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Photo courtesy of Lara Kaufmann

Inspired by short family trips with her sons, Christopher, left, and Michael in her arms, Lara Kaufmann compiled a compendium of places to visit and sights to see in her new book, "Lake Hartwell Area Recreation Guide."

ANDERSON — In just three years living part-time in a lakefront home on Lake Hartwell, Lara Kaufmann probably knows more nooks and crannies along the 962 miles of shoreline around the lake than many born and raised here.

Kaufmann and her two sons look forward to their stays in the Upstate, away from the hustle and bustle of Atlanta where her husband, Carr, works for a commercial real estate firm.

Over the past three years she has taken countless day trips with sons Christopher, 5 and Michael, 4, to explore beaches, museums, farms and dairies, botanical gardens and zoo.

“There’re 35 towns and cities within 30 to 40 minutes of each other,” Kaufmann says. “It’s amazing how each has its own feel to it.”

To best explore her home away from home and make the most of her trips, Kaufmann would meticulously research what each place had to offer by culling information from chambers of commerce, newspapers, magazines and the Internet. A year ago, Kaufman decided to put together all of her time-consuming work into a handy book that could be used by residents and visitors alike.

From that idea was born the Lake Hartwell Area Recreation Guide.

Kauffmann, 41, is a native of Raleigh, N.C. She grew up in Dahlonega, Ga. and is no stranger to the Upstate and Lake Hartwell. Kaufmann holds a journalism degree from Louisiana State University.

“We have so many fun adventures,” Kaufmann said.

One of the quirkiest nuggets listed in the book is Elberton, Ga.’s Stonehenge-like monument. Called the “Georgia Guidestones,” the 119-ton collection funded by an anonymous group uses 12 languages, including Hebrew, Greek, Egyptian Hieroglyphics, Arabic, Swahili, Russian, Hindi, Spanish and English, to provide a message on the conservation of mankind. The monument is over 19 feet tall.

Included in the 95-page book is information about activities and places to visit in Anderson, Athens, Belton, Central, Clemson, Commerce, Easley, Fair Play, Gainesville, Greenville, Greer, Lavonia, Long Creek, Marietta, Mountain Rest, Pelzer, Pendleton, Pickens, Seneca, Six Mile, Walhalla, Westminster and more.

Lake Hartwell has almost 56,000 acres of water that is fed by the Savannah, Tugaloo and Seneca rivers.

“The lake is surrounded by parks, farm land, cute towns and fun cities, which all make for a fantastic time,” Kaufmann said.

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Book: “The Lake Hartwell Area Recreation Guide”

Author: Lara Kaufmann

Publisher: Self-published on CreateSpace, a subsidiary of Amazon.com

Pages: 95

Price: $12.95

Distributor: Parnassus Book

Purchase: Book available at many locations including Barnes & Nobles in Greenville and Spartanburg and Athens and Buford, Ga.; Ace Hardware in Anderson, Dunwoody, Hartwell and Toccoa; Fiction Addiction in Greenville; Grady Great Outdoors in Anderson; Hart County Chamber of Commerce; Hartwell Marina; Pickens County Museum; Split Creek Farm in Anderson; and Walhalla Liberty Lodge; or by calling (800) 782-7760.