The Capital City/Lake Murray Country region has so much to offer. 3 Rivers, history, southern charm and Lake Murray.the Jewel of South Carolina. Pack your bags for a getaway to enjoy the region's variety...there are almost a dozen museums to explore, there's the Riverbanks Zoo & Botanical Garden, the Congaree National Park and shopping and dining in Columbia's Vista is a must. Here are just a few places to visit this month...

EdVenture Children's Museum - Blooming Butterflies Exhibit
Thousands of butterflies are taking flight at EdVenture Children's Museum. EdVenture's newest attraction, "Blooming Butterflies," is a 2,500 square-foot outdoor enclosed nature exhibit featuring more than 20 species of native butterflies. The exhibit opened in May and is a year-round educational resource, with live species on the premises during spring, summer and early fall each year.

Specifically designed for children but of interest to nature lovers of all ages, "Blooming Butterflies" provides hands-on scientific exploration of lifecycles, genetic diversity and environmental adaptation of butterflies. The outdoor learning lab features butterflies indigenous to the Southeast and a variety of native and subtropical vegetation. Magnifying instruments and informational signs throughout garden walkways allow visitors to examine nature up-close. A garden shed provides a viewing window where chrysalises can be seen during various developmental stages.

Visitors can expect to be surrounded by hundreds of individual butterflies! From children to gardeners to nature enthusiasts, there is something for everyone to learn and enjoy. For more information on the exhibit or to purchase advance tickets, visit www.edventure.org.

Newberry
Visiting Newberry provides a refreshing break for the soul. Widely recognized for the restoration project of the circa 1882 Newberry Opera House, this community opens its doors to visitors from all over the world for entertainment all year long. The entertainment line-up gets better each year and the surrounding town continues to keep up with the standards adding more options for visitors to enjoy while staying in Newberry. There are plenty of gift shops, award winning restaurants, historic homes and ample antique store selections to fill your day and night. For the show schedule visit www.newberryoperahouse.com or call (803) 276-5179.

Lake Murray
The playground of the region...Lake Murray.boasting 650 miles of shoreline and the best bass fishing in the state! Just 20 minutes from downtown Columbia... From sailing to weekend jet skiing or taking in an evening of sunsets, Lake Murray is the region's largest recreational asset drawing over 600,000 visitors from around the world each year.

The Purple Martin Phenomenon
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 one of the region's tour boats for an evening cruise and see this unique attraction. For more information, call (803) 781-5940.

For the region's packages and August deals, visit http://lakemurraycountry.com/regional_packages.html

Visit www.lakemurraycountry.com