COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - 4K Drone Video Tour

Columbia is a nature-lover's dream. Many beautiful state and local parks, and a national park just 25 minutes south. Even the downtown area is green and clean. While it may not be the most exciting city when UofSC isn't in session, there's still plenty for visitors to explore. Here's a little collection of what we suggest seeing:

Riverfront Park is a 2.5 mile trail running along the historic Columbia Canal. It is a beautiful portion of the Palmetto Trail - which stretches the entire length of South Carolina (Greenville to Charleston). To access the park, visitors must traverse a pre-industrial era railway bridge which locals converted into a pedestrian walkway. The park features sixty picnic tables, hammocks and benches and markers along the trail make it easy to measure your progress along the way.

Originally the Babcock Building portion of the South Carolina Mental Health Hospital was designed in 1858. It was delayed by the U.S. Civil War when Columbia was a hotbed for confederate activity. In the rebuilding of Columbia, it was finally completed in 1885, and called the South Carolina Lunatic Asylum and served as the American south's largest psychiatric hospital for more than 50 years. The Babcock Building was officially closed in 2001 and many groups are petitioning for permanent historic designation. Last year, a major fire destroyed the roof and will cost more than $400,000 to repair. While the entire grounds are fenced and private security is posted outside 24/7, many adventurers and a few drone pilots take the risk to get a look at the creepy insides left behind by those suffering from mental illnesses. In its more than one and a half centuries of operation, more than one million patients roamed these halls and for many it was where they spent their last days. If you’re brave enough to take a look, you better hurry: The area is being demolished for apartments.

The word Sesquicentennial means 150th anniversary. That’s when the US Department of the Interior gave this park to the state of South Carolina in celebration of the state’s 150th anniversary of statehood. This gorgeous State Park is more than 1,400 acres of beautiful woodlands surrounding the Sesquicentennial pond. It features an advanced mountain biking trail and hiking trails that vary from moderate intensity to stroller-friendly. Inside, adventurers can enjoy kayaking, canoeing and fishing. Families will love the child’s splash pad and picnic spaces. If you want to sleep under the stars, this is the perfect place. More than 85 RV sites and tent spaces are available for reservation and midnight exploration off the loop trail definitely makes the Sesquicentennial State Park worth the trip.

Built in 1875 to replace the old State House which was destroyed in the 'Burning of Columbia' during the Civil War, this 130,000 square feet building houses the offices of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, and the state’s representative body called the General Assembly. This site was designated a national historic landmark in 1976 for its incredible roots in the Civil War, Reconstruction Era and Civil Rights activity. Since then, a confederate battle flag flew on the building's dome until being removed in 2015 amid contentious protests. The grounds now feature 13 statues and monuments, including those of George Washington, confederate soldiers, and African Americans. Regardless of political beliefs, the grounds are incredibly beautiful and well-kept and definitely worth a visit when in Columbia.

An endless view of innumerable trees make up this 26,000 acre national park surrounding the Congaree River. Originally owned by logging magnates, this entire area was slated to be cut down before being designated worthy of preservation. Old Growth Forests used to stretch from here through west Texas; but, now, Congaree is the largest and one of the last left standing. Now Congaree is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and home to tens of thousands of species of plants, animals and fungi, making it one of the top 10 most biodiverse portions of the entire United States. You’ll see thousands of roots rising up from the ground. These are called ‘knees’ and botanists hypothesize their purpose is stability, because this entire area is a perpetually moving river. In here, you’ll find species not found anywhere else and, if you’re lucky enough, spotted owls and wild hogs. Old growth forest trees have fallen all throughout the park; but trails and boardwalks throughout the trek ensure you can see it all in one day; but camp sites are available for extended trips.

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