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Columbia, South Carolina: the capital of Southern hospitality

You'd be hard pressed to find a more hospitable and welcoming city than Columbia, South Carolina. As the state capital, Columbia combines all the grace of a rich past with the vibrancy of an emerging modernity. Whether your vacation itinerary involves visiting places of historical importance, browsing the arts, participating in sports events or attending a festival, Columbia has it all in abundance.

The city of Columbia was one of the first planned cities in the United States and is often cited for its high quality of life offerings. The city boasts many cultural amenities, parks and recreational features and is one of the best destinations in the United States for kayak and canoe enthusiasts, being situated near the confluence of the Rivers Broad and Saluda, forming the Congaree River.

Columbia is also well known for its large number of independent theatre groups and, on almost any night, visitors and residents can enjoy a musical, ballet or theatrical performance. The Koger Centre for the Arts is part of the University of South Carolina and presents around 535 seasonal performances throughout the year. Alternatively, pay a visit to the Columbia Marionette Theatre - one of only ten marionette theatres in the United States, or catch the South Carolina Shakespeare Company as they perform one of the English Bard's classic works in Finlay Park.

For cultural enthusiasts, the Columbia Museum of Art houses American and European works of art that range from the early Renaissance to modern day, while the South Carolina State Museum provides hands-on fun and learning on each of its four floors. Furthermore, this museum proudly carries the title of the Southeast's largest and most comprehensive museum, with exhibits focussing on the region's art, history, natural history, science and technology.

Kids will love EdVenture, the newest museum in Columbia which is dedicated to children's learning. The museum showpiece is Eddie, a 40foot tall, 17.5 ton child that can be climbed on and through by children and adults alike. With a range of other exhibits on show, including Body Works, World of Work, Mission Imagination and My Backyard, parents will find it hard to drag their young ones away when its time to move on.

Columbia is also home to one of the United States' best zoos - the Riverbanks Zoo. Spread across 170 acres along the Saluda River, the Zoo is South Carolina's largest gated attraction, averaging 850,000 visitors each year. The zoo has over 3,000 animals with extensive collections of mammals, birds, reptiles and fish. Riverbanks Zoo also has a large botanical garden with more than 4,200 species of native and exotic plants on display.

Columbia holds numerous festivals throughout the year, which cater for a wide array of interests. The South Carolina State Fair is held annually in October with rides, food and games galore, and features arts, crafts, flora, and livestock. The Riverfest Celebration is held in early spring and includes a 5km River Run, musical entertainment, arts and crafts and the obligatory food vendors. Meanwhile, the Main Street Jazz Festival brings world-renowned performers to the city each spring.

For a change of pace, Columbia also has a number of parks where you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city environs and enjoy some serene tranquillity. The scene of many events, Finlay Park, in the city's downtown offers a green oasis in contrast to the glass, concrete and asphalt surroundings of its urban environment. Other parks of note include Memorial Park, Granby Park, Martin Luther King Jr. Park and Congaree National Park, which stretches across 22,200 acres and is an international biosphere reserve.

If a vacation to Columbia, South Carolina appeals to you, there is a vast choice of hotels in Columbia to suit a range of budgets, where you can explore the city and experience what makes Columbia tick. With so much going on and with a warm welcome assured, there's never been a better time to plan a vacation to the "capital of Southern hospitality".

Article Source: Free Content Articles Directory

Andrew Regan is a freelance online journalist.

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