Roofer in Columbia, SC

Are you planning a big family vacation this summer or will you cut back?

Let’s face it, everything is more expensive these days. From food, to gas, and hotels — costs keep rising. And then there’s the growing economic uncertainty from the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China.

And yet, there’s still plenty of fun to be had in South Carolina for those on a budget. For instance, have you considered Columbia?

Whether you live in the Soda City or are just visiting, Columbia is full of entertainment for the whole family that won’t break the bank.

Here are the 10 best-rated and budget-friendly things to do in Columbia, according to Tripadvisor.

Few children are likely to turn down a trip to the zoo. Riverbanks first opened its gates on April 25, 1974, and today is one of the largest mid-sized zoos in the U.S. as well as among the state’s leading destination attractions.

The zoo boasts more than 3,000 magnificent animals. And then there’s the botanical garden, which first opened in 1995 and today features more than 5,700 species of native and exotic plants.

Located in downtown Columbia, the state museum features four floors of permanent and changing exhibits, a digital dome planetarium, a 4D interactive theater, and an observatory. It’s the largest museum in the Southeast, boasting 210,000 gross square feet and 100,000 square feet of exhibit space. And the museum is more like four museums in one, with sections on art, history, natural history, science, and technology.

You can’t get much more budget-friendly than free. Featuring 4 miles of flat, easy-walking paved trail, Riverfront Park opened in 1983 and was built around the city’s original waterworks. The park is about 167 acres and separates the Historic Columbia Canal and the Congaree River. There is also a brick amphitheater and a self-guided walkway by the old parts of the water plant.

The historic South Carolina State House was built in 1903, replacing the previous State House in Columbia that was destroyed by fire in 1865 during the Civil War.

Tours are offered every half hour beginning at 9:30 a.m. and ending at 3:30 p.m. No tours are offered at 12 p.m. or 12:30 p.m. The State House is also open on Saturdays, with tours given at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Unless you’re planning to enroll, the University of South Carolina is a cheap way to do some historic sightseeing and get your steps in. The more than 200-year-old campus has plenty of interesting buildings and sites, but a visit isn’t complete without a glimpse of the historic Horseshoe. The U-shaped original campus — once called South Carolina College — includes the architectural design and influence of Robert Mills, the nation’s first federal architect and designer of the Washington Monument.

Below are five more budget-friendly activities to try in Columbia:

6. Soda City Market

7. South Carolina Military Museum

8. EdVenture Children’s Museum

9. Columbia Museum of Art

10. Sesquicentennial State Park

Asperitas clouds are a distinctive, but relatively rare cloud formation that takes the appearance of rippling waves.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Early Wednesday morning, parts of the Columbia area saw rain to start the day with scattered showers and storms. This made for a rainy morning commute for many individuals. As the storms approached, an unusual type of clouds were spotted ahead of the rainfall. This created a stunning sight for those that were able to see them.

Asperitas clouds are a distinctive, but relatively rare cloud formation that takes the appearance of rippling waves. These wave-like structures form on the underside of the cloud to make it look like a rough sea surface when viewed from below.

These unique clouds can be found amongst two cloud types: altocumulus and stratocumulus. These two cloud types are low to mid level clouds and are common ahead of storms, but added turbulence can create the unusual waves.

I spotted these rare clouds this morning just after 7:30 a.m. in Columbia ahead of some storms that moved...

Posted by Meteorologist Brianna Mowery on Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Asperitas clouds typically form ahead of a thunderstorm. As rain from that storm falls to the ground, the surrounding air is cooled and rushes out ahead of the storm. This is called a downdraft. The air can move like waves in the ocean, lifting clouds up and down. This process is nearly identical to dropping a stone in a pond.

These clouds can be found at heights ranging from 4,000 to 10,000 feet.

Though the formation itself does not produce rainfall, asperitas have been linked to thunderstorms. The likely unstable atmospheric conditions required to form the wave cloud base could also allow the growth of convective rain clouds.

Credit: WLTX

The cloud formation was added to the World Meteorological Organization's International Cloud Atlas back in 2017.

Big Lots has released an official list of all 219 stores planned to reopen over the next several months, including 18 in South Carolina.

After bankruptcy and store closures, Big Lots plans to gradually reopen 219 stores. A No S.C. stores reopened during Wave 1 of the opening plan, but four Wave 2 stores are scheduled to open in early May.

According to a previous news release from the Henderson, N.C.-based company Variety Retailers responsible for the openings, customers will experience "remodeled stores, a large selection of closeout deals and new merchandise categories, including apparel for the family and electronics" upon the reopening of Big Lots stores.

Here's what we know about the final waves of reopening plans, including every store scheduled to open in S.C. and N.C.

Which Big Lots stores are reopening in SC?

Previously, Big Lots announced the opening of Wave 2 stores, of which S.C. had four. On April 23, business media website Fast Company released the company's plans for locations set to reopen in the final two waves including the following in S.C..:

Previously announced: Big Lots stores opening in SC in Wave 2

No South Carolina stores reopened in Wave 1.

Which Big Lots stores are reopening in NC?

More than 50 Big Lots stores are set to open in N.C., about a quarter of all reopenings.

Previously announced: Big Lots stores opening in NC in Waves 1, 2

Big Lots reopening locations

Stores are also reopening in 13 other states including:

How many Big Lots stores are reopening?

Variety Wholesalers acquired 219 stores it aims to open in four waves. 54 stores will reopen during the second wave, 78 during the third wave and a final 78 in the fourth wave.

When will Big Lots reopen?

The first wave of Big Lots openings took place on April 10. The second wave is scheduled for early may, and remaining stores will open on unspecified dates through early June, leading up to a grand opening celebration taking place across all stores in the fall.

BigLots.com and Big Lots social media channels will feature more news and updates on store announcements, according to the release.

Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at [email protected].

COLUMBIA — Inside a brand new electric COMET bus, elected officials and others are chatting as the driver cruises down Broad River Road. "Zero emissions" is written in bold white letters on the bright blue and teal bus.

"It's silent, for a bus," said Lenny Cooksey, an employee with RATP Dev, contracted by COMET to run and maintain its fleet. "Doesn't have that fume smell inside."

This electric bus is one of four new carbon-free buses the COMET unveiled on April 22 during a news conference at the agency's headquarters on Lucius Road. The new buses will help reduce Columbia's carbon footprint, and they could save the agency money in the long run while improving riders' experience, according to officials.

Two hydrogen fuel cell buses and and two battery-electric buses will replace old diesel buses in the transit agency's 90-bus fleet.

They're the first buses of their kind in the COMET's history, made possible by a $2.9 million grant awarded in 2021 by the Federal Transit Administration.

"This wasn't just about acquiring new vehicles, it was about moving forward with purpose, toward cleaner air, better health outcomes and smarter infrastructure," Allison Terracio, head of the COMET Board of Directors, said at the news conference. "They represent a healthier, quieter and more climate-responsible future for our riders and neighborhoods across Richland and Lexington counties."

The news conference coincided with the agency's 25th year of being "the COMET" and with Earth Day. In November, Richland County voters approved a $4.5 billion penny tax that will fund transportation projects and the COMET over the next 25 years.

"It's the future, It's here," City Councilman Tyler Bailey said after he hopped off the bus. "We need more of them."

Emissions

The COMET's two battery-electric buses have already hit the road, while the hydrogen fuel-cell buses are expected to start service in the next two weeks.

Riders wouldn't be able to tell the difference: Both types of buses will take riders to and from their destinations without a single tailpipe emission, helping reduce air and noise pollution.

Battery-electric buses work similarly to any electric vehicle. They have become increasingly common in the U.S. There were nearly 2,000 electric buses in operation across the country in 2022, according to the latest FTA data. That included 23 operated in Charleston, 18 in Clemson and four in Greenville.

On the other hand, the hydrogen buses rely on a battery powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. The COMET's hydrogen fueling station sits adjacent to their headquarters on Lucius Road. It takes 15 minutes to fuel a hydrogen bus and about four hours for the station to be ready again to fuel another bus.

A long-defunct hydrogen station near the Columbia Canal is being repurposed in what could be a major step toward making hydrogen fuel a viable option nationwide.

Although the hydrogen bus has significantly more range — roughly 370 miles, to the electric's 250 — they are also more expensive and require more infrastructure to support.

According to Pearl, each hydrogen bus can eliminate up to 135 tons of greenhouse gas emissions every year.

Costs

The COMET has contracted the Center for Transportation and the Environment, or CTE, to study the impact of the new buses over the next year. They will analyze greenhouse gas emission reductions, costs, efficiency and ridership trends.

While the clean buses might save the agency money in the long run on fuel and maintenance, they're much more expensive on the front end. Part of that upfront cost comes from needing to build the infrastructure to fuel the buses, especially for the hydrogen-powered buses.

"But over time, it kind of balances out because of the fuel," said Chase Stell, a consultant with CTE. "Operational cost is a lot less because there's a lot fewer moving parts ... there's not an engine, there's not a radiator, all those things."

The consultant will also look at which version of the buses — hydrogen or battery-electric — would be better suited if the agency explores adding more carbon-free buses to its fleet.

"This launch lays the foundation for zero-emission options," Pearl said.

Table of Contents

Earth Day Climate Action Fair

Earth Day Celebration

Richland Earth Day: Free Drop-Off

Make and Create: Trash2Treasure

Earth Day with Congaree Riverkeeper

Explore more Earth Day

Shoutout to planet Earth for keeping us all grounded. Let’s celebrate.

Tuesday, April 22 marks Earth Day — an annual holiday that is celebrated by more than a billion people across 193 countries. This year’s campaign is “Our Power, Our Planet,” and you can show your strength at these local events:

Celebrate Mother Nature with the Columbia Climate Protection Action Committee on Saturday, April 26 at Boyd Plaza. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. you can learn from educators and partake in activities. Be on the lookout for mascots, a photo booth, and face painting.

Richland Library Cooper will be raising awareness for climate efforts with children’s activities through Monday, April 21. On Earth Day, it will host its celebration, 3-5 p.m., featuring more activities, crafts, prizes, and snacks.

Safely dispose of hazardous materials on Saturday, April 19, at the Columbia Place Mall from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Items like household cleaners, pesticides, and fire extinguishers will be accepted. You can also securely bring paper and documents to be shredded.

Head to the Richland Library Edgewood on Tuesday, April 29, 5:30-7:30 p.m., for a guided craft class where you can learn to upcycle materials to reuse them and give them new life.

Head to Bierkeller Columbia starting at 4 p.m. on Earth Day to learn about Congaree Riverkeeper’s most recent efforts, and 10% of sales will be donated to the organization.

Interested in volunteering with a local environmental organization in honor of Earth Day? Look no further than Congaree Riverkeeper and Keep The Midlands Beautiful.

EarthDay.org has a plethora of resources that can help you obsversve the occasion on a larger scale, including:

Additionally, here are a few must-know facts about the history of Earth Day: