Capital City/Lake Murray Country Tourism Region

Experience Southern hospitality in the Capital City/Lake Murray Country region. Columbia's capital city offers 12 museums featuring traveling exhibits from the SC State Museum showcasing their New Windows of the World. Children love exploring Eddie, a 40-foot child at Edventure Children's Museum. Nearby, the Vista and Devine Street feature fine dining, artistic shops, entertainment venues and host many events. The Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, now features the Zip Line Canopy Tours, one of the longest zip lines in the southeast zipping 1,010 feet across the Saluda River.

Explore more outdoor fun on the region's three rivers, a paddler's paradise with black and white water for canoeing, kayaking, tubing and rafting. Explore Congaree National Park's great outdoors with miles of boardwalks through the largest remnant of old growth floodplain forest remaining on the continent. Regional and state parks offer camping, hiking, biking and provide educational and environmental tours for students.

Tee off at Persimmon Hill in Saluda, or one of the other 25 challenging golf courses. Visit Newberry, home of the famous Newberry Opera House, antique shops, and the orchid haven of North America, Carter & Holmes Orchid Farm.

Lake Murray, the region's playground, boasts 650 miles of shoreline and the best in bass fishing. Just minutes from downtown Columbia, the waters are popular for sailing, jet skiing, paddle boarding or taking in an evening sunset. In the summer, experience a natural phenomenon! The largest natural roosting sanctuary in North America of purple martins darkens the sky over Bomb Island each evening at sunset and put on a show for visitors. The Jewel of South Carolina is Just Right!

For more information about the region, make sure to check out the Capital City and Lake Murray Country Visitor Center at www.LakeMurrayCountry.com. Give them a call at 1-866-SC-JEWEL (locally 803-781-5940), or feel free to drop by 2184 North Lake Drive Columbia,