Aiken, South Carolina

Outside of Augusta, Georgia, in lush western South Carolina, charming Aiken started in 1835 and quickly became a destination for wealthy Charlestonians, including Astors and Vanderbilts, seeking mild winters. These families built magnificent summer mansions, raised polo ponies and quickly established a thriving equestrian culture.

Today, some people say that Aiken is the best small town in the South. The downtown is peppered with beautiful historic homes, and horse farms dot the landscape. Spacious parks, canopied neighborhoods, wide boulevards and an inviting downtown all contribute to Aiken’s slow-moving charm.

It is perhaps, though, the continuing equestrian scene for which Aiken is still best known. This area produces thoroughbreds that compete in racing events around the country, and Aiken residents enjoy a bounty of horse-related events throughout the year, including Sunday afternoon polo matches, steeplechase events and the Aiken Triple Crown, featuring harness racing and head-to-head matchups.

South Carolina is also golf country, and Aiken’s 10 or more golf courses offer plenty of opportunities to swing a club. The Masters Golf Tournament also takes place just down the road in Augusta each year.

When not watching polo or playing golf, Aiken residents enjoy various cultural venues, including the Aiken Civic Ballet Company, the Aiken Center for the Arts and the Aiken Performing Arts Group.

Dining options are varied and include everything from Mexican and BBQ to Indian cuisine. Shopping venues are mostly downtown specialty shops, including antique stores, equestrian stores, a dog store, candy stores, bakeries and more.

Hitchcock Woods is a 2,000-acre urban forest popular with equestrians, bikers and walkers. Hopeland Gardens is a 14-acre garden under a canopy of ancient oaks, deodar cedars and magnolias. Aiken State Park is 16 miles north of the city and has four lakes and hiking and biking trails.

It’s worth noting that Savannah River Site is a nuclear waste reclamation facility about 15 miles from downtown (the Department of Energy has determined that it is environmentally safe).