Aiken
Horse country with a walkable downtown and lower cost than coast or mountains.
Aiken is the Lowcountry's horse capital — wide oak-lined boulevards, polo on weekends, and one of the most affordable downtowns in the Southeast. Augusta (and its airport) is 20 minutes away.
Shopping
Independent boutiques, the Aiken Drug Co. soda fountain, art galleries.
Belk, Target, T.J. Maxx, and major grocers.
Saturdays year-round, plus mid-week from spring through fall.
Dining
White-tablecloth dining in a historic Laurens Street building.
Locals' pick for steaks, burgers, and a serious bourbon list.
Long-standing Southern diner downtown.
Local Events
Three consecutive March Saturdays of flat racing, harness racing, and steeplechase.
May — three-day festival at the Highfields Event Center.
December — lighted holiday walk through Hopelands Gardens.
Parks & Outdoors
2,100 acres of in-town urban forest, sand trails, and bridle paths.
14 free acres of historic estate gardens with summer concerts.
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Healthcare
- ●Aiken Regional Medical Centers
- ●Augusta University Health (25 min)
- ●Charlie Norwood VA (Augusta)
Neighborhoods
"Buy something on the south or southwest side near Woodside or Cedar Creek for golf access; buy on the north side for cheaper acreage with the same downtown drive."
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