Raleigh + the greater Triangle.
Got a hot new fling? Hoping to spice things up with your longtime partner? We’re here to help plan your next date night in the 919.