People here enjoy just about every outdoor kind of fun short of mountain climbing. And you have to start with horses. For more than 100 years, Aiken has been the training ground for all the great equestrian sports.
But if your sport doesn’t require a bucket of oats, the golf courses are world class. And for those who enjoy nature and walking, the area offers plenty of public parks, and tranquil gardens. For true outdoor junkies, hunting, fishing, boating and water sports abound at nearby lakes and state parks, and numerous paths provide endless hours of hiking and biking.
Feel free to tour our downtown, too. It’s home to historic landmarks, mom-and-pop shops, a mix of restaurants, art galleries, museums, boutiques, specialty shops, antiques and a performing arts theatre.
Hiking, Parks and Natural Features »
Golf »
Equestrian »
Hunting »
Yoga, Pilates, Tai chi, Qigong and Chiogalates »
Shopping »
Museums »
Theater and Concerts »
Antiques »
Art Shows »
Historic Tours »
Activities for Kids »
Outdoor activities abound year round in Aiken and surrounding towns. The area has an outstanding series of parks, hiking trails and nature features including:
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 Gardens
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 Gardens 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 Gardens 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. https://sc.audubon.org/chapters-centers/silver-bluff-audubon-center-sanctuary
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.
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 courses include:
Aiken Golf Club
Woodside Plantation Country Club
The Reserve Club at Woodside
HoundsLake Country Club
The River Golf Club
Cedar Creek Golf Club
Midland Valley Golf Club
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:
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:
Aiken Hounds
Whiskey Road Foxhounds
Belle Meade Hunt
Bruce’s Field: 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.
Progressive Show Jumping: 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 horseman 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 her 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.
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
Jumping Branch Farm
Devonwood Farms
Hunting, particularly dove, quail, turkey and deer are a large part of Aiken’s culture. Many Willcox guests enjoy excellent seasonal hunting in beautiful green fields and natural southern pine forests.
National Wild Turkey Federation
Devoted to the conservation of turkeys, advocating for responsible hunting practices, and hunters’ rights, the National Wild Turkey Federation is just a short drive away in Edgefield, SC. The facility offers many educational opportunities, a shooting range, as well as providing legal hunting locations. If you are looking to hunt turkeys during your stay, National Wild Turkey Federation is your contact!
Turkey Ridge Plantation
Turkey Ridge Plantation is a private and exclusive sportsman’s paradise in the heart of the Piedmont region of South Carolina. Turkey Ridge promises a pristine hunting experience with a guide who knows what you are looking for each and every hunt. Hunt for quail and chukar with the experts at Turkey Ridge Plantation. Reservations can be made for a three hour hunt for two shooters with a guide, guide dogs, and you’ll leave with your birds cleaned and packaged.
If you’ve come to escape, we’ve got the solution to help tune out the the distractions. Ask The Willcox staff to arrange yoga, Pilates, Tai chi, Qigong and Chiogalates classes to relieve stress, decompress and drown out life’s clutter.
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.
Aiken County Historical Museum
Located in a former Winter Colony mansion, this museum 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.
Aiken Convocation Center
Home to The Pacers basketball and venue for many of the Southeast’s best concerts, shows and conferences.
Aiken Community Theatre
The Playhouse began in 1952 with an investment of $64 and the desire to produce a play. Rehearsals were first held in the homes of members. Today the Playhouse boasts an annual schedule of fantastic performances
Summer Concert Series at Hopeland Gardens
A picnic supper, a blanket, family and friends make for a perfect Monday evening May through August as local and regional artists perform at the Roland H. Windham Performing Arts Stage. Concerts begin at 7 and admission is free. During the Spring you can also enjoy the Hopeland Gardens Concert Series.
Aiken Performing Arts Group
A presenting organization in Aiken that seeks out nationally and international recognized performing artists. They have been enhancing the art community in Aiken since 2005 and hold performances in the Center for the Performing Arts. Check the APAG website for any shows schedules during your stay.
Aiken Symphony Orchestra
Created in 2015, Aiken Symphony Orchestra has been a great addition to the world of art in Aiken. The symphony has some of the finest orchestra players residing in South Carolina and Georgia. Check the Aiken Symphony Orchestra website for possible shows during your stay.
Joye in Aiken
Joye in Aiken is a nonprofit organization dedicated to making the very best in the performing arts available to our citizens, and especially our students. In the last 11 years Joye has brought 450 musicians, actors and dancers at the top of their disciplines (primarily from The Juilliard School) to participate in the weeklong Performing Arts Festival held each March, where a wide variety of events are made available to the public at low or no cost.
Aiken becomes a regional fine art and antiques destination when the Aiken Center For the Arts hosts its annual Antique Show and Sale. This event brings antique hunters from all over the Southeast. Local dealers include:
York Cottage Antiques
Antiques and More
Aiken Antique Mall
Antique Emporium
Aiken Center for the Arts
Aiken Art Annex
Enjoy a guided historic tour of Aiken sponsored by the Aiken Chamber of Commerce that can be customized to suit specific needs. Reservations are recommended. Tours are Saturdays at 10 a.m. Private tours are also available.
The Historic Aiken Trolley Tour
This trolley tour starts at the Aiken Railroad Depot and offers an air conditioned, enclosed vehicle to show you around Aiken. On the tour you will see historic homes and churches, equestrian sites, the site of the Civil War’s Battle of Aiken, and the live oak canopy on South Boundary. This is a great way to quickly get a feel for Aiken and it’s history! These tours are held on Saturday mornings at 10am at a cost of $15 per person, reservations are encouraged.
Tailored Tours of Aiken
Tailored Tours of Aiken offers more personal tours and a wider variety of interests. Tour topics include; historic Aiken, Aiken’s Cottages, Aiken and a Plantation, and Haunted Aiken. All tours are typically driving tours but a few walking tours are also available. These tours range in price from $15-$25 per person and reservations are recommended. If you don’t see a tour that peaks your interest, tours can be tailored to your personal interests!
So you’re thinking about bringing the entire family to Aiken, and you’re trying to figure out how to please everyone, right? No problem. Even the kids will be entertained. Boredom is not a word in Aiken’s dictionary. In fact, with so much to do and see, there is simply no time to even look up the word.
Willcox Kids’ Programming
The Willcox is pleased to offer a variety of children’s programming that includes custom created exploration hours with activities such as scavenger hunts, nature hikes, art and crafts, children’s spa treatments, and cooking classes.
Aiken County Library
314 Chesterfield Street, Aiken, SC
Phone: (803) 642-2020
EdVenture – Children’s Museum
211 Gervais Street Columbia, SC
Phone: (803) 779-3100
EdVenture is 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.
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 Gardens promises new discoveries around every corner.
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.
