Lexington, South Carolina | A Glimpse

Lexington as founded in the 1780s and named after the first battle of the Revolutionary War. Originally called Saxe Gotha, the town was supposed to be a frontier outpost as a line of defense for port-city Charleston.

Five Ways to See Lexington like a Local:

1. Walk around.

   No, seriously.

   Some of the most beautiful parts of this city require walking.
   First, check out Dreher Shoals Dam. The dam was completed almost one hundred years ago and at the time, it was the largest dam in the world. The path is 1.7 miles, meaning the total walk is 3.4 miles. You can see the Lake and the skyline of downtown Columbia as you walk!
   On top of that, we have the Peachtree Rock Heritage Preserve and Virginia Hylton Park. Both are examples of places where the entire family can walk around, explore and see the natural side of the city. Virginia Hylton Park is also a known event spot in the city; meaning you may be able to catch a concert or two in the summer.

2. Take a sip.

   There’s two sides to everything.

   Lexington has some local drink spots that are unique to us. Some local favorites include The Keg Cowboy, Old Mill Brew Pub, Libby’s of Lexington and Private Property, but my personal favorite is The Haven Coffeehouse. There’s nothing that touches my heart the way that their Vanilla Chai Latte does.
   However, Columbia is just spitting distance and has a vibrant nightlife. Columbia is home to the Vista and Five Points, both two districts of the area that have contrasting night life experiences, with various bars, clubs, and restaurants to keep the city alive throughout the night.

3. Learn something + see history.

   While Lexington’s schools are some of the best (read more here), the history is embedded in the town.

   In the Historic District of Lexington, you can find the Lexington County Museum. This museum is 36 houses and outbuildings where you can learn about the Swiss and German heritage of Lexington, where the name Saxe Gotha originates.
   Our personal favorite house is the John Fox House. Ten rooms and two stories, the house has period pieces that allow you to see what the house would have looked like for the fifty people who lived there. There’s locally made artifacts sprinkled through all the exhibits also.

4. Take a dip.

   Let’s hope you can swim.

   First, check out Lake Murray. With 50,000 acres of lake and 500 miles of shoreline, you can rent canoes, paddleboard, wakeboard, and motorboats just from the businesses around the lake. You can take a lake tour, spend the day fishing, or just enjoy the water and relax on our little “beach”.
   BUT on top of that, one of the amazing things about Edgewood is our partnership with the Lexington County Country Club; meaning that you can spend your summer days relaxing poolside with air conditioning just a steps away.

5. Catch a game.

   Buy some peanuts and cracker jacks while you’re there.

   Something unique to Lexington is that we have our own baseball team, the Lexington Blowfish. The Blowfish team and stadium provide some of the best memories that Lexington can offer; they feature schools, civic organizations, events, parties, and more while combining the modern day baseball park experience to a venue that the family can handle.