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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.
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December 17, 2008
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The “Lake Hartwell Area Recreation Guide” retails for $12.95 and can be purchased at the following businesses:
Ace Hardware locations: on Hwy 24 in Anderson, Dunwoody and Hartwell.
Anderson Mower Service, 2305 Whitehall Road, Anderson, SC 29625, 864-224-0020
Barnes & Noble locations: Greenville & Spartanburg in SC and Buford & Athens in GA
Currahee Military Museum, 160 N. Alexander St., Toccoa, GA 30577, 706-282-5055
Fiction Addiction, 3795 E. North St# 9, Greenville, SC 29615, 864-609-9394
Golf USA, 2902 B North Main Street, Anderson, SC 29621, 864-226-0999
Grady’s Great Outdoors, 3440 Clemson Blvd., Anderson, SC 29621, 864-226-5283
Hart County Chamber of Commerce, 31 E. Howell St., Hartwell, GA 30643 (706) 376-8590
Hartwell Marina, 149 Hartwell Marine Rd., Hartwell, GA 30643, 706-376-5441
Lake Hartwell State Recreation Area, 19138 A Hwy 11 South, Fair Play, SC 29643, 864-972-3352
Lake Hartwell Fishing and Marine, 5365 Hwy 24, Anderson, SC 29625, 864-287-9782
Pickens County Museum, 307 Johnson St., Pickens, SC 29671 864-898-8963
Split Creek Farm, 3806 Centerville Rd., Anderson, SC 29625, 864-287-3921
Tugaloo State Park, 1763 Tugaloo Park Rd., Lavonia, GA 30553
Walhalla Liberty Lodge B & B, 105 Liberty Lane, Walhalla, SC 29692, 864-638-8239
www.createspace.com/3341958 and www.Amazon.com.
The Lake Hartwell Area Recreation Guide is distributed by:
Baker & Taylor, www.btol.com, customer service at 800-775-1800
Parnassus Book Distributors, 200 Academy Way, Columbia, SC 29206-1445, 803-782-7748, 800-782-7760, lmendenhall@sc.rr.com
February 8, 2009
1:02 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Midwest Book Review, which chooses books to review from over 1500 they receive each month, has chosen the “Lake Hartwell Area Recreation Guide” to feature in their January 2009 edition. Here’s what they said:
When on vacation, no one wants to spend time paralyzed with indecision. "Lake Hartwell Area Recreation Guide" is an activity book with much information on the Lake Hartwell area, spelling out the countless activities that one can take part in the area, ranging from the expected boating to the nightlife to beer tasting to even auto racing. Quite simply, if one is planning a trip to the Lake Hartwell area in South Carolina and Georgia, "Lake Hartwell Area Recreation Guide" is considered absolutely required. (Source: http://www.midwestbookreview.com/mbw/jan...)