When you’re craving a break from the day-to-day and “famously hot” summer heat, why not try taking a staycation right in your own backyard? We recently turned an ordinary weekend into a luxe staycation right here in Columbia and had the best time! Here’s how we made the most of it:
3 p.m. – Check-in at Hotel Trundle
When you stroll through the doors of Hotel Trundle, you are instantly enveloped in magic. No matter where you look, there’s a unicorn, amazing artwork, and colorful, sparkling details to be found. We arrived with our three-year-old, Finn, in tow, (his Nana and Papaw were planning to pick him up in a few hours so we could have a date night). He could not have been more delighted!
We were greeted at the front desk with welcome beverages (cabernet for me, a local IPA for hubby), and were brought upstairs to our gorgeous room. Finn immediately starting taking full advantage of the amenities: he put on the complimentary slippers, made a cup of tea in the Keurig, drank the complimentary bottled water, curled up in the king-size bed, and asked to watch a movie on the flat screen. (Bonus: I could cast PBS kids onto the TV right from my phone!)
If I could choose one thing that really sets Hotel Trundle apart, it would be their incredible attention to detail. There’s stunning artwork in every room. The insanely comfortable beds are made locally. Even the soap dishes in the guest rooms feature holographic rainbows! Finn kept saying “I love this hotel.”
5 p.m. – Off to Find Sustenance
Finn’s grandparents came to pick him up for a sleepover, and our date night officially began! Hotel Trundle is walking distance from pretty much everything and the weather was perfect, so we set off on foot to find food and libations. Our first stop was The Aristocrat for cocktails and snacks. While every drink I’ve tried there has been outstanding, we both went with their signature cocktail, aptly named The Aristocrat, featuring grapefruit, fresh basil, and frothy egg white. For dinner, we sat on the patio at Cantina 76 on Main to enjoy dirty queso and cool spring breezes. Columbia’s Main Street in the evening is heaven this time of year.
8 p.m. – Wine & Sweets
We strolled back to the hotel and decided to enjoy some wine in their gorgeous art-deco lobby. While we sipped and listened to jazz on a jewel-toned velvet sofa, we debated the best options for dessert: Sweet Cream Co.? Nonnah’s? Kaminsky’s? All solid choices. But I had just read about a new caramelized honey tart they were making at Terra, so we called a Lyft and headed across the river.
You never need reservations for the patio at Terra, which is just as well, as I think it’s the best patio seating in Columbia: a bricked-in secret garden with fountains, fairy lights, and airy jasmine and Japanese maple trees. We were not disappointed. The caramelized honey tart was one of the most delightful desserts I’ve ever put in my mouth. 10/10.
10 p.m. – A long stroll home
On a whim, we decided to walk from West Columbia back to downtown (about two miles), which was actually lovely! The weather was still nice, the stars were bright, and it gave us plenty of time to talk and laugh while staying out way past our ordinary, toddler-parent bedtime.
11 p.m. – Time to get cozy
Back at the hotel, it was time to take full advantage of the fluffy robes, comfy slippers, and locally-roasted Loveland decaf in our cozy room. Goodnight ya’ll!
9 a.m. – Breakfast!
After nine hours of blissful, uninterrupted sleep (yaaaaaaaaas), we meandered downstairs with our books to load up on Indah Coffee and baked goods from Ally & Eloise Bakeshop. Can I just say that drinking an entire cup of hot coffee without having to reheat it is one of the great joys of life??
10 a.m. – Relaxing and planning our day
With freshly-refilled cups of coffee, we strolled back up to our room to luxuriate in our fluffy bed for just a little bit longer while we planned out our day at the Columbia Food and Wine Festival. If we didn’t have early-access passes to the festival that day, we would’ve requested a late checkout! Do we really have to leave?
Our staycation at Hotel Trundle was a little slice of heaven-on-earth. It’s an oasis of magic, style, and luxury that I really can’t believe is just a few minutes from home. We can’t wait to go back!
Want to plan your own staycation?? Hotel Trundle is offering exclusive savings just for Columbia Moms Blog readers! Enter coupon code: MOMSBLOG10 at checkout and get 10% off your entire stay!
Looking for a good time to plan your staycation? Consider the official upcoming Staycation Week in Columbia, June 21 – 30, which includes special in-town deals on the must-see spots in Columbia for families, couples, thrill seekers, and everything inbetween!
