Once known as the polo capital of the world, Aiken is home to Derby winners like Pleasant Colony and Sea Hero and Preakness winner Summer Squall. Explore the past. A visit to the Aiken County Historical Museum is a great way to learn about the region's history.
Admission is free.
Twilight and magnolias. Growing beneath a lush canopy of magnolia and oak trees is Hopeland Gardens, a 14-acre public gardens that opened in 1969. The grounds feature touch and scent trails where visitors are invited to discover the texture of various plant species, The Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame, a wetlands, fountains and formal gardens. Hopeland's annual summer concert series begins Monday with the Aiken Community Band in concert on the performing arts stage. The series continues each Monday evening through August.