VISITING Columbia · Soda City
Visiting Columbia with toddlers and little kids: the plan.
EdVenture and the Main Library are both downtown. Here’s a day or two, with nap time built in.
Top 4 can’t-miss spots
#1Downtown, 211 Gervais St.
EdVenture Children’s Museum
There’s a designated toddler area; under 2 free.
$15 eachUnder 2 freeIndoor
See it in the guide→
#2500 Wildlife Pkwy.
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
Check the Zoo’s calendar for evening events.
See it in the guide→
#3Downtown, 1431 Assembly St.
Richland Library Main
Family Storytime is Saturday at 10am.
FreeIndoor
See it in the guide→
#4Northeast, 763 Fashion Dr.
Richland Library Sandhills
Toddler Storytime is Tuesday at 10:30.
FreeIndoor
See it in the guide→
Nap breaks built in
One day or two in Columbia
A couple of big stops, a real lunch and a nap in the middle. Tap a stop for the full listing.
If you have one day
MORNINGEdVenture Children’s MuseumOpen at 9 (closed Tue) · Downtown, 211 Gervais St. · $15 per person
LUNCHMarket on MainMain Street lunch · Main StreetNAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPRichland Library MainDowntown library · Downtown, 1431 Assembly St. · FreeIf you have two days
Day 1 is the one-day plan above. Day 2:
MORNINGRiverbanks Zoo & GardenZoo morning · 500 Wildlife Pkwy.NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPRichland Library SandhillsLibrary time · Northeast, 763 Fashion Dr. · FreeWhere to stay
Kid-friendly areas near the big attractions
Pick the area by the stops you’ll make most, then plan around nap.
DOWNTOWNEdVenture and Main LibraryBoth downtown.Near EdVenture Children’s Museum and Richland Library Main
Eat
Easy restaurants near the big stops
Kids’ menus, quick service and a short drive from the attractions. Prices come from each restaurant’s own menu.
Plan B
Rainy-day backup plan
If the forecast turns, swap the outdoor stop for one of these. More options: indoor play places in Columbia.
Before you go
Practical tips
Parking, strollers, changing tables and the best times to go.
EdVenture on Tuesdays
EdVenture is closed on Tuesdays; check its site for summer hours.
Visiting in November or December?
Santa and Christmas lights in Columbia
If your trip lands in the holiday season, these two pages have the dates, prices and booking links.
On a budget
Free and cheap wins for visitors
Spend less without skipping the good stuff.
This week
Happening while you’re here
This week’s top events in Columbia. The full list, with hours and the forecast, is on the this-week page.
#1Fair hours 11am–9pm Mon–Fri, 10am–9pm Sat, noon–8pm Sun (rides run later)
South Carolina State Fair
The fair’s final week: rides, animals, fair food and shows. Thursday, Oct. 22 opens with a sensory-friendly morning, and the fair closes Sunday at 8.
$20 at the gate
Hours, food & parking→
#26–9pm
Boo at the Zoo
Trick-or-treat through the zoo, catch Ray’s Moonlight Magic and dance with the Eeky Freaky DJ. The Haunted Carousel and Riverbanks Express cost extra.
Tickets online
Hours, food & parking→
#3Sat 9:30–11:30am
Pumpkins and Painting on Boyd Plaza
Pumpkin decorating, coloring pages and games outside the museum, hosted by the Contemporaries. Reserve a pumpkin ahead; walk-ins welcome while supplies last.
$10 per pumpkin
Hours, food & parking→
#4Wed 10–11am
Gladys’ Gang Preschool Edition: Head to Toe
A preschool art session for 4- and 5-year-olds and a grown-up: story time, a look at bodies in the Body Matters exhibition, then a modeling project in the studio. Siblings welcome.
Free
Hours, food & parking→
#5Thu 10am
Bilingual Storytime (Richland Library Northeast)
A bilingual English and Spanish storytime (Cuentacuentos Bilingüe).
FreeIndoor
Hours, food & parking→
Good questions
Visiting Columbia with toddlers: the FAQ
Is Columbia kid-friendly?
For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our Columbia guide lists 15 places we checked for little kids, plus 6 free places and 4 picks for babies and toddlers. This page adds 1 easy restaurant near the big stops and free storytimes at 2 library systems. This week’s list has 22 dated outings for ages 0–6. See free things to do in Columbia and this weekend’s list.
How many days do you need in Columbia with a toddler?
Two: EdVenture one day, Riverbanks the next.
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