There are so many great places to explore within a short drive from Columbia, South Carolina. Check out these fun day trips this weekend!
- Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge
Only two hours southeast of Columbia is the fantastic Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge and its beautiful Boneyard Beach. The refuge has an avian sanctuary that spreads over 66,000 acres where you can spot 277 different bird species that call this refuge home. From the beach, you can sometimes see Loggerhead turtles. You can also explore the park’s two different lighthouses which offer stunning views along the coastline. The park is only accessible by ferry.
- Walhalla
Drive about two and a half hours northwest of Columbia, and you’ll discover the small town of Walhalla, South Carolina. If you want to explore the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains, this is where you want to start your day.
From Walhalla, you can join hiking or biking trails that will lead you to waterfalls, past gorges, through forests, and along rivers. The mountains are so accessible from here and it’s also a wonderful place to head to see the fall foliage in October and November.
- Parris Island
Parris Island is located in Beaufort and is roughly two and a half hours south of Columbia. It is packed with history and beauty that is well worth a day trip. The island itself is best known now as a Marine Corps training facility, but it is open to the public to explore
The history of Parris Island is long. It starts with the Native Americans and moves onto the arrival of the French in 1562. The Spanish came to the area for a brief time and the island also played a large role in the Spanish-American war. Be sure to head to the museum to learn all about the island’s history and the efforts of the Marines.
- Camden
This historic town is only 45 minutes from downtown Columbia, making it a fantastic spot for a day trip. Camden was founded in 1732 by decree by King George II, making it South Carolina’s oldest inland town.
While you’re in town, check out the Camden Revolutionary War site. It’s an open-air museum where you can learn about the American Revolutionary War. The site was a major supply post for the British during the war. You can read different plaques located around the park as well as see some buildings which have been reconstructed to look as they did during the Revolutionary War.
While in Camden, you can also have a nice walk through Goodale State Park, which has a historical mill pond and a 140-acre lake where you can go kayaking or canoeing. Horse racing fanatics will love the Steeplechase Museum in Camden with memorabilia and information about the sport’s rise in American culture.
Whether you’re looking for an educational day trip that is packed with history and fascinating sites or you’re more interested in getting outside and exploring the natural beauty of South Carolina, you’ll find it all within a few hours of downtown Columbia.
“Garris Landing, Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge” by Todd Van Hoosear, licensed via CC BY-SA 2.0
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