We're in Columbia SC for our daughter's graduation ceremony at Fort Jackson. We figure she'll be done around 11:00, and we can then leave with her. We have an early flight Friday morning, so we're looking for something fun to do tomorrow for about 8 hours. Any ideas? Everything back east is new to us, so it shouldn't be too hard to find something interesting. We'd even consider heading to Charleston if there's more to see there.

Back in my day (1987) there wasn't much to do and the areas around the base gates were super shady. I'm sure 30 years has changed some things.

My first weekend pass myself and a bud got a room at a roach motel for like $12, we just wanted to chill out. $5 crack hookers kept banging on our door

I apologize for the zero help

Columbia is kinda the hood these days, isn't it?

I'd head to Charleston if I were you. Tons there to do. I was there in 2014 and regret not being able to see the Hunley while there.

The last time I was in Columbia SC, maybe 20 or 25 years ago, was for a fuel stop with the V-Tail.

We borrowed the "crew car," actually a beat-up old pickup truck, to go to a nearby restaurant to grab a quick bite.

On the way out of the restaurant after we ate I noticed a table that had a bunch of flyers for local attractions and businesses. There were some printed announcements for the local KKK meeting.

Drive to Summerville and visit PSA.
Several places to eat there too. Boxcar Betties for a chicken sandwich and the best fried pickles ever. Smashburger where you customise your burger and great haystack onions. There's a good seafood place in the old part of town called Shuckin' Shack Oyster Bar. Perkins for good home cooking.

Go tour the FN plant. Maybe they will let you all get a little free trigger time..

quote:

Originally posted by BigSwede:
My first weekend pass myself and a bud got a room at a roach motel for like $12, we just wanted to chill out. $5 crack hookers kept banging on our door

I hope you eventually let them out!

Visit Palmetto state armory store

3760 Fernandina rd

Visit PSA. That’s what we did after my son’s graduation from Jackson.

Go to Maurice's Barbecue. We stop in Columbia every time we come through just for a place of their pork barbecue.

The only things that I can think of are...Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Gardens, the SC State House and the SC State Museum. Charleston, in my opinion, would be 1000 times better, but by the time you spent close to 4 hours round trip driving, you may not have time to do much.

quote:

Originally posted by pawprintsdoc:
The only things that I can think of are...Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Gardens, the SC State House and the SC State Museum. Charleston, in my opinion, would be 1000 times better, but by the time you spent close to 4 hours round trip driving, you may not have time to do much.

Probably this.

I drive to Charleston a couple times a week. It's 2 hours each way.
I may be in the area tomorrow unless I have to head down to Summerville.
Email is in my profile I may be able to give some ideas.

Chris

About 1:15 north on I-77 is a Cabelas and Carowinds amusement park.

About 20 minutes away is Palmetto State Armory, 3760 Fernandina Rd, Columbia, SC 29210. They have an indoor range and guns to rent.

If you are carrying, i recommend keeping it off-base. If you need to make arrangements, let me know--I'm local to Ft Jackson (20 mins away up I-20). My email is in my profile.

2nd for the state house. Some really cool history there.

The university of South carolina campus is downtown and a beautiful area

Don't bother going to Charleston - it will be a full 2 hours from Columbia, and if you only have 8 hours, A paltry 4 hours will not cut it. Also, I26 has some serious traffic issues, and can get back up by a full hour for no reason at all.

Head over to the Zoo - it is probably the best laid out Zoo within 400 miles. PSA is also close, and if you like a good drink, one of the best bourbon bars in the country is Bourbon, on Main Street a block from the State Capital. Food is pretty good there too.

When able, let us know what you decided to do, and how your day was. And, congrats to your daughter!

quote:

Originally posted by David Lee:
Go tour the FN plant. Maybe they will let you all get a little free trigger time..

This! I actually got to go since one of my BIL's (who lives in Lexington right next to Columbia and whom I visited in April) best friend's works there. Very cool!


Or go ax throwing. Don't laugh, you can drink and throw axes, which is way fun and less dangerous than it sounds.

Or eat, got loads of great places to go eat.

Or visit Charleston (since that was, I have to admit a beautiful city as well).

Missed PSA because the stupid family kept wanting to go to stupid Revolutionary War battlefields where their stupid ancestors fought the British in stupid battles and go to stupid Camden County City Hall to see their stupid relatives' stupid Revolutionary War enlistment and discharge paperwork (although there was a VERY unstupid gun collection there that was awesome!). The things I had to put up with.

quote:

Originally posted by pawprintsdoc:
When able, let us know what you decided to do, and how your day was. And, congrats to your daughter!

Well, it turns out my daughter had 'fire guard' duty last night, so she didn't get any sleep. After we left base, we went and got peach milkshakes at Chick-Fil-A (that's all she thought about for 10 weeks ), then went back to the hotel and she went to sleep.
So, thanks for the suggestions! We'll have to check them out next time.

Well that leaves many more exciting things to do!

And its a good thing you didn't travel on I-26 It was a huge parking lot from South of Orangeburg to an exit above. I spent an hour parked until I got close to an exit and took the scenic country roads back home.

quote:

Originally posted by 4x5:

quote:

Originally posted by pawprintsdoc:
When able, let us know what you decided to do, and how your day was. And, congrats to your daughter!

Well, it turns out my daughter had 'fire guard' duty last night, so she didn't get any sleep. After we left base, we went and got peach milkshakes at Chick-Fil-A (that's all she thought about for 10 weeks ), then went back to the hotel and she went to sleep.
So, thanks for the suggestions! We'll have to check them out next time.

Glad you were able to spend time together...safe travels home!