Day 1

Explore Aiken’s historic Winter Colony district and racetracks (www.nationalregister.sc.gov). After lunch, take a long relaxing hike in Hitchcock Woods (South Boundary and Whiskey Rds., 803/642-0528, www.hitchcockwoods.org) before checking out the Carolina Bay Nature Preserve (Whiskey Rd. and Price Ave., website). Head a little ways east to Montmorenci and check into Annie’s B&B (3083 Charleston Hwy., 803/649-6836, $100), or stay in Aiken at the classy Willcox (100 Colleton Ave., 877/648-2200, www.thewillcox.com) or the old Hotel Aiken (235 Richland Ave., 803/648-4265, www.hotelaiken.com).

Day 2

Get up bright and early to explore Aiken’s Hitchcock Woods. If you’re here in the fall and it’s a Saturday, you might even catch a fox hunt. Then drive east to Blackville and its God’s Acre Healing Springs (Healing Springs Rd., website), stopping for lunch at Miller’s Bread Basket (438 Main St., 803/284-3117) in town. In the evening take in a movie at the Monetta Drive-In (5822 Columbia Hwy., 803/685-7949, www.thebigmo.com), one of only two functioning drive-in theaters in South Carolina.

Day 3

In the morning head west to Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site (181 Redcliffe Rd., 803/827-1473, www.southcarolinaparks.com) and Riverview Park in North Augusta. If you’re here in the spring, and it’s a Sunday, after lunch return to Aiken in time for the afternoon polo match at Whitney Field (Mead Ave.).

© Jim Morekis from Moon South Carolina, 4th Edition