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

travel // top 5 cheapest vacation spots in the usa

I've said this before, and I'll say it again, with summer here I've got a bad case of the travel bug.  Maybe it's because when I was growing up my family and I used to take a big vacation every summer.  Since my parents are teachers (retired now) they always had the summers off just like my brother and I did.  We used to take long road trips in our RV and camp all over the western US.  I have so many awesome memories of those trips and can't wait to someday make memories with my own children.  But for now, I'm going to enjoy being able to take awesome vacations with my friends.

One little problem though, my bank account.  Living on a college girls' budget is a pain in the ass.  I keep dreaming of places I'd like to visit but can't seem to fit it in my budget.  But never fear, I have found a list of the top 5 cheapest vacation spots in the US and you bet I intent to try and work in a vacation using these tips the next time I plan something.

Sometimes when planning a vacation, you might know when you want to go, but you don't know exactly where you want to go. Here are the five best cheap vacation spots in the U.S. for travelers to check out and explore by Kristin Oliveri (via).

Florida

Without a doubt, for a sun filled vacation spot, Florida is the way to go. There are many great hot spots to visit in Florida like Miami, Palm Beach or Orlando. During off-peak times, you can get extremely cheap hotels in Orlando and discounted tickets to Disney World. Most of the beaches in Florida are free so there won't be any added expense there. Check out some museums or walking tours that are relatively inexpensive. There's no way you can beat a whole state with coast to coast beaches.

The Carolinas

North and South Carolina have so much to offer those who are looking for a cheap vacation getaway. Stop by Myrtle Beach in South Carolina for beautiful beaches, kayaking, boating and surfing. Charleston is just around the corner, if you are looking for a bustling southern city. North Carolina is perfect if you want to relax and golf in the Outer Banks. Check out Asheville if you prefer the mountains.

Las Vegas

Now you might be thinking you have to be a high roller to enjoy Vegas, but that certainly isn't the case these days. There is a plethora of hotels that can be occupied for less than $150 a night. Cheap eats aren't hard to come by either. Most casinos are filled with food courts, small sandwich and salad places and, of course, buffets. You'll certainly get the most value out of the buffets. As for sightseeing, strap on some comfortable shoes and go from casino to casino seeing what each has to offer. Pop into the MGM Grand to see the lions or the Venetian to take a gondola ride.

The Grand Canyon

If you like to camp and check out the world's wonders, then the Grand Canyon is for you. This is a perfect place to sign up for a bike trip, caravan, or group tour. You can also tack it on to visiting Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon. You'll have to book a flight to Las Vegas and then rent a car to get you to the Grand Canyon. If you do book a tour, it might include free transportation to and from the airport.

South Padre Island, Texas

If you steer clear from this vacation spot during spring break, you've got it made. Take your pick of moderately priced hotels and motels. There are plenty of affordable restaurants, bars and movie theaters to entertain you on the trip. For the adventurous, there are many cost effective water sport rental shops that can offer equipment and book tours for deep sea fishing, diving and dolphin watching.

So next time you are thinking about a little vacation in the good 'ol USA and wanna try to cut back on expenses check out one of these 5 hot spots.  And be sure to let me know about it so I can oogle and drool over vacation and pictures!

Cheers to happy traveling!