Your dog is a part of the family—shouldn’t they get to enjoy a getaway too? In Columbia, SC, you’ll find a vibrant city with a gritty spirit in the midst of surrounding natural beauty, with pet-friendly activities and amenities to boot. Pack a bag and grab the leash, because the heart of SC has a fun-filled weekend in store for you and your pet.
Stay close to all the action and make Graduate Columbia, located near the University of South Carolina, your home away from home for the weekend. Kick back and relax with your pup on an outdoor patio like Jake’s Bar & Grill in Five Points for drinks and small bites. Here, you can order a beer on tap while your furry friend runs and mingles with the locals (local dogs, that is). On Saturdays you can explore Soda City Market, which features the most creative, local, and delicious food that the Midlands has to offer, smack-dab in the middle of Main Street. This producer-only market is where you’ll find locals browsing more than 100 vendors with their four-legged friends, and you can soak up all of the tastes and cultures on tap here in the capital city.
If you’re looking for outdoor adventure, you’ll want to take a trip to Congaree National Park, South’s Carolina’s only national park and largest intact tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the U.S. Whether you’re meandering along the boardwalk or giving yourself a bit more of a challenge, a day hiking with your dog and taking in the fresh air is one you won’t soon forget. There are also plenty of trails to explore around the city with the Three Rivers Greenway. This 15.5 mile (and growing) riverfront trail system that spans across three cities in the Columbia region follows the Broad, Saluda, and Congaree rivers and is your go-to network for fun in the outdoors.
Consider yourself a craft-beer connoisseur? Take a self-guided brewery tour! Your pup can take part in the fun at spots like Columbia Craft, Steel Hands Brewing in Cayce, and Savage Craft Ale Works in West Columbia. You’ll appreciate the wide selection of brews, and your furry friend will appreciate the patios and pet-friendly atmospheres.
However you and pup like to spend a weekend escape, you’ll find it here in Columbia, SC. Get inspired by the possibilities that await you and plan your trip at ExperienceColumbiaSC.com.
