Greater Columbia

Greater Columbia consists of the cities that surround Columbia, the capital of South Carolina.

• 34.000556-81.0441671 Columbia is the capital of South Carolina and is home to the University of South Carolina and the Gamecocks.

• 34.0925-81.1861112 Irmo
• 33.981111-81.2308333 Lexington
• 33.991056-81.0731674 West Columbia
• 33.963333-81.0666675 Cayce
• 34.038611-80.96756 Forest Acres
• 34.218056-80.9847227 Blythewood

• 33.783333-80.7833338 Congaree National Park

• Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE ^IATA)

One place you won't be able to visit, but you might want to tell folks back home that you were near, is what the US Geological Survey calls "Alcohol and Drug Abuse Lake". In Columbia, it is a 92-acre (37 hectares) body of water inside a state-run drug rehab facility, which prefers to call it the Morris Village Pond. The pond is enclosed by a fence, part of which runs along Wood Circle.

• Late September: If you are in town, you must visit the Okra Strut in Irmo: a gathering in the woods that celebrates the classic West African-originated soul food dish. You will find music, colorful costumes, and as much fried okra as you can eat. Watch the parade, see Miss Okra Strut represent the community, and maybe even run a 5K to burn off a calorie or two from carnival food.