Aiken is one of the most popular cities in South Carolina. The city boasts of a lot of outdoor activities and is also a rich source of history. The city is blessed with surpassing scenic beauties and comprises a lot of beautiful parks. The thriving downtown of the town of Aiken has a lot to offer and hence, the tourists can engage themselves in a wide array of activities. Besides this, Aiken hosts very popular events and functions showcasing some of the best musical concerts, dance, food and much more. Read on to learn more about the best things to do in Aiken!
1. Hopelands Gardens
The Hopelands Gardens is a great place to visit along with friends and family. Planning a picnic there is one of the best things that one can ever do in Aiken. You can easily witness the greenery of nature as the park comprises a lot of plants and beautiful flowers. It is undoubtedly one of the best places in Aiken to spend a morning or an evening in a tranquil ambiance.
Tourists visiting the Hopelands Gardens can go for a long walk or can simply sit and enjoy the ethereal beauty of nature. The park is extremely well maintained, and the lush green surroundings are stunning. A visit to the Hopelands Gardens can be considered as an inevitable one for visitors who are planning a trip to Aiken.
Hopelands Gardens
Address: Whiskey Road and Dupress Place, Aiken, SC 29802
Price: Free
Opening Hours: All seasons, all days, from 10 am to dusk
Website: Hopelands Gardens
2. Hitchcock Woods
The Hitchcock Woods is one of the most exciting places to visit in Aiken. The most thrilling activity tourists can involve themselves in is the horse riding. The annual horse show that is conducted here each season is a great crowd puller and it attracts spectators from all over the States. The area is extremely nice and quiet and is best suited for the those who love to spend their holidays in a serene ambiance. Spending a morning or an evening here along with friends and family can really be a great experience.
Hitchcock Woods
Address: 430 S Boundary Ave., Aiken, SC 29802
Price: Entry Free
Opening Hours: All seasons, all days, from dawn to dusk
Website: Hitchcock Woods
3. Carolina Bay Nature Preserve
The Carolina Bay Nature Preserve is primarily a bay and comprises a huge pond around it. The surpassing scenic beauty of the bay makes it one of the most visited places in Aiken. The bay is located away from the commotion of the downtown and is undoubtedly a great place for some respite from the daily hustle and bustle.
Tourists visiting here can also witness the beautiful ducks floating on the pond and they can also feed them. Walking in the woods of the Carolina Bay Nature Preserve is yet another wonderful experience. It is undoubtedly a great place to spend a day along with the children.
Carolina Bay Nature Preserve
Address: Price Avenue, Aiken, SC 29803
Price: Free
Opening Hours: All seasons, all days, from the sunrise to the sunset
Website: Carolina Bay Nature Preserve
You might be interested in these Airbnbs!
4. Aiken State Park
The Aiken State Park is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the town of Aiken. It is a very lovely park and is also very easy to find. A canoe ride in the Aiken State Park is one of the most exciting activities, and it will help you create a long and lasting memory. The river here is absolutely calm and is simply stunning to witness.
Canoeing is another activity visitors can do here. Besides this, you can also go for the hiking or biking trails, or try some fishing in the nearby lake. Tourists can also spend their day having a picnic along with friends and family in the Aiken State Park.
Aiken State Park
Address: 1145 State Park Rd, Windsor, SC 29856
Price: Free for children aged 15 years or below. USD 2 per person aged above 15 years. USD 1.25 per person for senior citizens
Opening Hours: All seasons. Monday to Saturday 9 am - 6 pm
Website: Aiken State Park
5. Aiken County Historical Museum
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
The Aiken County Historical Museum is one of the best local museums in Aiken. It comprises an innumerable number of artifacts which are truly fascinating to witness. It is one of the most spectacular tourist destinations in the town and is also considered as one of the top rated tourist attractions for those who are inclined towards art and history.
Visitors will undoubtedly get to know a lot about the rich heritage and culture of Aiken. Spending an afternoon here can indeed be a great educational experience for all.
Aiken County Historical Museum
Address: 433 Newberry St SW, Aiken, SC 29801
Price: Free
Website: Aiken County Historical Museum
6. Aiken Visitors Center and Train Museum
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
The Aiken Train Museum is one of the prime tourist destinations in the town and is a huge crowd puller. It not only attracts people from South Carolina but also from all parts of the United States. This famous train museum comprises nine dioramas which in turn, portray the town along with the South Carolina Canal and Railroad Company. The dioramas are further complimented by the attractive displays that show the railroad history of Aiken. Spending a morning or an afternoon in the Aiken Train Museum can be very interesting for each and every tourist.
Aiken Visitors Center and Train Museum
Price: Free
7. Dupont Planetarium
The Dupont Planetarium is a great place to visit for all travel enthusiasts who love science. It is a great centre of attraction for the kids as well. The tourists visiting this planetarium will be able to witness a lot of celestial objects using the advanced telescopes that are present here.
Special shows are also organized for visitors of all age groups so that they can gain knowledge about Space and the Universe. The observatory section of this planetarium is really awesome and it indeed reveals a lot of information.
Dupont Planetarium
Address: 471 University Pkwy, Aiken, SC 29801
Price: 8 USD per person
Opening Hours: All seasons. Sunday to Thursday 6:45 am - 8 pm. Friday and Saturday 7:45 am - 8 pm
Website: Dupont Planetarium
8. Aiken Center for the Arts
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
The Aiken Center for the Arts is one of the prime tourist destinations for the art lovers. The best part of visiting this art museum is that you will be able to witness the handmade goods that are made by the local craftsmen. It also comprises a wide array of beautiful paintings and music recitals which are indeed a treat to watch.
Besides this, it also showcases many different types of locally made jewelry that’s up for sale. Spending an afternoon here along with friends or family can be really lovely.
Aiken Center for the Arts
Address: 122 Laurens St SW, Aiken, SC 29801
Price: Free
Opening Hours: All seasons. Monday to Saturday 10 am - 5 pm
Website: Aiken Center for the Arts
Aiken – a major tourist destination in South Carolina
Aiken is one of the top-rated tourist destinations in South Carolina. A trip to Aiken can be one of the best decisions for anyone who wants to involve themselves in a wide range of outdoor activities. Ranging from nature parks to museums and planetariums, the town has a lot to offer.
History
Get Trip101 in your inbox
Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data
-
-
-
-
2 Best Adults-Only All-Inclusive Resorts In South Carolina, USAReyanne Louisse -
-
-
-
Create an account to