AgriTourism - It's A Good Fit with 'Four Summerton'

The largest industry in South Carolina is agriculture. The second largest is tourism. Combine the two and what do you have? AgriTourism - which might be a perfect fit with 'Four Summerton'.

Agritourism offers a way to supplement a farm income and while also helping consumers become more aware of the contributions agriculture makes to their region. It is one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry.

Some examples of Agritourism activities include:

• Tours of local vinyards and wineries
• Festivals celebrating regional foods
• Road side stands selling local produce
• Setting up local Farmers Markets
• Self-harvesting farms , e.g. strawberry's, blueberries...
• Farms offering hay rides, corn mazes...
• Dining on regional cuisine and local produce
• Bed & Breakfast (B&B) Stays on Farms and Ranches
• Feeding, riding and interacting with farm animals
• Holding weddings in rural settings
• Private fishing ponds for visitors
• Touring historic farms or plantations

People have become more interested in how their food is produced. They want to meet farmers and processors and talk with them about what goes into food production. For many people who visit farms, especially children, the visit marks the first time they see the source of the food they eat.

It seems like Agritourism is a good fit 'Four Summerton'. The question is - what do we do next? The town and owners of surrounding farms need to work together to grow this local industry. Where do we start? With a local farmers market in downtown Summerton? Participating in SC Agritouism programs and associations? Joining the SC Ag & Art Tour?Agritourism marketing? Signage programs? Web sites? Social media...

To help keep things rolling, check out the following AgriTourism links:

• AgMRC & Agritourism
• AgriTourism World
• Farm Stay USA
• Manning SC: Farmers Market
• SC Association of Farmers Markets
• SC Department of Agriculture - Agritourism Division
• SC Ag & Art Tour
• SC Farm Bureau YouTube Video on Agritourism

Finally, AgriTourism is a close cousin to EcoTourism. See Summerton SC: Nature & Outdoor Recreation web site to learn more about this emerging industry that is also a perfect fit 'For Summerton'.

Hopefully, y'all are paying attention to the renovation and use of #4 Main Street in downtown Summerton - that's 'Four Summerton'.

Ecotourism: Canoeing and Kayaking Around Summerton, Santee, and Lake Marion, S.C.

When you visit the Summerton area and nearby Lake Marion, you will find many waterways to explore in your canoe or kayak, e.g. rivers, creeks, islands, swamps. The area is attracting kayakers from across the U.S. in ever greater numbers as ecotourism in the country continues to grow.

Canoeing is a paddle sport in which you kneel or sit facing forward in an open or closed-decked canoe, and propel yourself with a single-bladed paddle. Canoeing was once the primary mode of long-distance transportation throughout much of North America. Kayaking involves the use of a kayak for travelling across bodies of water. It is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle. In a kayak the paddler faces forward, legs in front, using a double-bladed paddle. Most kayaks also have closed decks.

Key bodies of water to explore in this region near Summerton, Santee and Lake Marion include:

• Cantey Bay
• Jack's Creek
• Potato Creek
• Sparkleberry Swamp
• Santee National Wildlife Refuge
• Taw Caw Creek
• Wyboo Creek

* Read about the "4th Annual North Shore Kayaking Race" on Lake Marion.

Selected Information Sources

• American Canoe Association
• Canoe & Kayak Magazine
• Paddling.Net

Annual North Shore Kayaking Race on Lake Marion

Also, make sure you check out the following:

• Blacks Camp Eco Tours
• FishEagle Wildlife Tours

* For more detail, visit the Summerton SC: Nature & Outdoor Recreation web site.