Lexington, SC is a little town in the southeast United States. Although it is considered a suburb of the more well-known Columbia, this place offers its own unique fun, history, and activities for the entire family.
1. Gibson Pond Park
Gibson Pond Park is one of the green spaces in South Carolina that offers outdoor relaxation and recreation. With 15 acres (6.07 hectares) of land, this wooded park is an ideal spot to hang out with the family and escape the hustle and bustle in Lexington. Gibson Pond Park features a covered picnic shelter for rent, complete with seating, a stone fireplace, and a barbecue pit shelter. There are also restroom facilities and small shelters. Although neither fishing nor swimming is allowed on the pond, visitors can admire the adorable ducks that stay here for as long as they want.
A walking trail approximately half a mile long is found on the property.
Gibson Pond Park
Address: 241 Gibson Rd, Lexington, SC 29072, United States
Opening hours: 7am - 6pm (daily)
Price: Free
2. Village Square Theatre
Experience family-friendly entertainment at Village Square Theatre, a playhouse for the performing arts in Lexington. This intimate community theater features various plays and Broadway performances that delight audiences of all ages. Apart from regular auditions, the theatre also offers fun drama workshops for anyone interested in the art, especially students. Volunteering and donations are welcome as well.
Some of the popular plays features in the theater include C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe and Roald Dahl’s Matilda Jr.
Village Square Theatre
Address: 105 Caughman Rd, Lexington, SC 29072, United States
Website: Village Square Theatre
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 4:30pm - 6:30pm; (closed on Sat & Sun)
3. JC's Lexington Bowl
JC’s Lexington Bowl offers fun and friendly competitions for the whole group. Nestled on Augusta Road, this family-owned and -oriented bowling alley is an ideal spot for families, friends, and other types of groups to play bowling in a relaxed setting. It also boasts amazing customer service and amenities at affordable rates. Food and drinks are also served on the property to help guests have a quick recharge in-between rounds.
Celebrating a birthday? JC’s Lexington Bowl accommodates parties for your loved ones, as well as family reunions, fundraisers, and other events.
JC's Lexington Bowl
Address: 5380 Augusta Rd, Lexington, SC 29072, United States
Website: JC’s Lexington Bowl
Opening hours: Tue: 10am - 9pm; Wed: 12pm - 9pm; Thu: 10am - 10pm; Fri: 4pm - 10pm; Sat: 1pm - 10pm (closed on Mon & Sun)
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4. Catch Seafood
With so many things to do in Lexington, enjoying fresh and high-quality dishes at Catch Seafood is one of the best ways to recharge. This seafood restaurant offers a wide array of fresh surf and turf cuisine in a homey ambiance. Apart from seafood, the establishment also boasts hand-cut steaks and other meaty fares. Appetizers, soups, and salads are included in the menu as well. With a full-service bar, the property provides guests with an expansive list of drinks to pair with their meals.
Catch Seafood
Address: 411 W Main St, Lexington, SC 29072, United States
Website: Catch Seafood
Opening hours: Tue - Fri: 3pm - 9pm; Sat: 12pm - 9pm; Sun: 12pm - 8pm (closed on Mon)
5. Icehouse Amphitheater
Icehouse Amphitheater used to be an ice plant business in 1928, hence the name. Now, it is a popular amphitheater that is home to amazing concerts and events, rain or shine! The venue is spacious enough to seat 900 people. It also offers accessible seating with the assistance of Icehouse Staff. Although there are limited parking spaces on-site, visitors can avail of more parking spaces at Town Hall and Lexington County Court buildings after 5pm and 6pm, respectively.
After a fun night at the amphitheater, guests can go for a quick recharge in one of the restaurants on Main Street.
Icehouse Amphitheater
Address: 107 W Main St, Lexington, SC 29072, United States
Website: Icehouse Amphitheater
6. Dreher Shoals Dam walk
The historic Dreher Shoals Dam was completed in 1930, to provide power to the surrounding area. At the time of its completion, it was the largest earthen dam in the world. Today, it still provides electricity to citizens and delights residents and visitors alike, by providing a beautiful place to walk and bike.
The path stretches 1.7 miles (2.7 km) one way, bringing the total walk to around 3.4 miles (5.4 km). Along the way, you will be treated with views of the beautiful Lake Murray, as well as the skyline of downtown Columbia.
Dreher Shoals Dam walk (Lexington side)
Address: 1832 N Lake Dr, Lexington, SC 29072
7. Virginia Hylton Park
Located in the heart of downtown Lexington, this park is an oasis of outdoor fun for the entire family. Streams and walkways meander through the park, allowing visitors to take a break in nature. There are playgrounds and picnic tables, as well as gazebos and gardens. The park even contains a special playground for disabled children to make sure everyone can be included.
Spend the afternoon having lunch, playing horseshoes, or even catch one of the concerts hosted here, from June through August. This park is a great way to relax and get in touch with the Lexington community.
Virginia Hylton Park
Address: 111 Maiden Ln, Lexington, SC 29072
Website: Virginia Hylton Park
8. Peachtree Rock Heritage Preserve
The Peachtree Rock Preserve is an example of nature held in its own state. There are no paved roads, picnic tables, or trash cans, just a few miles of hiking trails winding through the natural formations in the area. Visitors are left without over-signage and instead, encouraged to wander through nature and see what the park has to offer.
The park was named after a large rock formed long ago, soon after the waters of the Atlantic Ocean receded. The water eroded base layers of the rock more quickly than the top, creating an inverted triangle shaped formation. Unfortunately, it collapsed in 2013, so the formation is now on its side, but you can see a smaller, similar formation, still standing in the same park.
Here you will also find layers of sandstone, filled with fossils of ancient marine animals, longleaf pines towering over well-maintained trails, and the South Carolina coastal plain’s only natural waterfall, tumbling into a small pool.
Peachtree Rock Preserve
Address: 883 Peachtree Rock Rd, Lexington, SC 29073
Website: Peachtree Rock Preserve
9. Mercer House Estate Winery
The Mercer House Estate Winery is one of only ten all-natural and organic wineries, in the entire United States. Along the 12-acre (4.9-hectare) property, you will find five distinct vineyards, all with their own unique blend of native grapes, soil type, sun exposure, drainage, geographic orientation, and elevation.
These grapes are small-batch and crafted with ancient Native American techniques. Because of this, Mercer specializes in unique wines and jellies and never has the same wine, from year to year or vineyard to vineyard. Take a tour and savor things like the Jalapeño Wine Jelly, Fruit Spiced Coffee Wine, and Bloody Mary Wine, as well as more traditional blends.
Mercer House Estate Winery
Address: 397 Walter Rawl Rd, Lexington, SC 29072
Website: Mercer House Estate Winery
10. Lake Murray
With 50,000 acres (200 km) of lake and 500 miles (800 km) of shoreline, there is a lot of fun to be had at Lake Murray. Rent kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, motor boats, wakeboards, knee boards, or anything else you might need to have fun on the water, from the many local businesses around the lake. Take a lake tour or cruise, spend the day fishing (you can even hire a fishing guide), or just enjoy a picnic in one of the many parks and recreation areas.
Lake Murray
Website: Lake Murray
11. Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens
Located just 15 minutes away from Lexington, the Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens will astonish and delight the entire family. Within this 170-acre (68.8-hectare) site, you will find over 2,000 animals, as well as a lush and beautiful botanical garden.
Journey around the world with exhibits and inhabitants from Africa, Australia, Asia, and North America. See wallabies, kangaroos, tigers, komodo dragons, lions, and seals. Wander through the birdhouse and the reptile complex. Participate in a day camp, learn about conservation, and stop to hear zookeeper talks.
The botanical garden has activities for children and adults alike. The zoo’s smallest visitors will delight in the splash zone, playhouses, and rabbit holes, they can crawl through. Older kids will enjoy the 25-foot (7.6-meter) waterfall, life size replica of the T-Rex, and giant tree houses. Adults can experience a peaceful walk through plants of Asia, a bog garden, rose garden, and more.
Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens
Address: 500 Wildlife Pkwy, Columbia, SC 29210
Website: Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens
12. Farmer's Market
Every Saturday, from June through September, you and your family can enjoy wandering through hundreds of stalls, full of fresh food from local farmers. Here you can support local food production and learn the benefits of eating fresh local produce. You will have the opportunity to chat personally with the people growing the food you’re about to eat, ask lots of questions, and sample new things. Spend the morning learning about and trying new foods, and come home with all the delicious local products you need to create a magnificent dinner.
Lexington Farmer's Market
Address: 116 E. Main St., Lexington SC 29071
Website: Lexington Farmer’s Market
13. Lexington County Museum
Located in the Historic District of Lexington, this museum consists of 36 houses and outbuildings. Take a step back in time, as you learn about the Swiss and German heritage of Lexington, during the Colonial and Antebellum period (1770 until the Civil War).
Wander among buildings built over 100 years ago, most notably the John Fox House. This ten-room, two-story house was originally a plantation home. Furnished and decorated with period pieces, you will be able to imagine what life was like for the 50 people that resided here, before the Civil War. You can also see locally made artifacts such as quilts, furniture, and pottery.
Lexington County Museum
Address: 231 Fox St, Lexington, SC 29072
Website: Lexington County Museum
Discover Lexington
See everything that Lexington has to offer this season. Enjoy the local attractions and easy access to the great outdoors. Whatever you’re in the mood for, Lexington has something for you!