AIKEN

Horse-Lovers’ Country

Aiken may be smaller than some places, but it’s big on horse farms, trail riding, and national equestrian events for seasonal visitors and year-round residents in new countryside communities. The thriving downtown area features historic sites, farm-to-table restaurants, boutique shops, and bed-and-breakfast inns.

Population: 30,671 (metro area)

Culture: The Aiken Center for the Arts features five galleries for local and traveling exhibitions, while Joye in Aiken is a performing-arts center that brings the finest music, dance, and theatrical performances to town.

Walking Trails: The Aiken City Arboretum, Hopelands Gardens, Rose Hill Estate, and Hitchcock Woods are among the best local destinations for relaxing strolls through flowering gardens and shady forests.

Local Treasures: The Indie Arts Vintage Market is an outdoor venue for antique lovers, and the Little Red Fox Shop is one of several local craft centers where artisans work and display their latest creations.

• Indoor and outdoor swimming pools

• Nature preserve, featuring trails, sunset dock and an off-leash dog run

• Community garden plots, butterfly garden

• Free library

• Social clubs too numerous to mention

Visit on a three-day, two-night stay to see for yourself why locals have voted this community the “Best In Beaufort.”

(843) 838-3838 | Dataw.com