If you like horses and an easy-going, warm weather climate you might want to think about making Aiken, South Carolina your retirement community. This town of almost 30,000 in western South Carolina’s Sand Hill country grew up as a healthy retreat where the wealthy could escape from hot weather. The “Winter Colony” as it is called has always been popular with the horsy set for fox hunting, steeplechase, and polo horses. Many people come here to either raise their horses or watch them race in steeple chases - the Imperial Cup each March and the Holiday Cup in October. Both of these steeplechase races are sanctioned by the National Steeplechase Association. The Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum is a local a tribute to the famous flat racing and steeplechase Thoroughbred horses that have trained here.
The town’s infrastructure is ideal for active adults 55+.There are great restaurants and excellent shopping nearby. The mountains and beaches are not far away and neither is Atlanta. Aiken won the All-America City Award in 1997. For more information about how to retire in South Carolina or towns like Myrtle Beach , Charleston, or Orangeburg. Photo of downtown Aiken courtesy of Wikipedia and Festiva76. | 
