Columbia (South Carolina)：A Historical City that Is Hot Spot for Heritage-Filled Tourist Attraction Sites

Columbia is the capital city of the South Carolina and is located at the Saluda River and the Broad River. It is popular as the home to the University of the South Carolina, top-ranked and the largest in the state. It offers many see and do exciting opportunities for sightseeing in Columbus. Explore the magnificent Columbia Museum of art, take a walk along the RiverFront park and see the historical South Carolina Military Museum. See the top ten tourist attraction site that will leave mesmerized.

1. Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden

Opened in 1974, Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden tourist attraction in Columbus covers a 170-acre zoo and a splendid garden positioned along the beautiful Lower Saluda River. The zoo is recognized as a home to more than one thousand animals that are kept in separate sections and is a from all the over the world. Explore, connect and interact with animals that have diabetes such as baboon, touch a giraffe and watch the lions, cheetah, tiger, and koalas as they explore the zoo. Take a walk along the colorful and beautiful botanical gardens that support the life of more than two hundred flowers from different specials. Have fun and enjoy the exclusive games and engaging computer to assist you to learn about this great botanical garden and zoo when on a sightseeing tour.

2. Columbia Museum of Art

A visit to this beautiful Columbia Museum of Art will give you an opportunity to see vast collections that are more than art. It is ranked as one of the top Columbia must-see tourist attraction in Columbia site due to its stunning world-class permanent collections of cultural artifacts. Also, shows vast and unique European, Asian, Modern, Contemporary, American and Vogel collections. Find the famous Renaissance and Baroque art issued by the Samuel H.Kress foundation. It hosts many exhibitions, block parties, concerts, and paintings all fit for kids and adults. It is a place to find people from all works of life as it is thriving social hub of the community in Columbia and it is open throughout the year.

3. Columbia Canal ＆ Riverfront Park

The Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park is the most famous park in Columbia for jogging and bike riding trails that are two and a half miles long at the beautiful broad River banks. Known for the serene environment to relax, hike and stroll through the beautiful trees as you watch birds along the river bend. The Columbia waterworks place is the perfect place to learn the history of Columbia while in the park. Catch the best music from great concerts from the RiverFest and GreekFest that performs seasonally. Participate in activities such as boat riding, fishing and swimming in the Riverfront Park.

4. South Carolina State Museum

The South Carolina State Museum is a fun world located on the banks of the River Congaree in Downtown Columbia. It has four floors of fabulous and spectacular permanent and temporary exhibits that include an observatory to see the preservations, a planetarium showing the planets and the outstanding 4D interactive theatre. It contains almost 70,000 artifacts making a paradise to enjoy and have fun learning South Carolina art, nature, science, and technology history. The kids and adults will be mesmerized with the 3D and 4D movies accompanied with other fun and enjoyment activities while watching. It remains open for exceptional services during sightseeing throughout the year.

5. South Carolina Military Museum

The South Carolina Military Museum is dedicated towards the honor of the national guards as citizens soldiers that contribute immensely to the country. It is largest of its kind, and since the militia was founded in 1670, the museum highlights the history of Columbus and especially South Carolina. It brings to date their past through showing collection of extensive exhibits, displays, and artifacts. In this excellent tourist attraction site, visitors have a chance to see and touch actual firearms, weapons, armored fighting vehicles, and even artillery pieces. You get to learn how the different weapons were made during sightseeing and also how they were distributed during the war. See the gallery containing the pictures of the soldiers who dedicated their lives to fighting. It is open all days in a year.

6. Harbison State Forest

The Harbison State Forest is an intriguing place positioned just nine miles from Columbia center. It covers an area of 2,137 acres of land with more than thirty miles of trails and pathways which are welcoming for hikers, bikers, and joggers. Get to enjoy the densely populated pines and hardwoods across beautiful and quiet streams when you go for hiking. The forest has undergone a lot of maintenance to support recreational and education programs which makes this place a must-see paradise. Get the thrilling action of the forest demonstrations such as burning and thinning, machinery planting and harvesting. It is a beautiful place with unique species of birds and thus a lovely sightseeing place for birdwatchers.

7. Governor's Mansion, Columbia, South Carolina

The Governor's Mansion is a tourist attraction paradise of a kind in Columbia; South Carolina designed and built in the nine-acre nicely manicured land. It does not only serve as home to the governor but also a significant public recreational place. The rooms in the mansion contain treasures used by the former governors which include gorgeous china antique furniture, costly original paintings and valuable historical documents all meant to display the heritage and rich history of Columbus South Carolina. Get the opportunity to meet the famous international dignitaries in this mansion as you relax in a beautiful environment and enjoy the unique and special hospitality offered at this incredible mansion. The governor’s mansion is open to all the public throughout the year.

8. EdVenture Children's Museum

The best place to hang out with kids and parents during a sightseeing tour in Columbus is EdVenture Children's Museum which is most extensive in the southern United States. Kids get to enjoy having fun with Eddie who is 40 feet tall and who weighs 17.5 tons. He is popular as the biggest child in the universe. When children come to visit they the get a chance to climb all over Eddie and can even get swallowed and move through the internal organs like “stomach, intestines, and spine.” Children are fascinated by Eddie as they slide inside him and giving them a fun way to learn about the anatomy and physiology of human body. The museum is open on weekdays.

9. Founders Park

The Founder's park was previously popularly known as the Carolina stadium positioned at the river banks of Congaree River. It is an iconic facility built on world-class art and architectural design. It hosts famous games such as college baseball, and it is home to the Gamecocks baseball team. It is a great tourist attraction site due to thrilling action on all season and always read to host fantastic entertainment. See the best kid’s festivals and music live performance from a famous artist. It prides itself on a top field that meets international standards and receiving a rating of 5 in seven categories. It is open all the year and hosting different events.

10. Hampton-Preston Mansion ＆ Gardens

Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens is one of the Columbia’s oldest historic house located on the four acres in the middle of the city. This fantastic tourist attraction site features a structure and extensive garden that have been designed and natured to show the antebellum era. The gardens cover four acres of land and contain beautiful and unique species native plants and flowers from around the globe. Get to walk through this colorful garden that will make you feel in a paradise as you take photos. Inside the mansion, you will be shocked by the collection of the remarkable exhibits of the slavery and documents of evolution from 1818 up to date. It opens from Tuesday to Saturday.

◎ Closing

Get to experience lifetime experience in Columbus through visiting its gorgeous place that will make you come back again. The world-class art facility will give you an opportunity to experience the fantastic tourist attraction and as well connect with nature in the parks and museum as you have fun learning about the tremendous history of Columbus.