Aiken is a local example of true Southern charm
Blue Highways by Tee Gentry
One of the most livable small towns in America is right here in our backyard – Aiken, South Carolina.
Known for an equestrian community and events ranging from thoroughbred racing to steeplechase to polo, it’s also regarded as a perfect place to retire. The cost of living is very reasonable – nine percent lower than the national average with housing costs coming in at 22 percent less. –
While the many communities have lost much of their character over the years, Aiken has remained decidedly small town Southern. Residential architecture, which ranges from charming cottages to expansive mansions, retain their historic charm, with tall columns and long porches remaining the standard.
Additionally, the downtown district is one of very few left that remains busy with plenty of shops and restaurants.
The Alley is one of my favorite gathering places on a spring day, lined with bars and restaurants and plenty of outdoor seating. This is the place where I had my first shrimp corndog. Yes, that is the real thing, it’s really good, and it is available at Electric Eats.
There are also dirt roads.
I love a good dirt road and it’s something you don’t see in most towns. In Aiken, they have avoided the temptation to pave for a very simple reason – horses. That’s where you’ll see the beautiful thoroughbred horses on many of these dirt roads. I’m sure there is a more equestrian-official word for these roads, but I don’t know what it is, so I’ll continue to refer to them as dirt. We got into a lot of trouble on dirt roads when I was young. These feel different – a more refined category of dust and clay. I’m sure there is still trouble to be found, but we’ll just leave that one alone.
In Aiken, horses have the right-of-way. In fact, there is a traffic light on Whiskey Road, a very busy thoroughfare, which has its own traffic light button set at the height of a rider on a horse. It’s a thoroughbred thoroughfare.
That’s Aiken charm, straight from the horse’s mouth.