Charley's Favorites in Columbia

Beyond the fence of your own Columbia backyard is a fairy-tale place, you'll see. Giants and castles, cannons and wild things ... a great big playground for you and me! Take the hand of a neighbor, friend or family member, and explore Charley and Bernard's Favorites in Columbia:

• Riverbanks Zoo and Garden: one of the nation's top 10 zoological attractions, and South Carolina's Most Outstanding Tourist Attraction
• EdVenture: the South's largest children's museum, which is the home of "EDDIE,"(TM) the world's largest child
• State Museum: Housed in the world's first all-electric textile mill, this museum showcases South Carolina's past, present and future on four floors of exhibits
• Columbia Museum of Art: A Main Street anchor and South Carolina's premier international art museum, offering 25 galleries, children's art programs and family fun
• Robert Mills House: only known residence designed by U.S. first Federal architect, Robert Mills, who used false doors and optical illusions to achieve the desired symmetrical design of this home
• State House: In the center of Columbia, our State House is one of South Carolina's most historic buildings, which withstood Sherman's march on Columbia in 1865
• Columbia Marionette Theatre: the only free-standing theatre in South Carolina devoted entirely to the art of marionette puppetry
• Three rivers (Saluda, Broad and Congaree): three rivers run through Columbia
• Lake Murray: 78 square miles of recreation and beauty, including fishing, swimming, boating, and Birder's World's 8th best place for bird-watching (Purple Martins in July)
• Saluda Shoals Park: over 300 acres on the Saluda, featuring an education center, water park, picnic shelters, a canoe/kayak/boat launch, and trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding
• Fort Jackson: our nation's largest Army training facility, which conducts Basic Combat Training for over half of all soldiers entering the Army each year
• Congaree National Park: preserves the largest intact track of old-growth floodplain forest in North America
• Finlay Park: the city's most visited park, where bluegrass and other music indigenous to South Carolina can be enjoyed at the Summer Concert Series
• Three Rivers Greenway: a 12-mile, linear park, which offers some of the best views of Columbia's rivers, while guests hike, picnic, bike, canoe or kayak
• Richland County Public Library: the 2001 National Library of the Year, offering numerous children's plays, programs and storytelling events
• Columbia Fire Museum: South Carolina's largest fire department, whose artifacts date to the mid 1800s
• Town Theatre : The longest continuing performing arts theatre in the country
• Gamecock Football: The University of South Carolina, home of the Gamecocks, averages over 80,000 fans at Williams Brice Stadium each fall, making them one of the top schools in the country in home football attendance
• Five Points and the Vista: Columbia's historical hotspots for culture, excellent food and entertainment -- including one of the biggest St. Patrick's Day Celebrations in the nation (Five Points) and Vista Lights downtown (Vista)

Now grab your Charley's Checklist (bookmark) to start exploring Columbia's backyard! Once your checklist has been completed, redeem it at the Visitors Center (located in the Convention Center, Lincoln Street) for your Columbia Junior Ambassador certificate.  You and your family will also be invited to a September Ice Cream Celebration, where you will receive your Junior Ambassador medal.  That's it! You'll be an automatic member of Columbia's Junior Ambassadors Club!

For discounted admission to many of Charley and Bernard's Favorites, go on the Charley Tour of Columbia, August 10-17 .