Chesnut Cottage Inn Blog
Discover the charm of Columbia, SC
Here, we share insider tips, stories and resources to enjoy the area of Columbia, SC and your stay at Chesnut Cottage Inn. Whether you're interested in our rich Civil War history, Southern hospitality, or hidden gems around town, our blog is your go-to resource for inspiration and information. The purpose of this page is to connect with guests past and future, offer travel advice, and showcase all that makes Chesnut Cottage Inn—and Columbia—so special.
Hilton needed a word, so they made one. Hushpitality. Seeking sweet silence. In their 2026 trends report, “rest and recharge” beat every other reason people gave for taking a leisure trip — 56 percent. Nature, mental health, and “me time” followed. T… Read more
Someone coined “shoulder season” for the weeks the beach towns go quiet and the ski towns have not opened. Luxury advisors spent the last two years trying to retire that phrase. Virtuoso’s 2026 numbers did the job: September bookings up 55 percent, S… Read more
By Ken & Christal Doyle · Chesnut Cottage Inn, Columbia, SC Someone always asks us the same question at breakfast, usually after the second cup of coffee, once they have figured out we actually live here. “So… is this like an Airbnb? Or more like a h… Read more
Fifteen years ago we were two California health-insurance veterans who thought our futures were claims, premiums, and conference rooms. Christal had built an agency. Ken had spent 37 years inside a Fortune 50 brand, then a national general agency. We… Read more
The Quiet Power of a Mental Reset Modern life moves quickly. Schedules fill, screens stay on, and the pressure to keep producing rarely pauses. Many people now seek something different when they travel: not more stimulation, but less. They look for s… Read more
There Is Nothing Quite Like an SEC Saturday College football saturates the South every fall, but SEC football sits in a category of its own. The crowds are louder. The stakes feel higher. The entire city seems to lean into the weekend. In Columbia, t… Read more
The way professionals travel is changing. More and more people are no longer separating work trips from personal time. Instead, they’re blending the two into what’s now known as bleisure travel — business travel combined with leisure. Whether you’re … Read more
Columbia, South Carolina offers a wonderful mix of Southern charm, walkable historic areas, excellent restaurants, and relaxed vibes — making it an ideal destination for a romantic getaway. Whether you’re celebrating an anniversary, a birthday, or ch… Read more
Columbia, South Carolina has plenty of great restaurants, but most visitors tend to stick to the same popular downtown spots. If you’re staying at Chesnut Cottage Inn and want to eat where locals actually go, there are some excellent hidden gems wort… Read more
As summer winds down and Fall 2026 quickly approaches, thousands of families across the country are preparing to send their children to the University of South Carolina. For many parents, the excitement of this new chapter is mixed with a quiet nervo… Read more