Nestled in the Main Street district, the Columbia Museum of Art brings vibrant energy and inspiration to the capital city through its internationally renowned collection and exhibitions. This 21st-century museum believes that art is meant to be experienced, not just gazed upon, and more than 150,000 art lovers make their way to the CMA each year to experience the highly awarded museum for themselves.

$10 general admission, $5 for youth (7-18), Free for children under 6

Explore your inner wild child at Riverbanks, hands-down one of the nation’s prettiest zoos, and be swooped into the natural world on a campus easily maneuverable for even your youngest partygoer.

The 170-acre oasis for animals, plants and visitors alike is nestled along the banks of the Lower Saluda River and home to 2,000 animals in habitat as well as an ever-growing State Botanical Garden.

The zoo is open every day, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Columbia's Natural History museum, The South Carolina State Museum, is located along the banks of the beautiful Congaree River in downtown Columbia. The museum offers exhibits of South Carolina Art, Natural History, Science and Technology, as well as Cultural History.

Columbia’s award-winning children’s museum is home to a very special ambassador: Eddie is the world’s largest 10-year old and can be traversed inside and out in the sun filled atrium of this multi-story exploratorium (his heart alone weighs 500+ pounds and can hold a family of four).

Climb up Eddie’s vertebrae and slide down his digestive tract exploring all 40-feet and 35,000 pounds of this prototypical South Carolina child with the smile that’s three feet wide. And, be prepared for his physiologically accurate and delightfully realistic sound “effects.”

Congaree National Park offers hiking, primitive camping, bird watching, picnicking, canoeing, kayaking, nature study, and rangers and volunteers conduct interpretive walks and talks throughout the year. The 26,000 acre National Park protects the largest intact tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the United States. The park contains some of the tallest trees in Eastern North America with one of the highest canopies in the world and broad bio-diversity. The park is recognized as International Biosphere Reserve, federally designated Wilderness Area, and Globally Important Bird Area.

The State House is Victoria's place of work! You can take a Self-Guided tour of the State House Grounds by picking up a tour brochure at the Columbia Regional Visitors Center. Free guided and self-guided tours are available of the State House Monday through Friday. Guided tours are also available the first Saturday of each month. Tours begin on Saturdays at 9:30 am and continue each hour on the half hour with the last tour beginning at 3:30, excluding the 12:30 time slot. Call (803) 734-2430 to make your reservation for groups of more than 10 people.

The Nickelodeon is Sean and Victoria's favorite movie theater! The Nick is the only nonprofit art-house theater in South Carolina, located on Columbia’s Main Street. This theater strives to be a center for critical dialogue, anchored by the presentation of films that showcase the diversity, challenges, joy, and aspirations of its community.

Sean and Victoria love to spend a lovely Fall Saturday morning at Soda City Market, which is a producer-only market — vendors must make or grow their own products . Everything sold at the market is unique, hand crafted, and produced in the Southeast.

Soda City Market is Columbia’s weekly Main Street event inspired by traditional European street markets. Open every Saturday morning 9 a.m. –1 p.m., year-round, rain or shine!

One of Victoria and Sean's favorite cafés, smallSUGAR is an all-day café located in the City Market Development in the Vista. They offer counter service for take-away beverages, pastries, and lunch and light table-service for guests dining in.

The pastry menu features a selection of breads, croissants, cookies, danishes, macarons, and rotating seasonal pastries. Sean and Victoria recommend the chai latte and the avocado tartine!

Located in Five Points, the Café serves brunch and lunch seven days a week. They offer great indoor and outdoor seating. Choose from house-made salads, sandwiches, and a variety of Pasta Salads, Pimento Cheese, and more. Their selection of paninis is grilled to order. Wraps, cheese plates, charcuterie boards, and more will keep you coming back to try it all!

Drip is a coffee shop and café, located in Five Points, that serves delicious pour-over coffee, breakfast, and lunch. Sean and Victoria recommend their sugar and spice latte and their egg and brie biscuit topped with cherry jam!

If you're looking for a cozy dinner spot, Victoria and Sean recommend Pho Viet, located in Five Points. Pho Viet serves pho, rice dishes, and other traditional Vietnamese cuisine. We recommend the #31, vegetable pho with yellow noodles!

If you're looking for a great local burger place, Pawley's has lots of unique burger selections, as well as vegetarian and vegan options. They offer indoor and outdoor seating on their porch. Sean and I recommend the veggie burger and the sweet potato fries dusted in cinnamon sugar.