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 hour drive to Aiken.

Aiken Golf Club became the first course in the country to add special tees for women, reportedly at the recommendation of May Dunn, the nation’s first female golf professional. | Photo by Aiken Golf Club

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.