Columbia wants Augustans to drive 45 minutes to 1 hr (Atlanta, Evans: hotels, school)

[nortonguy]

I was looking at the Augusta Chronicle moments ago. I noticed a big long banner at the top of the page. ''Come see what's hot'' Columbia, SC Famously Hot. When you click on it this comes up.
Columbia South Carolina Hotels, Attractions, and Vacation Travel Information

How often do you visit Columbia? I think it's great they want ppl in the metro to visit. Columbia used to feel bigger than Augusta. The cities feel about the same in 2010.

[EastsideDave]

Meh, Columbia has a few more things to do (especially downtown) than Augusta, but it's not all that spectacular, from what I've seen of it, their downtown does seem a bit more vibrant than Augusta's (but I'm not a very good judge of that, I rarely go to Columbia, I'm much more familiar with Atlanta). In reality, about the only time I'll go to Columbia is to go to the state museum or to the zoo, those are really the only things (other than USC and football) that I can think of that sets it apart from Augusta. Columbia is basically a slightly larger version of Augusta with major university and fewer golf references.

In reality, I see no reasons for Augustans to drive an hour to Columbia other than for the zoo or for USC football. Personally, if I'm taking that much time to drive somewhere, I might as well add on another hour and drive to Atlanta.

[All4Augusta]

Yeah I agree the two cities feel exactly the same I wish aug would get a zoo or something

[Hot_Mike]

How does a city go by doing that(getting a zoo)? Or are they privately owned?

[GeorgiaGirl14]

I've been in Columbia 3 times. I'd rather go to Athens then Columbia for college football. I went to the zoo twice, once with school, and once I went for the heck of it, and the third time in that town was family reasons.

I'd go to Atlanta before Columbia.

[Chuck_G]

We go to the Columbia a lot. We also go over to the mall area as my wife likes to shop at A.C. Moore. There are some nice stores and restaurants near the mall, but that whole area is horribly congested. Augusta Mall has a lot easier access.

[SeaSpur]

Columbia has quite a bit more to offer.

- A zoo
- A museum
- Active rivers that people actually frequent
- 2 Dining/Nightlife Areas that are REALLY active (nowhere in Augusta can begin to compare)
- much more local dining options
- more upscale shopping choices
- a college town feel to it...which brings culture, something obvious in Columbia.
- a lot more cleaner than Augusta...you see people all over the place walking, biking, etc.
- sports are appreciated and embraced in Columbia...Carolina Athletics being the most.
- the "suburbs" are more developed. Evans is the only suburb I'd say Augusta has that has made itself "it's own".
- you also have a developed lake nearby...Lake Murray smokes Thurmond in every aspect.
- you have major venues for various events that actually DRAW big names. Augusta lacks in this area but you can tell there are small strides being made, however- they will be midweek stops for big name artists to gain a little revenue for the tour.
- there is also a developed downtown area in Columbia that still has work to be done, but is accelerating at a much faster pace than Augusta. there are actually good dining choices in Columbia...and an actual skyline.

just a few reasons why Columbia is still ways ahead of Augusta.

[EastsideDave]

I agree with all your points SeaSpur, however Columbia just doesn't offer things that would make me visit regularly, I find that tacking on an extra hour to the drive and going to Atlanta is far more worth my while.

Also, like you said, USC is the main reason for Columbia's prosperous downtown, Augusta could learn a few lessons from them.

[SeaSpur]

Yeah, my intentions were not to rag on Augusta...however, with the proposed question- I just think Columbia is obviously leaps and bounds beyond Augusta in many facets of what a city should strive to be. It's just not even close. Against other cities, maybe not as much so.

I personally don't do Atlanta because of the chaotic traffic and "types" of people you have to deal with around there...just gets a little too ghetto and dirty for me honestly. The downtown area is scarred by urban sprawl, like a lot of US cities I suppose. If I am going to drive a good distance for a city for shopping or entertainment, I'm going to Charlotte.

[Akhenaton06]

Originally Posted by EastsideDave

Columbia is basically a slightly larger version of Augusta with major university and fewer golf references.

And it's the state capital as well.

In reality, I see no reasons for Augustans to drive an hour to Columbia other than for the zoo or for USC football. Personally, if I'm taking that much time to drive somewhere, I might as well add on another hour and drive to Atlanta.

That's totally understandable. But there are some "niche" things that could attract Augustans to Columbia from time to time, like if the Columbia Museum of Art is featuring a major exhibition, which it does on a semi-regular basis. Other than that, if I lived in Augusta, I'd drive the extra hour to Atlanta also. But still, Augusta could take some cues from Columbia and develop things that will keep visitors coming in throughout the year aside from the Masters. Building a downtown convention center would be a good start.