The heat and humidity in a South Carolina July can be challenging, but here are various ways in West Columbia to enjoy the summer months, in comfort.

Adjusting your wardrobe and wearing loose-fitting, breathable natural fabrics is one way to keep yourself cooler.
Fabrics including linen and cotton, or moisture-absorbent synthetics are designed for high temperatures.

Kenzi Mitchell is a clerk at Barbara Janes Boutique 1505 Charleston Highway, West Columbia.

“We have clothing for summer,” she said. “We have linen and cotton outfits that are made to be lighter and designed for summer wear.”

Kenzi also said Barbara Jane’s Owner Melissa Kaizer has added a men’s line to the store and changed the name to Indigo Proper. And because it is July, a lot of summer clothing is being offered at sale prices.

“It’s a great time to come in and stock up on your summer-time wardrobe,” Kenzi said.

There is another great summer West Columbia venue. And it requires minimal clothing.

Because of the heat, the year-round cool water of the Congaree River makes West Columbia a destination for an escape on hot days. It’s why you can find dozens of tubers on the river any day of the week from Memorial Day until Labor Day. This July is no exception.

“We just had our best Saturday (July 18) of the year,” said Michael Mayo, owner of Palmetto Outdoor that offers tubing trips on the river.

The West Columbia Riverwalk, at the Amphitheater, is the arrival and departure spot for river tubers.

“We have had many days where getting on the river provides relief from the heat,” Mayo said. “It’s been a good summer and the weather has been consistently good for those looking for relief.”

“A man from Ohio said he chose to come to West Columbia just because of the cool river,” Mayo said. “The temperature of the river, because this water comes from the bottom of Lake Murray through the dam, never gets over 60 degrees. When it’s hot, the river feels great.”

Mayo also said the outdoor shower installed at the West Columbia Riverwalk, beside the restrooms, has been a hit.

“We’ve had some tubers come in off the river…they shower and go up to D’s Wings, or The Hideout in WECO on State Street, and eat lunch. That shower gets used a lot,” Mayo said. “Other places to dine on State Street are Breakfast at Ruiz and Another Broken Egg.”

The diners at D’s Wings ( at 425 Meeting Street) can sit in the shade under umbrellas and there is some daytime traffic outside. Outside diners also frequent Cafe Strudel, where there are plenty of inside seats, but Cafe Strudel has a packed back patio for outside dining.

 “We have a lot of customers who like to dine outside,” said General Manager Casi Sawyer. “We’re glad to accommodate them, because it allows us to serve that many more people. And the back patio is shaded.”
Casi also said customers who bring their dogs with them to the restaurant sit outside because dogs are not allowed inside.

Savage Craft Ale Works
Many of Savage Craft Ale Works’s customers dine outside, in the courtyard or on the rooftop.
The courtyard at Savage Craft Ale Works, at 430 Center Street, is filled, especially in the evening. On many nights there is live music.  

Victoria Porter, Savage Craft manager, said the goal is to create an atmosphere that is family friendly where customers can bring their kids and their dogs and sit outside and enjoy a summer evening.
“We want it to be like their own private patio,” she said. “We want people to socialize and create friendships and good times during the long days of summer.”

Black Rooster
“Black Rooster has an amazing rooftop bar with a view of Downtown Columbia and the Gervais Street Bridge. Black Rooster also offers sidewalk-level, outside, at the base of the bridge.

WECO Bottle and Biergarten
WECO Bottle and Biergarten, at 626 Meeting St., is housed in a former garden center and the property includes lots of shaded outdoor seating, with food trucks on the property every day of the week.

Terra at 100 State Street  has outside dining. It features a frequently changing menu that incorporates fresh produce, meat, and fish received in accordance with the season.

List of West Columbia restaurants:

• Grecian Gardens Restaurant – 2312 Sunset Blvd – 803-794-7552
• Cafe Strudel – 300 State St. – 803 – 926-5255
• Savage Craft Ale Works – 430 Center St. – (803) 888-6005
• WECO Bottle and Biergarten – (803) 851-1279
• The Hideout in WECO – State Street
• La Cienega Mexican Grill & Seafood – (803) 888-7471
• Breads and Such – 1220 C Ave. – (803) 851- 0566
• Hite’s BBQ – 240 Dreher Rd. – (803) 794-4120
• Jimmy’s Mini Mart/Citgo – 812 Meeting St. – (803) 794-0090
• Maurice’s Piggie Park – 1600 Charleston Highway – 803-796-0220J
• Nick’s House of Pizza Restaurant- 1082 A Sunset Blvd – 803-794-9240
• DeLuccas 1720 Sunset Blvd. – 803- 926-5255
• Breakfast at Ruiz – 116 State Street – (803) 550-9681
• Ariana’s Greek Restaurant – 1720 Sunset Blvd. – (803) 796-4430
• Lizard’s Thicket – 2234 Sunset Blvd. 803 – 794-0923
• True BBQ – 1237 D Ave – (803) 791-9950
• Chick-fil-A -2299 Augusta Rd. – (803) 939-1600
• Rush’s 2332 Sunset Blvd. – (803) 796-5034
• Another Broken Egg – 101 State St. – (803) 829-0223