When the call came in from a longtime friend inviting me to check out his adventure guide service in the capital city to our south, Columbia, SC, I had to check a map to make certain it was within a tank of gas to qualify for this column. Surprisingly it was a drive of only about three hours. He instead suggested I try Amtrak from downtown Raleigh for a roundtrip fare of 68 bucks. It sounded like a good way to catch up on some reading, so I gave it a shot. The train experience was better than expected, quite clean and comfortable actually, though the schedule required a bit of planning to avoid sleep deprivation. The Silver Streak comes through Raleigh on the Friday night southbound route around 9 p.m., arriving in Columbia at 1:30 a.m. The northbound return departs Columbia Monday mornings at 2 a.m., arriving back in Raleigh at 6:30 a.m.
Columbia is fortunate to have three rivers flowing through an area they call the Riverbanks Region, and the rivers are ideal for outdoor recreation. We spent the morning kayaking amongst the rapids of the Congaree River, which flows right through the city and is paralleled by an extensive network of well-manicured greenways. Lots of people were running and biking on the trails, but we ran on the river rocks. I managed to follow closely behind my guide as he worked his way through a mile course of boulders. We occasionally waded across shallow areas, and as the afternoon heat arrived, swam in the deeper pools fed by an invigorating and refreshing current.
After soaking in some sunshine to dry off the shorts and shoes, we picked up a lunch day pack from nearby Earth Fare and drove 20 miles out of town to Congaree National Park, where we walked the 2.4 mile boardwalk loop trail. The park contains one of the country's last remaining stands of old-growth forest, including bald cypress and loblolly pines that reach to 165 feet. Four national record trees are located within the park, and there are more than 150 trees larger than 12 feet in circumference. The forest canopy stands high overhead, enhancing the illusion of perpetual twilight. Barred owls often call during daylight. They say that in the summer, a gentle rain is seldom felt except as a fine mist below the forest's canopy.
The highlight of the trip was the vibrant sports bar scene. My buddy showed me about two dozen hot spots over two nights, each unique in design, location, and social amenities. There's a healthy competition going on down there amid the restaurants to attract sports fans with the best environment for watching ballgames. Every place we visited had comfortable seating, friendly service, and the latest video technology. Since the University of South Carolina is located right downtown, the sidewalk cafes and coffee shops were busy and there was an active college town atmosphere.
If you'd like some help planning a trip to Columbia, just shoot me an email and I'll connect you with my buddy who can steer you in the right direction.
Safe travels!
