Love is in the air in Lake Murray Country!

Come visit Lake Murray Country for Valentine’s Day! Our area hotels want to pamper you this Valentine’s Day!   There’s so much to enjoy…breakfast in bed, champagne, chocolates, late checkout and much more!

Check out our special Valentine packages at http://lakemurraycountry.com/regional_packages.html.

2010 Taste of Lake Murray is around the corner!

Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 6:30pm
Radisson Hotel Columbia & Conference Center

Participating Restaurants: Alodia’s, Belly’s Southern Pride BBQ, Blue Marlin, Blue Marlin Signature Catering, Columbo’s Italian Eatery, Dockside Bistro & Raw Bar, Kovachi’s, Liberty Tap Room & Grill, Rusty Anchor, Spinner’s Resort & Marina, Three Bean Net Cafe’, Travinia’s Italian Kitchen of Lexington, Sheraton Columbia

Featured Beverage Samplers: Barefoot Bubbly, Total Wine & More, Vitamin Water

Get your tickets today!
Tickets are $45 per person; $55 per person March 5-17th
To order your tickets, call (803) 781-5940 x1 or at www.tasteoflakemurray.com.

LakeHead Products are a great gift this holiday season!

No need to shop until you drop!  Just click on our updated gift store to find all sorts of gifts for everyone on your list.  Visit http://estore.websitepros.com/1910038/StoreFront.bok
We have a great selection of Lake Murray apparel and accessories!

Region Recognized As Retiree Destination

Read the full article at http://www.midlandsbiz.com/news/headlines/546/.

New Website for Military Visitors

The Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board launched a new website for military visitors.  The site contains information about the region for graduates, their families and for military reunions. Visit www.militaryactivitiessc.com to view the new site.

It’s Fall Ya’ll in Capital City/Lake Murray County

Fall means fun for the entire family! There’s so much to do that you won’t have time for it all. Check out an online listing of some fun fall events in our region.
Visit: http://bestkidfriendlytravel.com/2009/09/23/fun-family-activities-this-fall-in-columbia-sc/

Feature on Travel Meredith

Check out our special section on Travel Meredith!
(http://www.travelmeredith.com/FeaturedDestinations/2009/08/murray.html)

Great publicity for the Capital City/Lake Murray Country region!

Splash Parks Listing

Two of our very own splash parks were featured on a national website (www.bestkidfriendlytravel.com).
The two parks that were mentioned were Saluda Shoals’ Splash Park and Palmetto Falls Water Park on Fort Jackson.  Take a look at this link to read more…

 http://bestkidfriendlytravel.com/2009/07/29/beat-the-heat-this-summer-with-free-splash-parks/

Events Coming Up This Weekend – August 14-16, 2009

The countdown is on for school starting back and there is a lot to do on one of the last of the summer’s weekends. Here are a few events going on this weekend – so get out and enjoy!

Free Music Concert at the Village at Sandhills
Free summer concert featuring Rock Candy for the kids; The Magic of Nick Propst.

After work Kayaking Trip with Adventure Carolina
The Adventure Carolina After Work Canoe & kayak Trip is still the best way to spend an evening in Columbia. Every year thousands of our neighbors spend an enjoyable evening canoeing down the river, seeing the great outdoors, getting great exercise and having a wonderful time. The 3-mile canoe trip begins below the Gervais Street Bridge on the Congaree River and continues under the Blossom Street Bridge, through the old Granby Locks and ends at the Cayce Landing. We see wildlife, run a few rapids, and always have a good time. Friday, August 14^th, 6pm – 9pm.  Call to sign up (803) 796-4505.

Blooming Butterflies at EdVenture Children’s Museum
Admission; Adults $8.95; Children $6.95; Children under 1 Free (An additional $3 for the exhibit) Explore the world of these fascinating insects! This immerse outdoor nature exhibit is home to hundreds of butterflies from more than 20 different species native to the southeastern United States. Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 9 am – 5 pm; Sunday Noon – 5 pm (Open Mondays Memorial Day through Labor Day)

Sizzlin Summer Concert Series in Finlay Park
The Columbia Action Council proudly presents an annual favorite! The Sizzling Summer Concert Series is held from 6-10pm in beautiful Finlay Park! Pack your picnic, bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy a wide variety of music!  THIS IS THE FINAL CONCERT OF THE SEASON!!!!  On the stage this week: “American Gun” with opening act “Joal Rush” (Rock & Americana bands)

Tours at the SC State Museum
Do you feel that there is so much to see that you don’t know where to begin? Wish you had a personal tour guide? Join a Saturday walk-in tour. Docents will lead 60-minute tours of the museum at 11am and again at 1pm. Tours are free with museum general admission or membership. Saturday 11am and 1pm.

Home Improvement Show at the SC State Fairgrounds
Open Saturday, 9am-6pm. Join us for the 15th Annual REDO/REMIX Home Improvement Show at the SC State Fairgrounds. (In the Americraft Cantey and Ellison Buildings and in outdoor areas.)

This annual show, presented by the HBA of Greater Columbia Remodelers, features over 100 exhibitors! Door Prize Drawings every 20 minutes. Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore will be back this year! Seminars every day by exhibitors. Featuring green products and services.  Admission: $5.00 at the Gate (Children 12 and under are free) $2.00 for parking

Purple Martin Cruises on Lake Murray
Southern Patriot Purple Martin Cruise
Take a 2 1/2 hour cruise out to historic Bomb Island, where thousands of Purple Martins roost. During the cruise you will hear narration about the birds and about the historic significance of how this island was used for bombing practice while training B-25 Fighter pilots. Light refreshments will be served.
Make your reservation today, (803) 749-8594.

On Lake Murray at night, the Purple Martins take flight!

 

Like the massive flock of vacationers descending to South Carolina each summer, legions of satiny-feathered guests are drawn to the Capital City/Lake Murray Country region. 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. By day they disperse for many miles to feed, at night they settle onto the island. Over a period of weeks, their numbers grow dramatically. There are about three-quarters of a million birds and the numbers are still increasing.

You can view this “natural phenomenon,” the thousands of Purple Martins on Lake Murray, the largest, natural, roosting sanctuary in North America when you visit the region during July and August. Come board a boat for an evening cruise and see this unique attraction. Hurry here! By September, the Purple Martins will be off to South America for winter hibernation.

 

Southern Patriot Tour Boat Cruises

 

Tours run every Sunday and Monday nights in July and August. The Patriot serves a light supper and the cost is $29.00 for adults, $14.50 for children 5 to 12 and anyone under 5 is free.

The Southern Patriot leaves at 7:30pm during the month of July and 7pm in August. The cruise is approximately 2 1/2 hours long and on the way back everyone enjoys music, dancing or just enjoying the lake lights and breeze.

Cruise Dates:

Sundays
July  19 (26 is sold out)
August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Mondays
July 13, 20 (27 is sold out)
August 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

For more information, call (803) 749-8594 or visit www.lakemurraytours.com.

 

Spirit of Lake Murray Cruises

Join the Spirit of Lake Murray for a history of Lake Murray and Purple Martin Cruise on Fridays, July 17, and August 7 & 21. Passengers’ board at 6:30pm for a 7pm cruise and return at 9:30pm. The cruise will include historical information presented by local historian Dean Hunt and will include time to watch the Purple Martins nest at Bomb Island.

The cruise is 21/2 hours and a snack supper is included.  All this aboard the Spirit of Lake Murray costs $39.95 + tax per person (children ages 2-12, $14.75 + tax).
Cruise only option: $24 per person; children 2-12 are $12

Cruise Dates:

Friday, July 17 at 7pm
Friday, August 7 at 7pm
Friday, August 21 at 7pm

For more information, call (803) 730-3044 or visit www.spiritoflakemurray.com