WHAT TO DO ON YOUR DAY TRIP TO LAKE CITY
Three big things really come alive in Lake City. The first is their art scene as evidenced by all the public art. Next is their pride in being the hometown of astronaut Ronald McNair. And their designation as SC’s first Certified Bee City, as evidenced by the variety of flowers and trees throughout the city.
1. explore the public art
Did you know there are 9 murals and 7 other pieces of public art in Lake City!? On our day trip, we made it our mission to see them all!
tips for seeing all the art w/ small kids
PREPARE FOR THEM FOR SOME WALKING | The city is small so a walking tour is ideal. We parked nearby the “Infinite Flowers” mural on Sauls Street and it was a great home-base spot. You can easily see at least half of what Lake City offers from here. You may want to move your car to access “The Good of the Hive”.
SHOW THEM THE MURALS IN ADVANCE | My kids loved seeing photos of the murals beforehand. And when we got to them they were so excited. The scope of the art is impressive! Kids will especially love the “Transformation” mural. It has so many hidden pictures in it!
TAKE A LUNCH BREAK | IMO, no day trip is complete without trying a local lunch spot. Lake City has a few that won’t disappoint. We landed on BAKER’S SWEETS which has delicious baked items but also a good lunch menu. Use this whenever the kids (and adults) need a break to regroup.
USE OUR CHECKLIST TO MAKE SURE YOU DON’T MISS ANYTHING | I just wrote everything down on a piece of paper on our drive but that got a little confusing since there were no photos for me to use as a guide. And we missed one mural – oops! I’ve got a little cheat sheet that should help you! Click below to have it emailed to you.
2. visit the ronald mcnair memorial
The McNair Memorial is a quick stop and worth it to learn more about this Lake City native. He was aboard the Challenger space shuttle that exploded in 1986. There are placards with more information about him, a statue, a public art display and beautiful landscaping.
3. enjoy the public green spaces
LAKE CITY THEATRE PARK | This little alleyway park is gorgeous! You’ll find the “Geisel’s Garden” sculpture here –– and a fountain, shade, benches, and greenery.
THE INN AT THE CROSSROADS COURTYARD | The “Making a Wish” dandelion statue is here and it’s also a quiet and beautiful space to let the kids roam safely.
VILLAGE GREEN | This green space has a couple of pieces of public art and is another open space for kids to run.
other things to know & do
THE TRAINS | Trains go through town loudly and often. A local said they see about 12 trains daily and more overnight. If you have kids who don’t enjoy that then be ready to find a store to duck into when you hear them approaching.
MOORE BOTANICAL GARDENS | We didn’t make it there on this trip but want to. But honestly, the whole town does such an incredible job with the landscaping and nurturing that bee city designation that we felt like we were in a garden often!
SHOPPING | Find all the info you need on LAKE CITY’S SHOPPING HERE. We only visited Main Street Mercantile and Matthew’s Fruit Stand because most shops were closed on our visit. But Seven Boutique, Shade Tree Outfitters and The Cabbage Patch were on my list!
USE THE CITY’S VISITOR CENTER PAGE | The city has a great visitors page so spend time there before going. And write down any addresses or street names if that’ll help you. We did not have great phone reception there so looking something up in real time wasn’t option. But there are plenty of locals to help direct you!
