This is what you’ve been searching for.

We dug into Google’s latest data to discover the hobbies, activities, and questions surging nationwide, then did the legwork to point you to local recommendations. Let’s dive in.

The Nickelodeon's exterior with a colorful marquee reading "Those Lavendar Whales" — The Nick and All Good Books collab for the Reeltalk series. | Photo via COLAtoday

📚 Search: “Book club near me”

Book lovers are looking for ways to connect, and from Richland Library to local coffee shops, Cola has plenty of options.

The Nickelodeon + All Good Books team up for the Reeltalk Book Club, pairing books with their film adaptations and a post-screening discussion. The series returns Wednesday, Sept. 30.
Silent Book Club lets readers bring any book, socialize for a bit, and then read together quietly. Meetings are free, with registration opening one to two weeks beforehand.
All Good Books hosts several clubs covering different genres and interests, all free and open to the public. Next up: “Ninth Street Women” by Mary Gabriel on Monday, Aug. 17.

❤️ Search: “Community volunteer”

Searches for volunteer opportunities reached a 10-year high this year. Ready to give back? Start with our guide to 35 places to volunteer in Columbia, featuring everything from food banks and nonprofits to animal shelters.

🛼 Search: “Classes near me”

Rollerskating, Pilates, and Spanish classes all ranked among Google’s breakout searches over the past month. Here’s where to sign up in Cola.

Columbia Roller Derby hosts an eight-week skating boot camp, where participants learn foundational skating skills and derby basics.
Level Fitness offers Lagree, yoga + Pilates classes and just celebrated its third anniversary.
If you’re looking to improve your Spanish, Midlands Tech’s six-week Speed Spanish course can help you build practical conversational skills.

👟 Search: “Run club”

Looking to join a run club? You’re not alone. Run clubs were another breakout search over the past month, and Columbia Running Club has plenty of options, whether you're training for a race or just looking to meet people.

🀄️ Search: “Mahjong for beginners”

This search jumped 230% over the past year. If you’re itching to learn, Hotel Trundle is hosting open play on Thursday, Aug. 13 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for $20.

What else are you searching for in Columbia? Tell us what you’re trying to find, and you may find an answer in an upcoming edition.