tourist tuesdays: south carolina with anna!

hi guys and happy tuesday! i'm excited for another round of tourist tuesdays!  today we have a southern bell here to share all about a sweet town in south carolina.  anna is such a doll and i'm so happy to have her here today.  she had the most gorgeous wedding and lives in such a picturesque town.  be sure to stop by her blog and leave her some love.  but first, let's escape to aiken, south carolina!

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Hey there Eat, Drink, Be a Tourist fans and followers! I'm Anna - the creative visionary behind A March Wedding - a personal blog about life in small town South Carolina.  Kelsey was sweet enough to let me write a post for her Tourist Tuesdays installment and I am thrilled to be here!

I'm a 23 year old college grad with plenty of travel experience under my belt. I lived in Europe for almost 10 years, so I was able to see a lot of things that many people take for granted.

Torino Olympics, Prague, Sorrento, Venice 

Today I'm not here to talk about Paris, Rome, or Zurich, though! I'm here to talk about good ol' Aiken, South Carolina, my new home!

Aiken is a slow-paced city known for it's connection to the equestrian lifestyle and its close vicinity to Augusta - home of the Master's Golf Tournament. Now, if you don't own horses (we don't), it's okay. There is still plenty to enjoy!

When you come to Aiken, there are a few places you absolutely have to go.

VISIT

Hopeland Gardens

If you want to take an afternoon stroll along brick-paved paths, count the fireflies, or enjoy a free evening concert from a local amateur string group, definitely stop by Hopeland Gardens in downtown Aiken. There's even a little pond, complete with a fountain, turtles, and ducks. More on Hopeland here and here.

Downtown Aiken

Downtown Aiken is the area you don't want to miss out on. There are SO many cute little shops, from clothing boutiques to furniture galleries, to antique, art, and thrift stores. By day, it's a shopper's heaven. 

You'd also be remiss to skip out on the Farmer's Market. I'm sure it pales in comparison to those of the larger cities, but it's adorable, and they have some really great stuff! It's a bit off the beaten path, but within walking distance for the more agile. 

For those who crave a more nocturnal atmosphere, Aiken has plenty to offer. Many of the restaurants transform into bars after dinner hours, and there is also "The Alley," a literal alley, chock full of interesting night life.

If you come on the right weekend, Aiken will no doubt be hosting some sort of event. The Battle of Aiken is a popular war reenactment that you should make an effort to see at least once! 

A couple of my favorite events are The Lobster Races, The Kite Festival, and The Fair!

If you've got a car, you HAVE to drive down the infamous South Boundary. If you're lucky, you'll come during a rare snow-covered winter!

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STAY

There are plenty of chain hotels in Aiken, but I would definitely recommend embracing Aiken's antebellum history and staying at The Willcox Inn.

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EAT

One of our favorite places to eat (Husband likes it because they brew their own beer!) is the Aiken Brewing Company, or the Brew Pub for short. They have the BEST hand battered onion rings and some seriously delightful wraps, but their pastas, streaks, and salads are great, too! And if beer isn't your flavor, they have wine. =) 

I think that about wraps it up. Drop by my blog and check out my Aiken label if you want to find out more about what we do here in our little town! Thanks for having me!

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thanks so much for sharing, anna!

i hope to visit aiken one day - it's just too cute not to.

don't forget to link up YOUR tourist tuesday post in the comments.

xo