Best Places to Fly
Your Drone in Columbia

Busted Plug Plaza is one of those objects that you can’t look away from. It’s the tallest fire hydrant in the world at 40ft. The gigantic steel structure looks broken, but that’s intentional to hold the onlooker’s gaze and curiosity. Photographing odd things is always interesting. It’s even more exciting to capture them from above and at unusual angles. That’s where camera drones come in. The artwork is in a spacious outdoor parking lot, which is ideal for flying drones.

Finlay Park is a well-maintained recreation park with several playgrounds and options for water activities. The wide open space is quite appealing for drone flight, although the odd park crowds can be off-putting. Flying a drone here is fine - the allure of the open space is irresistible - but don't do it solo if you want to avoid problems.

Known to the locals as "Sesqui," this state park covers more than 1400 acres of forests, open fields, and a large lake. The lake is usually too crowded to fly your drone over, but the various hiking trails and forested areas are fair game. The campsite here is excellent, so consider spending the night as well.

The Riverfront Park of Columbia is an interesting place because it is located right at the piece of land that separates the historic AColumbia Canal and the Congaree River. Its essential function aside, the park is very pretty albeit frequently crowded. Flying a drone over the park further highlights its unique appearance - a strip of green sandwiched by water on both sides.

The Hampton-Preston House is a mansion and museum located at central Columbia. It is a favorite venue for weddings and events because of the beauty of the mansion and the surrounding garden. If you like doing urban photography with your drone, this area of Columbia is one of the best spots because of the historic buildings and houses.