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The Great Outdoors – Lake Murray Country
Carter & Holmes Orchid Nursery ?
629 Mendenhall E. Road, Newberry. Tour 18 greenhouses and enjoy 93,000 sq. ft. of tropical beauty in one of the largest orchid nurseries in the world. ?Open: Monday- Saturday, 9am-5pm?
Phone: (803) 276-0579 ?
Visit: carterandholmes.com
Congaree National Park
Off Bluff Road (SC 48) in Hopkins, 20 mi. S.E. of downtown Columbia. This National Park Service site features a visitor center with 3,000 square feet of exhibit space and an introductory film. Canoe trails, a 21/2-mile board walk loop trail for the handicapped and 18 miles of hiking trails lend access to this forested wilderness wonderland, known for its biological diversity and record-size trees. Open daily 8:30am-5pm. Free. ?
Phone: (803) 776-4396?
Visit: nps.gov/cong?
Dreher Island State Park
3677 State Park Road, Prosperity, SC 29127
Dreher Island State Park is an island on Lake Murray but not far from the city and is a great place to get away from it all. It is about 30 miles from downtown Columbia on the shores of Lake Murray and is one of the best-known largemouth and striped bass fishing destinations in the South. The park consists of three islands linked to shore by a causeway and two bridges. ?It offers woodsy hiking trails and lots of places to fish from shore. Dreher Island has picnicking, camping and lakeside villas and a tackle shop and boat ramp. The park has long been popular with recreational boaters and fishermen and has been a launching spot for major national bass tournaments.
Phone: (803) 364-4152
Golf
Golf in Capital City/Lake Murray Country is unlike any other destination offering over 30 courses with open tee times and easy access to the courses. Timberlake in Chapin, South Carolina, is the only golf club on the shores of beautiful Lake Murray. Visitors can come by boat to play this challenging course.
Persimmon Hill Golf Club of Saluda, South Carolina, is another golf gem in the region. Originally formed by local doctors in 1963, this public course lays claim to South Carolina’s longest Par 5 on Hole 18 boasting 630 yards. It isn’t uncommon for folks from all over to fly into the Saluda Airport to experience the “Thrill on the Hill." These are just a few of the many golf clubs that are worth the trip. Phone: Golf Packages of South Carolina, 1-888-501-0954
Take a Splash in Lake Murray
Lake Murray is a great place to chill! This 650-mile shoreline lake offers scenic landscapes and picturesque sunsets. Sailing on Lake Murray is fantastic year round! Cool off with a sail and swim from the Lanier Sailing Academy. Visit lakemurrayvacation.com to view great prices on lake home rentals!
Take a Cruise one of the Tour Boats on Lake Murray
Get the best view of the lake! Enjoy a cold beverage and cruise aboard the Southern Patriot or the Spirit of Lake Murray.
Southern Patriot Tour Boat: (803) 749-8594, LakeMurrayTours.com
Spirit of Lake Murray: (803) 730-3044, LakeMurrayCruises.com
Sailing on Lake Murray
Sailing is fantastic all year round on Lake Murray. Lessons, rentals and skippered sails are available from the local sailing school. Come experience your own Lake Murray adventure!
Lanier Sailing Academy, (803) 317-9070
Visit: LanierSail.com
A Unique Experience – The Purple Martins on Lake Murray
The sky gets dark and millions of Purple Martins fill the predawn and evening skies each day, establishing seasonal digs at Lunch (Bomb) Island in the middle of Lake Murray. Lunch Island, once a practice bombing range for World War II plane crews, is the perfect spot for the birds to roost. There are about three-quarters of a million birds and the numbers are still increasing. You can view this “natural phenomenon," of thousands of Purple Martins on Lake Murray during July and August. This is the largest, natural, roosting sanctuary in North America. Come board a boat for an evening cruise and see this unique attraction.
Southern Patriot Tour Boat: (803) 749-8594, LakeMurrayTours.com
Spirit of Lake Murray: (803) 730-3044, LakeMurrayCruises.com
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
The famous Riverbanks Zoo & Garden in our area is an awesome zoo with national recognition. From elephants and koalas to penguins and sharks, formal gardens to natural woodlands, this is a great place for kids, adults and grandparents. Admission: Adults, $9.75; Children 3-12, $7.25; Children 3 years and under are free.
Phone: (803) 779-8717
Visit: riverbanks.org
Zipline at Riverbanks Zoo
The newest attraction at Riverbanks is the wild ride Zipline. It's a different way to explore the zoo and the scenic Saluda River. It's a one of a kind experience! Zip tours are scheduled daily, and reservations are required. Zip the Zoo is $30 for Riverbanks members $45 for the general public. The River Zip is $40 for Riverbanks members and $55 for the general public. The tours are between two and three hours long.
Guided Nature/River walks at Saluda Shoals Park
Located along the banks of the beautiful Saluda River, this 400 acre regional park offers the following amenities: 11,000-square-foot Environmental Education Center and Exhibit Hall, 10,000 square-foot state-of-the-art conference facility, the River Center, Paved/unpaved trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding, river observation deck, Boat Ramp/Canoe/Kayak Launch and picnic shelters. Phone: (803) 731-5028, Visit: icrc.net
Take a Stroll on the Grounds of the Lexington County Museum
There are 36 historic structures dating back to the late 1700’s. The oldest known structure in Lexington County is also on the Museum’s grounds.
Phone: (803) 359-8369
Visit: Lex-co.com/museum.html
Regional Outdoor Events
• Springtime at the Garden Festival at Riverbanks Zoo – (803) 779-8717,
riverbanks.org
• St. Pat’s Day in 5 Points – (803) 748-7373, stpatsinfivepoints.com
• Midlands Plant & Flower Show at SC State Farmers Market – (803) 734-2210,
Agriculture.sc.gov
• Pork in the Park in Newberry – (803) 321-1015, cityofnewberry.com
• Riverwalk Music Festival – (803) 939-8608, riverwalkmusic.com
• Rosewood Crawfish Festival – (803) 960-3552
• Rhythm on the River – (803) 794-6504, Rhythmontheriversc.com
• A Taste of Newberry – (803) 276-6264, visitnewberrysc.com
• Peachtree 23 Yard Sale – (803) 685-5511, peachtree23.com
• Lexington County Peach Festival – (803) 892-5207,
lexingtoncountypeachfestival.com
• 4th of July Celebration on Lake Murray, (803) 781-5940, scjewel.com
• Torchlight Tattoo on Fort Jackson, Jackson.army.mil
• Brew at the Zoo – (803) 779-8717, riverbanks.org
• Jubilee Festival of Heritage – (803) 252-1770, historiccolumbia.org
• Pelion Peanut Party – scpeanutparty.com
• Saluda Young Farmer’s Truck & Tractor Pull – Saludayoungfarmer.org
• Greek Festival in Columbia – (803) 461-0248, columbiasgreekfestival.com
• Labor Day Festival in Chapin – (803) 345-1100
• Okra Strut in Irmo – (803) 781-6122, irmookrastrut.com
• Viva La Vista – 803-269-5946, vivalavistasc.com
• Boo at the Zoo, (803) 779-8717, riverbanks.org
• Congaree Swampfest, (803) 776-5729, congareeswampfest.com
• Lexington County Corn Maize - (803) 730-2863, clintonseasefarm.com
• Fall Heritage Festival & Pig Pickin’ Party – (803) 898-4921,
Museum.state.sc.us/events
• Vista Lights Celebration – vistalightssc.com
• Famously Hot New Year in Columbia – (803) 321-1015,
famouslyhotnewyear.com
For more regional information, visit SCJewel.com
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