Aiken has grown by leaps and bounds recently but still conveys the feeling of a quaint, southern town that offers much to explore. Locals and tourists alike enjoy its history, bustling downtown shops and restaurants, impressive architecture, and beautiful greenspaces. It’s not uncommon to see people sight-seeing and traveling through Aiken on horseback, in a golf cart, or even in a horse-drawn carriage, but there’s a new way to get around. Pedego Electric Bikes offer an exciting way to venture around Aiken, and the guided tour through historic downtown is definitely a must-do!
One of the stops on the tour is the Old Post Office located on the corner of Laurens Street and Park Avenue. Built in 1912, the Classical Revival architecture is a fixture in the downtown area. Stories of people gathering around the front entrance to watch Fred Astaire dance down the steps after checking his mail are sure to entertain.
The Aiken County Historical Museum, named Banksia after the Banksia Rose, served as a home during the “Winter Colony” days. It was originally a smaller home. In order to make it a proper cottage, an addition was built to have a total of 32 rooms, 15 bathrooms, and a grand ballroom. Today, Banksia offers a trip down memory lane and lessons in Aiken’s history.
Another interesting stop on the tour is The Willcox Hotel on Colleton Avenue. This grand inn was built in the late 19th Century and served as a luxurious place for wealthy northerners who migrated here for mild weather, lavish accommodations, and days spent playing polo. Many famous people walked through the doors of The Willcox from Franklin Roosevelt to Winston Churchill and even royalty.
Speaking of days spent playing polo, another tour location is the historic Whitney Polo Field on Mead Avenue. The first polo game was played in Aiken in 1882 and is still played throughout the year from March-July and September-November. Riding down the dirt roads of the Aiken horse district will lead you right to Whitney where you can step foot on one the oldest polo fields still used today.
No historic tour would be complete without a trip down the iconic live oak tunnel on South Boundary Avenue. Live oaks, unlike other deciduous oaks, drop their leaves and grow new ones gradually, so they appear to stay “live” all year. No matter when you take your Pedego historic tour, you’ll be able to enjoy the impressive thoroughfare that has guided so many to downtown Aiken.
The guided Pedego bike tour through Aiken makes for the perfect day with friends or family. Owned by Coker Day and located in The Village at Woodside, these bikes provide a fun way to explore all that Aiken has to offer. Bikes can be rented by the hour or by the day for an independent adventure, but be sure to plan for the historic tour. Whether you’ve lived here all your life or are new to the area, put this on your bucket list!
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Pedago Participant Explorers!
Ashley and Casey from Board in Aiken charcuterie, are big fans of the Pedago tours, We caught up with them on Park Ave. enjoying the day.
Jordan Dunbar of Cyndi's Sweet Shoppe caught up with Callie and Ivey Claire Huiet of Palmetto Muay Thai and Kickboxing, on Mead Ave. in the horse district, and later treated everyone to truffles at Banksia. It never hurts to add sweets to the tour!
Chris Williams, owner of East Coast Custom Detail, stopped by the Willcox before hitting the gym, joined by Aiken Chamber of Commerce's Jim Tunison, and Delany Tavenner with Purebred Compost. Nothing better than catching up with friends and staying active!
It’s not uncommon to see people traveling through Aiken on horseback, by golf cart, or in a horse-drawn carriage, but there’s a new way to get around. Pedego Electric Bikes.
