Planning a trip to Columbia, South Carolina? We’re sharing our favorite family activities!

Remember our trip home for the holidays this year? We flew across the country and spent about a week in Columbia, South Carolina where my husband grew up.  While we were there, I got a TON of messages.  A lot of you live in the South, and wanted to know our favorite things to do with kids in Columbia, SC.  My goal while we were there? Family friendly destinations that were also easy in cold weather ( I know, us Southern Californians clearly need to toughen up a little…..).  We found some REALLY fun things to do……..and had a total blast!

Fun Activities for Kids in Columbia South Carolina

Riverbanks Zoo: While this is definitely an outdoor activity, the Riverbanks Zoo has a ton of indoor exhibits…..so it’s perfect on cooler days to have both inside and outside options.  It’s one of the nicest zoos I’ve ever seen, clean and spacious.  They do a wonderful job of teaching guests about animal rescue and advocating for animal releases.  We fed giraffes, loved the indoor aquarium, and had a BLAST watching the sea lion training session in their new exhibit.  Parking is plentiful, and the Tuskers Cafe had GREAT food (with a view of the zebras and indoor seating for colder days).

EdVenture Children’s Museum: This was our fourth time visiting the EdVenture Children’s Museum, and I’m even more in love with it now that Lydia is a little older.  This hands-on museum has a TON of cool exhibits that kids will love.  From a mini-library, to a farm area, to a REAL fire truck that kids can play inside of…..EdVenture is worth every penny! It PERFECT for a rainy or super cold day inside!

South Carolina State Museum: Looking for activities for younger kids? The South Carolina State Museum has a great play area with legos and more for younger kids and REALLY cool planetarium for older ones!  They even have a 4D theatre so you can squeeze in some down time with a movie!  It’s perfect for an indoor morning or afternoon.  

Are you planning any family vacations?  If so, be sure to check out our city guides to Santa Monica, San Diego, Monterey, Disneyland and Los Angeles!

And if you have a friend  who would love learning about the BEST THINGS TO DO IN COLUMBIA SC WITH KIDS…..then don’t forget to use the buttons below to share this post on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest so that she can plan the best family vacation!