Your Adventure Awaits
Are you itching to get away? Here are some day trips out of Lexington County that appeal to every taste, just by heading out one of the classic crossroads, U.S. 21 and U.S. 378.
North
Charlotte is an easy destination, but half the fun is getting there. Bypass the interstate to travel north on U.S. 21, a route that takes you through small towns such as Ridgeway, Great Falls, and Fort Lawn.
Then stop in Fort Mill, where you can see the wonders of nature at the Anne Springs Close Greenway. In 2,100 acres is a permanent nature preserve with 40 miles of trails, lakes for kayaking, and places for mountain biking and horseback riding. There is a children’s farm to interact with animals like alpacas, goats, llamas, pigs, cattle, and working horses. There is an admission charge, but annual memberships make it affordable if you plan to return.
Off the beaten path: Landsford Canal State Park, just off U.S. 21 is along the Catawba River and boasts blooms of rare rocky shoals spider lilies in the spring along its waters. You can still see parts of the canal system built in 1820 to move products up and down the river until 1835.
The South Carolina Railroad Museum in Winnsboro, just off U.S. 321, offers scenic rides through the countryside and special events such as the Bunny Eggspress in April.
South
There’s plenty of adventure just north of Savannah if you take U.S. 321 toward the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. Take the 4.5-mile wildlife drive under live oak trees dripping with Spanish moss to observe migrating birds and animals. With more than 31,000 acres of freshwater marshes, tidal rivers, and creeks, it’s also an ideal ground for hunters, with opportunities to nab everything from turkeys to alligators. Hunting permits and other regulations apply. The visitor center is open from 10 am to 2 pm, Monday through Friday.
Off the beaten path: The Ronald C. Waranch Equestrian Center in Hardeeville is an educational facility that trains students from SCAD. It has beautiful stables for the horses.
East
Sure, the coast is always calling you, but have you thought about a trip that stops inland to one of the most vibrant art communities in the state? Head east on 378 to Lake City, where artists gather each spring for Artfields, a celebration of creative endeavors in a juried art show. Three affiliated galleries are open throughout the year.
Check beforehand, but the TRAX Visual Art Center, Jones-Carter Gallery, and Crossroads Gallery will all have exhibits. They are open 11 am – 5 pm Tuesday through Saturday. There is plenty of public art to see, including murals and sculptures.
Off the beaten path: On the way, stop at the Moore Farms Botanical Gardens, which celebrates the southern garden and honors rural agricultural practices. Stroll the grounds as spring plantings bloom.
West
Aiken, Greenwood, and Edgefield all have their charms. Aiken is famous for horses, Greenwood is growing as a town that welcomes retirees, and Edgefield has a long history of the pottery arts.
So, take those towns in for a visit, but go a little farther to visit Hickory Knob State Park and Resort along the Savannah River just west of McCormick on 378. Mountain biking, kayaking and hiking, and even archery and axe throwing are available. Stay overnight at the resort park or at a historic 1700s cabin on the grounds.
Off the beaten path: Located in downtown Abbeville, The Abbeville Opera House is a Performing Arts Venue that hosts concerts, comedy, and theater year-round.