Come to Columbia—Where Friendliness Flows
Economy Alert! You won't have to experience pain at the pump in this low gas price city.
Columbia, South Carolina is truly one of the most charming places you’ll ever find. Located in the center of South Carolina, Columbia is the state’s capital. And a beautiful capital it is.
Nicknamed the Palmetto state for its proliferation of the pretty trees, the city of Columbia has also been named one of “America’s Most Livable Communities” by the Partnership for Livable Communities.
In a recent branding effort, research identified "friendliness" as the main attribute used to describe the “Columbia Riverbanks Region–Where Friendliness Flows.”
"Livable" and "friendly" are exactly the attributes that brought transplant Sandi Owen to Columbia, a place she now affectionately calls home.
“As an Army dependent, I moved 20 times in 16 years, lived all over the continental United States as well as overseas—after living in Columbia for 16 months I decided to purchase my own home and stay a while,” Owen said.
In fact she liked the city so much she joined the Convention, Sports and Tourism Authority as a marketing manager to represent her beloved city.
The cost of living in South Carolina is “extremely reasonable” according to Owen and the quality attractions are amazing. You'll want to check out these hot spots:
- The Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden is a state and national award-winning zoo and leads the way in a number of zoological projects such as toucan breeding.
- The Columbia Museum of Fine Art recently loaned a painting to the Vatican in Rome, Italy.
- The Congaree National Park is the newest national park in the nation and has interesting activities like evening owl prowls.
- An outdoor production of Sleepy Hollow is performed at the West Columbia amphitheater on the riverfront during October.
- Lake Murray is just a few minutes from downtown—spanning 50 acres, it has one of the largest purple martin nesting habitats anywhere.
Golfers will get their share of tee times on the 20 resort-quality courses in the region. Harbison State Forest has great trails for mountain biking. The Congaree River runs along the downtown area where kayakers, canoers,and fishermen are often seen enjoying the water.
The weather is so nice that residents and visitors alike frequently enjoy free outdoor concerts, free seasonal outdoor marketplaces and festivals, which are held throughout the city.
South Carolina State Museum and EdVenture Children’s museum always have something exciting going on, Columbia has an extensive fine and performing arts community, including some of the most unique offerings. You can take in performances at a marionette theater or visit the “Trust Us Theater,” which has rows of overstuffed recliners–just like you might have in your living room at home. The recliners are positioned behind rows of wooden tables where you put your popcorn and drinks as you enjoy the evening’s performance.
And with the University of South Carolina right downtown, there are always sporting events to attend. Great nightlife options abound with all kinds of live music and dancing. There are many great places to eat, from national chains to quaint, locally owned bistros and fine dining establishments.
Owen said it’s hard to imagine anyone not being able to find things to do in Columbia.
“From the sports, the great weather, all the historic significance of this area, the dining and shopping and entertainment, the attractions – I know I’ll have something fun and interesting to do every weekend for years!”
City Resources
City of Columbia
This is the official Web site of the City of Columbia, South Carolina. Just about everything you’d need or want to know about the city is all right here.
Columbia, A to Z
Columbia A-to-Z is a very expansive site that leaves no stone unturned in events and happenings, facts and fun stuff. Check it out!
The State
Covers headlines, events, sports, rentals, real estate, and more. It is Columbia online daily.
SCIway
The largest directory of South Carolina information on the Internet—it is South Carolina’s Front Door.
South Carolina State Parks
State parks are gateways to South Carolina’s natural, cultural and recreational destinations and they offer lots of venues from which to enjoy them.
Campgrounds
There are numerous camping areas in the Columbia, South Carolina area.
South Carolina State Trails
South Carolina offers hundreds of scenic trails.
Columbia Recreation and Sports OrganizationsWhether you enjoy running, skiing, sailing or playing team sports, Columbia has something for everyone.
Columbia Museum of Art
The Columbia Museum of Art seeks to inspire, educate and enrich the lives of the community, South Carolinians, tourists and visitors. They collect and preserve fine and decorative art from around the world, exhibiting highly regarded work from a broad range of cultures is collected and preserved by the museum.
Columbia Fire Department Museum
One of the most interesting museums in the city, it educates the public about the importance of the Columbia Fire Department and the professional men and women within its service.
J. Drake Edens Library
Located at the center of the Columbia College campus, the J. Drake Edens Library provides a broad collection of print materials, electronic resources, and media that supports the College's liberal arts curriculum and professional programs. Because the library serves a women's college, the collection also focuses on issues and concerns affecting women.
© 2004. AMN Healthcare, Inc. All Rights Reserved.