Spring break 2026 for West Columbia (Lexington 2) schools begins on Friday, April 3. And for some West Columbia teachers, the hiatus from the routine is something they’ve been looking forward to. 
West Columbia’s central location offers proximity to various vacation destinations with many attractive activities nearby. 

Several Northside Middle School teachers have big plans for spring break.

“I’ll spend some time at my home in West Columbia, just resting,” said Belinda Taylor, who teaches at Northside. “It’s such a beautiful time of the year here, with everything turning green and all the colorful flowers blooming. And next week I’m going to Surfside Beach. My extended family will be there; my mother and father and brothers and their families. My son, daughter and granddaughter will be there, too. I look forward to getting together with my family every year.  It makes it such a great spring break.”

Another Northside teacher will spend her time in West Columbia.

“We are having our back porch remodeled, so I’ll be home for spring break, but there is nowhere else I want to be. It’s so pretty in this neighborhood in the spring with all the trees and flowers,” said Jenny Etheridge, a Special Education teacher who lives in Westover Acres.  “I do like to go to the West Columbia Riverwalk, especially with the warmer weather. I plan to go to the Riverwalk a few days during my break, too.” 

Carraway Children’s Park at the Riverwalk is closed while protective shades are being installed, but it is scheduled to reopen next week, around April 8. So kids on spring break will be able to play there.

Another teacher has plans to go far away.  Lolly Petroff lives in West Columbia. She’s an interventionist at East Point Academy’s Middle School Campus on Chris Drive. 

“It’s been a very cold winter at times, so that makes me appreciate the spring so much more. “It’s starting to get warmer and I’m very thankful the weather looks good for when we’re out of school for spring break,” she said. Lolly also said she and her family are going to Manchester, England to see a family friend. 

“Our family will spend time in the Cotswold’s,” she said, “and the whole purpose of the trip is to meet up with my cousin who lives in Australia who I have not seen in over 10 years.”

West Columbia offers many close-by activities during spring break:

• Riverbanks Zoo & Garden: is a spring break option with exotic animals. Enter the Zoo’s Botanical Garden from West Columbia and experience the garden’s spring blooms. The Saluda Skyride aerial lift is also a feature at the zoo.
• West Columbia Riverwalk and Amphitheater: Ideal for walking, cycling, or a riverfront picnic. Local favorite Carraway Park, featuring an inclusive playground, is located directly across the street.
• Kayaking and Tubing: Palmetto Outdoors provides tubes and a shuttle for floating trips down the Congaree and Saluda River System. Sign up for a tube ride at the West Columbia Riverwalk.
• Lake Murray: Weekly accommodations rentals are available to enjoy fishing, boating and water activities.  
• Meeting Street Music Festival: is April 17–18, 2026. It’s a free two-day event on Meeting Street featuring 11 bands, with Sugar Ray headlining on Saturday night.
• Edventure Children’s Museum: hosts a Spring Break Camp for kids ages 5–10 during the break week (April 6–10)