Aiken offers the
tourist dozens of opportunities, from pleasant
escapes to historic tours to days at the races.
The Races
Aiken's
reputation as one of the world's great equine cities
is richly deserved. The training grounds of Aiken
have produced some of the nation's finest
thoroughbreds, including many Kentucky Derby
hopefuls. Each March, horse owners, trainers, and
spectators flock to the community for three weeks of
fantastic horse racing at Aiken's Triple Crown. The
season gets a running start with the Aiken Trials
and proceeds to the Steeplechase Events, ending with
polo. In the spirit of Aiken, all proceeds from
these events are donated to local charities.
Historic
Tours
Aiken has a
rich and long history dating back to 1835. Much of
the city is historic, with beautiful parkways,
shaded streets, double avenues, and historic
mansions. Frequented by the wealthy as a Winter
Colony where they could go to retreat from the
North's cold temperatures, it quickly grew from its
beginnings to a resort of national prominence. Aiken
is dedicated to preserving its history and
maintaining it; our downtown is both historic and
alive with activity.
Escapes
Aiken offers
a restful vacation, as well, with its many beautiful
parks and Hitchcock Woods. Hitchcock Woods, which is
three times the acreage of New York's Central Park,
was donated by Thomas Hitchock and the Whitneys for
public use. The Woods are right on the edge of
historic downtown Aiken, and offer walking trails
and riding paths. Among the City's parks is Hopeland
Gardens and Rye Patch, a beautiful escape near the
heart of the city, with expansive gardens abloom
with flowers in the Spring and Summer, two mansions,
and the Racing Hall of Fame Museum.
Sources for this
section provided by the Aiken Chamber of Commerce.
