Columbia one of 4 SC places ranked as best Southern weekend getaways by Country Living magazine
Columbia made Country Living’s top 10 best Southern weekend getaways, coming in at No. 10 and beating out perennial list favorite Greenville (13), Lake Murray (18) and Seabrook Island (24).
The magazine listed 30 places to consider spending a weekend instead of Charleston and Nashville.
“Charleston and Nashville are fun, but it’s time to head somewhere new,” the headline said.
About Columbia, the magazine said, “Pulsing with a vibrant, artsy energy, downtown Columbia is sprinkled with enough bakeries, boutiques, restaurants and coffee shops to set the backdrop for RGMs (Really Good Memories).”
The magazine said Columbia has a “Mayberry-esque” quality.
Recommendations included staying at the Inn at USC, “where you can spend hours relaxing on the wide wrap-around porch,” Hunter-Gatherer Brewery and Alehouse, Old Mill Antique Mall in West Columbia, and Cafe Strudel.
The magazine said of Lake Murray, “Many people don’t know there’s 500 miles of undisturbed shoreline less than a half-hour drive outside of downtown Columbia. Many people are missing out.”
They called the lake an “idyllic getaway” and the state’s best-kept secret.
“You’ll find pristine views, hidden coves, and a glassy, peaceful lake,” the magazine said.
Highlighted were River Runner, Brickhouse Campground, The Rusty Anchor and Newberry Manor.
About Greenville, the magazine suggested boozy milkshakes at Grill Marks and a number of other restaurants such as Sidewall Pizza, Biscuit Head and The Anchorage. Falls Park and M.Judson Booksellers and Storytellers were highlighted, too.
Seabrook Island is a “quiet, laid-back sanctuary,” rife with the opportunity to beachcomb, watch dolphins, go crabbing, play pickleball or ride horses.
They suggested Water Dog for a stand-up paddleboarding tour.
“ If you’re feeling less-than-ambitious, try lazing around at your villa or townhouse rental (complete with ocean or tidal creek views),” the magazine said, before recommending “a night out on the town in Uber-able Charleston.”
Other areas in the top 10 were No. 1 Danville, Kentucky; followed by Hot Springs, Arkansas; Flat Rock, North Carolina; Bardstown, Kentucky; Bay St. Louis, Mississippi; Blowing Rock, North Carolina; Bowling Green, Kentucky; Charlottesville, Virginia and Islamorada, Florida.
