Whether you are looking to stay close to the city or entertain the kids, you can't go wrong with a visit to Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens. A full service facility, the Zoo is a great combination of indoor and outdoor exhibits as well as stunning gardens just over the bridge. Indoor exhibits provide a place to warm up, and a cup of hot-coco from one of the local food vendors stationed at the main entrance guarantees warm hands while you check out the big cats! visit their website for a full list of winter activities, and things to do year round.

If culture is what your after, the downtown district offers a wealth of ways to inundate yourself with Columbia traditions. One of those traditions is the beloved Soda City Artisans Market.

This multi-block outdoor festival runs from 9 am to 2 pm every Saturday and has dozens of food vendors, local artists from all over the state. There is live music scattered through the market in the form of buskers, DJ's and the occasional full stage band and much more.

Right in the heart of downtown there are also plenty of restaurants and coffee shops to pop into along the way if you need to warm up or just want to sit down indoors for a bite to eat.

A fantastic collection of permanent and traveling exhibits can be found at the Columbia Museum of art. Installations in Print Making, Civil Liberties, and New York contemporaries can be found along side ancient works in sculpture, batik and more.

Located on Main Street in downtown Columbia, this is a perfect stop before dinner at Bourbon, Halls Chophouse, or any of the other excellent restaurants to be found in this highly walkable portion of the city.

Cold not an issue? Take a walk on the constantly expanding river walks of Columbia! The Canal and Riverfront Park is the downtown portion of our river district, a 3 mile point to point paved walkway that offers wonderful views of the Congaree river.

Its sister Riverwalk's the Saluda and The Cayce Amphitheater can be found only a short drive away and offer longer distances and beautiful riverside views both from the river banks and from elevated boardwalks that show off the historic bridges and small rapids that surround the city.

Staying longer than a day? If you are interested in a more unique and diverse experience, the nightlife in downtown is for you. Whether you want a cozy cocktail at Bourbon, to take in the funky alternative scenes at Art Bar or The Dragon Room, or to have an elevated wine experience at Lula Drakes the city center has got something for you. Columbia isn't all food and drink though! You can find amazing live performances at The Township Auditorium, The Senate, and the Koger Center all year round, plus tons of local artists in every corner of the city.