Explore West Columbia & Columbia

Our favorite places to eat, play and explore, most of them 15 minutes or less from your stay.

Drive times are approximate. Hours change, so please check each place's website before you go.

🧭 Plan Your Trip

Fort Jackson graduation: The base is about 20–30 minutes away. Visitors 18 and older need a visitor pass. Apply online at pass.aie.army.mil before you come, and bring the physical photo ID you applied with. Gates 2 and 4 are recommended. See the Fort Jackson Family Day & Graduation guide.
Gamecock game day: Williams-Brice Stadium (football) and Colonial Life Arena (basketball and concerts) are each about 15 minutes away. Allow extra time on game days.
Families with kids: Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, EdVenture Children's Museum and the SC State Museum are each 10–15 minutes away.
Working or visiting nearby: Lexington Medical Center is a few minutes away, and the University of South Carolina is about 15 minutes.

Café Strudel: Brunch favorite known for its "hangover hashbrowns." About 10 min.
Black Rooster: Italian restaurant with a rooftop bar overlooking the Congaree River and the Columbia skyline. About 10 min.
Zesto of West Columbia: A long-time local landmark for fried chicken and soft serve. About 10 min.
The Kingsman (Cayce): Known for its ribeye, a house specialty for more than 40 years, and "The Palmetto" ribeye burger. About 10 min.

Market on Main: American favorites, live music and a large outdoor screen on Main Street. About 15 min.
Tupelo Honey: Southern kitchen in the BullStreet District, with shrimp & grits and buttermilk biscuits. About 15 min.

Riverbanks Zoo & Garden: More than 2,000 animals and a botanical garden. Ride the Saluda Skyride between the Zoo and the Garden, included with admission. About 15 min.
West Columbia Riverwalk Park: Riverside trail along the Congaree River, part of the Three Rivers Greenway, with an amphitheater. About 10 min.
Saluda Shoals Park: 480 acres with trails, a splash pad, a dog park and kayak launches. About 20 min.
Congaree National Park: Walk the 2.6-mile boardwalk through the largest intact old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the Southeast. It was rebuilt and reopened in 2026, but parts can close when the river floods. About 45 min.
Dreher Island State Park: Fishing, trails and picnics on Lake Murray. About 55 min.

SC State Museum: Four floors of history, art and science, with a planetarium and a 4D theater. Closed Mondays. About 10 min.
EdVenture Children's Museum: Next door to the State Museum. Home of "Eddie," a 40-foot climbable kid billed as the world's biggest. About 10 min.
Columbia Museum of Art: Art museum on Main Street. Closed Mondays. About 15 min.
SC State House: Free guided and self-guided tours, Monday–Saturday. About 10 min.
Soda City Market: Saturdays 9 a.m.–1 p.m. on Main Street, rain or shine. Food, crafts and produce sold by the people who make or grow them. About 15 min.

Getting around: A few minutes from I-26, with easy access to I-20 and I-77.
Groceries: Walmart Supercenter on Augusta Road (about 10 min) and Publix at Gervais Place downtown (about 10 min).
EV charging: Our 1-Story Home (Pets + EV Charger) has a Tesla Level 2 Universal EV charger for guests.

Photo credits: Gervais Street Bridge from the Cayce–West Columbia Riverwalk by Stephen Matthew Milligan, CC BY-SA 3.0, resized and cropped. Shrimp and grits by Jason Riedy, CC BY 2.0, resized. Bald Cypress Forest in Congaree National Park by Andrew Parlette, CC BY 2.0, resized. South Carolina State House photo: public domain.

Jenny is the host for Taylor Rentals, dedicated to providing exceptional hospitality and responsive support to all guests.