ANNOUNCEMENT
LOWCOUNTRY EXPLORER LAUNCHES NEW TOUR COMPANY IN
SOUTH CAROLINA SEA ISLANDS
Cultural tourism venture offers Lowcountry excursions
BEAUFORT, S.C - May 20, 2010 - Laura Von Harten, a cultural anthropologist
with roots in the fishing industry of the South Carolina Sea Islands, today
announced the launch of a cultural tourism company, Lowcountry Explorer.
Lowcountry Explorer, based in Beaufort, S.C., provides historical, cultural
and culinary excursions throughout the Lowcountry region. The company
conducts small group tours that depart from Beaufort Town Center.
The initial tour offering is “Discover Lady’s Island,” a two-hour trip that
includes a scenic island drive, hiking at a Native American shell ring site,
stops at points of interest on the island, and an ice-cream tasting at Berry
Island Cafe. The price is $49 per person.
The company will add more tour destinations in the coming months.
Advance tickets for Lowcountry Explorer excursions are available at
www.lowcountryexplorer.com. Remaining tickets may be purchased at the
Beaufort Visitor Center at the Arsenal.
Lowcountry Explorer is a regional leader in using advance ticket sales,
electronic ticketing and multilingual customer support. They use Brown
Paper Tickets, a Seattle-based fair-trade ticketing company that competes
directly with Ticketmaster.
“Brown Paper Tickets offers travelers a choice of e-tickets or actual paper
tickets,” Von Harten said, “and they provide reliable customer service in
three languages -- English, Spanish and French.”
“Also, Brown Paper Tickets serves the audience we want to reach. They
market to a geographically and culturally diverse range of people who are
interested in the arts and humanities, the environment and sustainability,
community-building and personal wellness,” said Von Harten, the company’s
founder and a fifth-generation Beaufortonian.
“When they travel they like to learn new things. They look for unusual and
authentic local experiences. And that’s our job. Lowcountry Explorer
connects travelers with real people and real places,” Von Harten said.
Lowcountry Explorer also offers guide service and ground transportation.

Lowcountry Explorer LLC
2015 Boundary Street Ste 337
Beaufort, SC 29902
T (843)776-1062 • F (888)858-6905
www.lowcountryexplorer.com

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Media contact:
Laura Von Harten, (843)597-2134
laura@lowcountryexplorer.com

Lowcountry Explorer is a social enterprise that supports sustainable tourism
in the South Carolina Lowcountry.

Laura Von Harten is a fifth-generation Beaufortonian who grew up working in
her family’s shrimp business. Her father was a commercial fishermen, as
were both her grandfathers. Von Harten graduated from Beaufort High
School in 1982. She went on to receive an undergraduate degree in
anthropology from the University of South Carolina and a master’s degree in
applied anthropology from the University of Kentucky. Von Harten previously
served on the faculty of the University of South Carollna Beaufort and
Eastern Kentucky University. Von Harten has worked for cultural
organizations including the Beaufort Museum, Historic Beaufort Foundation,
Penn Center, the Lowcountry & Resort Islands Tourism Commission, the
South Carolina Arts Commission, the University of Kentucky Center for
Developmental Change and the Kentucky Office of State Archaeology. She
has served as a volunteer with organizations including the Charleston
Museum, Historic Port Royal Foundation and the Beaufort County Historical
Society. Von Harten is completing her first term as a Beaufort County
Councilwoman.