1. Charleston, South Carolina
This one's pretty obvious, as Charleston has some of the closest beaches near Cola, while also being a city filled with rich culture, history, art and shopping. And only a speedy one hour and 52 minute drive via I-26 East, it's the perfect day trip to get some afternoon time in the sun followed by exploring the city in the evening. For the non-Southern new students at USC, a tourist-y trip to Charleston is necessary for the process of becoming a true Southerner.
Things to Do
Walking tours | $20 | Two hours — To those who have never been to Charleston — a tour is a must. Whether you're interested in the downtown historic district or the Holy City's paranormal presence, there's a tour for it all.
Folly Beach | Free | Half day/full day — Fair warning — you may have to pay for parking. Parking in Charleston is a hassle, but for a day at the beach it might just be worth it. Want to try another Charleston beach? Sullivan's Island and Isle of Palms aren't too far away.
Charleston City Market | Free | Less than an hour — A classic Charleston landmark, the market is a fun place to stroll through and shop with local artists and vendors.
Restaurants — No matter what you do in Charleston, you'll have to eat. Luckily, Charleston has some of the best food of the South. Some honorable mentions include Home Team BBQ, Fuel or Dellz Uptown.
2. Charlotte, North Carolina
Looking for the business of a larger city with the same southern charm? Look no further than Charlotte, North Carolina. Only one hour and 28 minutes from Cola, the Queen City could be your next day trip.
Things to Do
Mint Museum Uptown | $10 | Few hours — Take some time to enjoy art and feel fancy strolling through the beautiful collections of the Mint Museum.
NODA District | Free | Half a day — NODA/North Davidson St. is Charlotte's historic arts and entertainment district and it's full of fun things to do. Grab a custom ice pop and snap a pic for Instagram at Pop Bar, try a Mexican dish at Cabo Fish Taco or coffee and a French pastry at Amelie's. Later in the evening, you may even catch a show at the Neighborhood Theatre.
Lime Scooters | $1 | Hour — Create your own tour of the city by zooming around on a bright green rented scooter. These are Zapp-colored-bright-green, but more Razor scooter-like in style. All you need is the LimeBike app. The ride is $1 to unlock plus an additional 15 cents per minute.
SouthPark Mall | Few hours — Sometimes you need just a good mall shopping experience away from Columbia. From Louis Vuitton to Lululemon, SouthPark has a wide selection of stores.
3. Columbia, South Carolina
Let's face it — Cola's pretty awesome. Why not have a staycation? Also, if you're new to Columbia you need to make sure you've been to all of these awesome places.
Things to Do
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden | $19.95 | Half a day — Who doesn't love a trip to the zoo? Also, a Western Lowland Gorilla had a baby in June — and it's a big deal. Zoo babies are adorable and Riverbanks also has a few lion cubs.
Columbia Museum of Art | $5 | Few hours — On Aug. 17, Columbia Museum of Art will be back and open to the public after being closed for renovations, just in time for school to start. If you want to get your mind off studying for a few hours, head over to the CMA and get lost in beautiful artwork. Did I mention they have a Monet?
Main Street District | Free | Hour — Get some tasty vegan cuisine at Good Life Café or an iced coffee at Drip. Catch a movie at The Nickelodeon theatre. Buy candy by the pound at Mast General Store. Have a fancy dinner at Bourbon. Trust me, a good bit of time can be spent strolling down Main Street simply window shopping.
Soda City Market | Free | Few hours — Soda City is a trendy Saturday morning event in Cola that's focused on "brain, body and belly." Open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. year round, rain or shine, you can buy your groceries here and check out local artists, as well as many other vendors.