Columbia may be known to outsiders for its #FamouslyHot summer days, but us locals know that the tail end of winter brings some infamously cold + wet days.
However, we’re here to help stave off the winter blues + cabin fever. Reading “47º | Scattered Showers | 60% chance of rain” at the top of the News Notes in your Friday COLAtoday email doesn’t mean you have to be a shut-in all weekend long.
We asked you on Instagram to give your best go-tos for dreary day plans.
Here’s what readers said:
“Can’t wait to see this list! Please include some kid friendly options too. We like hiwire & edventure but would love to scope out a nice indoor playground. Oh and Frankie’s. The kids playground is $8 for all you can play.” – @kva_bowdoin
“Movies, @dukes_pad_thai, or Sunday funday inside a brewery.” – @mckenzie_roland
“Gonna have a beer w/my wife while shopping at Lowes Foods on Forest Drive, cause we’re exciting like that!” – @dcpiloti
Leave Netflix behind + check out 11 indoor activities instead – like catching a movie at The Nick, taking the kids to Frankie’s Fun Park + spending the evening at beer yoga.
Catch a movie
The Nickelodeon | $11 | Is there anything better than catching a matinee on a dreary day? Instead of rewatching The Office reruns on Netflix, head out to The Nick for a movie day. (ProTip: They serve beer + wine.)
“@nicktheatre - it’s downtown, nonprofit and shows great movies!” –@amandawindsor
The Nickelodeon Theatre | Photo by @accordiallife
🔭 Peruse a museum
Columbia Museum of Art | $5-10 or free for members and children 6 + under | Spend a rainy day in the newly-renovated CMA on Main St. With impressive permanent + rotating galleries and workshops for adults + children, the art museum is always changing and offering new opportunities to put the left side of your brain to good use – so you’ll never get tired of visiting.
Columbia Museum of Art | Photo by @harleermiller
South Carolina State Museum | $4-19.95 or free for children 2 + under | You don’t have to know anything about S.C. history to know that you’ll enjoy visiting the S.C. State Museum. After you’ve exhausted the four floors of S.C. history, art, natural history, science + technology, stop in the planetarium theatre to experience one of their rotating shows, like Black Holes (we’ve seen it – it was wild) or National Parks Adventure.
South Carolina State Museum | Photo by @bear8s
👨👩👧👦 Keep the kids off their tablets
Plex HiWire | $9-22 | Trust, your kids will burn out after an afternoon at the indoor trampoline park. Everyone can take rain-naps at home afterwards.
The GRAND | $25-40 per hour + $4 for shoes | If you haven’t been yet, bowling at The GRAND changes the game. Grab lunch (we’d recommend the lobster + shrimp roll), a local craft beer (they’re serve-yourself downstairs) + lace up your bowling shoes. Still nasty out when the game’s over? Challenge your friends to an arcade game in the basement.
“The Grand on main street has bowling & board games” –@_elfuegoleo_
Frankie’s Fun Park | prices vary by game | If the weather isn’t great for mini golf, Frankie’s has indoor arcade games galore.
“Frankie’s. $8 for all you can play.” –@kva_bowdoin
Frankie’s Fun Park | Photo by @creamsiclechica
Richland Library | free | When in doubt, check out (a book) at the library. Check out their list of children’s programming + events – like family storytime with a Congaree Park ranger + Critter Café with Riverbanks Zoo.
Richland Library | Photo by @amber.f.watson
☕ Cuddle up with coffee or a treat
Drip | Head to Drip in Five Points and warm up with their signature Honey Habanero Latte.
Drip | Photo by @breakwater_re
The Gourmet Shop | If coffee isn’t your thing, we’d recommend a bowl of the tomato bisque soup from The Gourmet Shop in Five Points.
The Gourmet Shop | Photo by @golocalcolumbia
⛳ Game on
Topgolf Swing Suite | $25-85 per hour | The best part about virtual reality golfing is that the game can instantly transport you to a sunny Kiawah Island course. When the weather outside isn’t great, head to Topgolf at The Venue on Main with some friends and pretend you’re on a real green.
Topgolf Swing Suite | Photo by @d_lock87
Beer Yoga | $10 | A blah day doesn’t mean you have to be stuck immobile on the couch. Namaste away your rainy blues with a pop-up yoga class (and a beer). Good Company Yoga host events almost every weekend at different breweries + bars around town.
“Beer yoga! @goodcompanyyoga” –@trinena
Beer Yoga | Photo by @goodcompanyyoga
🛒 ...and catch up on your grocery shopping.
The Beer Den at Lowes Food | $5-8 per pint | A productive rainy day = finishing up your grocery shopping (with a craft beer in-cart) at Lowes Foods. We won’t judge if you linger at the Beer Den all afternoon.
“Gonna have a beer w/ my wife while shopping at Lowe’s Grocery on Forest Drive, cause we’re exciting like that!” –@dcpiloti
