REGIONAL TALKING POINTS

Elevator Pitch

In the heart of South Carolina, tradition and tomorrow pair perfectly in the state’s capital city. With evidence of renewal everywhere, Columbia SC is the real Southern Hot spot that leaves you looking forward to what’s next.

Longer Destination Description

In the heart of South Carolina, tradition and tomorrow pair perfectly in Columbia. It’s a modern city where stately buildings buzz with new businesses, and centuries-old sites give rise to fresh perspectives. It’s a creative hub that’s fed by university and capital city communities – all this in the midst of surrounding natural beauty. With dynamite shopping, food and tons to see and do year round, it’s the real Southern hot spot that will leave you looking forward to what’s next.

Longest Destination Description

In the heart of South Carolina, tradition and tomorrow pair perfectly in Columbia. It’s a modern city where stately buildings buzz with new businesses, and centuries-old sites give rise to fresh perspectives. It’s got all the gracious charm you’d expect from a Southern destination – nothing saccharine, just good old-fashioned kindness. As home to both the state’s capital and its largest university, it’s a vibrant city and creative hub that’s bursting with big ideas, forward thinkers and modern attitudes. With dynamite shopping, food and tons to see and do year round, it’s the real Southern hot spot. It doesn’t take long to get from the middle of town to what seems like the middle of nowhere with the Saluda, Broad and Congaree Rivers running right through town. Yet it’s manageable without the headaches and hassles common to many other larger cities. With evidence of renewal everywhere, Columbia SC will leave you looking forward to what’s next.

Bragging Points

Experience Columbia SC was proud to contribute to a group discussion with community leaders facilitated by MBLG (Midlands Business Leadership Group) about what makes our community so special. You can find the talking points here.

Content Pillars

Real Southern

These are modern times, y’all, and Columbia SC is redefining Southern for a new era. Proud home of the State House and USC, Columbia also plays host to the annual Indie Grits Festival and public art that transforms humdrum spaces into unexpected places. Come as you are, and discover all that makes it a real hot spot. We’ll be waiting with a glass of sweet tea, unless of course you’d prefer something barrel-aged or bacon-infused. 

Manageable Urban

With several distinct shopping districts and a recently revitalized downtown, tons of new shops, restaurants and other thriving businesses mix in amidst old favorites like The Nickelodeon, Mast General Store and King’s Jewelers. The best part? Columbia SC grants you front row access to all of this with affordable prices, manageable traffic, lots of parking and walkable districts, too. 

Creative, Unexpected Energy

From artists and musicians to web developers and tech luminaries, many who work in creative industries choose to call Columbia SC home. Their innovation and imaginative spirit weave a progressive strand through the region’s otherwise quaint, traditional culture. The Nickelodeon Theatre, South Carolina’s only non-profit art house cinema, is a treasured gem in the heart of the city that offers a mix of independent films, media education programs and curated series. More than 200 pieces of public art dapple the region bringing surprise and delight to all who discover them.

Hot Spot for All Ages

With a never-ending roster of live music events, festivals and sporting events (Go Gamecocks!), it’s hard to be bored in Columbia SC. You can discover something new for every day of the year with Soda City Market on Saturday mornings, First Thursdays on Main, Indie Grits in April, and the Gervais Street Bridge Dinner in October. Or explore the capital city bite by bite with Columbia Food Tours. In Columbia SC, there are more things to do than there are hours to do them. 

Fresh Perspectives, Intellectual Diversity

What do you get when you douse a thriving metropolis with an annual influx of college students and legislators? A vibrant city that’s bursting with big ideas, forward thinkers and modern attitudes. Columbia SC is home to a host of initiatives committed to fostering future-forward economic development and entrepreneurship. 

City Meets Nature

Columbia SC lies at the confluence of the Saluda and Broad Rivers which merge right in town to form the Congaree. The region is flush with regional parks and opportunities for outdoor adventures. And with so many trails, gardens and Lake Murray nearby, it doesn’t take long to get from the middle of town to what seems like the middle of nowhere. Escape the bustling city and get lost in your thoughts amidst fresh air, cool waters and old growth hardwood forest in next to no time flat.