Welcome to Columbia!
Here is a brief guide to some businesses and attractions in the Columbia area with directions from the CIU campus. For a printer friendly version, click here.
For the nearest...
Post Office (Eau Claire)
- Turn right on Monticello Rd.
- Go 3.4 miles and turn right on Duke Ave. (there is a traffic light).
- The Post Office is on the immediate left.
Grocery Store (Bi-Lo)
- Turn right on Monticello Rd.
- Go about 4 miles - you'll see an option to merge right, turn left, or go straight into a Bi-Lo grocery store parking lot.
Drug Store (CVS)
- Turn right on Monticello Rd.
- Go about 4 miles, and turn left on Columbia College Dr. (at Eau Claire High School).
- After 2 miles or so, you will see the CVS on the left.
Broad River Road
Restaurants: Applebees, Dehli Palace, Monterrey's Mexican, Sonic Drive-Thru, Chick-Fil-A, Arby's, McDonald's, Wendy's
Businesses: Blockbuster Video, Wachovia, Bank of America
- Turn right on Monticello Rd (3 miles).
- Merge right onto I-20 West (3 miles).
- Exit at Broad River Rd (#65).
For Applebees, Delhli Palace, Monterrey's, Sonic, and Blockbuster turn right at the light.
For Chick-Fil-A, Arby's, McDonalds, Wendy's, Wachovia, and Bank of America turn left at the light.
Harbison Blvd.
Restaurants: Chili's, Ruby Tuesday's, Chick-Fil-A, Sesame Inn Chinese Restaurant, Quizno's, Olive Garden, Panera, Outback, Carrabba's, Longhorn Steakhouse
Businesses: WalMart, Home Depot, Columbiana Mall, Carmike Theatre, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Publix Grocery Store, Target, and much more!
- Turn right on Monticello Rd (2 miles).
- Merge right onto I-20 West toward Augusta (4 miles).
- Merge right onto 1-26 West toward Spartanburg, via exit 64B (4 miles).
- Merge right to Harbison Blvd, exit 103.
- For most businesses, turn right on Harbison Blvd off the exit ramp.
Five Points (Harden Street)
Restaurants: Starbucks, Rising High Café, Groucho's Deli, Quizno's, Harper's, Adriana's Gelato, Blue Cactus Korean & Mexican Food, Grilled Teriyaki, India Pavilion, The Parthenon, Yesterday's
- Turn right on Monticello Rd (4 miles).
- Merge right onto North Main St (<1 mile). You will see a Bi-Lo grocery store straight ahead when you are merging.
- Turn left on Sunset Drive (<1 mile, by Burger King).
- Turn right on Broad Street (<1 mile).
- Turn left on Harden Street (1 mile).
You will see restaurants and shopping on both sides. You may have to pay for parking.
For more restaurants, such as Za's Pizza, Al-Amir, Yo Burrito, Ben & Jerry's, the Mediterranean Tea Room and others, turn left on Devine Street form Harden at the end of Five Points.
The Vista (on Gervais Street)
Restaurants: Mellow Mushroom Pizza, McDougal's, Wild Hare, Longhorn Steakhouse, Jimmie John's Sandwiches, Marble Slab Creamery, and other local favorites
Attractions: The State Museum, The Children's Museum, Finley Park, Richland County Public Library, the State Capitol, and a River Walk.
- Turn right on Monticello Rd (2 miles).
- Merge right onto North Main St (<2 miles). You will see a Bi-Lo grocery store straight ahead when you are merging.
- Turn right on Elmwood Avenue.
- Take an immediate left on Assembly Street (by the McDonalds)
- Go a little over a mile on Assembly Street and turn right onto Gervais. You'll see restaurants and shopping. You might have to pay for parking.
While on Assembly St. you will see...
- Finley Park: to get there, turn right on Taylor St. You will see the park entrance on the left. Entrance is free. There is a playground, a good area for walking and playing Frisbee, baseball, etc., and a large fountain. There is a Summer Movie Series held here on Friday nights around sunset, and a Summer Concert Series held here on Saturday nights.
- Richland County Public Library's Main Branch: a large glass building on the right had side on Assembly St. There is free WIFI on the 3rd floor.
- The State Capitol: the large domed building on the left just before you turn on Gervais. There are nice gardens on the grounds.
Attractions at the Vista...
- For the museums: pass through most of the Vista; you'll see the State Museum and the Children's Museum together on the right just before the bridge.
- For the River Walk: continue going on Gervais. Cross over the bridge, and turn into the first driveway/ road on the left. You'll see the parking toward the left. There is a nice walking area and probably the best view in the city of Columbia's skyline.