You've got your wooded campsites, a lake for canoeing and fishing, hiking trails, a six-mile mountain biking loop, two playgrounds and even a dog park for your four-legged crew.
Sesquicentennial State Park, or Sesqui as it's affectionately called by locals, has all the makings of a great family camping experience. Just a short drive from downtown Columbia, the 1,400-acre park features 84 campsites for tents or RVs, as well as a retreat center with dormitory-style accommodations for up to 30 guests.
The park's two flat, tree-lined trails - one 3.5 miles, the other 1.9 miles - are enjoyed by hikers, joggers and dog walkers. The shorter of the two - the Sandhills Hiking Trail - is paved, making it accessible for parents pushing strollers.
Mountain bikers have their own single track loop that winds and rolls through a pine forest with a fast and sandy bottom. Because sand drains so well, you can ride this trail shortly after a hard rain when other trails in the area are closed.
The park also offers kayaks, canoes, pedal boats and non-motorized fishing boats for rent. You're welcome to bring your own boat, but you'll need to carry it down to the water to launch. There is no boat ramp on the lake.
Fishing also is allowed on the 30-acre lake, so long as you have a S.C. fishing license. Bass and bream are the usual catch.
If you're traveling with a canine companion, you can let him run off leash in the two-acre fenced-in dog park. There is a $4 fee for a day permit. You'll need to keep him on a leash no longer than six feet on the trails and other areas of the park.
