Group Tour Sample Itinerary
Need help planning your visit?
We've got you covered. We've put together this sample itinerary to make the most of your visit. Please note that these are just suggestions and that we are happy to customize your group visit.
Day One
Morning
Time: Morning; 10 a.m. – noon
Tours: Robert Mills House Tour and Hampton-Preston Mansion Tour
Description: No trip to Columbia is complete without a tour of an antebellum home. You can start your day with tours of the Robert Mills House and Hampton-Preston Mansion. The historic estates, complete with beautiful gardens, let you experience the best of indoor and outdoor Southern living. These homes feature beautiful examples of period furniture, as well as objects that 19th and 20th century Americans used in their daily lives.
Lunch: Groups can complete their tours of these residences with a box lunch in one of the historic, manicured estate gardens. We are happy to provide you a list of restaurants who provide box lunches.
Afternoon
Time: 1:30 – 3 p.m.
Tour: Civil War Bus Tour
Description: After lunch, a historic Civil War bus tour lets visitors see Columbia’s role during the war. Visitors can retrace the struggles of Confederate commanders and follow the steps of Sherman's army, driving past historic sites that survived the devastation resulting from the arrival of the Union army and the remains of some that didn’t.
Evening Suggestions
Exploring: After taking in the history of the city, groups often like to experience the thriving culture of Columbia's Main Street District, which offers boutiques, art galleries and restaurants.
Dinner: When you're ready for dinner, your many options include traditional Southern cooking, new inspirations from the area's young chefs, or a fusion of both, served in historic buildings repurposed to blend the old and the new. Visitors can choose from an eclectic variety of restaurants, cafes and bistros. Hotels options abound, letting you spend the evening in comfort and charm.
Day Two
Morning
Time: Morning; 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Tours: Woodrow Wilson Family Home Tour and Mann-Simons Site Tour
Description: Groups can experience the Woodrow Wilson Family Home, the childhood home to the 28th president of the United States who led the country through World War I. This the only museum in the U.S. dedicated to telling the tale of the post-war Reconstruction period and an interesting way to start a day of touring.
Following a visit to the Wilson home, groups can tour the Mann-Simons Site and relive the remarkable tale of two freed slaves who built a family business empire that lasted more than 100 years. Thousands of artifacts discovered on the site help preserve the story of Columbia's African American community from slavery and Reconstruction to the Civil Rights era through urban renewal.
Lunch: For lunch, explore Columbia's Five Points, the oldest entertainment district in the city. Groups can choose from a wide variety of cuisines served at interesting eateries.
Afternoon
Time: 2 – 3 p.m.
Tour: African American Site Tour OR Historic Heart of Columbia Tour
Description: Groups can continue their tour of Columbia in the afternoon by taking a guided bus tour. You can either choose the Historic Heart of Columbia tour and see the significant downtown sites in the central core of Columbia, including the State House, the Governor’s Mansion and the University of South Carolina. Or, choose to take the African American Sites Tour and visit historic African American-owned houses, businesses, cemeteries and important sites.
Evening Suggestions
After a day of exploring the city, visitors often love to check out the local arts scene and night life in the popular Vista entertainment district.
Ready to Book?
To start planning your trip or to learn more, contact our us at (803) 252.1770 ext. 23 or at reservations@historiccolumbia.org.