"You know you're in Aiken because the auto traffic stops at the intersection of Whiskey Road and Easy Street to let you ride your horse into the Hitchcock Woods. There the century-old polo fields are to the polo player what West Point is to the soldier and Annapolis to the sailor." -- Polo Magazine  Yes, our downtown Aiken polo fields are over 100 years old.  Whitney field has been in continuous use for the past 126 years!  Polo matches every Sunday during the season.  (Downtown Aiken -  Whitney Field on Mead Avenue.........or Powderhouse Field on Powderhouse Rd)                                                                                                       Check tournament schedules! 06/24/2008

Special exhibit going on right now :)  Who:  Aiken County Historical Museum                                                      What:  "A Glimpse of the Treasures of Aiken County" When:  T-F 10 am-5 pm; Sa-Su 2-5 pm.  For more info call 803-642-2015. Where:  Aiken County Historical Museum, 433 Newberry St. Why:  exhibit focuses on special places, historic landmarks and day trip possibilities found in Aiken County   06/21/2008

Like I said last night -  a great time was had by all - downtown at our beach blast.    Check out my friend Kara's blog - she was there with her camera.....and she has posted some pics in her recent blog.    It was alot of fun.   This is one town - - that really comes together as a community to enjoy life :)   We celebrate everything from 'fried green tomatoes'.... to ' St. Mary's Chocolate Festival'....and everything in between :) Come visit Aiken - and see for yourself.     06/20/2008

...and what a night it was!   Downtown Aiken is the best :)     We had a beach blast last night - and after hours it ended with a beach party on our party street!  Yes, we have a 'party' street here in Aiken :)      All of our 'block parties', festivals, etc..are held right downtown on Newberry Street.   A great location!  And once the ends are blocked off - it is party time!!   We even had a 'beach' on the street.   Yes - TOES IN THE SAND!!  I luv it :)      While the sun was still shining, the kids were playing in the sand....but after dark - look out --  the beach was taken over by the adults for a beach dance!  FUN FUN FUN!!     The shag is our state dance - and alot of fun. The cruise-in was awesome - so many cool cars.    I wouldn't mind doing that every night!! Can you guess whic... 06/20/2008

Downtown Aiken, that is!  Yes, what a wonderful night.  The weather is perfect, and the community has come together to celebrate with a Downtown Beach Blast.  There was a 'cruise-in' with some hot rods, and antiques, and my favorite was the corvette.   My friend Kara was there with her camera, so I'm sure she will be posting some pictures.   They had the street closed off, and there was a beach in the middle of our festival area.  Kids were playing  - but soon, 'the beach' will be taken over by the adults, for a beach party under the stars.  Live music, shagging in the sand, happy people..... just a great night.    Aiken is a great little Southern town.  Come check it out sometime! 06/19/2008

I noticed this sign as I was headed to the office this morning.  I bet your town doesn't post these!   Or do they??    We even have street lights with the 'push here for green' button up high enough so it can be reached from horseback!  Pretty cool, huh.    Only in Aiken!  The place I call home.   MORE THAN A ONE HORSE TOWN.......OR WE WOULDN'T NEED SIGNS LIKE THIS!!                                       06/19/2008

     To give y'all a feel for my little city.  I'm sitting in my living room and I hear the clip-clop of horses hooves on the pavement.  Yes, I knew it would be a horse-drawn carriage, but I still rush to the window every time I hear them.  Well, it was the cutest thing.  It was a carriage - a small one, the lady driver and her two pups along for the ride :)  .....and..... there was a younger boy hitching a ride on the back of the carriage, and his horse was walking along behind them (on a lead, of course, lol).   I wish I could have gotten a picture.    I  hear the clip-clop all the time -  I live in the historic part of our city and very close to the Hitchcock Woods.  Check out an earlier blog of mine. It's called "more than twice the size of Central Park"   (if I knew how to put that... 06/17/2008

Just another reason to consider Aiken, SC if you are thinking of heading south!!  Back in '99 a resolution was passed by the City Council to support the "Community of Character' initiative in Aiken.  THE FIRST IN SOUTH CAROLINA!!                                                                                                   EVERYONE (schools, club members, businesses, chamber of commerce, the media....) is involved in encouraging good character among Aiken's citizens.    Each month a character trait is presented to the community to encourage citizens of all ages to become better role models of GOOD CHARACTER.   There is even an awards ceremony each year to acknowledge students who display positive character in the way they conduct their lives.   Promoting good character in the communi... 06/17/2008

This Thursday night in Downtown Aiken!!     Downtown After 6 - Beach Blast   (6-9pm)                                                        Come Join Us!!      Treasure Hunters:  you will need to pick up your map at the Aiken Downtown Dev. Assoc office - in The Alley on Thursday during business hours.                                                                                        Cruise In: Aiken Horsepower club members....and others will be cruisin in for a show!   If you want to show off your wheels, come on down.                                Downtown Shoppes:    Participating Downtown Businesses will each represent a different beach, and will be offering complimentary food, music OR entertainment to show off that beach's cultural style :)    IT'S GONNA BE ALOT OF FUN!! Here'... 06/16/2008

Aiken, South Carolina A Dozen Things to Discover   1.  Discover treasures in this 32-room, 15-bathroom & 1-ballroom cottage.                                                  2.  Explore Aiken's unique touch and feel sensory trail.    3.  Experience where the Duke of Windsor & W.Churchill have stayed.         4.  Explore the parkways where the Astors & Vanderbilts once gathered.                                                             5.  Find the 'remains' of Aiken's one-time police station.                                                                                                                                           6.  Honor the Confederate soldier and 20 Union soldiers buried in Aiken                               7.  Reconnect with nature in an urban forest 3 times the ... 06/16/2008

Aiken, South Carolina A Dozen Things to Discover   1.  Discover treasures in this 32-room, 15-bathroom & 1-ballroom cottage.                                                  2.  Explore Aiken's unique touch and feel sensory trail.    3.  Experience where the Duke of Windsor & W.Churchill have stayed.         4.  Explore the parkways where the Astors & Vanderbilts once gathered.                                                             5.  Find the 'remains' of Aiken's one-time police station.                                                                                                                                           6.  Honor the Confederate soldier and 20 Union soldiers buried in Aiken                               7.  Reconnect with nature in an urban forest 3 times the ... 06/15/2008

Yes - FREE!! Free concerts all summer long.  What a great little town I live in.  Aiken, South Carolina.    We are so blessed to have this beautiful public garden in town.  Originally part of The Iselin family estate, Hopelands Gardens was given to the City of Aiken, and opened as a public garden in 1959.  Enter the gardens and you get the feeling that you are in a different world - possibly even stepping back into time. Giant old trees tower over the main entrance path provide shade on a summers day.  Listen to the birds.  Smell the flowers.  Hear the fountains from afar.  Stroll along the path and you will see fields of grass, flowers galore, beautiful magnolias with flowers the size of dinner plates - really - they are some big old trees!.  As you wander through the gardens you will ... 06/14/2008

When it comes to home showings, it's best to have an agent present the house. They'll present the house from a sales perspective and know the right things to say. It's also preferable for you to be away from the home during the showing or open house. This will make potential buyers feel more at ease and allow them to take a more thorough look around without feeling rushed or intrusive. Here are a few tips to make your home inviting and appeal to the largest number of potential buyers. Clean or paint the front door to make a sharp first impression Remove family pictures to make it easier for buyers to imagine living in the home Organize closets and consider moving unnecessary items to a temporary storage unit to make storage areas appear larger Clear as many objects from shelves as possi... 06/01/2008

Finding the best real estate investment opportunity is impossible without accurate market research. I have created a system for active real estate investors. I will help you identify the real estate investment trends that are driving the Aiken market. I can help you capitalize on the current market conditions and build wealth in your real estate investment portfolio. Though we are in the midst of an unprecedented buyers market nationwide, it is imperative that real estate investors follow the steps of the real estate investment process. My extensive research has uncovered several areas in the Aiken County South Carolina market that are poised to deliver sound real estate investment returns. I would like to share my research with you. 06/01/2008

... ... Memorial Gate in Hitchcock Woods.. Yes, right here in the center of lil' ole Aiken, SC, pop. @25,000, is Hitchcock Woods. Over 2000 acres - one of the largest urban forests in America. Over 75 miles of walking/riding trails. ONLY HOOF AND FOOT TRAFFIC ALLOWED!! (oh, horse drawn carriages are also permitted) It is so beautiful, that I just don't have the words to describe. Peaceful, serene, beautiful. So many different trees, birds, flowers, animals, plants - even a river of sand running through it.! People have been riding their horses and foxhunting on this land for over 100 years , (It didn't become Hitchcock Woods till 1939), and the hunt continues today. Of course they don't use live foxes...the hounds follow a scent trail......the horses follow the hounds..... up hills, thr... 05/26/2008

Here is a little peek into our great city.  I came here on vacation about 12 years ago...and was so 'taken with Aiken' that I moved here 6 weeks later!    I hope you get the opportunity to visit soon.  You may be 'taken with Aiken', too :) A quiet little horse town - very near Augusta, GA. (you know - where they play The Masters Golf Tourny every April)   05/21/2008

The children are grown and out on their own. Now what? If you think you are ready to downsize - check out this article.  Alot of great points made.    kc   Flying the Empty Nest: Strategies for Downsizing Are your children living on their own, married, or off to college? Have you decided to replace your family home with a smaller residence? Whether you want to focus on other priorities, or build the cottage or beach house you've always dreamed of, or simply no longer wanting to spend energy maintaining a large home, consider the following strategies for downsizing your home:   Decide Where To Go    Think and map out what you want to do next: • If schools have always prioritized where you have lived, now think about other criteria important to you, such as rural living or closer proximit... 05/21/2008

This week I had the opportunity and privilege to view a new documentary film that gives the audience an in-depth look at the lives of six Thoroughbred trainers, the horses they trained while on the Kentucky Derby trail and an intimate look at those closest to them.The narrative showcases the disparate personalities and backgrounds of the horsemen, their families, assistant trainers and grooms. The film "The First Saturday in May" was shown Wednesday night at the Aiken Center for the Arts.Brad Hennegan, who co-wrote the documentary chronicling the rigors of the 2006 Kentucky Derby trail with his brother John Hennegan and Mark Krewatch, attended the screening. The Hennegan brothers also directed and produced the film that was shot over a period of 16 months. The film is eligible to be nom... 05/16/2008

When it comes to investing in property there is no right time or wrong time, anytime is good when investing in property. The market is so wide and high that it is always possible to find some value in there. It can be easier or harder to find value depending on the state of the market but it is always there. There is always some sort of property that has been in neglect, disrepair, or simply has motivated sellers that must make a sale. Properties such as these make for a great buy at any time no matter the state of the market. Another thing to remember is that the Real Estate market moves in cycles. It never stays low or high for too long. Eventually things reverse and go back to the way they were in the previous half of the cycle. With a little bit of knowledge you can come close to pr... 05/08/2008

Try to imagine what the neighborhood will look like in 10 years. Will you still want to live there, or do you expect to move before then? Will it be desirable to future buyers?Once you've prioritized all your neighborhood amenities and features, you'll find it's much easier to focus your home search. Remember, the neighborhood is usually as important to the value of a home as what's under its roof. 04/27/2008