This is My Town

I came up with 9 random things I love about my "town" (city, whatever) Columbia, SC. When people think of South Carolina, they usually think of our beautiful beaches or the mountain areas, like Greenville. (Which is pretty cool that we have both) So I thought I'd share with everyone that Columbia really is a great place to live. It's halfway between the mountains an the beaches.

1. The Saluda River - There are many trails and walk ways along the Saluda River but also for those of you that love water adventures, you can't beat the kayaking and canoeing! The scenery is gorgeous. When I was a kid, we used to spend hours out on the river rocks behind the zoo. River Rats unite.
   
2. Gervais Street Bridge - I drive over this bridge almost daily, and I love it. I love the architecture and how beautiful it is at night when it's all lit up.
   
3. Adluh Flour - Not to bore you with a little history lesson, but....the Adluh Flour Plant was opened in 1900. Supposedly, the Adluh name came about because the owner wanted to name it after his daughter, Hulda. So he spelled her name backwwards - Adluh. When I was a little girl, we took a tour of the Adluh Flour plant. At the end of the tour, we were given samples of the best biscuits you've ever had in your life! To this day, Adluh is still standing right in the heart of the Columbia Vista, which holds all the bars, galleries and restaurants. It's a fixture of the skyline, and it wouldn't be the same without it. Many restaurants in the area use the Adluh Flour only.
   
4. Trinity Episcopal - This church in downtown Columbia was one of the only churches to survive the burning of Columbia during the war by Gen. Sherman in 1865. From what I've heard, he was Catholic, and though it was a Catholic church and therefore spared it. The architecture is amazing and I love walking the grounds of this church. Also, this church holds a spot in my heart, because several of us went here after 9/11 for a special prayer service.
   
5. Williams Brice Stadium - I can't mention my top favorites about Columbia, without mentioning good ole Billy Brice. What's great about Williams Brice is the parking - we have the state fair grounds next door to our stadium, which in turn makes for AWESOME TAILGATING. And the view from the top on a clear day is amazing.
   
6. Lake Murray - If you ever come to Columbia, and have the opportunity to check out Lake Murray, do it! If nothing else, drive across the dam - the view will take your breath away. They now have a walking path that is approximately 1.8 miles one way. I can't wait to try it.
   
7. Finlay Park - I say Finlay mainly because of the beautiful fountain and it overlooks the city. It's one of the most photographed parks in the city. Also, I had my 1st date at Finlay Park and my High School picture was taken there as well. :) (Also featured in the picture in my current header photo.)
   
8. Riverbanks Zoo - We have a great zoo here, and it is just as it is named, on the Saluda River. The giraffes are my favorite..they will come right up to you and eat out of your palm! I also highly recommend walking through the botanical gardens, and exploring the paths between the gardens and the zoo.
   
9. BBQ - You can't mention any town or city in South Carolina without mentioning barbeque. I'm talking about juicy, yummy falling off the bone barbeque that has been pulled and slapped on a sandwich ready for your favorite "fixins." My personal fave is mustard based bbq and you can find it at any backyard get-together anywhere in the south. However, SC has many different types of BBQ, depending on where you are located in the state. My 2nd favorite is vinegar and pepper bbq, found mostly in the Pee Dee areas, and also down around Beaufort.

Whew! That was fun. Now it's your turn....I want to hear all about your town! If you need help (like I did) I used http://www.picture2life.com/. It was fairly easy and fun.