Charming towns with museums that display local history; small main street businesses with antiques and uniques; lanes lined with live oak trees and decorated with Spanish moss; nationally-known artists; picturesque rivers; cotton, peach, and watermelon crops; historic plantation homes, churches and cemeteries, unique cultural communities and natural attractions... all come together to give you a true picture of the South of yesteryear and of today.
Welcome to Thoroughbred Country, South Carolina.
Day 1
Enjoy downtown Aiken. The City grew up along the Charleston- Hamburg Railway. As Aiken became a bustling railroad town, it began to draw wealthy Northerners and Charlestonians during the winter months. Surrounded by a one of a kind parkway system and bordered by beautiful beds of flowers, this area offers a myriad of dining and shopping choices. Don’t leave without a stop downtown for unique shops and restaurants. Motor coach restrictions apply.
Did you know... the Aiken Trolley leaves from the Aiken Visitors Center and Train Museum on Saturdays at 10:00 am for a guided tour of town that includes a walk through Hopelands Gardens (weather permitting). Reservations are a must and a fee is charged. Call 1-888-AikenSC to reserve your place today.
Explore the Aiken County Historical Museum. The Museum is located in Banksia, one of only two Winter Colony mansions open to the public. Three floors of exhibits tell the story of the Aiken area from past to present including the present day mission of the Savannah River Site. The grounds house the Transit of Venus Observatory structure, a circa 1808 log home and an 1890’s one room schoolhouse. Motor coach restrictions apply. Did you know... admission to this grand treasure is free!
Finish the day with a picnic and paddle at Aiken State Park. Did you know... the Edisto River runs through the park? Canoes and kayaks are available for rent. Campsites are also available year round. Call the park 803-649-2857 for more information.
Mark your calendar... Be sure to check out these special events while you’re in town!
Aiken Community Playhouse presents... Visit www.aikencommunityplayhouse.us for dates and times. Enjoy an evening of theatre with the Aiken Community Playhouse. A new show plays each month. See Office Hours in January, Sherlock Holmes in February, To Kill a Mockingbird in April and 9 to 5 in May. Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office at 803-648-1438.
Battle of Aiken February 22nd & 23rd at 8:30am in Downtown Aiken History comes alive with 20 cannons, 100 cavalry horses and 1,000 living history experts. This reenactment brings to life the Battle of Aiken which occurred February 11 & 12, 1865 and was the last victory for the Confederacy. Concessions and settlers selling goods are available on site. $10 for 13 and older, $5 ages 6-12. www.battleofaiken.org
Aiken Horsepower Cruise-In First Saturday of the Month from 1pm-3pm at the Home Depot in Aiken Aiken Horsepower holds a cruise-in and car show the first Saturday of every month. This is a wonderful chance to come see some of Aiken’s beautiful classic cars. Home Depot Whiskey Road – 1785 Whiskey Road South / Aiken, SC 29803. Day 2 Travel to North Augusta’s Living History Park. At the park entrance, stroll the accessible Sensory Garden. During the year, the park hosts several FREE special events where colonial life can be experienced firsthand. Explore the meeting house, barn, backwoods cabin, smoke house, blacksmith forge stage and tavern all in a Colonial setting. Did you know... the park is also a geocaching site.
Stop at the Beech Island Historical Society Visitors and History Center. The center is located in a renovated country store that tells the history of the Beech Island area. Beech Island is one of the oldest settlements in South Carolina. Indian trading paths, Fort Moore and Swiss settlers are a few of the things you’ll learn about here.
Plan to visit Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site in Beech Island. This 1850 Greek revival antebellum mansion was the home of SC Governor James Henry Hammond. The house was held by the Hammond family through four generations then donated to the State Park Service in 1975. It is complete with furniture, decorative arts and artwork from the various periods. The grounds include interpretive slave quarters. Did you know... house tours are held Thursday through Monday at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm. A fee is charged. Call the Site 803-827-1473 for tour specifics and special event info.
Go birding at the Silver Bluff Audubon Center & Sanctuary located on the Savannah River in Jackson. Silver Bluff is a 3,154 acre wildlife sanctuary owned by the National Audubon Society. They have over 200 species on their checklist. See if you can find them all! Did you know... the Sanctuary now offers educational programs and tours for groups of all ages! Contact the Director 803-471-0291 for more information.
Treat yourself to dinner and spend the remainder of your evening star-gazing at the DuPont Planetarium or enjoying a live performance event. A night’s rest can be found at one of the many historic inns.
Mark your calendar...
Drive-In Movies at The Big Mo Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 7pm at The Big Mo - Monetta Drive-In Experience the magic of the Drive-In every weekend through November at The Big Mo. With three screens worth of current double features to choose from, you are sure to find something everyone in the family can enjoy. Gates open at 7pm and movies start at sundown. Cost is $8/adult and $4/child. Cash only. Visit http://thebigmo.com/ for current schedule. Last Saturday at the Park February 22nd, March 29th, April 26th, May 31st from 10am-4pm at the Living History Park of North Augusta Join us for a bit of history on the last Saturday of each month from January through November. Stroll the grounds and visit with interpreters dressed in period clothing and learn about the different buildings. Enjoy all types of entertainment from story telling and music to dancing and artisan demos. Visit their website at http://www.colonialtimes.us for more information. DuPont Planetarium Shows Saturday evenings at 7pm and 8pm at the DuPont Planetarium on USC-Aiken’s Campus Join the DuPont Planetarium on Saturday nights for planetarium shows. The observatory will be open following the shows weather permitting. Tickets are $5.50 for adults, $4.50 for seniors and $3.50 for children. Visit their website at http://rpsec.usca.edu/planetarium/ or call 803-641-3654 for more information. Day 3 After breakfast, travel east along US 78, the Discovery Route for the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor (SCNHC). As you travel you will notice the rail bed that is still evident in many of the small towns. These towns grew up along the Charleston-Hamburg Railway - the first commercial railway in America and the longest commercial railway in the world at the time. Make a stop at the Williston Museum, view local exhibits and discover why Williston was the Asparagus Capital of the World. The museum is open Tues & Thurs 2:00-4:00 pm or by appointment by calling 803-266-7015. Continue to Blackville to learn about Mennonite history and culture. Enjoy lunch at Miller’s Bread Basket restaurant. Miller’s is a popular stop and offers Pennsylvania Dutch with a Southern touch fare. No meal is complete without a slice of homemade bread or pie. Did you know... we suggest you order the shoo-fly pie. Detour three miles north of Blackville to the Healing Springs. Indians believed in the springs’ natural healing powers and brought wounded Revolutionary War soldiers here to drink. You can also take a walking tour of Blackville. Contact Blackville Historical Tours for group-tour information by calling 803-284-3267. Did you know... the Healing Springs Country Store sells sterilized jugs so you can take home some of the healing water. Stop in and check out their selection of local goods.
Follow the history of the Charleston-Hamburg Railway to Denmark. Shop for quality antiques in an elegant setting at The Caroline Collection. This historic AT&T building houses three full floors. The Jim Harrison Gallery affords opportunities for the viewer to take a walk down memory lane to a kinder, gentler time. Did you know... Freezie Breezie is just up the road from the gallery on Main Street- stop by for a sandwich or a cold treat. The 1830’s South Carolina Canal and Railroad bed that carried the first steam engine, The Best Friend, runs through the middle of Bamberg’s Historic District. Travel south to Ehrhardt (on US 601) for an overnight stay at a local bed and breakfast where you will hear stories of the community’s German heritage. Did you know... the Bamberg Post Office boasts a 6’x12’ mural titled “Cotton the World Over”. It can be found right in the lobby and is worth stopping for. Mark your calendar...
Rivers Bridge Seminar February 2nd at 2:00pm in Rivers Bridge State Historic Site Join the Bamberg County Historic Society at Rivers Bridge State Historic Site for the 2nd Annual Rivers Bridge Seminar. Come out and take a special tour, listen to knowledgeable speakers and visit with re-enactors dressed in Confederate and Union style.
5th Annual Julius Daniels Memorial Blues Festival February 22nd at 6:00pm in the Dane Theater of Denmark, SC Join the Bamberg County Historic Society in a celebration of the life of blues artist Julius Daniels. Come listen to some amazing local bands like The Hartness & Charles Project, and Anthony Charles & The Blues Dolphins. Tickets are $10. 13th Annual Reenactment of the Battle for Broxton Bridge & H.L. Hunley Traveling Exhibit February 28th-March 2nd starting at 9am at Broxton Bridge Plantation Come out to Broxton Bridge Plantation for the 13th reenactment of the Battle for Broxton Bridge. Battle Reenactments at 1:30 on Saturday and Sunday. Admission 6-17: $3, 18+: $6. Visit broxtonbridge.com for more information. Day 4 Begin your day with a visit to Rivers Bridge State Historic Site outside of Ehrhardt. Rivers Bridge is a 390 acre Civil War battlefield managed by the State Park Service. The site includes the self-guided battlefield interpretive trail and memorial grounds. It was here that a small band of Confederate soldiers in field fortifications opposed the advance of Sherman’s army. The well-preserved earthen fortifications are the centerpiece of this important battlefield landscape. Did you know... Rivers Bridge also preserves and interprets the Memorial Grounds where Confederates who died in the two-day struggle are interred. Ranger-guided tours are available upon request. Call the park 803-267-3675 for more information.
Travel US 301 to Allendale and shop at the Salkehatchie Arts Center. The center exhibits and sells various types of art from over 80 local artisans. The center is closed on Sunday and Monday, so be sure to plan accordingly. Did you know...The Allendale Paleoamerican Expedition is a field program where members of the public can register for a week and help excavate one of North America’s most ancient archaeological sites associated with several prehistoric chert quarries. The expedition takes place in May. Not going to be here in May? That’s okay! Stop by USC- Salkehatchie’s Campus in Allendale to view an exhibit that contains artifacts, information and photographs from the Topper Site dig. Visit http://allendale-expedition.net/ for more information about the site, recent articles and to find out how you can get involved. Enjoy a BBQ plate for lunch, then travel to Barnwell for history and shopping on the Circle. Be sure to check the time at the unique vertical sundial. Legend has it this is the only vertical sundial in the United States and it keeps within two minutes of standard time. Visit the Barnwell County Museum in the historic Fuller House or The Little Red Barn Pottery and Art Gallery to shop for SC face jugs and local pottery before enjoying dinner. Check the Circle Theater’s schedule for evening and weekend performances.
Grab your fishing pole, pull up a chair and spend the night in one of the cabins at Barnwell State Park or bring your own horse and enjoy horse camping around the fire at Lakeview Plantation or Broxton Bridge Plantation. Did you know... there are special overnight trail rides happening throughout the year. Visit www.lakeviewplantation.com and www.broxtonbridge.com for more information. Mark your calendar... Ranger Guided Tour February 1st, March 1st, April 5th and May 3rd starting at 2pm at Rivers Bridge State Historic Site Take part in a fun and educational tour of the Rivers Bridge battlefield. Our knowledgeable Ranger will guide you through the trail, sharing extra stories and information about the Civil War battle. You can also view artifacts from both sides of the War at the main building before and after this special tour. $5/adults and $3/children. Call 803-267-3675 or visit www.SouthCarolinaParks.com for more information. Barnwell Circle Theatre presents... Weekends in February, March & May The Barnwell Circle Theatre presents the show Second Samuel at the end of February and beginning of March, and Annie during the month of May. Call the box office at 803-259-7046 or visit their website at www.barnwellcircletheatre.com for show times and tickets! Did you know... Salkehatchie Stew is a home-cooked series of local plays and storytelling. Visit their Facebook page for the current show schedule: www.facebook.com/salkehatchiestew 248 702 L a k e M u r r a y 60 215 246 194 555 12 823 Columbia 601 67 378 Saluda I-126 28 262 521 81 10 i-77 441 121 1 35 76 I-20 602 193 263 763 378 769 764 25 430 245 Monetta 48 261 6 283 391 120 392 221 178 Pelion Edgefield 191 J . S t r o m 23 302 176 T h u r m o n d L a k e 419 113 N 39 o r 692 t h E 3 Wagener d 172 Perry i s L a k e M a r i o n 230 t o F o I-26 r k 267 Graniteville 118 118 4 394 321 389 Salley North Augusta Aiken 33 421 Augusta Orangeburg 126 78 Burnettown Windsor Springfield 47 Santee Beech 19 332 400 301 Island New 310 Ellenton S Williston o u Elko t h 210 45 70 E Blackville d i s Jackson t o 314 37 304 Bamberg R 21 178 L Denmark i v i e t r Hilda t Snelling l e 453 S Branchville Govan a l k Barnwell e h 78 Olar a t 362 c St George h i e S a Kline 300 v 125 Legend a Ulmer Ehrhardt nn 64 ah 15 Cities/Towns Ri 217 ver 278 SC Welcome Centers Sycamore 641 61 Allendale SC State Parks 651 601 212 Fairfax S Major Rivers a I-95 301 l k 17 HIGHWAYS e h a Walterboro t 63 SC c 3 h i US 363 e
R i Savannah River Site v 303 e Thoroughbred Country 68 r
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www.tbredcountry.org Call for a free travel guide: 1-888-834-1654 For complete travel info including a full Calendar of Events online, please visit: www.tbredcountry.org