Best Life Day Trip Series – Part One

Day-Tripping from Aiken

One of the neat features about Aiken, South Carolina is its proximity to other awesome places with lots of fun things to do. In this 5 part series, we’re going to be exploring locations for easy, relatively close day trips from Aiken. We’ll suggest an itinerary with ideas from places we’ve been and restaurants  and activities we’ve enjoyed. It’s our Best Life Day Trip Series!

Our first day trip is to North Augusta, South Carolina.

Our first stop on this day trip is the North Augusta Greeneway.

Just 20 miles from our Best Life Aiken office,  The Greeneway is a 7+ mile recreational trail perfect for running, biking, rollerblading or walking your dog. The Greeneway meanders through the woods, alongside the Savannah River, over bridges and through tunnels.

It’s shady, perfect for any time of the year. So lace up your running or walking shoes and get out there for some great exercise in a gorgeous setting. To download a brochure with more information on parking spots, rules, etc. please click here.

After all that exercise, you’ll need some fabulous food to refuel. We highly recommend Manuel’s Bread Cafe.  It is accessible from the Greeneway by bike, by foot or a couple minutes car ride away.

Located within Hammond’s Ferry riverfront neighborhood, Manuel’s Bread Cafe combines the tradition of a French bakery, pastry and food shop with an unforgettable casual dining experience. A native of Lyon, France, culinary wizard Chef Manuel Verney-Carron prepares delicious meals guaranteed to delight any palette. The seasonal menu features organic produce grown from Blue Clay Farms, a sustainable garden also run by Chef Manuel.

After a phenomenal meal at Manuel’s Bread Cafe, drive 1/2 mile down the street and attend a baseball game at the brand new, beautiful SRP Park; home of the Augusta GreenJackets. It is the center of North Augusta’s growing and thriving downtown scene.  Single tickets range from $8-$13 and season tickets are extremely affordable. The Augusta GreenJackets currently lead the South Atlantic League. They play 70 games a year, from April-September. It’s a great way to spend time with family and  friends, and a perfect stop on our North Augusta Day Trip.

You may be getting tired after a long day, but muster up the energy,  and stop at the iconic Pink Dipper Ice Cream Shop in Downtown North Augusta. The folks at the Pink Dipper have been serving up ice cream for over 40 years.  Classic favorite flavors, like Strawberry and Butter Pecan plus unique flavors like Superman and Sea Turtle. Channel your inner child and enjoy some delicious ice cream.

So…now your Best Life day trip to North Augusta has come to a close. And what an incredible day it has been! The Greeneway, Manuel’s Bread Cafe, The Augusta GreenJackets baseball game and the Pink Dipper.

The most amazing part is that the whole day, from start to finish, involved driving a total of 42 miles. 

Aiken has charming shops and great restaurants, but it’s nice to mix things up,  get out of town and explore the surrounding areas too.

Join us next time as we make our way through the 5 part series –  Best Life Day Trips!

For more information on Aiken and the surrounding areas, contact the Best Life Team or click here. We’re small, mighty and we’d love to help you find your Best Life in Aiken!