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But I also think they mean the ambience that a coastal city brings to the equation. Mt Pleasant, where I live, has long ago lost it's sense of being a Lowcountry village near the ocean. However, if you go to areas south of Charleston, like around Wadmalaw Island, you still get that vibe. Really hard to describe what that is but I think most people know the coastal feeling when they see it but can't necessarily tell you what goes into making a place feel that way.
A river city has its own 'je ne said quoi.' Columbia is a river city.
A river city has its own 'je ne said quoi.' Columbia is a river city.
It does and that's why these types of direct comparisons based on things like art, shopping, etc do not do the proper justice to a particular area or region.
I think you should spend a few days in both cities. While Charleston has the ocean and historic attractions, Columbia has 3 rivers, Lake Murray, Congaree National Park and many more major college sports options. If you want to go to a bigger city I can get to Charlotte in an hour and 15 minutes and Atlanta in 3 hours and 15 minutes. Don't sell Columbia's arts scene short - we have a great medium-sized art museum, the State Museum, great local theatre and the Nickelodeon independent cinema (Indie Grits Film Festival going on currently). I love visiting Charleston, but Columbia is a place I'd rather live.
If you are into travelling more and dont care about the beach too much, Columbia probably is better since it's closer to other big cities.
If you dont travel from your home city much and love the beach, Charleston is probably better. Savannah, Myrtle Beach, Wilmington and Jacksonville are not too far of drives from Charleston, but all are coastal cities as well and offer the same type stuff.
As for sports....which is my passion....
Columbia has USC of course. SEC football! And closer to ATL and Charlotte for pro sports.
Charleston has no major college or pro team, BUT has a LOT of mid-major college and minor league teams. For great mid-major college football, they have The Citadel and Charleston Southern. College of Charleston basketball is probably better than USC/Clemson's basketball most years. All three colleges have solid baseball teams. The Charleston Riverdogs and SC Stingrays are two of the best minor league baseball/hockey experiences anywhere imo due to the environment, winning, etc. They used to have an arena football team here and an NBDL basketball team, but both folded up. Charleston has far better golfing, but I dont like golf so who cares!
As for recreational sports, the Ravenel Bridge jogging path just may be the most scenic running path in the state, if not the South. Amazing. Kayaking is awesome, fishing of course. NO hiking anywhere though, since there are no mountains.
I think Columbia and Charleston have far more in common than most people know anyway. One has a beach, the other doesn't, not a big deal unless you MUST have the beach. Charleston has more history, Columbia has more corporate job opportunity. Both have areas of high crime. Both have drunken frat boys, except Cola's are still in college, Charlestons were in college 15 years ago but still go to the frat parties.
Both are awesome places to live. Can't really go wrong with either. But I can say for sure, Columbia IS HOTTER than Charleston in the summer. Charleston is like the devils oven. But Columbia is like taking the devils toaster, putting it in his oven, the pushing the switch down.
... except that, according to the local weather man in Columbia, pretty much on a daily basis during the hottest part of the summer, the heat index (not the temperature reading but how hot it FEELS) is higher in Charleston than in Columbia.
Well perhaps some facts might help to convince you that Columbia is hotter. Something everyone else in SC knows.
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