Wednesday, May 28, 2014

HOME AWAY from home........

HOME AWAY
 from home

It’s the season for vacations and travel. We thought we might share some good tips if you are considering renting a vacation home or planning a trip where you prefer to stay in a private home or condo. My family has done this numerous times and overall with very positive results. There are several short terms furnished rentals in Aiken, SC to consider if you are planning a trip to our area.   

Renting a vacation house offers a lot that hotels or other accommodations often don’t provide: keeping your large group together, cooking out and eating family style, and unique amenities such as a private pool or hot tub. Finding the right rental for your group isn't always easy, however. Here are some tips from The New York Times and Frommers.com to help you make a decision on a rental this summer.

DO YOUR RESEARCH: These days, there is no shortage of information about available rentals. Web sites like VRBO.com, FlipKey (which is run by Trip Advisor), and HomeAway.com list thousands of rental homes in North America and across the world. Once you've located a few rentals you like, make sure what you see is accurate. Check the owner’s website, online reviews and comments from past users on sites like Yelp or Facebook.

IDENTIFY WHAT YOU WANT: Determine your priorities before you start looking. A beachfront place may be more expensive, but if your family loves the water, it may be worth it. If you know your group is more likely to be out and about and just use the house as a place to sleep, you probably want to go for a less expensive option.

DECIDE EARLY ... OR DON’T: Good rental properties are tough to find, and that is doubly true if you’re heading somewhere during popular vacation times such as Christmas or spring break. So if you locate a place you’re particularly fond of, book it as soon as you can finalize your plans. However, if you’re the spontaneous type, you can sometimes find big dis-counts by waiting until the last minute because discounted renters are better than no renters at all for property owners.



Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Hopeland Garden Concert Schedule 2014

Relax and Enjoy the Music at
Hopeland's Garden Summer Concert Series!

Admission to the series is free.
Tip: Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on.
Food is welcomed, but alcohol is prohibited.
For more information, please call
803-642-7631 or visit www.facebook.com/ExperienceAiken

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Today….Third Annual Horses and Courses

Today….Third Annual Horses and Courses

Where else can golf and horses go together?  Aiken, SC of course!

Downtown Aiken will be the place to be on Tuesday, April 8th during Masters Week!  The 3rd Annual Horses and Courses Event begins at 5pm until 9pm and is sponsored by the City of Aiken Arts Commission, City of Aiken Parks, Recreation & Tourism Department, the Aiken Artists Guild, and the Aiken Downtown Development Association and Carolina Outdoors Equipment Company.

This year the event will focus on Aiken's numerous talented artists including an art walk along the sidewalks and Alley in our vibrant downtown. The air will be filled with the sounds of numerous performing artists and displays of original paintings, sculptures and jewelry from visual artists. Artwork will be on display and for sale inside and outside of numerous businesses.

The mission of the Horses & Courses events is to promote and highlight the arts, equine, and golf communities as well as showcase downtown Aiken.





Source of info: City of Aiken website

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

2014 Springtime Lunch and a Play - April 9th at 11am - Aiken, SC

We are thrilled to be sponsoring the Springtime Lunch and a Play on April 9th at 11am! Guess what….ITS FREE to the public!!! All you need to do is bring your lawn chair/blanket and a picnic lunch! Come and enjoy “The World of Anansi the Spider!” Hope to see you there!

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Show your LOVE for Aiken, SC and VOTE…

Show your LOVE for Aiken, SC and VOTE…

Garden and Gun’s…Greatest Southern Towns

The battle for the best Southern town is on! In the spirit of March Madness, we've set up a bracket featuring 32 great Southern towns going head-to-head for the championship. And your votes will determine which towns advance. (For the record, we kept it to towns with populations under 150,000).

Aiken is most definitely the best Southern town, we deserve the bragging rights. Please go and vote online we are in the South Atlantic section.

http://gardenandgun.com/article/southern-towns-bracket#pd_a_7860092


You can help spread the word to vote for the best Southern town on Twitter using the hashtag #SouthernTowns.