Columbia, South Carolina is unmistakably southern, forward-thinking and dynamic and you will experience aspects of this and more on this overnight trip to the Capital of the Palmetto State.  The highlight of the trip is a guided tour of the Van Gogh & His Inspirations exhibit at the Columbia Museum of Art.  This is an original exhibition organized by the CMA that brings the work of one of the most beloved artists in the world to the Museum, alongside a variety of handpicked paintings and drawings that shaped his vision.   Van Gogh paintings include an outstanding painting of flower fields from the National Gallery of Art, a sensitive painting of a peasant weaving from The Boston Museum of Fine Art, and the world-famous self-portrait from the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.  

In addition to the Van Gogh Exhibit, there will also be time to enjoy the Museum's permanent collection of one of the largest and most impressive collections in the Southeast, including many Renaissance and Baroque pieces.  Beyond the walls of the Museum, you can spend time viewing an amazing public art culture in Downtown Columbia.

Speaking of culture, our hotel is located in a South Carolina designated Cultural District, the Congaree Vista District.  Restored train stations and warehouses provide us with an evening of all sorts of unique dining options and a history lesson the following morning.

The trip also includes a narrated bus tour featuring  informative and entertaining stories of landmarks such as the Robert Mills Historic District, the State House, the Governor's Mansion, the University of South Carolina's Horseshoe (the original campus) and historic churches to name a few.  We end our experience in Columbia with a tour of the Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens offering a unique and thought provoking interpretation between the planter-class mansion owners and the enslaved workers as well as the evolution of this 200 year old historic property.