If you read Goodnight Moon to your son, he may like looking for the Mice on Main in downtown Greenville - http://www.miceonmain.com/historyofmiceonmain.html

Lots of interesting places to eat and shop along the few blocks including the wonderful Mast General Store - http://www.mastgeneralstore.com/Communities/gv/index.cfm

If you have a pup at home, stop by here to buy him a treat - http://thebarkerybistro.myshopify.com/

Sorry, you said Columbia and I was thinking Greenville. Never mind.

You only have 4 days in Charleston and you want to spend 2 of them in Columbia? It's a nice town but I don't know that you'll want to take 2 road trips there in July. It's much hotter inland than it is on the coast.My Columbia friends hot-foot it to the beach that time of year.

The Riverbanks Zoo is nice and the gardens there are great. You can drive onto Ft. Jackson if you like Army stuff.

Good news, there's a Mast General Store in Columbia now.

http://www.mastgeneralstore.com/Communities/co/

Riverbank Zoo is nice and tubing on the river is very popular.

Al, Columbia? Why? It's a nice "town". Why don't you take a trip up the coast from Charleston (if you must leave) and see Georgetown and Pawley's Island (the beach where the rice planters of Charleston spent summers to escape the malarial mosquitos). Georgetown is a picturesque Revolutionary War age town. There is a tall ship that takes 3 hour cruises (and returns). One is a pirate themed one that a 10 year old might love. It is fun.
Then while you are up that way go to Brookgreen Gardens just 10 more minutes up the road from Pawley's. There is BEAUTIFUL art, gardens, a little zoo, and a butterfly pavilion.
If you really "need" to take a road trip inland, I'd go to Greenville a la Starrs suggestion rather than Columbia. AND your son who loves campuses can see a lovely college--Furman. there is also the art museum with a significant Wyeth collection.

I think people are being polite about Columbia. I've tried to like it in my trips there, but usually come away thinking it's really just a hot, unattractive place with more than its share of poor rednecks and a muddy scar of a river cutting through it.

That said, the Riverbanks Zoo is a good one - very compact and nicely done. And some of the areas near the University are quite nice. And we always enjoy lunching at California Dreaming built out of an old train station.

I found three full days necessary for Charleston, and four would not have been unreasonable -- there's a good bit to see there.

That being said, here's one list and one further description of attractions in Columbia:

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/columbiasc/1804_indattr.html

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/columbiasc/1804010029.html

I'll even add--we have lovely family in Columbia who own a flour mill just down the street from the Capitol--now reviving to be a nice upscale eating/shopping part of town. They sold some land to Hampton Inn a few years ago and in excavating for the building found a trove of Confederate cannonballs that had fallen short of hitting the Capitol building!!
Brian has hit it. And in August you will NOT believe how hot and humid Columbia is.
Last year we went to a tennis tournament--it was 110* and 100% humidity!!

The original post says we will only vistit for maybe 6 or 7 hours at the most in Columbia not days. I Like the Zoo idea as my young one loves zoos. I have been to Charleston before so I do not need 4 days there and we are going to Hilton Head afterewards so there is our beach time. We live a mile away from one of the most Beautiful Beaches in the US, Siesta Key,so we never feel we have to go to a beach. When we go to different areas we like to explore as much as possible. Sounds like the amount of time we alloted for Columbia will be more than enough. Heat? Living in South Florida, we are use to the worse heat and humidity.

I would still suggest Greenville (or Georgetown) as a possibility. Don't forget the 2 hour drive of the most boring drive in SC--Oh, now I remember you have THE most boring drives in Florida!! LOL
Has your son seen the Hunley exhibit in Charleston--the aquarium. The plantations? College of Charleston? Sumter? The churches?
The fishing docks on Shem Creek?
I wasn't suggesting Pawley's for the beach--it has a historic district that dates pre-Civil War--VERY interesting for a beach (that is still totally undeveloped for commercial use--they do it right).

I read your original post. With the 2 hours up and back each way it will take up most of your days.

I wasn't suggesting the beach either. It's 15-20 degrees cooler here than inland that time of year.

I would think about a day trip to Brookgreen instead. You could stop at Seewee for lunch.

We visit Columbia to see family regularly and I have to say, much as I love to visit, Columbia isn't very interesting unless you like strip malls.

If you think you would run out of stuff to do in Charleston (really???), why not drive to Beaufort. Lovely town with lots of shops, great restaurants, a marina, boat trips and close to some interesting lowland islands. Try the Rhett House Inn and visit the local museum. We keep going back because it is so relaxed and beautiful. There is a good boardwalk out on Hunting Island and a long pier to walk too.

Beaufort and Hunting Island are also great ideas.

Was only going to visit Columbia for a half of day but does not sound like a great place to visit from what I am hearing. My friend at work did bring up Beaufort as a must see also. Been to Greenville and liked it a lot, but way too far away. Gretchen, the drive from Sarasota to Charleston will be VERY boring. Was just talking about how boring most of Florida is away from both coasts. Very flat driving. Just booked our rooms through Priceline and got a hotel on the Ashley River. Anyone familiar with that? Did not feel like spending $300 a night for rooms in downtown where I stayed last time. Says only 3 miles away from downtown and only 3 miles away from the Citadel where my oldest will be at his wrestling camp.

Well, NOW you give us good info on why you are here. Ashley River is, of course, where many of the plantations are.
Greenville is a little further than Columbia--reason for suggesting it IF you just HAD to go inland--in august--in South Carolina=AWFUL!!
Please, answer, have you seen the Hunley exhibit. Don't miss it.
There is SO SO much to do on the coast. Please do it.
YOur "half day" in columbia is a WHOLE day. Add it up.
One of our sons was a wrestler, and it is a GREAT sport--and requires such discipline from the parent--it is SO hard to watch. Good luck to him. Tell him to do a LOT of running. Our coach was a really good one, and stamina counts for sure.

People stay out of the HD all the time, so it should be fine. I'm trying to think of a hotel on the Ashley that's 3 miles from both. There are a couple right at the Ashley River Bridge that are really close to the Citadel.

Beaufort would be a much more pleasant day trip than Cola. It's right on the way to HHI, and you could also stop by the Old Sheldon Church Ruins.

"I think people are being polite about Columbia."

I completely agree. Even diehard Gamecocks have a hard time coming up with great things to see and do in Cola. Years ago I had to spend the night downtown and I couldn't believe it was a state capital. Years later I'd stay out in Lexington on business trips and hit my favorite Greek family restaurant. But other than that?

There's no way I'd recommend Cola as a side trip from the beach. There's so much to see and do along the coast.

Listen to the local experts. They know of what they speak.

Hotel is La Quinta which surprised me that it was a 2.5 star, similar to Hampton Inns. I was a little bummed because last time I stayed at a beautiful 4 star hotel in the Historic District for $85 a night. Was just me and my son who was at a similar Camp at the Citadel for Wrestling. He is real good.
I told my wife how nice Charleston was and now she wants to see. Anyway, cost $90 a night per room, and we get 2 rooms.(Don't ask about my snoring!!) Greenville is way too far for a day trip. We will check out some of the island areas. After hearing from all about Beaufort we will visit. NO, I have not seen the Hunley exhibit. What is it?

The Hunley is a Confederate submarine that has been preserved (in water) and is now open to the public. OUr dear grandson LOVED it, and our other grandchildren coming this summer from Denver will go. It is REALLY great.
C'mon, bigAl, do some REAL homework. You spent X days in Charleston (YOU), and are willing to drive to a very dull captitol (so a 10 year old can see USC?) and not avail your son/child/wife of an absolutely BEAUTIFUL city that MANY of us go back to over and over.
How about the aquarium? It isn't a huge one, but it is certainly enjoyable to me--and to our young grands who ARE your son's age--and your daughter's.
Have you really thought about telling your son (you seem to leave your daughter at home?) about the plantation "thing"--what they did, how they did it, rice planters, etc. There is more history in Charleston than most places in the US--it isn't really "in your face", but it IS available. I'd suggest to make use of it. Has your son been to Fort Sumter? It's pretty important in history.

Gretchen, I have an assignment for you. Before you post please read each post twice.I feel like I am talking to my mom.(lol)
As I have written previously we will skip Columbia after reading many of the posts above. We will check out Beaufurt. The Hunley sounds interesting and I am sure our youngest brain child will love it. I did not see all of Charleston,mainly the downtown Historic area as I did not have a car. I think 3 days will be more than plenty. I get bored easily. Our 10 year old will definitely want to see the aquarium. Actually my son probably can teach me more about the plantations,than I can tell him. I am sure he will love Charleston. Over the last year he visited Boston, Philadelphia, St. Augustine,Williamsburg, and soon Charleston. Kid loves history. The wrestler could care less and is why he will stay at the camp. Our daughter we lock up at home for a week and she is not allowed out!! Gretchen, as I told you a couple of years ago we have NO daughter. For some reason you insist that we have a daughter but we do not. We have 2 boys. (Notice I did not add in that the youngest also visited Charlotte NC) Just did not feel right adding that in with all the other Historical sites.

Here's the link to the Hunley:
http://www.hunley.org/index.asp
Last I heard, the excavation is only open on weekends. You might want to call ahead.

You might also want to visit Middleton Place if you haven't done that yet.Also consider visiting the Center for Birds of Prey in Awendaw, Ft. Moultrie on Sullivans, and Hunting Island State Park down near Beaufort.

Sorry. Just knew you did have a younger child. Sightseeing is fun for all. Again,the Hunley exhibit is really fascinating. Good catch for Sue if it is a limited day opening. I'm just glad it is now open to the public after being found those years ago.

Gretchen, I sat on Sullivans the day they brought up the Hunley. It was quite the sight! Anybody who had a boat was out there escorting it into the harbor. I haven't been over to see it lately. Maybe I'll go this weekend and see what's up.

Hunley is now added to our list, if close enough by. I have not looked it up yet to see where located.

DS and DGS took pictures and told us all about it. Grandchildren from Denver are coming in August and I hope we'll get to take them too. DGS was totally totally taken by the entire story. I think they were there on a weekend, but do wonder if it is available more. Did you say for sure only on weekend?
That would have been SO exciting to see it come in.

bigal4, it's in North Charleston on the Old Navy Base.

Gretchen, you might want to call. It was weekends only for a long time, since they were working on it during the week. I didn't search the website, but it might be on there.

It WAS exciting. There were people everywhere. I was on the beach at Ft. Moultrie and got interviewed for TV, haha.