Looking for a lake destination for your group? Head to Lake Murray in South Carolina. Surrounded by four counties—Lexington, Richland, Newberry and Saluda—this 48,000-acre lake is a popular destination for swimming, boating, fishing and watersports.
An interesting add-on to a lake vacation is the Ag + Arts Tour, which is held in June and goes to 10 nearby counties. On these free, self-guided tours, travelers can visit farms and farmers’ markets that feature local artisans.
Groups will also enjoy a visit to tiny Ridge Spring in Saluda County, population 753. The town offers a great dining experience at Juniper, Chef Brandon Viele’s restaurant. Viele was a recent recipient of New York City’s James Beard Award.
After the meal, guests can check out the Ridge Spring Community Arts’ Quilt Trail. This option includes viewing squares that resemble quilt panels painted on buildings. A self-guided tour details how the panels are linked to the history of the building, to the family creating the quilt panel or to the county.
Finally, Ridge Spring visitors can stop at the Nut House or the local pharmacy for a treat. The Nut House sells all varieties of pecans: pecan pie, pecan logs, pecan fudge, chocolate pecans, spicy pecans, caramel pecans … you get the idea. If nuts aren’t your thing, stop at the pharmacy’s old-fashioned ice cream bar.
For more information, contact Julie Colson of the Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Office or go to lakemurraycountry.com.
Top photo: Sailing on Lake Murray
Photo by Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Office
Support for Courier articles provided by:
Hampton Inn & Suites Oceanfront
Huntsville, Alabama Convention & Visitors Bureau
LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
Natchitoches Parish Tourist Commission
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