Buzz

"Aiken was the complete Southern town, and though it was of modest size, it was in character larger than life and had a number of claims on my attention.” - Deep South, Paul Theroux

“Vibrant downtown, Farmers Market in the alley, circles (go) and squares (no) for traffic flow. Carriages, trolley tours and train depot. Horses, dogs and kids welcome here!” - Kathy Greeves Klein, Visit Aiken SC Facebook

“The spectacular old avenue of oaks arcing above South Boundary Avenue gives Aiken beauty-bragging rights over all of its neighbors.” - Lena Katz, USA Today

“Southern hospitality originated somewhere and after a few days in Aiken, there is a feeling that perhaps this easy-going, elegant city, gave birth to gentle living and good manners.” - Doc Lawrence, Flavors and More Magazine 

“"Before you visit Aiken, know this: Horses have the right-of-way. In fact, Aiken is possibly the only town in the South where residents are opposed to the paving of roads, reserving them instead for horses and carriages. Even paved thoroughfares such as Whiskey Road have cross buttons at rider level to signal automobile traffic to stop, allowing horses to cross over into Hitchcock Woods, one of the largest forests in the nation. Road signs are stamped with horse profiles, and just about every house has an adjoining stable, or at least a horse trailer in its driveway." -Allston McCrady, Garden and Gun