Michaela & Ryan
Michaela & Ryan
Things to Do
Golf
Golf is not just a pastime in Aiken; it’s part of the city’s soul. The Masters Tournament is held just 30 minutes from The Willcox at the Augusta National in Georgia. And though the famous course, with its fabled fairways and gem-like greens is private, just being nearby imparts headiness for golfers and fans alike. There is an array of world-class courses down the road from Aiken, open to the public. Anyone who has swung a club in competition or just for pleasure’s sake will feel the thrill of golf at its finest.
LOCAL CLUBS
Woodside Plantation Country Club
Shopping
For those just discovering the heart of Aiken, it’s one of those special experiences Southerners call a “sercie,” a pleasant surprise that seems planned with them in mind. Such a remarkable collection of hip and trendy shops and eateries might be expected in large cities, but less likely in a quiet Southern town that invites strolling amid colorful flowers and towering trees. Yet here they are.
In Aiken, one-of-a-kind shops continue to open. Its complex demographics make it a desirable relocation destination in the Southeast, and by extension, a good place to do business.
LOCAL SHOPPING
HIKING, PARKS AND NATURAL FEATURES
Hitchcock Woods
One of the largest urban forests in the country, Hitchcock Woods has over 2,000 acres of natural beauty and quiet solitude. Points of interest include: Sand River, an unusual feature that has been the source of folklore and Indian legends; Cathedral Aisle, formerly a portion of the Hamburg to Charleston Railway; and Ridge Mile Track, built for training horses in the 1920s and ’30s. There are also miles of marked trails for hiking and riding.
Hopelands Garden
Given to the City of Aiken by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin, this 14-acre estate was opened in 1969 as a public garden. The gardens boast a beautiful network of paths shaded under 100 year old live oaks. Open from 10am to sunset, Hopelands Garden is a leisurely activity for all ages. Take a stroll and experience reflection ponds, fountains, the “Dollhouse,” home to the Aiken Garden Club, and three of Aiken’s iconic “Horseplay” statues. During the Christmas season, a visit to Hopelands Garden is a must to witness the awe-inspiring light displays.
Silver Bluff Audubon Center and Sanctuary
Here you can canoe, bird watch, hike and kayak in 3,154 acres of pine forest, hardwood bottomlands, open fields, lakes and streams. More than 200 species of birds live here, from wood storks to redheaded woodpeckers and bald eagles.
Aiken State Park
Set against the calm, winding South Edisto River, Aiken State Natural Area is a popular destination for the family or a budding naturalist. It offers canoeing in the river, peaceful picnicking, fishing in the river and the park’s spring-fed lakes, campground and trailside camping and hiking trails.
Boyd Pond Park
The park has miles of hiking and walking trails, mountain bike trails, a 30-acre fishing pond, picnic areas, playgrounds, and much more.
Activities and Adventure for Kids
Willcox Kids’ Programming
The Willcox is pleased to offer a variety of children’s programming. Please inquire for more details.
Ruth Patrick Science Education Center
University of South Carolina Aiken
471 University Parkway, Aiken, SC
Phone: (803) 641-3313
Science looms large at USC Aiken, and the centerpiece of the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center is the DuPont Planetarium. Housing four state-of-the-art telescopes, a graphics projector and an automated special-effects system, the planetarium offers programs for students of all ages and the community. Its hands-on approach to teaching is designed to help people experience the power of science and mathematics, as well as the interest and fun of discovery.
Riverbanks Zoo
500 Wildlife Parkway Columbia, SC
Phone: (803) 779-8717
From elephants and koalas to penguins and sharks, formal gardens to natural woodlands, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden promises new discoveries around every corner.
EdVenture
211 Gervais Street Columbia, SC
Phone: (803) 779-3100
EdVenture appeals to families and children around the state as well as visitors to the Midlands. Permanent exhibits and programs, along with a vibrant schedule of changing exhibits, will entice return visitors and new arrivals. EdVenture is the largest children’s museum in the Southeast. With award-winning exhibits and programming, there is something for every child to discover, experience and understand. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
Aiken County Library & Park
314 Chesterfield Street, Aiken, SC
Phone: (803) 642-2020
Across the street from The Willcox is the Aiken County Library and Library Park with a wonderful playground that’s ADA handicapped accessible.
Bisquecuts & Glazy
949 Pine Log Rd, Aiken, SC
803-648-7772
Bisquecuts & Glazy is a contemporary pottery studio. You pick your piece, you paint and create, they fire it!
Equestrian
High-stepping horses prance the old roads of Aiken, which are sometimes paved for cars but just as often left Carolina clay for tender treatment of hooves. Hitchcock Woods, with its soft tawny floor of pines needles, is a step away from The Willcox. It is one of the largest urban forests in America, more sizeable than Central Park and wilder by far, with a blond river of sand curling through it. Park trails lead to hidden wildflower glens and riding rings. This is true horse country: Polo, Steeplechase, Fox Hunting and Thoroughbred Racing are enthusiastically enjoyed winter and spring, with the Aiken Triple Crown taking place here in March.
POLO
Polo season is September through November and March through June. Tournament games are played during the week and weekends. Club polo games are Sundays at 3 p.m. in downtown Aiken. For specific schedules, visit www.aikenpolo.net.
Local polo clubs include:
New Bridge Polo & Country Club
FOX HUNTS
A traditional Winter Colony pastime, fox hunting and drag hunts take place in Hitchcock Woods. Area hunt clubs also sponsor the annual Blessing of the Hounds, a fall hunt meet, a hunter pace in Hitchcock Woods, and the spring horse show in Hitchcock Woods.
Local fox hunting clubs include:
HORSE SHOWS
Home to three all-weather competition arenas, two practice arenas, a grass Grand-Prix Field, and International Derby Field, Bruce’s Field is a premier equestrian center in the area. The land was purchased in 2000 by Bruce Duchossois to save the land from residential development and has become a great addition to the Aiken equestrian community.
Through making safety a priority and awarding accomplishments, the shows give you and your horse the opportunity to gain the confidence to compete in this exhilarating sport.
AIKEN STEEPLECHASE
Influential horsemen including Thomas Hitchcock, Temple Gwathmey and Harry Worchester Smith founded the Aiken Steeplechase Association in Aiken in 1930. The first official race was run in Hitchcock Woods, and more than 1,000 people gathered to watch. Aiken has been home to many steeplechase greats and exceptional trainers. Whether it is fact or fiction, the universal truth is that horses will always reign supreme in Aiken’s history and in its future.
EVENTING
January, February and March are months in which Aiken becomes the center of eventing on the East Coast. Aiken’s eventing snowbirds include some of the top names in the sport, including Phillip Dutton, Sally Cousins and Corinne Ashton.
Eventing Centers:
AIKEN TRIALS
Begun in 1942 as a way to give young horses in training the enlightening opportunity to experience every aspect of live racing, the Aiken Trials has become a time honored tradition as the first leg of Aiken’s Triple Crown events, held annually for three consecutive Saturdays in March. The jockeys are local exercise riders who have an afternoon in the spotlight after paying their dues exercising horses each morning (in all weather) throughout the year.
THE AIKEN DRIVING CLUB
Founded in 1985 by the late Clifford S. Gerde, The Aiken Driving Club has grown from a handful of drivers to a membership of more than 200 individuals and families. Drives are in the Hitchcock Woods, Hopeland Farms, the Winter Colony District and other private facilities in Aiken and surrounding counties.
RIDING LESSONS
There’s no such thing as holding your horses in Aiken. There are steeplechases, fox hunts, polo matches and other competitive events. The streets downtown have names like Citation Drive, Ruffian Road and Saratoga Street, and the sidewalks feature a herd of life-size fiberglass horses. And it pays to learn how to ride. If you get the itch, one of the businesses below can help.
Black Forest Equestrian Center
Devonwood Farms
Art & Museums
Arts in Aiken
Aiken Center for the Arts
Aiken Art Annex
Museums
Aiken County Historical Museum
Located in a former Winter Colony mansion,
displays items and clothing that reflect the county’s history, as well as a nature room that exhibits flora, fauna, and geology of the area. The shell of a temporary observatory, built by German scientists for viewing the Transit of Venus in the late 1800s, is adjacent to the museum.
Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame
Commemorating locally trained horses that are national champions and have won fame on tracks and fields across the nation,
this hall of fame is filled with a variety of horse racing memorabilia and awards.
Aiken Railroad Depot
Built on the grounds of the original train depot, the Aiken Railroad Depot serves as Aiken’s Visitor Center and Train Museum. The railroad played a vital part in the history of Aiken and the train museum serves as an homage to this. The museum includes detailed dioramas depicting the history and a guide at the front desk to walk you through some more interesting facts! This is a great activity for children, train enthusiasts, and history buffs. It is open Tuesday-Friday 10am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 2pm and free to the public.