Hiring a car from Columbia Metropolitan Airport will get you straight into the city, based just five miles south west of Columbia, you can be straight into the ‘The Capital of Southern Hospitality'. The South Carolina State Fair is held in October in Columbia, there's plenty of entertainment involved from exhibits to games and food to try from around the local Lexington County. Lake Murray is also nearby, the reservoir was once the largest man-made reservoir but now serves as a great part of the area's history and is perfect to go to for a walk.
The Columbia region is popular for Finlay Park, in downtown. If you hire a car from Columbia Metropolitan Airport you'll be in the city in under twenty minutes and have opportunity to explore the park yourself. It hosts movie nights through the summer, every Friday night screening a different film. There are countless events in the park, so check what's on during your visit. Also in the area, the city is home to four different theatres, all for different purpose, choose from the Columbia Marionette Theatre which is free, as well as The Nickelodeon Theatre and Trustus Theatre which shows film screenings and shows that are direct from New York City.