Do you need a shady outdoor space to beat the spring and summer heat in Columbia? Citadel Park is sure to be a treat! This quaint, family-friendly playground has so many unique and cozy features including a “Little Free Library”, beautiful landscape and large green space, a designated toddler area, and plenty of sitting space.
Are you thinking about a visit to Saluda Shoals Park? If you’re looking for ways to enjoy the great outdoors, have some fun on the Saluda River or explore awesome play areas with your kids, Saluda Shoals is the place for you! Saluda makes for the perfect day trip activity or even a wonderful place to spend a few extra hours out of the house. We’ve got all you need to know about things to do, our favorite places to go within the park, and events you won’t want to miss out on!
This article includes:
Admission to Saluda Shoals
Leo’s Landing Playground at Saluda Shoals
Saluda Shoals Splash Pad
Swim in the Saluda River
Trails at Saluda Shoals
Kayak and Canoe at Saluda Shoals: Rentals available
River Tubing at Saluda Shoals
More Things to Do at Saluda Shoals
Summer Camps at Saluda Shoals
Have you ever been to Woodland Park in Columbia, SC? With the warmer weather rolling in, Woodland Park is a great place to get some fresh air, enjoy the sunshine, and let your kiddos burn off some energy. Woodland Park features a huge playground, large open green spaces, a walking trail, pickleball and tennis courts, and is even dog-friendly. My family and I recently took a trip here and I think we found a new staple to add into our playground rotation – it’s THAT good!
Just off of Garners Ferry Road, tucked away in the Old Woodlands subdivision, you will find a FANTASTIC park for you and your family to enjoy! Even though we’d consider it a quiet area, you can almost always find a decent amount of kiddos for your children to play with here. Woodland Park is surrounded by trees, making it feel a little less like the hustle and bustle of city-life and a bit more relaxing as you enjoy nature all around.
There are so many things to love about Woodland Park, but my family’s absolute favorite thing about going here is the variety of playground equipment. For my 1-year-old, there were small slides, bucket swings, a rocking car, and even some climbing features that she could enjoy.
There were tons of things for my older son to enjoy as well – big slides, a variety of monkey bars, traditional swings, balancing equipment, and a large climbing structure. There is truly something for ALL ages at Woodland Park!
Along with the playground itself, my kids enjoyed playing hide-and-seek in the open green spaces. One part of the green space is filled with trees while the other is more open. Both of these areas would be perfect for sprawling out on a blanket and having a nice picnic! You could also toss a football, blow bubbles, catch a frisbee, or even fly a kite on a breezy day.
Under the shade of the trees you will also find a walking trail that makes a large loop. My family and I took a quick stroll along the path and couldn’t help but notice all of the neat signs of nature. Several of the tree trunks were hollowed out which my son loved to carefully peak inside. We even saw and heard an owl flying around and “hoot-ing” up in the trees!
Have you given pickleball a try yet? With its new popularity, you might be searching for a nice place to play! At Woodland Park you will find 2 pickleball courts and 5 tennis courts. The courts are all open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis.
I know we’ve already given you so many great reasons to give Woodland Park a try, but if you’re still not sold, here are a few more:
Woodland Park is centrally located to several popular Columbia spots! In just under 15-minutes you can be in Five Points where you can find restaurants, coffee shops, and shopping. Maybe even make your way to the University of South Carolina and stroll through the beautiful, well-known “horseshoe.”
You could also continue your day of fun with a quick drive to EdVenture Children’s Museum. The West Columbia Riverwalk, SC State House, and The Vista are all close by, too.
Woodland Park
6500 Olde Knight Parkway
What is your family’s favorite thing about Woodland Park?
Need more fun places to play?
These are the best parks and playgrounds in Columbia, SC!
Have you ever been to Doko Meadows Park in Blythewood, SC? Is your family in need of a park that has a variety of options for fun? With plenty of space to exercise, play, enjoy nature and wildlife or even attend an event or two, Doko Meadows Park has it all! We know Doko Meadows will be a place your family will keep coming back to – keep reading to find out why!
Doko Meadows Park is a large 22-acre multipurpose park found in the heart of downtown Blythewood. Complete with clean restrooms, a fenced-in playground, walking trails, a fishing dock, an event space, an amphitheater, and a huge open field. Doko Meadows is the perfect place for families to go to have fun, make memories and spend as much or as little time as they need.
Have you been to the newly-expanded Leo’s Landing at Saluda Shoals in Irmo, SC? Are you looking for a modern park that is more than just your typical swing and slide set-up? Whether you’re looking for a new go-to park or somewhere special to visit every once in a while, Leo’s Landing inclusive playground at Saluda Shoals park is sure to be the perfect place to exceed all of your expectations! This playground features all-inclusive play equipment, covered picnic shelters, and several safety features that will make your outing a great one!
See more about Saluda Shoals Park in Columbia, SC.
(more…)Have you ever been to Hollywood Park in Columbia, SC? If you’re looking for a playground that offers shade, has great play equipment, an open green space, and a picnic shelter where you can enjoy snacks or lunch we’ve got just the place for you! Hollywood Park has all of these things and more. We recently went there and think it is a wonderful place to enjoy some fresh air and playtime with your kiddos!
Located on the edge of downtown Columbia, in the cozy Hollywood Rose Hill Neighborhood, you will find Hollywood Park. The park itself is such a charming hidden gem. You will be welcomed with raised flower beds that are maintained by the neighborhood residents and a beautiful walkway leading into the park.
Hollywood Park is completely fenced-in, making it an ideal place to go with little kids or large groups. While there is no designated parking lot for this playground, there are plenty of on-street parallel spaces. Another thing I noted while visiting this quaint play area was that there are no restrooms. Be sure to plan accordingly!
The playspace at Hollywood Park is a perfect size and has tons of fun climbing equipment! One thing I really liked is that the majority of the play area was covered by large shade sails. This made a huge difference in keeping the equipment cool. The playground is made up of sand so keep in mind that close-toed shoes are ideal!
There are two main play structures at Hollywood Park. One is much larger and fit for older kiddos. It has an awesome climbing wall, archway for climbing, and even monkey bars. The playscape for younger children is equally as awesome with a fun tunnel to crawl through and slides perfect for their size! While there are some swings at this park, there are no bucket swings.
Another thing to love about Hollywood Park is the awesome green space! It is the perfect size for so many activities and open play. Bring a large blanket and have a fun family picnic, some bubbles for your toddlers, balls, or even play a fun game of tag. My son and his friend had a great time kicking a soccer ball around!
At the main entrance, you will see a huge covered picnic shelter with lights and a few picnic tables underneath. We sat here to have our lunch and it was perfect! There are also several other picnic tables found on the outskirts of the green space. These tables are under the trees and are shaded, making it a great place to read books, enjoy some snacks, or a place for littles to take a rest.
From Hollywood Park, you are about 5 minutes from the “Five Points” area of downtown Columbia. Here, you will find great clothing boutiques, coffee shops such as Drip, and several places to get sweet treats or delicious meals. We would recommend trying out Gourmet Shop, Hometeam BBQ, Pawley’s Front Porch, or The Baked Bear if you’re looking for something sweet.
Also within a 10-minute drive from Hollywood Park, you will find the University of South Carolina, SC State House, and The Vista area. The Vista is where you can find more shopping, restaurants, and coffee shops. You could even pack up a wagon or stroller and take a walk around the beautiful and well-established neighborhood streets all around. Whatever you decide, we hope your family has a great time exploring!
Hollywood Park
216 S Gregg St.
Columbia, SC 29205
Have you taken your family to play at Hollywood Park? What did you like about this playground?
Are you looking for a great way to enjoy the beautiful rivers that run through Columbia? Have you ever heard of the Three Rivers Greenway Trail or Columbia Riverwalk? No matter what time of year, the riverwalks within the Three Rivers Greenway Trail provide a fantastic place to exercise, take a leisurely stroll with your family, enjoy a picnic, fish, learn how to bike ride, and so much more. Below we’ve got all you need to know about the West Columbia Riverwalk, Cayce Riverwalk, and newly developed Saluda Riverwalk!
This article includes:
The Columbia Riverwalks: Three Rivers Greenway Trail
West Columbia Riverwalk
Cayce Riverwalk
Saluda Riverwalk
Are you on the hunt for a unique and free outdoor activity in West Columbia, SC? The West Columbia Interactive Art Park could be just the place for you! This park is the perfect place to explore local artwork, wander around the city, and enjoy time with your kiddos. If you’re not exactly sure what to expect, keep reading as we’ve got all you’ll need to know below!
The West Columbia Interactive Art Park is completely free and such a great way to enjoy a little bit of fresh air and fascinating art. The address provided will take you into a parking lot that is shared by several local businesses as well as the park. After parking, make your way to the covered shelter to begin your art park journey! The amount of time you wish to spend here is truly up to you, however we would guess that setting aside about 15 to 20 minutes would give you plenty of time.
All of the artwork you will see at the interactive park was created by local South Carolina artists. The beginning of the art display starts with a neat 3D bench that is designed after the West Columbia riverbanks. From there, you will stroll down the sidewalk and discover several other sculptures, murals, and musical pieces. My son loved banging on all the drums and listening to the different sounds they each made.
At the other end of the Interactive Art Park you will see a huge, beautiful mural within the alleyway. The mural is done in bright, eye-catching colors and displays popular places and things to do all throughout Columbia such as the zoo, bridges along the river, biking, kayaking, and more! My family had fun playing a game of “eye spy” to discover all of the fun and hidden items within the paintings.
The location of the WeCo Interactive Art Park is absolutely perfect especially if you’ve got time to explore all that West Columbia has to offer. The park is located within an area that has several well-known restaurants, a brewery, clothing shops, and more.
D’s Wings sits about halfway through the interactive park and while there, my family and I decided to give this restaurant a try. We were so glad we did as it was a laid-back and kid-friendly environment. There were numerous tv’s along the walls making it the perfect place to watch sporting events and have fun with family and friends. They even had outdoor seating which gave a great view of the art park.
Some other restaurants we think would be great to try, and that surround the art park are:
West Columbia Interactive Art Park
425 Meeting St.
West Columbia, SC 29169
What piece of art did you enjoy most at the West Columbia Interactive Art Park?
Are you looking for a park with water access or maybe even a shady walking trail and playground? Guignard Park in Cayce, SC has it all – a paved walking trail, playground, natural stream for splashing and cooling off in the summer sun, artwork, great views of nature, and best part is…it’s ALL shaded! If you’re anything like me, you’ve driven past Guignard Park multiple times, but just never had the time to stop. Do yourself a favor and next time you’re near it, plan to check it out!
Although Guignard Park is right off of the busy and well-known Blossom Street, the views, sounds, and overall feel of the park is pleasantly surprising and peaceful. With the running stream, wildlife, and hundreds of tall, shady trees it feels as if you’re miles outside of town. One fun thing to do while there is to look for the two carved-out wooden structures as they are so unique and neat to see – happy hunting!
If you’re looking to get in some exercise or even just take a leisurely stroll around with your littles, the shady trail at Guignard will be perfect for you! Three laps around the trail equal 1 mile. It’s shaded, has a beautiful and relaxing stream running through the middle, and lots of plants, flowers, and wildlife to enjoy. The path is smooth and wide enough to push a stroller on and has several benches and large picnic shelters for resting along the way.
My toddler loved wandering along the path, collecting sticks, and looking out for wildlife. We pretended to be on a bear hunt and while we didn’t see any bears (insert disappointed toddler), we did see several butterflies, birds, and bugs. This brings me to my next point…DON’T forget your bug spray!
You can also bring your furry friend(s) along for some exercise and fresh air as dogs are allowed in the park, but must remain on a leash!
The stream at Guignard Park is awesome! There are several great entrance points that are flat and easy to spot, but I think the best play area is towards the parking lot and on the backside of the trail loop. Here, there is pretty much a straight shot from the trail to the water, a decent-sized area without many plants or overgrowth, and the water is about knee-deep for toddlers.
We allowed my son to get his toes wet, but wish we would have been better prepared with water shoes and maybe even some dry shorts for him to be able to go out a bit deeper. There were a few other toddlers and their families taking advantage of the refreshing water – truly such a great activity for a hot and humid Columbia day! The stream can be a bit rocky and unsteady in some areas so just be cautious of where little feet may step.
While the playground is small, it still gets the job done. There are several slides, monkey bar rings, and a climbing wall made of tires. Just behind the playground is a ping-pong table which I thought was neat, but you will have to bring your own ball and paddles if you plan on using this feature. I did note that there are no swings at Guignard and even though the playground has most of what kiddos need, it probably isn’t suitable for children under 3 or 4 years old.
The park is in a fairly central area of town with tons of fun things to do all around. Both the Cayce Riverwalk and West Columbia Riverwalk are just a few blocks away and great places to continue your day of walking and exercise. Within a 10-minute drive is EdVenture Children’s Museum, SC State Museum, the University of South Carolina, and several great places to eat such as Zesto, Manny’s Shaved Ice, and Cafe Strudel.
964 Axtell Drive
Cayce, SC 29033
Open daily from 8 am – 8 pm
Did you find the carved artwork at Guignard Park? What else did your family enjoy while there?
Have you ever been to Emily Douglas Park? Are you looking for a laid-back playground with a space to cool off in downtown Columbia, SC? We’ve got the perfect place for you and wow, is it nostalgic in all the best ways! Complete with a sprinkler, separate play spaces, large green space, dog park, and community center, your family will love this simple, fun-filled neighborhood park!
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