Nestled approximately halfway between world-famous Charleston on the coast and up-and-coming Greenville in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, South Carolina's capital city is often overlooked as a holiday destination. But Columbia, the first capital named for Christopher Columbus and boasts that it was the first city in America, is bursting with southern charm, rich history, diverse nature and activities, vibrant art community, and a thriving university campus. Here are some fun things to do in Columbia SC!

1. Outdoor Art

One of the most fun things to do is to explore the downtown area and see how many interesting and quirky pieces of art you can find in the alleys, plazas, and on buildings, such as "Tunnel Vision" – the trompe l'oeil (trick the eye) mural.

Some favorite sculptures include "Busted Plug" – the world's largest (3-story) fire hydrant weighing 675,000 pounds, and "Neverbust Chain" – linking two large office buildings (without their permission, but now they love it!).

2. Congaree Park

Congaree Park has an old-growth forest which is among the tallest broad-leafed forests in the world, with more 130' – 160' tall trees than any other place in Eastern North America. That's taller than old-growth forests in Japan, the Himalayas, and Europe! Visitors can hike, kayak, canoe, and fish. One of the best features is the 2.4-mile Boardwalk Loop that winds over the swamp and meanders through the tall trees, fields of wildflowers, and past lakes.

3. Soda City Market

Every Saturday morning, a portion of Main Street is shut down to host the vibrant pedestrian market. Along with the fresh, multi-colored produce, visitors can buy handcrafted jewelry, pottery, and baked goods. Photo ops abound in Soda City Market, including street performers and local photography set-ups and props.

4. Artist Community

The Vista Guild features some of the most amazing talent in the Midlands, including glasswork, jewelry, painting, metalwork, sculpture, and pottery. The artists have all convened in one centralized community overlooking the Congaree River along Pendleton Street. The Guild puts on a festive open house once a year called Artista Vista where art lovers can do a gallery-crawl from studio to studio.

5. Riverwalk

What better place for a stroll than along the Congaree River in West Columbia? With the picturesque Gervais Bridge and the cityscape of Columbia as the backdrop, visitors can choose to walk along the wooden boardwalk, or inch closer to nature on the dirt path close to the bank. Along the way are picnic tables, a riverside amphitheater, and a canoe launch bay. At the south end, the Columbia Riverwalk connects with the Cayce Riverwalk for those seeking an extended hike.

6. Historic Mansions

Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens was built in 1818 as a private residence. The Antebellum home is one of Columbia's oldest remaining structures, once serving as a Union Army Headquarters during the Civil War and later as the Governor's Mansion. The property is open to the public as a historic site, having recently undergone a massive renovation to the building and grounds. The tour explores the lives of enslaved workers and their planter-class owners.

7. Gamecocks Football

During the fall season, the University of South Carolina stadium is the place to be.USC recently produced superstars like defensive linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (now with the NFL Houston Texans) and offensive running back Marcus Lattimore (career record for rushing touchdowns). Two popular and sellout games include Parents' Day and the Thanksgiving Day game a.k.a. the Carolina–Clemson rivalry and officially dubbed the Palmetto Bowl. Witness the "sandstorm" after a touchdown – thousands of small white towels twirled it in unison while the crowd chants "USC!"

8. State House Tours

The elegant Greek Revival capital building was established in 1851, taking over half a century to construct. The State House towers 180 feet high with its iconic patina copper dome a monumental landmark in the city. Free tours give visitors a get a sense of the complex state history, including five spots where Union cannonballs struck the exterior façade during the Civil War. The building was also the home to the United States Supreme Court until 1971.

9. Museums

The Columbia Museum of Art houses more than 25 galleries and a global collection covering 5,000 years of history. The museum contains permanent works by Claude Monet, Sandro Botticelli, Charles Willson Peale and Duncan Phyfe, but also has exciting and continually changing topical exhibits.

For families, EdVenture Children's Museum boasts eight galleries spanning 92,000 square feet with many hands-on exhibits, afterschool programming, and camps to make learning fun.

10. Nickelodeon Theater

Serving up a variety of first-run Indie, retro, and documentary films, as well as specially-curated series, and one-off screenings of films relevant to their community, the "Nick" prides itself as being the major cultural anchor on Main Street. The theater was founded in 1979 by University of South Carolina students. The Nick also hosts the Indie Grits Film Festival, which has been named as one of the 20 coolest film festivals in the world.

11. Crack

Appropriately named, this luscious dessert will have you hooked with the first bit. This little piece of heaven is made of crust, warm chocolate, powdered sugar and other secret ingredients. It's a frequent special, served only at lunch at the Spotted Salamander.

Disclosure: The author was honored to be the guest of Lake Murray Country Tourism during her stay in Columbia, but as always, the opinions, reviews, and experiences are her own.