Columbia Vacations

Columbia, South Carolina receives more than 300 days of sunshine annually, making this the perfect vacation destination for outdoor relaxation. The South Carolina State Museum is the largest in the southeast – a staggering 210,000 square feet! Combining several museums into a single structure, this amazing facility includes history, technology, natural history, science and art. The museum also contains a life-size scale replica of the Confederate Hunley, the first submarine to sink a ship in battle. The 701 Center for Contemporary Art is a creative gallery that features community artists and offers an artist residence program. Arsenal Hill is the highest point in the downtown area, offering panoramic views of antebellum neighborhoods. The self-guided tour features stops at the Phoenix Fire Company, Finlay Park, Palmetto Armory and Ironworks, South Carolina Governor’s Mansion, Matthew J. Perry Federal Courthouse, Saint Timothy’s Episcopal Church, South Carolina Memorial Garden, The Lace House, Ellington House, Shotgun House, Cornwell Tourist Home and the Hebrew Benevolent Society Cemetery. The Columbia Museum of Art features 25 galleries and highlights masterpieces by Samuel H. Kress, Sandro Botticelli, Claude Monet and Louis Comfort Tiffany. Kensington Mansion dates to 1854 and is a national historic and architectural treasure. Featuring fine furnishings that highlight the Victorian Period, tours of the grounds are available, which feature well-manicured lawns and gardens.