by Teresa Greenleaf The capital of South Carolina, named after explorer Christopher Columbus, is drenched in sunshine and southern charm. There are many interesting sites and cultural attractions such as the Columbia Museum of Art, the Columbia City Ballet Theater and even the world’s largest fire hydrant. Thanks to the good climate and sea nearby, the city’s restaurants offer the freshest delicacies.
We’ve put together 10 romantic things to do in Columbia, whether you’re looking for something festive or casual.
1. Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park
Let’s start our list of things to do in Columbia for couples with outdoor activities. Riverfront Park is an excellent place to get active with your beloved one. Kilometers of paved paths are ideal for long walks or bike rides. Besides, you can organize a full family workout there. The park has a whole area with free exercise equipment. The perfect mini-vacation is guaranteed.
Good for: Couples, Nature, Outdoor
Address: 312 Laurel St, Columbia, SC 29201-2234
Working hours: always
Phone: +1 803-733-8613
2. Villa Tronco Italian Restaurant
There is a restaurant visit among Columbia date ideas. Villa Tronco is the oldest Italian restaurant in Columbia and one of the oldest in South Carolina. This place is distinguished by the cozy, homely atmosphere of a country house. In the best Italian tradition, you will be served excellent food. We advise you to pay attention to the Parmesan chicken and the famous cheesecake of the owner Carmella, which is considered the best in the city.
Good for: Couples, Food
Address: 1213 Blanding St, Columbia, SC 29201-2815
Working hours: Tue-Fri 11 am – 3 pm & 5 pm – 10 pm, Sat 5 pm – 10 pm
Phone: +1 803-256-7677
More on https://www.villatronco.com/
3. Soda City
If you and your date are adventurous eaters, head to Soda City for great food, live music, and built-in talking points. Soda City welcomes indigenes and visitors throughout the whole year and offers a lot of entertainment activities. Meanwhile, it is a nice possibility to spend time with the person walking around and visiting different tourist traps. You will definitely be amused with the abundance of food, trinket browsing and hand-made gifts.
This is a very good option on a sunny day among things for couples to do in Columbia.
Good for: Couples, Food
Address: 1500 block of Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Working hours: Sat 9 am – 1 pm
More on https://sodacitysc.com/
4. Congaree National Park
If you’re an outdoorsy type, the next dating ideas in Columbia are for you. Congaree National Park is the largest deciduous forest in the southeastern United States. In such places, nature amazes with its beauty and splendor. The tranquil green of the forests and mountain peaks provide an amazing calmness.
There you can ride a bicycle, go hiking, or spend the afternoon relaxing by the stocked lake. Who knows, maybe some nice, fat rainbow trout will bite!
Good for: Couples, Outdoor, Nature
Address: 100 National Park Rd, Hopkins, SC 29061-8320
Working hours: Always
Phone: +1 803-776-4396
5. Saluda Riverwalk
Kayaking on the Saluda River is on the top of the list of fun dates in Columbia. Just imagine, you are sailing along the spectacular coastline, enjoying the views and pleasant company. Such a joint experience usually brings people very close and gives a lot of positive impressions.
An important tip: have breakfast before river rafting. Because it’s not only fun but also energy-consuming.
Good for: Couples, Sport, Nature
Address: Candi Lane, Columbia, SC
Working hours: always
More on https://www.facebook.com/Saluda-Riverwalk-447305122788868/
6. River Rat Brewery
Great beer is the catalyst that makes everything better: food, parties, conversation, and even date ideas Columbia has on offer. All year round, this brewery is the place to go for a real taste of delicious drinks and learn a lot about the culture of brewing.
They have several beers that they keep on tap all year round whilst also maintaining a wide choice of seasonal beers. The seasonal lineup is always over twenty strong and the variety of house beers has somewhat that will please everyone.
Good for: Couples, Beer
Address: 1231 Shop Rd, Columbia, SC 29201-4744
Working hours: Sun 10 am – 8 pm, Tue – Wed 12 pm – 9 pm, Thu 12 pm – 10 pm, Fri 12 pm – 11 pm, Sat 10 am – 11 pm
Phone: +1 803-724-5712
More on https://riverratbrewery.com/
7. Columbia Museum of Art
There is a museum visit among things to do in Columbia on a date on a rainy day. Columbia Museum of Art opened in 1950. This museum makes a special emphasis on young local artists. Besides, there are paintings by classical Renaissance masters, ancient Asian sculptures and modern canvases by artists such as Tatara Fire. If you have already studied all the constantly presented exhibits, then pay attention to the regularly changing thematic exhibitions.
Good for: Couples, Culture, Art
Address: Corner of Main and Hampton Sts, Columbia, SC
Working hours: Wed-Sun 10 am – 5 pm
Phone: +1 803-799-2810
More on https://www.columbiamuseum.org/
8. Good Life Cafe
Good Life Cafe is one of the romantic places in Columbia that offers a wide variety of vegan options. Fresh fruit juices, salads, burritos and hamburgers – here everyone can choose their own food to taste. Because their food is both healthy and flavorful, visitors are free to browse the extensive list of cold-pressed cocktails without feeling overly guilty.
Sit back and have a relaxed conversation.
Good for: Couples, Foodies
Address: 1614 Main St, Columbia, SC 29201-2860
Working hours: Sun 10 am – 3 pm, Mon-Sat 7 am – 8 pm
Phone: +1 803-726-2310
More on https://www.goodlifecafe.net/
9. South Carolina State Museum
Here come the next date ideas in Columbia. For a different kind of cultural date idea, head to the South Carolina State Museum. Tuesday is a special day here: besides extended hours they offer a discount on admission that day.
For added romance look at the stars and planets through a telescope in the observatory and make a wish for a shooting star.
Good for: Couples, Science
Address: 301 Gervais St, Columbia, SC 29201-3041
Working hours: Sun 12 pm – 5 pm, Mon 10 am – 5 pm, Tue 10 am – 8 pm, Wed – Fri 10 am – 5 pm, Sat 10 am – 6 pm
Phone: +1 803-898-4921
More on http://scmuseum.org/
10. Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden
Love nature and animals? Here you can manage to visit 2 spots at a time: the zoo and the botanical garden are located very close. This is a great opportunity to get acquainted with exotic animals from all over the world, and then stroll through the Rose Garden or look into the serene Asian Garden. Imagine, you can transfer your lover to Africa and let him/her see beautiful and unusual scenery that you have never seen in the USA.
Good for: Couples, Outdoor, Animal lovers
Address: 500 Wildlife Pkwy, Columbia, SC 29210-8014
Working hours: Sun-Sat 9 am – 5 pm
Phone: +1 803-779-8717
More on https://www.riverbanks.org/
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Rekindle your romance by planning fun things for couples to do in Columbia that bring you closer.
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