2023-11-30 10:52:19
From enclaves of art galleries and the energetic nightlife districts of South Carolina’s capital city to nature trails winding through old-growth forests and lakefront adventures—plus three scenic rivers running through it all—this region seamlessly blends big-city culture and outdoor pursuits. See where historic buildings are living new lives as trendy restaurants and breweries, and where quiet tree-lined streets lead you through welcoming neighborhoods. REGIONAL MUST-SEES Timmerman Trail, Cayce | Lake Murray, Chapin | Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, Columbia Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College, Irmo | Congaree National Park, Hopkins | Mercer House Winery, Lexington Big Mans Marina, Leesville | Newberry Opera House, Newberry | Old Mill Antique Mall, West Columbia Water Adventures In warm-weather months, locals and visitors alike love tubing on the flowing Lower Saluda River. Walk up to the window at Palmetto Outdoor in West Columbia and rent a tube to find your own flow. Ride the rapids for the three-hour float, then hop on the shuttle back to your car. Retreat to a world of giants in Congaree National Park, where towering “champion” trees (the largest known tree of a particular species) provide a shaded canopy over the blackwater Cedar Creek. Book a three-hour guided kayak tour with Carolina Outdoor Adventures, and keep an eye out for birds, wild boar and otters as you paddle. Have a whole group? Make a day of it on Lake Murray, “the jewel of South Carolina,” with a captained pontoon boat rental offered by Pontoon Rentals & Tours in Lexington. Lounge on the deck to catch some sun, hop in the lake and, when you’re hungry, have the captain dock-and-dine at one of the lakefront restaurants. Spirit of Lake Murray in Leesville also offers public and private cruises on Lake Murray. During summer months (July–August), don’t miss the Purple Martin Tour to ride to the Bomb Island area at sunset to see swarms of thousands of migratory swallows swirling through the evening sky. This area is plentiful in water activities, so take your pick of fun in the sun.
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