Sports and Things to Do in Columbia South Carolina

Cab Service

Checker Yellow Cab Company
803-799-3311

Greater Columbia Checker Yellow Cab is South Carolina's largest 24 hour Taxi and Parcel Service. Checker Yellow Cab provides quick and reliable transportation to all areas of the Midlands...the airport, bus and train stations, Fort Jackson, and anywhere else you need to go! Checker Yellow Cab features a well-maintained fleet of over 100 cars, with air conditioning, computerized GPS dispatch system and the ability to accept all major credits. Call us today...we'll take you where you need to go!

Our Suggestions

beltline bowling & games

About: What a great place to have fun with the guys! Located at the Petro Stopping Center on Bluff Road at I-77 (exit 5) this is not your average bowling center! Bowling balls look like billiard balls, beautifully upholstered seating, high tops for drinking and dining (Quaker Steak and Lube is next door and serves!) Blackout Bowling every Friday and Saturday night from 10pm-midnight; monthly specials with discounts!
Address: 2154 South Beltline Lane
Hours: Mon-Thurs 10am-11pm | Fri & Sat 10am-12am | Sun 10am-10pm
Phone: (803) 908-4895

Liberty Tap Room and Grill

About: Brewing their own beer like the Cooper River Red is an everyday event. Stop by and try out the extensive tap beer selection. Happy hour is Monday-Friday from 4-7 pm.

The Final Door Escape Game
- The Sacrifice Room
- About: Experience a thrilling escapade in The Final Door’s Sacrifice room, where you and your friends are captured and imprisoned in a room by an evil cult. Using wit, logic and common sense, can you escape before someone is sacrificed? Columbia's ultimate escape room game, The Final Door, is the most challenging fun you'll ever have in 60 minutes! The Sacrifice Room experience allows you to play along with seven of your closest pals, then hang out afterwards for hilarious post-game pictures, or in the cozy lounge for a post-game beer or glass of wine. You can see more information about the Final Door below.
- Address: 930 Knox Abbott Drive
- Hours: Tues-Sun: 10am - 8:30pm | Fri-Sat: Later bookings available | Reserve time in advance
- Phone: (803) 602-2433
- 930 Knox Abbott Drive | (803) 602-2433
  Tues-Sun: 10am - 8:30pm | Fri-Sat: Later bookings available | Reserve time in advance
- - About: Looking for something different to do with the guys? Why not get captured by a cult, locked in a dark cellar, avoid a flesh-eating zombie or outrun a bunch of pirates? Columbia's ultimate escape room game, The Final Door, is the most challenging fun you'll ever have in 60 minutes! You will have to work with your best buds to solve puzzles, find clues, and ultimately escape one of the rooms. Plus, this unique alternative to bars is the only escape room in the area that offers beer and wine! Enjoy drinks at the cozy lounge before and after your game, and find them throughout your adventure! Most rooms are designed for 2-8 people, and group discounts for groups of 20+ people.
Frankie's Fun Park

140 Parkridge Drive | (803) 781-2342
- - About: Frankie's Fun Park is a great way to get together with the guys, eat some pizza, and play some games. With 3 go-cart tracks, 3 different mini-golf courses, laser tag, batting cages, a rock climbing wall, and more than 100 games in their state of the art arcade, everyone can hang out. Food, games, friends--what else do you need?
    - Saluda Shoals Park
      5605 Bush River Road | (803) 731-5208
      - About: Saluda Shoals Park is a beautiful 400-acre park with an Environmental Education Center and Exhibition Hall, an Observation Deck, and picnic shelters. There are paved and unpaved paths for hiking, biking, and horseback riding as well as a boat ramp/canoe/kayak launch. For directions and seasonal hours of operation, check out icrc.net!
        
        Crooked Creek Park
        
        About: Offers a variety of programs for children and adults of all ages. Included in the activities are: woodcarving, belly dancing, pottery instruction, youth dance classes, Crooked Creek Art League, guitar lessons, adult art classes clubs/groups, computer classes, driver safety, hunter and boater education, Red Cross Certifications, aerobics, yoga, fitness 101, pilates, gymnastics, karate, and various youth league sports. 1098 Old Lexington Highway | Chapin | (803) 345-6181
        
        Seven Oaks Park
        
        About: Seven Oaks Park is a full-service recreation complex offering fitness, athletics, and instructional and cultural arts programs to the Irmo community. Seven Oaks Park’s special events, recreation programs, and volunteer opportunities are designed for youth, adults, seniors and persons with special needs. This community center offers visitors the following amenities: 30,000 square-foot facility with full gymnasium, fitness area, dance studio, art studio, art gallery and meeting rooms, 9 Athletic Fields, 6 Tennis Courts, Paved Walking Trails, Picnic Shelters, Playgrounds and a Community Garden. Seven Oaks Park also offers a variety of programs for children and adults. 200 Leisure Lane | (803) 772-3336
        
        SC Confederate Relic Room and Military History Museum
        301 Gervais Street (State Museum Building) | (803) 737-8095
        
        About: For over a century, the SC Confederate Relic Room and Military History Museum's mission has been to collect and preserve the military history of this state. Columbia's oldest museum, the state's martial tradition from the Revolutionary War to the present War on Terror is presented. Visitors explore the military campaigns in which South Carolinian soldiers have participated over the past 300 years!

Indoors

beltline bowling & games

About: Beltline Lanes at the TA and Petro Stopping Center in Columbia, is a "STRIKE"ing good time! The bowling alley and gaming center features an array of bowling options, like open play, Beltline Blackout, Cosmic Bowling and leagues, with occasional specials, like College Night. The entertainment center includes a game room with virtual reality sports simulators, 50+ game arcade and bar!
Address: 2154 South Beltline Lane
Hours: Mon-Thurs 10am-11pm | Fri & Sat 10am-12am | Sun 10am-10pm
Phone: (803) 908-4895

Buffalo Wild Wings

About: With 7-8 big screens dedicated to the major games and 50-60 first-come-first-serve smaller televisions for any any other game you can think of, you won't miss one score! (803) 738-8090

Dano's Pizza

About: Has $2 pitchers of beer on Mondays and Tuesdays and and 50" HD TV! (803) 254-3266

Hudson's Smokehouse

About: (4952 Sunset Blvd | 356-1070) has happy hour Monday-Friday from 4-7 pm.

Sam's Fine Wine, Beer, Spirits & More
- About: Sam's Fine Wine, Beer, Spirits, and More is Lexington's premier store for a fantastic selection of beer, wine, and spirits. FREE weekly wine tastings are held every Friday from 4-7!
Total Wine and More
- About: Hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday from 12-6 PM, spirit tastings at varying times on Fridays and Saturdays, and beer tastings Thursdays from 3-7 PM. All tastings are absolutely free of charge! (803) 407-3737
  
  Tsubaki Karaoke Bar
  - About: Tsubaki Restaurant, Lounge, & Karaoke is a great place to chill out and belt it out. With an extensive song collection, a full bar, rooms for a more private get-together, and no drink/food minimum, Tsubaki is a great venue for karaoke. (224 O'Neil Court | (803) 736-7474)

twin peaks

About: Hearty, made-from-scratch comfort food, hand-cut and breaded mozzarella Cheese bites, Buffalo wings in four flavors and smashed-to-order burgers can be found on their menu. Grab a cold draft beer, frosted at a teeth-chattering 29 degrees! 600 Gervais Street | (803) 602-3667

Wild Wing Cafe

About: Has three locations in Greater Columbia waiting to serve you. With nightly specials like "Pint & a Pie," daily lunch and dinner specials, and practically every NFL or college game you could ask for, any of their great locations will ensure your Game Day is a winner, whether or not your team pulls through. Stop by the Wind Wing Cafe website to see specific specials! (803) 252-9464

Village Spirits

About: Village Spirits is Columbia's premier store for a fantastic selection of beer, wine, and spirits. FREE weekly wine tastings are held every Friday from 4-7! Check out samsfinewineandspirits.com and check out their calendar or drop in to sign up for weekly emails about occasional Saturday tastings, as well!

Outdoors

Adventure Carolina

About: Adventure Carolina offers guided trips kayaking, hiking, and paddling down Broad River. Private lessons (kayaking, canoeing) and rentals (kayaks, canoes, tubes) are also available, along with a retail store in Cayce. (803) 796-4505

Carolina Honda

About: Carolina Honda Ready to go ridin'? Carolina Honda has everything you need for your next outdoor adventure! Check 'em out today!

Frankie's Fun Park

About: Frankie's Fun Park is a great way to get together with the guys, eat some pizza, and play some games. With 3 go-cart tracks, 3 different mini-golf courses, laser tag, batting cages, a rock climbing wall, and more than 100 games in their state of the art arcade, everyone can hang out. Food, games, friends--what else do you need? 140 Parkridge Drive | (803) 781-2342

Harbison State Forest

About: Harbison State Forest is one of the area's best ways to get into nature and away from the business of life, boasting several picnic shelters, over 30 miles of trails and roads open for recreational use, and a canoe landing with public access to the Broad River for canoes and kayaks. For only a $5/day or $25/year parking permit, Harbison State Forest is just waiting to help you reconnect--so get out and take run, dust off your bike, or paddle through the Broad River.
Irmo Chapin Recreation Center
- About: A great way to be active and have fun. With six athletic fields at Crooked Creek Park and nine at Seven Oaks Park, it's the perfect opportunity to call the guys, make a team, and play some ball. However you take advantage of the ICRC, relax and have fun! An athletic calendar, information for registration, and specifics about each location are maintained at icrc.net!

Saluda Shoals Park

Crooked Creek Park
- About: 53,000 square-foot Community Center with full gymnasium, six athletic fields, racquetball courts, fitness areas, indoor walking track, picnic facilities, paved/unpaved walking trails, playgrounds and a 27-hole Disc Golf Course.1098 Old Lexington Highway | Chapin | (803) 345-6181
Seven Oaks Park
- About: 30,000 square-foot facility with full gymnasium, fitness area, dance studio, art studio, art gallery and meeting rooms, 9 Athletic Fields, 6 Tennis Courts, Paved Walking Trails, Picnic Shelters, Playgrounds and a Community Garden. Seven Oaks Park also offers a variety of programs for children and adults. 200 Leisure Lane | (803) 772-3336

Dreher Island State Park

About: Dreher Island State Park is the perfect opportunity to get away, go camping with guys, and get back to nature. Located on Lake Murray, the park is a great place to fish, boat, or hike the Dreher Nature Trail.

Lake Wateree State Park

About: Lake Wateree State Park site on beautiful Lake Murray, just waiting to be enjoyed. Chill out and take a swim, go camping, take a hike, or take advantage of public fishing access or their public boat ramp!! Whatever you do, beautiful Lake Murray is the perfect place to relax and be alone or get some buddies and hang out away from the city.

Congaree National Park

About: Congaree National Park is a great way to enjoy some fresh air and experience 'hiking and paddling.' Ranger-guided hikes and canoe trips can be reserved, or take a job around the 2.5 mile boardwalk loop. Limited primitive and back-country camping are also available. Best thing about Congaree National Park? Everything is FREE!

Columbia Riverfront Park & Historic Canal

About: This 167-acre park features a jogging and walking trail, as well as picnic tables and benches. You can learn about the history of the Columbia canal while walking through one of the old pump houses at the park or enjoy running, bicycling, and fishing activities.

SC Department of Natural Resource

About: The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is the ultimate go-to for local outdoorsmen. You can find out the best place for freshwater and saltwater fishing, find fish attractor maps, and purchase or renew necessary licences ad registration. Anything to do with boating, fishing, or hunting in South Carolina is at your fingertips, so check out the website and enjoy South Carolina's great outdoors!

The City of Columbia Parks and Recreation

About: City of Columbia Parks & Recreation Department oversees EVERYTHING--parks, rental facilities, arts opportunities, athletics, gardens, dog parks, pools, skate parks, and special/holiday events. Take a run through Finlay Park or, get in a great workout with Kickboxing classes at the Drew Wellness Center. The City of Columbia offers so many services--take advantage and enjoy! For specifics, visit columbiasc.net/parksandrec.

Carolina Cyclers

About: Carolina Cyclers promotes cycling in the Midlands. Members meet the fourth Monday of each month at a local restaurant. Meeting locations and times, a ride calendar, and other details are updated monthly at carolinacyclers.org, so check it out!

The Columbia Disc Golf Club

About: Offers a great opportunity to have fun and meet new people! For specifics about the many disc golf courses in the greater Columbia area, visit columbiadiscgolfclub.com!

Columbia Rowing Club

About: The Columbia Rowing Club offers recreational and competitive rowing (sculling or sweep) for ages 13-94 at the Richland County Rowing Center. The Club meets every third Tuesday of the month and has a "Learn to Row" program for interested beginners! To get started, visit columbiarowingclub.com.

The Columbia Running Club

About: Exists to support the many local races available and to grow and support the local running community. Membership is NOT required to participate in runs and races, though there are advantages to joining, like monthly newsletters and weekly updates. Find out about local races, runs, and other events at colarunclub.com!

Strictly Running

About: More than just running and walking. Not only are there are training groups to prepare you for half- and full marathons, but the Five Points retail store can also fit you for the proper shoes. Check out the website for an updated list of events! 803-799-4786

Lanier Sailing Academy

About: Lake Murray offers sunset sails, sailing lessons, and a sailing club for sailing enthusiasts! Rentals are also available. Sailing courses are 3 days, after which participants can sail up to a 25-foot-long boat on their own (with crew). (803) 317-9070

Riverfront Park and Historic Columbia Canal

About: The Riverfront Park and Historic Columbia Canal is wonderful place to get in a quiet workout. You can walk, jog, or bike the 2.5 mile canal; picnic; or fish. 803-545-3100

Sports

beltline bowling & games

About:What a great place to have fun! Located at the Petro Stopping Center on Bluff Road at I-77 (exit 5) this is not your average bowling center! Along with bowling, you and the guys can enjoy their game room filled with virtual reality simulators, arcade games, and an open bar.
Address: 2154 South Beltline Lane
Hours: Mon-Thurs 10am-11pm | Fri & Sat 10am-12am | Sun 10am-10pm
Phone: (803) 908-4895

Irmo Chapin Recreation Center

About: A great way to be active and have fun. With six athletic fields at Crooked Creek Park and nine at Seven Oaks Park, it's the perfect opportunity to call the guys, make a team, and play some ball. However you take advantage of the ICRC, relax and have fun! An athletic calendar, information for registration, and specifics about each location are maintained at icrc.net!

YMCA of Columbia

About: Offers 4 great locations to serve men in Columbia and surrounding areas! The Downtown, Lexington, Jeep Rogers, and NorthWest locations offer men's health club memberships, "Men's Massage," basketball leagues, flag football, tennis, personal training, and a "Fit to Be Corps" Marine Corp-inspired workout program!

Colonial Life Arena

About: Catch University of South Carolina basketball games! Visit Colonial Life Arena's website for upcoming season and ticket info!

Richland County Recreation Commission

About: Mission is to provide programming and recreational opportunities for children and adults with special needs, but people of all abilities can participate in basketball, kickball, and track, just to name a few. For specific programs or to lend a helping hand, visit richlandcountyrecreation.com!

Plex Indoor Sports

About: Adult flag football, basketball, inline hockey, and soccer leagues are headquartered at the Sandhills Center. Stop by today to get involved! For specific programs, give them a call or stop by their website. Plex Indoor Sports offers a variety of leagues for adults including: inline hockey, flag football and soccer at the Sandhills center and ice hockey at the Irmo Center. (803) 360-7300

Columbia Martial Arts and Fitness

About: Better for you than an beer and wings, Muay Thai kick boxing, Jiu-Jitsu, MMA X-Fit training, and Kali will challenge and strengthen. For prices, specifics, and fun, give them a call! (803) 356-9755

Life Force Karate and Fitness

About: is a great resource to work up a sweat and stay fit. Contemporary-traditional Karate, classical Jiu-Jitsu, and fitness kick boxing are great to reduce stress, stay fit, and build confidence. For more detail on programs, take a look at their website or drop by to view the facility! (803) 783-5425

The Palmetto Shag Club

About: Meets each week at local restaurants. Want to shag? Check out palmettoshagclub.com for membership information, upcoming events, and to brush up on your shag etiquette. (803) 750-1712

Capital Karate

About: Offers great opportunities for get fit and get tough! Programs incorporate techniques from around the world and emphasize physical fitness, self-protection, and tools for success in and out of the studio. For updated class schedules and other specifics, check out the website! (803) 212-7111

Military Museums

SC Confederate Relic Room and Military History Museum

About: For over a century, the SC Confederate Relic Room and Military History Museum's mission has been to collect and preserve the military history of this state. Columbia's oldest museum, the state's martial tradition from the Revolutionary War to the present War on Terror is presented. Visitors explore the military campaigns in which South Carolinian soldiers have participated over the past 300 years! 301 Gervais Street (State Museum Building). 803-737-8095.