Looking for your next weekend getaway? There's no shortage of incredible places to explore right here in our state, so every Friday this month, we’re highlighting one destination that deserves a spot on your itinerary. This week, we're taking the two-and-a-half-hour drive to Aiken.

What to do

Located only 30 minutes from Augusta National Golf Course, it's hard to beat Aiken's appeal to golfers. There are 20 courses within a 15-mile radius of Aiken, so you could even play a few courses in one day.

Aiken is known for its horse culture, so plan your visit around a polo match at Whitney Field. The fall season runs Friday, Sept. 11-Sunday, Nov. 8. Remember when “Southern Charm" filmed there?

What to eat

On your stroll around town, head to The Alley, a downtown stretch lined with restaurants, bars, and outdoor seating. Stop for dinner at Malia’s, located next door to the Aiken Center for the Arts, or get a taste of the Lowcountry at Park Avenue Oyster Bar.

Dine in the lobby or beside the saltwater pool at The Willcox, a historic hotel that's earned national recognition for both its rooms and restaurant. Travel + Leisure readers recently ranked it the No. 5 inn in the continental US, and its restaurant has repeatedly earned Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence.

The Willcox has welcomed travelers to downtown Aiken for more than a century. | Photo via The Willcox

Where to stay

Check into the Carriage House Inn, a locally owned boutique hotel dating to 1872 in historic downtown Aiken. Fun fact: Fred Astaire once danced at birthday parties in the former family home.

Stay at Burrell and Flynn’s Farm, an intimate bed-and-breakfast where rooms overlook a saltwater pool. You’ll get to start your day with a chef-prepared breakfast and wind down at night with complimentary wine + charcuterie on the porch.