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To Diane O'Neil on Orlando to Charleston - It should take about 7 hours. To whom it may concern, I am also looking for places to stay,and
restaurants. Thank you, When visiting Charleston, SC - a must is taking a walking tour with
Tommy Dew of On the Market Tours. He is by far the best tour guide I've
ever had. So knowledgable and entertaining. He also has a Ghost Story CD
that is fantastic! Easy to remember number 843-853-TOUR (8687). To Whom it may concern: I am Planning a trip to Charlston sc around
October. I am planning to drive from Orlando to Charlston how many hours
of driving time is it. Thanks, Terry I am looking to rent a sailboat sometime during the week of June 2-5 on
Hilton Head Island just for a day? Do you know if this is possible. We are
seasoned sailors need to accomidate 4 people. If you are visiting charleston, you got to visit Folly Beach , "The
Edge of America". Folly Beach is the home of sea, sand, and surfing,
historical and cultural sites; a maritime forest; Morris Island
Lighthouse; gourmet food, endangered species of birds; and southern
hospitality. Folly Beach is a "must see - must visit" place. A great place
for nightlife and live bands at The Folly Pelican. i am trying to find out about the cruise ships u have available i will
be coming to charleston with some friends and we are trying to find
something exciting to do and something that will be well worth the time we
are a group age ranging from 25-33 pls give more info on the ghost tour
also our grandchildren !(8,14) are very interested in the Civil War. Can you
suggest a one-two day itinerary during the week of Feb. 15-20 ? Thank you. I will be vacationing in Charleston with friends in December. Can
someone please suggest some place fun for my group over New Year's Eve?
Thanks. We are very interested in sailing from your port on one of the cruise ships. Any information would be greatly appreciated. -- madeline simmons - Monday, November 10, 2003 at 21:05:11 We would like information on Carriage rides through historic Charleston, horse back riding, and stores to shope in. -- Akemi Moore - Saturday, November 15, 2003 at 16:26:29 I'm going to be in Charleston for New Years Eve 2004 and wanted to know what there is to do that night. Can anyone provide me with websites or something I can search? I'm 26 and will be with a small group of friends. -- A G - Wednesday, November 19, 2003 at 11:27:37 Visited Charleston for our 17th anniversary... had a wonderful time!
Did the walking tour with Tommy Dew of On the Market tours... meet at the
steps of the market. Great storyteller, our only regret was that we
couldn't do a ghost tour with him that evening, as we had to leave. Great
town, gracious / friendly people. We'll be back! The ocean is an awesome place to swim and to make a sandcastle I need any information on old houses or historical sites that I can
visit with maps. Also some musuem information. I am interested in the events that are going to be held for Halloween
in Charleston this year. Are there any festivals, parties including
costume parties, or any events that would appeal to people in the age
range of 25 to 30 I would like to visit slave historical sitings,the month of Ausgust any
where from the 24th. to the 3rd. of setember. My husband and I are driving to Charleston Thanksgiving day and wanted
to know if the city is closed down on this day and if there is anywhere
open for dinner? I am looking for Horse Back riding and cant find anything. My husband and I are going to be in Charleston for one night in July
and wanted to find out where to eat (lunch and dinner). Looking for good
atmosphere, great southern cuisine, not too expensive. I would like some information on The Market Place and any other flea
markets that don't only sell second hand goods. Thank you. Things to see and do while there for the BMW Rally in July. I will be traveling to Charleston for the first time for the Spoleto
Festival this summer. Can you provide any information about this Festival?
Is it more classical than jazzy? Will there be street vendors and arts?
What's a great place for seafood thats not too pricey? What about the nite
spots? I am interested in animals and petting zoos. I am also interested in
real haunted houses I want to go to drama camp this summer but at camp I only want to take
drama lessons all day Recommend the Gullah Tour that you can pick up by the Visitor's Center
(tour boards on John Street). Check the visitor's center for brochure.
Alphonso Brown is a great guide and very entertaining. He showed us a
different side of Charleston. His tour was a definite high point of our
visit. I am going to Charleston to go deep sea fishing. i need to know where
to go and how to make reservations. the name of the boat is thunder Star
and it is off of shem creek. thank you. To anyone who plans on visiting the Charleston area check out this
place it is called dukes bbq its on highway 76 in Summerville grate food
and reasonable prices I highly recommend it also in West Ashley there is a
very romantic restaurant called California Dreaming they have some of the
best food in town not to bad in price .it is on the Ashley river. I've been to Charleston several times and we make a point to go at
least two or three times a year. Someone who hasn't been to this magical
city can't understand all of the beauty, history, and wonder that it
holds. Everytime we come over there, we take Eddie Macy's ghost tour. This
is an excellent way to learn about the history of the city and the events
that have made it what it is today. We also like to visit the lighthouse
on Sullivan's Island. This is a secluded little spot and is one of
Charleston's best kept secrets I believe. I could go on and on. The
Market, Fort Sumpter, The College of Charleston and The Citadel, The
Battery, and Waterfront Park. All of these contribute to a perfect
atmosphere. So if you have a couple of days, make it a point to vist this
place where the people are extremely friendly, the food is great, and
there is neve a dull moment. I've been to 44 of the 50 states and have yet
to see a place as nice as Charleston, South Caroli! na. William Richardson
Birmingham, Alabama 10-12-98 I will try and keep this shprt but I have a hard time whenever
I speak of Charleston. We discovered Charleston in 1990 and have gone back
every year since. We have nevewr visited a more beautiful, historical or
friendly city. After visiting 10 times we have decided to retire there in
6 years. We have always had many interesting things to do. Visit the
forts, take a tour (Old South-Red Sash), eat, tour plantations, browse
market street, eat, walk the beaches, visit a museum, tour the homes, eat,
take a bike ride, relax at colonial lake, drive to the Islands, eat, visit
the churches, tour the cememteries, eat, golf, shop,walk-walk-walk. Try my ghost tour in Charleston! It is Ghost Walk, a name registered
with the Secretary of State for South Carolina! The tour is 1 1/2 hours
long and we tell more stories than any other tour on the market! Plenty of
ghost in Charleston to talk about and we would love to have you on the
tour. Tours are 5 pm from The Mills House Hotel and 7 pm and 9 pm from
TG's, 170 Church St. My husband and I just visited Charleston Sept. 20-24, 1998 for the
second year in a row and stayed at the Meeting Street Inn. This charming
Inn serves a Continental breakfast every a.m. and wine and cheese
5:30-6:30 p.m. The Inn keepers were helpful and friendly and steered us to
one of the best restaurants called The Mint Julep. The fried green
tomatoes are a must! Another excellent restaurant was 82 Queen, quite
elegant with a beautiful outdoor garden. We also enjoyed Hymans for
seafood, Bocci's for Italian and Blossoms for their mushroom stuffed
ravioli! We took a horse and carriage tour for two, a little pricey, but
better than being cramped into the larger tour carriages especially on a
hot day. Enjoyed our visit to Boone Hall Plantation and Drayton Hall. A
walk to Waterfront Park in the evening and using the swings was enjoyable.
The best thing about staying in town was that everything was in walking
distance. We also enjoyed the Fall Candlelight Tour of homes in historic
Charleston, put on by the Historic Society. Beautiful homes filled with
antiques, and even met some of the homeowners. Since this was a night
tour, each home had candles outside to guide you to the right house. It
was the best! We will certainly be back to this charming city again. Katie
H. submitted 10/4/98 3DI fell in love with Charleston and the Lowcountry the summer afte= r
graduating high school and have been returning as often as possible ever
since. Gill and I went to Charleston between Thursday 29th July and Sunday 2nd
August 1998. We had a really lovely time staying at the Barksdale House
Inn which was excellent. The service was first class we had breakfast in
our room served on a silver tray. A wonderful centrally located Inn which
didn't charge the earth. We visited all the touristy sites including Boone
Hall Plantation which was fascinating but rather overpriced at $10 per
person. The house was rebuilt in 1935 and is therefore considerably
younger than our home in England. The present owners live in the property
and so tourists only get to see the ground floor. The slave street is
extraordinary and they have plans to develop this area further and give
tourists a real insigt into what life for the slaves was actually like.
We vacationed in Charleston June 29 - July 2, 1998. What a wonderful
place, we didn't want to leave. We stayed at the Boardwalk Inn at the Wild
Dunes Resort on the Isle of Palms. Their beaches are unsurpassed. We had
lunch at the Wild Wing Cafe, great selection of wings. For a great dining
experience visit J.Bistro in Mount Pleasant. Besides the great tasting
food, the menu and presentation were fantastic. We took a carriage ride.
It was very enjoyable and we learned a lot of history. For an
unforgettable experience go sailing on the Schooner Pride. We took the two
hour sunset cruise and loved it. Charleston has something for everyone.
We just spent our honeymoon in Charleston (6/2-6/9) and had a wonderful
time! We traveled by train from NYC - took about 12 hours, most of which
we spent sleeping. It is a good way to travel if you don't want to drive
long distances and don't feel like flying. We stayed at the Indigo Inn,
had a very nice room and found the staff to be very helpful. We were
within walking distance to most everything, but got a little wilted by the
heat the 1st few days we were there - the heat index was about 105! My
husband's favorite restaurant was, without a doubt, Hyman's - we ate there
3 times that week! Captain Stacks was a little lacking in the service area
and had way too much in the hot sauce area (the chef was experimenting
with EXTREMELY hot sauces the night we were there - he has since stopped
we hope :-) We went on 2 carriage rides and thankfully got 2 separate
routes in the lottery. The ghost walk was a neat thing to do, but make
sure that you have comfy shoes! We also rented a car and went to Magnolia
Plantaion - I found the house tour to be very informative and the train
ride a nice way to see the ground in the VERY hot weather. I can't really
say it is the best plantation, as it was the only plantation we went to! I
have been raving about the city since we have returned and look forward to
returning sometime in the near future! We took our trip to Charleston with our two very young sons from May 30
through June 6, 1998. The beach on the Isle of Palms is beautiful. (highly
recommended) The Audobon Swamp Garden was really cool and there are no
mosquitos, in case you were wondering. (recommended) We took a tour of
Charleston harbor under sail power on the schooner Pride. (highly
recommended find them at the City Marina) We toured The Charleston Tea
Plantation, the only tea grown in America! given the first Saturday of the
month May through October. (If you're a tea drinker highly recommended) We
stopped to see the Angel Oak on the way back from the tea plantation, it
is worth the stop. It is estimated to be over 1400 years old and it is a
sight to behold. (highly recommended) If you are a train buff or have kids
with you check out The Best Friend of Charleston museum right behind the
Visitors Center in downtown Charleston. (recommended) We love shrimp! So
if your interested in hearing about our shrimp experiences read on.
Hyman's is by far the best seafood restaurant in the area! Their ads say
come early or late which is good advice. It is worth it to plan ahead to
be able to eat there. Go ahead and try the Boiled Peanuts don't be afraid,
they are good. (extremely highly recommended) Sullivans on Sullivans
Island is pretty good. (recommended) Angel Fish on James Island has a wide
variety of fresh healthy food (not a seafood restaurant), we did not have
any shrimp there but what we did have was very good. (highly recommended).
The Charleston Crab House on the Wapoo River was good and had a great view
of the river and drawbridge that our boys really enjoyed. (recommended)
Now for our version of the Wreck, it was easy to find and if you like to
sweat (no air conditioning) and enjoy the aroma of a seafood processing
plant while you dine you will love The Wreck. Besides that the grilled
shrimp was excellent but the fried shrimp tasted like it was cooked in
very old oil that had already been used to fry a lot of fish. (If your
nose doesn't work and you like non-fried food recommended, otherwise avoid
it) California Dreaming was a major disappointment we had been there about
5 years ago for the first time and were not impressed, but after having
many people rave about it we tried again with the same disappointing
results. It is a chain restaurant with that look and feel. (not
recommended) Overall our trip was wonderful, we want to move there! Kevin
and Angela Avery We were married in Charleston last June at the Charleston Chapel for
Weddings on Ashley Avenue. We highly recommend the chapel to anyone
planning a wedding in this beautiful city. 5 June98, We are owners of a villa at Kiawah, so Spring and autumn is
spent on the island. Charleston, for the many times, each week, we go into
eat is a new adventure. Ansons, 82 Queen, Magnolias, Poogans, Celias are
ALL excellent. Same with several over in the Shem Creek area. Tour the
homes,we never miss the chance to do so. But to see the city, WALK, WALK,
WALK. Plenty of time to golf when I retire, see the beach. Be on the
beach......... I found an attractive envelope at my hotel that was full of coupons
that saved us money on several of the things we wanted to see and do. The
envelope has a picture of St Phillips Church on the front. All the coupons
were colorful and easy to understand. We used the ones from Captain Stacks
Resturant, a carriage ride, the Old Exchange, Magnolia Plantation and some
shopping ones. These were all quality places. The envelope front said,
"Charleston South Carolina Free Valuable Coupons" I was surprised that
these savings were bigger than other discount offers we saw around town. I
suggest you get one for yourself and look inside. There was so much we
couldn't do it all. We just returned from Charleston and loved it (4/98). We stayed at the
John Rutledge Inn which was very nice though a bit pricey. It's very well
located and if you stay there be sure to request a room in the main house.
The two carriage houses just do not have the charm of the main house. The
best restaurant we found was Penninsula Grill which had innovative
southern food. Mint Julep was very good and Poogan's Porch was fun for
lunch.Louis's was a bit disappointing ,but still worth trying. We found
the Wreck(just call and ask for directions!) and it was well worth the
trip. Go there for lunch and then drive a bit further to tour Fort
Moultrie and Boone Hall Plantation. Be sure to go to Middleton Place with
its magnificent gardens and spectacular location above the water. The
restaurant at Middleton was nice for lunch. Pass on Magnolia Gardens which
was poorly maintained and had the air of a tacky amusement park. The swamp
garden, which is a separate admission, was very interesting and worth
going to. One of the highlights of our trip was a stay at Cassina Point
Plantation on Edisto Island not far from Charleston. The old plantation
house has been beautifully restored by the Earnshaws and they are gracious
hosts. There are four lovely guest rooms and the scenery around the house
is beautiful. We took a canoe from the dock outside the houise into the
waterways and channels nearby and saw a school of dolphins. It was
amazing. We also loved Jekyl Island Club Hotel which is further down the
coast past Savannah. It's an elegant and historic hotel on a picturesque
sea island. We visited Charleston the week of March 23,1998. This city impressed us
as not only the most beautiful city we have ever seen but also the
cleanest. Since we arrived by plane and did not have a car, we walked
everywhere. There is a shuttle available but the three day pass we bought
went generally unused because we seemed to miss the shuttle all the time.
We stayed at the Hampton Historic which is a 10 minute walk from downtown
and was much more reasonable. They had a lovely courtyard for continental
breakfast and a very helpful staff. The restaurants we enjoyed the most
were Poogan's Porch, 82 Queen, Blossom Cafe, Sermet's Corner,and the
Southend Brewery(great pizza and grill). There were so many great places
to eat we never bothered to wait at Hymans Seafood (always a line). It
seemed best to make a reservation for dinner. The kids enjoyed the Old
Exchange tour and the boatride to Ft. Sumter. The only restaurant we can't
recommend was the Old Towne (Greek Food). Charleston is one city I would
love to visit again! We just returned last evening from a memorable trip to Charleston. We
arrived on Friday,March 27 1998 and stayed until March 30. There is so
much to see and do, but do not miss Market Square, with all the various
things to buy. There are so many vendors and items for the whole family.
It stays open at night, but most vendors are only there in the daytime.We
felt very safe in the Bay and Meeting Street areas, but try not to wander
off the beaten paths. There are numerous restaurants-we ate lunch on
Saturday at A.W. Shucks. It has very good and large portions of food. We
did not have to wait long for our lunches. We all had the crabcake
sandwich with fries. It was hot, and the crabcake had little or no
fillers. We ate dinner at Mistral(also in the market area) It is a French
restaurant-very good food but pricey(3 people ate for $75, which I thought
was high.We had to wait too long for our food,and it was not crowded!)
Everyone seems to recommmend Hyman's Restaurant and 82 Queen. We could not
get there because of the long wait. I am sure there are other good
restaurants. I heard Kaminsky's is good. The architecture in Charleston is
phenomenol, you will be amazed at the age and condidtion of most of the
homes and businesses! In the later 80's my wife & I lived south of Augusta,Ga. I was at Plant
Vogtle for 4 years. We spent many weekends in and around Charleston,
enjoying the sights & sounds, especially in the historic district
downtown. One event in particular we enjoyed for 3 years was the Oyster
festival held in January at Boone Hall Plantation. I can't find any
information on whether it is still held. Another place we enjoyed was the
Omni Hotel, and stayed there several times. We visited the Battery Park
many times, and took many horse-drawn carriage rides around the City.
Charleston became one of our favorite cities in the Country, and we try to
get back there whenever we can, although we live 3000 miles away, in
Northeast Washington state. It is a beautiful, beautiful city. I wish more
people could go there and experience the taste and flavor of the area.
Thanks for some wonderful memories Dave & Elaine Meloche Deer Park, WA We just returned from a week in Charleston, March 21-28, 1998. What a
wonderful city. The people were extremely friendly and always helpful. We
stayed at the Ansonborough Inn. Very nice with spacious rooms. Ask for a
room away from the west side, though. Trucks begin deliveries to the
adjacent grocery store at about 5:00 am everyday. Restaurants were great.
We especially enjoyed Poogans Porch, Hymans, Sticky Fingers, Mike Caldors,
California Dreaming, Bocci's and Southend Brewery. We also found a great
little place called Gullah Cuisine on Hwy 17 in Mount Pleasant. The food
there is great! Finding the "Wreck" was easy. However, I WOULD NOT
recommend that anyone waste their time. I believe this to be an internet
marketing ploy designed to lure unknowing tourists. The meal, while pretty
good, was overpriced and the atmosphere is not "local" or "rustic." Its
"cheap" with paper plates, plastic forks and plastic furniture. Visit at
your own risk. Other activities we enjoyed were a carriage ride with Old
South Carriage, the Ghost Walk, Patriots Point, Isle of Palms beaches,
Forts Sumter and Moultrie and Boone Hall Plantation. We also spent
considerable time just walking around admiring the old and beautiful homes
and buildings. In general, prices for most things were very reasonable
with the exception of many of the old homes, plantations, gardens, etc. At
$10 each, a family of 4 could ill afford to visit many, even with the
discount coupons available. Thanks to everyone in Charleston that made
this such a nice vacation. my wife and i take our 4 kids to charleston from ct for vacation every
year. its beautiful. we stay at a each house on folly beach. right outside
of chtn. prices are reasonable. some good family hings to do while there
are. james island couty park, asmall water park. magnolia gardens is nice.
charlsetown landing has a zoo. the market place in the center is a must,
lots of shops there too. horse and buggy rides around the historic area
are nice ways to learn about the area. thee are some really nice musuems,
and just the walking around the historic district is great, never met
friendlier people anywhere. and if there you have to see the Angel Oak on
johns island 228/98 My submission is for J.B Pivots Shagworld, a night club at 1662
Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC. JB Pivots is the spot in Charleston
where "Shag is King." With the best dance floor this side of the Grand
Strand. JB Pivots, home of the Charleston Shag Club, is totally dedicated
to the preservation of our beloved state dance. A must see for shaggers
who visit Charleston, a truly great place to go dance and have FUN! Charleston is one of the most interesting places in the country. So
much history and the resturants are to die for. The walk down the
"Battery" is one of the best views of the harbor and the park there is so
peaceful. The houses around the battery are incredable. "Rainbow Row, #2
Meeting St., The John Ash Jr.House, Edmonston/Alston House. To think this
beautiful city was destroyed by fire, flood, hericane, and war is just
unbelieveable. The shopping is good too. My favorite place to shop was the
"Historic City Market". The vendors are very informative. Need to know
anything about the city just ask. Found a localy crafted collectable that
is sold around the country. "Shelia's" are replacas of famous and
historical homes and buildings around Charleston and the country. The
vendor there is Ron. He has a handle on the history of Charleston. Lots of
good stories.(watch out for the parking meters around the market. It seems
the city is out to make a buck or two from anyone and
everyone.)(www.shelia's.com) I was a little disapointed in seeing that the
building in front of the market was in a state of bad decay. Is the city
going to let it fall down? The Market is a must see. ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A GREAT PLACE TO DANCE? Check out J. B. PIVOTS
BEACH CLUB. This place is awesome! It is conveniently located at 1662
Savannah Highway (right behind Shoney's). This place has the absolute best
in "Beach, Boogie & Blues". No, they don't have Charleston's famous
"Shrimp & Grits" but they do have a huge dance floor, the best BLUES music
around, and an awesome non-alcoholic drink menu. You just have to check
them out. Oh yeah, don't forget your SHAG shoes! You're gonna need em.
Don't know how to shag! No problem. They have shag lessons! I'll see you
there! Jan. 4, 1998 Just before Christmas my wife and I celebrated our 25th
wedding anniversary with a trip to Charleston for the weekend; we traveled
in one of Amtrak's new Viewliner bedroom cars from Orlando, and enjoyed it
immensely. Once in Charleston we stayed in the beautifully decorated and
well managed King George IV Inn on George Street, just off King Street in
the historic and shopping district. The rooms in this 200 year old inn
reflect the special touch of the owners, who went out of their way to make
our stay a pleasant one. Don't wait too late to make reservations, as
there are a limited number of rooms. We were able to walk from here to
most major points of interest; we really enjoyed Old South's very cordial
car- riage tour,the locals in Mike Calder's Pub, and dinner a short ride
away at Poogan's Porch. This B & B is in close proximity also to
Charleston College for those of you who might be visiting students or
taking in a game; and there's at least one room with a small kitchen for
those who aren't in to restaurants. If you like friendly people, you'll
enjoy Charleston, and the King George IV Inn. An My husband and I just spent four nights in Charleston the week before
Thanksgiving. The weather was great and it was not very crowded. The city
is wonderful and romantic. We spent one night at the Day's Inn Downtown,
very conviently located to the Slave Market, etc. But for the money, the
Best Western (King Charles INN)was cleaner and a much nicer room, had a
resturant for breakfast. Eating in Charleston is truly an experience. Our
favorites were- We toured Charleston again this year! It was December, so there were
fewer people and, generally, lower prices on accomodations. We took the
mini-bus tour "Talk of the Towne" and would highly recommend it! We saw
the Battery and The Market, of course, and other parts of the city that we
would never have found on our own! Dinner at Slightly North of Broad was
excellent! Charleston is a great city! We'll go back often!!! We visited Charleston in late October of 97 and had a wonderful time.
We found it to be a beautiful and charming city. It was very easy to get
around and to find restaurants and attractions. We stayed on Kiawah and
loved it there. The beaches are beautiful and we biked every day on the
beach. The water temperature was still warm and our 7 month old son found
the sand quite tasty. We visited this site before leaving home and took a
few reccommendations along with us. The best was a suggestion to eat at
Poogan's Porch - it was as great as everyone said. The waitress even
played with our son so we could eat dinner. Southend Brewery was a good
place for lunch and they had great barbeque and specialized home brews. We
would also recommend a tour of the historic district with one of the
carriage tours. We took the Red Barn Carriage with Matt as our guide, and
he was very informative and entertaining. Thanks to everyone who suggested
the discount coupons found at the Vistor's Center - a good place to start
when you first get to the city. We loved it and look forward to our next
visit. Our eighth trip to Charleston was September 15 to the 19th 1997. Stayed
at Wild Dunes this time and was excellent. Only 25 minutes to downtown
Charleston. The beach this time of year was empty. We were the only people
at the pool one morning.On previous trips we stayed out in Kiawah Island
which is also beatiful and the beach great, but a good 45 min ride to
town. Our favorite restaurant is 82 Queen and we love the Lodge Alley Inn
jazz group that plays in the courtyard. We've taken the carriage tour many
times, but this year, we did our own walking tour and viewed the beautiful
gated gardens in the homes along the battery and Rainbow Row. Revisited
Boone Hall and toured the home. The guide dressed in a period costume was
very informative and did not rush us through. Charleston is about a 12 hr
car ride from Pittsburgh. Do not drive down on 95. It is at least another
hour. We will probably be back in Charleston next Spring. Our normal trip
is in late May and again the beaches are not crowded and the weather is
perfect. We are lucky in that we live only 3 hours from Charleston. On any given
Saturday we are apt to drive down for lunch and a walk around town. I visited Charleston, SC August 06 - 13, 1997. All of the history was
great to experience. Across from the Meeting Street Inn at the park there
is a grass house on display. The kids got a big kick out of walking inside
a house made of actual growing grass. The Carriage tour was very nice and
informative although we were disappointed when we found out that there are
actually four different tours and you have no control over which one you
will see. After you board the carriage and head around the corner, a city
worker will pick a lottery ball which designates which tour you get to
see. Also, I would like to know if anyone had a good experience on a Ghost
Walk. We took that wakling tour and got nothing out of it. The tour guide
told us maybe four stories about 'sightings' of particular ghosts and that
was all out of a two hour walk. He mostly told us the same things we heard
on the carriage tour. As for the prices, you can get several discounts by
making one stop at the visitor's center. Look on the counter for the
rainbow colored coupons. There are some at each end of the counter and you
don't have to stand in line unless you need other assistance. The short
film at the back of the center was nice, but not at all informative. We
thought we were going to see a film about Charleston, but instead we saw a
very artistic pictorial with nice music. As for the food, Poogan's Porch
was very good. I had the jumbalaya and used every little bit of cayenne
pepper that was sprinkled around my plate. When we were leaving, the kids
watched the waitress put their newly colored pictures of Poogan (the dog)
up on the wall in the entry. They were very excited. For any who went
there that week, they both had purple heads :) California Dreaming had
very good ribs, but I didn't like the sauce. The service needed some help
that day, but I was assured that it was usually better. I didn't see any
dolphins, but my mother said she has on occasion seen dolphins rather
close to the window! The view was very nice and I do reccomend trying to
get a table on the water. Tommy Condon's had great boiled peanuts. We
stopped in there just for those and to take a much needed break. If you
want to try alligator, go to 82 Queen. I heard it tastes like chicken...
:) Wild Wings was very good, but I had nachos and a burger. I just wasn't
in the mood for wings that day. Let me know if they're good so I can go
back next time! At Folly Beach there is a restaurant called "Planet
Follywood". Some go there just to get the t-shirt. Magnolia Gardens was so
nice that we went back for a second day. Our tram tour guide was great. I
can't remember his name, but it was real simple and he was a very nice
older gentleman. Beware of the house tour. Our guide was extremely
uptight. She scolded a grown man for taking a picture before she said he
could (although she gave no instructions to that effect before leading us
there and pictures are ok to take in every room). She got very touchy when
a little girl touched the pole that held up one end of the rope which
separates the tourists from the guide and the valuables. She didn't do
anything but touch it. Then when it was time to go upstairs, she was
extremely impatient when we had to wait a couple of minutes for a handicap
tourist who wanted to see the upstairs too. Thanks to all who made suggestions we visited Charleston Aug. 14
through 18th of 1997 and had a lovely time. It is a beautiful, charming,
clean, friendly, history-ridden city. Our favorite restaurants were 82
Queen, Poogan's Porch, and Hymen's--no doubt others are excellent, but our
time was limited. Directions to the restaurant, Wreck of the Richard and
Charlene: cross on 17N to Coleman Ave. in Mt. Pleasant follow Coleman
across the first bridge, turn right on Live Oak and follow it until it
runs out, then left to the end of the street, and look for a terrible
looking place, next to a seafood processing building. The Wreck has a few
faded flags at the top. Go before it gets dark so you can find it. Sounds
terrible, looks awful, but a big surprise when you go around front. Do go
to the historical preservation place--actually there are two, one on
Meeting St. and one on the corner of King. Our secret favorite street for
walking was Church St. below Broad. Better to go in spring or fall; it was
hot. We visited Charleston during Easter weekend (March 28-31) this past
year('97) and had a great time. One of the most memorable and fun times we
had was on Sunday night at Backstage Deli. An English teacher John ????
entertained us for nearly four hours straight with no break with the
widest assortment of bar room tunes you could ever imagine. He got the
whole audience which usually numbered 50, I'd guess, into the swing. It
was, by far one of the most enjoyable evenings I have had in a long time.
I hear that John ???? plays at Backstage Deli on the roof every Sunday
afternoon and night until it gets cold. I would love to have John's
telephone number so that I might entice him to do a private party for me
in Atlanta. John, are you out there? My wife,son and I just returned from our first trip to Charleston. We
arrived 7/27/97 and left 7/31/97. The city is beautiful and we had a great
time. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Harborview across the Ashley River. We
had a great view. We did the carriage tour and the walking tour visiting
several homes. We did the Fort Sumter tour and spent a day at Middleton
Place and the Magnolia Gardens. We also enjoyed the Charleston Museum and
the Manigault House. We found a couple of small seafood restaurants that
we enjoyed but the place that really stood out for us was Pusser's on
Lockwood drive by the marina. The people were great and the food
outstanding. We couldn't fit everything in but we do look forward to
coming back to see what we missed. Thank you to the people of Charleston
for being so gracious. Bill Bilger 8/4/97 A haunting experience: the old Charleston Lighthouse. Now out of
commission, located on Folly Beach, James Island. You can get fairly close
by foot. Driving in to Folly Beach, make a left at the light. Go as far as
you can, park your car. Walk along the lane all the way to the beach, it
will only take a few minutes. The lighthouse will be right there. If
you're lucky, you might get a ride on a friend's boat & get even closer.
The lighthouse has a story to tell. Find it on the net. Type in Morris
Island Lighthouse on your favorite search engine. While at the scene of
the lighthouse, look across the water and you'll see the Sullivans Island
Lighthouse, a modern facility which replaced the Morris Island Lighthouse.
We just returned from a fantastic week (July 11 - 19) in Charleston. We
spent four days at Wild Dunes on Isle of Palms and had the beach all to
ourselves. We found the Wreck but missed dinner by arriving at 9:00 p.m.
The other seafood restaurants in Shem's Creek were good. My favorite meal
there was in McClellanville at the Crab Pot. Very fresh and delicious
seafood. We moved into the Historic District for our reservation at The
Meeting Street Inn. This is a very lovely and romantic Bed & Breakfast
across the street from the Market and a few blocks from the Battery. The
location was perfect for shopping on King Street and sightseeing. By all
means, use Old South for your tour. We went with them twice and enjoyed
our guide as much as the tour of this beautiful and historic city. We got
married in the Inn's courtyard by Lin Lewis of Mobile Marriages. Lin is a
terrific lady and she helped me a lot in planning the wedding. The staff
of the Inn were exceptionally kind, friendly and interested in helping us
have a memorable vacation. I highly recommend Carolina's. It's pricey but
worth every penny. We plan on returning for our anniversary (if not
before). BLUES MUSIC IN CHARLESTON: The Budweiser Lowcountry Blues Bash is
Charleston's annual celebration of authentic blues music. A citywide
event, the Bash features performances in 15-20 venues throughout metro
Charleston. These sites include pubs, coffeehouses, hotels, gardens, and
other facilities. The 1998 Lowcountry Blues Bash is slated for February
6-15. A comprehensive brochure will be available Dec. 1997. Send an SASE
to Blues Bash, PO Box 13525, Charleston, SC 29422. Our fax is
843-762-9124; email address is emusic@mindspring.com. PS: Weather in
Charleston in mid-February averages 60-70 degs. F. Last year's festival
boasted 67 performances at 19 venues over the 10 day period. See you in
February! We just returned from a 3 night/4 day trip visit in Charleston
(7/26-29/97). We had a marvelous time, though it was extremely hot and
humid. We enjoyed the atmosphere and the food at Magnolia's, try the
Shrimp/Sausage and Grits. We also enjoyed TBonz(try the Market Street
Chicken and Shrimp Sandwich--spicy) and California Dreaming. We tried
unsuccessfully for 2 nights to find The Wreck of Richard and Catherine,
someone please put some good directions on the net. One night we settled
for the Trawler on Shem Creek, we were not totally pleased. Jennifer's
fish was not acceptable, it was spongy and tasted bad. They did fix this
by bringing her some more shrimp, and our waiter was very helpful. Our
experience was not good, though it was recommended by some friends. We had
a wonderful carraige tour with Old South Carraige Co. buy tix at the
Visitor's Centers and receive a discount and a DASH pass. We were
diappointed in the DASH system. We had heard it was very good, but our
experience was that it was very unreliable to its "20 minute Schedule." We
did the water color book self guided walking tour and found it very
fascinating and leading us to wonderful adventures. It took longer in the
July heat than the 2 hours the book suggests. Two places that we highly
recommend are the Charleston Preservation Society on Meeting and Calhoun
and the City Hall. The Preservation Society building has an interesting
display and helpful workers and the furthest south public bathrooms, try
to stop by there early in your tour. City Hall has a free tour of the
Council chambers. Go in and ask, its on the second floor. We enjoyed
Charleston so much we are discussing when we can return. I spent 3 days in Charleston, S.C. in February. After doing much
research (Internet, Visitor's book, AAA book, and talking with a friend
who lived there for 2 years); I can make some of my own recommendations.
Its amazing how different people's tastes are. But I can recommend a few
places to dine that seem to praised by all. I had brunch at Blossom Cafe.
The service was good, atmosphere progressive, and the meal excellent
(grilled salmon, parmesan polenta, poached eggs). Dinner at Anson's was
excellent, (I had succulent oysters for an app., and even though my duck
entree was on the edge of being med-well, it still melted in my mouth);
and service was very good, (but someone must tell them the vinyl
tablecloths gotta go). I had a pizza at the Southend Brewery and
Smokehouse (Vendue and East Bay); white table cloths, but to me, a more
casual micro-brewery (the Carolina Blonde brew could quench any thirst).
Huge old warehouse, apparently a $4 million renovation. I ended my trip
with Magnolias. My friend told me it was "touristy"; I imagine after
living there for 2 years and hearing so much about it one may feel that
way; but it couln't be farther from the truth. I sat in the back room (the
Gallery?); dark green walls; cozier than the more active front area. My
dinner was excellent, my server excellent (he actually had something new
and interesting to say every time he put something in front of me). You
must start with the eggroll (chef's signature item). The glass wines list
was very nice also. After dinner, I window-shopped through Charleston
Place and stopped for dessert at Louis's Charleston Grill. What a great
way to end an evening with a jazz duo. we recently stayed in charleston the week of the 4th,1997. we
vacationed with our children. our kids fell in love with the water
fountain at water front park. my wife and i sat there for several hours
watching life happen. what a joy watching the kids of all races playing
together. it is a wonderful park and you can ride the trolleys called the
dash to any spot in the historic area. we stayed at the quality inn, not
expensive, it is being updated in amenities. we also explored the historic
area, learned about pirates,colonists,secession,and pure loyal south
carolinians. we enjoyed everything,the ships coming to port, wondering
where they were heading, the beach at isle of palms is excellent. fort
sumter is okay. the beautiful old homes are the backbone of charleston.
you can let yourself feel the history and get intoxicated from the
fragrance of lilac and magnolia blossums. i would very much like to visit
again and go see the charm out of the tourist way. i talked to one local
and she said it is very quite. she was right. overall i rate our trip a
ten. we had not one problem from anyone, we felt safe in the historic
district. i can not believe i have not visited sooner, thanks My submission is for J.B Pivots Shagworld, a club at 1162 Savannah
Highway, Charleston S.C. J.B Pivots is the spot in Charleston where Shag
is king. With the best dance floor this side of the Grand Strand, J.B.
Pivots, Home of the Charleston Shag Club, is totally dedicated to the
preservation of our beloved state dance. A must see for shaggers who visit
Charleston, a truely great place. My nephew moved to Charleston about 12 years ago and I have gone there
every year since because I fell in love with the city. I've already been
there in Februay and April of this year. Don't miss Magnolia Plantation,
Boone Hall, and Middleton Place. They are beautiful and soooo full of
great history. The Market downtown is a super place to pick up souvenirs,
then spend the day browsing the shops (don't miss TG's) and the city
sites. Stop in at Tommy Condon's for lunch for some good Irish potatoe
chowder or She Crab Soup. Poogan's Porch has very good pecan pie. Cappy's
has good seafood on John's Island and Gilligans is a good family seafood
place. California Dreaming is wonderful and the view of the Ashley River
is magnificent. We've seen dolphins in the river as we dined. Get a window
table. Though not born in Charleston, I have always considered Charleston
home. It is the most fantasic city that I have come to find in this world
as a world traveler, but there is always a connection to some foreign land
as can be seen in the stores downtown. I highly recommend Mike Calders Pub
at 288 King street for everything from a simple sandwich to an inexpensive
but absolutely delicious dinner. It is truely a family run joint as more
times than not, you will see Mike behind the bar, his father at the
register, his mom in the kitchen, and his little brother running around
bussing tables or taking orders. Mike's is a local hangout where the Lunch
Crowd is usually the same people every day. Mike has on tap a number of
imports, and American draft beers and ales. For a gourmet meal, I
recommend 82 Queen with their fabulous dinners, but it can be a bit on the
pricey side, but it is still cheaper than most of the places you can get a
much less gourmet meal in New York. Make sure you stop by Crogan's Jewl
Box on King street, and buy something for your lady at one of the only
jewelry store sin the lowcountry that is still owned by the same family
that has owned it for decades. As well as stopping by M. Dumas and Son's
mor all your clothing needs. Charleston is a great city to visit, and be
from!! ALEX MOZINGO Islanders Shag Club has opened it's doors at 15 Center St. on Folly
Beach. One short block from the ocean. Stop by and ask someone to
demonstrate the our state dance, the "Shag". Members at the clubhouse will
be happy to meet you. Call 800 SUN&SHAG (1-800-786-7424) for a schedule of
'Upcoming Events'. Good Shaggin' to ya while visiting Charleston. Surprised my honey with a surprise Honeymoon and we spent Sunday
through Monday 4/13-14 there. The only problem: Too damn short! Just returned today, Apr.3,'97, from Charleston. Our mid-week stay was
simply too short. May I recommend the two shows, Low Country Legends and
Serenade. Legends is an historical show, performed by extremely talented
locals. The playhouse is small and cozy, with lots of opportunity for
audience participation. Legends is a must see, but please see it before
going to Serenade. The latter is a glitzy, big-show production, with a New
York feel. The cast led by host Steve Teague, a magnificent operatic
baritone, is outstanding. The band is also terrific. We visited Charleston in March 1997, and found it just beautiful! The
azaleas were in full bloom and the highs were in the 60's to 70's. If you
are into great seafood, and early American and civil war history, this is
the town for you. Our favorite restaurants were 82 Queen, Celia's Porta
Via,Sarmet's on King Street and Blossums. Be sure to avoid the Sunday
brunch at Poogan's Porch: very unimaginative. Hymans is a good place for
lunch,especially the shrimp po boy sandwiches. Be prepared for a long line
for dinner though. We had a very pleasant inexpensive dinner at Gaulart et
Maliclet on Broad Street. We had the seafood fondu: tres bon! If you are
up for an adventure, try to find "the Wreck". This is a seafood place in
Shem Creek which does not advertise. There is not even a sign in front of
the place. Be prepared for very tasty, fresh seafood in a very casual
atmosphere for killer prices. Some places we would like to try are
Carolinas and "slightly North of Broad". Visited Charleston in late Feb. Had a wonderful time. Restaurant
Million was outstanding and worth the price. Highly recommend taking
walking tour with Tommy Dew ..... he meets people at the Old Market
Steps.... very informative and interesting tours. Stayed at Indigo Inn and
staff was quite gracious and helpful. We have a time-share in Surfside Beach that we go to for a week each
year. At least one day of our week is spent in Charleston. We've done the
carriage tours, which we thought were great to learn about the history.
But, we found that we wanted to walk the same route afterwards to see
every- thing in more detail. We also went on a ferry to Bull's Island in
1995. It left from Awendaw, north of Chrlstn, was fairly inexpensive, and
a lot of fun. Does this ferry service still run? It's a day trip we'd love
to do again. Thanks! March 4, 1997:I am a College of Charleston student, currently in exile
in Calgary on a student exchange. My years in Charleston have enabled me
to reccomend a few less well-known gems of the city. For restaurants, the
Horse and Cart Cafe, on King Street (between George and Wentworth), can't
be beat for those on a tight budget-the desserts are heavenly. For those
with a bit more money than the average starving student, Blossom Cafe on
East Bay Street is wonderful--try the pasta with oak-roasted chicken. And,
for splurges, 82 Queen -- it is truly the best restaurant in Charleston.
Have the lobster stuffed with crab and filet mignon, with chocolate crepes
for dessert. As for sights, everybody sees the Edmonston-Alston House, St.
Michael's Church, and the Market, but my favorite spot in the city is the
Unitarian Universalist graveyard. The best way to get there is from the
King Street entrance, a couple blocks south of Market Street. There is a
wrought-iron gate set into ! a brick doorframe, with the quo I am trying to find a schdule for the stingrays and ticket infomation.
thanks frank b. jones I just returned from a wonderful week in Charleston. I go there several
times a year to visit family & there is always something different to do.
Weather was warm (50-70 degrees), great for January. Things I did this
trip: Gibbes Art Museum on Meeting St., The Market on Market St (lots of
touristy items), for sweetgrass baskets I think the best prices are with
the ladies at St. Michael's Church on Broad & Meeting, shopping along King
St & at Charleston Place, sunrise at the battery & White Point Gardens.
There's a ton of stuff to do, for adults & children. Where else can you
climb on a civil war cannon? Great Eats: Southend Brewery, try the ribs on
East Bay St; The Mill on Market St, once seated they bring you fresh
bread, olive oil, & parmesan cheese; Papillon's on Market St, awesome
pizza buffet & Italian food, it used to be a church; Ronnie's on Shem
Creek in Mt Pleasant. Don't forget Spoleto festival is Memorial weekend to
2nd week of June. It's a 2 week cultural festival. That's my next trip
home to Charleston. Last year I went to hear the Charleston Symphony's
free concert on the Custom House Steps. If anyone needs any info I'm
always willing to help & give ideas. Enjoy the "Holy City" 2/1/97
Stephanie "russg@enter.net" WE HAVE BEEN TO CHARLESTON TWO SEPERATE TIMES ONCE IN 1993 AND IN 1996.
WE ARE GOING BACK THIS JUNE, AND WE CAN'T WAIT! WE STAY AT A BEACH HOUSE
ON FOLLY BEACH ABOUT 15 TO 20 MINUTES AWAY FROM CHARLESTON. YOU CAN
CONTACT FRED P. HOLLAND REALTY ON FOLLY FOR RENTAL INFORMATION. WE LOVE TO
GO INTO TO CHARLESTON TO SEE THE SIGHTS, TOUR THE HOMES AND TRY OUT NEW
RESTAURANTS! CALHOUN MANSION HAS TO BE ONE OF THE BEST HOMES TO TOUR, IF
YOU ONLY HAVE THE CHANCE TO TOUR ONE, THIS ONE IS IT! OUR FAVORITE
RESTAURANTS OUR BOWENS ON JAMES ISLAND, BEFORE FOLLY BEACH. CRAWDADDY'S
ALSO ON JAMES ISLAND BEFORE FOLLY BEACH. T-BONZ GRILL AND BACKSTAGE DELI
BOTH IN CHARLESTON. WE ARE EXCITED TO TRY POOGAN'S PORCH CAROLINA'S AND
BOCCI'S. THERE IS SO MUCH TO SEE AND DO IN CHARLESTON THAT WE KNOW WE WILL
BE VISITING FOR YEARS TO COME! We took a one day tour of the Patriots Point. What a great place. It
took all day to go through all the ships,and the submarine, but it was
worth it. I am afraid of heights but my husband isn't. Believe this he got
me to climb to the top of the aircraft carrier. It wasn't that bad once i
was up there. Would like to see more of Charleston but didn't have the
time. We left for Daytona Beach the next morning. July 6, 1996 I have lived in charleston all my life & cherish it's sights, sounds, &
smells daily.3 things you must do: I lived in Charleston from 1991-1996 and thought that I might offer
some tips for visiting. Restaurants to try are Poogan's Porch, Anson's,
and Slightly North of Broad in downtown Charleston...and Fonduely Yours,
Shem Creek Bar & Grill, and RB's in Mt. Pleasant. I fully recommend that
anyone visiting Charleston take a carriage tour around the city as it will
give you a good perspective of the beauty and history of the city. Jeff
My friends are sick of hearing me rave about my November vacation in
Charleston.My husband and I stayed at the John Rutlidge Inn and loved
it.Our favorite restaurant is 82 Queen.The She Crab bisque was
fabulous.Our visit to Middelton Plantation was great.Most of all we
enjoyed just walking around the Historic District gawking at the exquisite
homes.Every hour was an adventure none more so than meeting a fellow
Califorian on the ferry to Fort Sumpter.After a few laughs on board we
decided to have dinner together making our last night in Chrleston one to
cherish.I loved the food,the shopping,the sense of history but most of all
the gracious hospitality from everyone we met.I can't wait to go
back.Thank You Charleston! We just got married on Oct 19 and spent 4 days and 3 nights in
Charleston. We had a fabulous time. I thank the travelogue for it's use in
finding things to do. We recommend that if you plan to visit for the first
time take the "Doin' the Charleston" tour, we took that first and it
really gave us a good picture of what else was available in the area. We
stayed at the Ashley Inn at the corner of Bee St. and Ashley Ave., It was
so quaint and all the inn keepers were great. I really felt at home there.
For dining I would definitely send someone to Magnolia's for a quiet
dinner and Carolina's if you are not looking for too much privacy, it was
very loud there. We toured several art galleries, Fouche' Gallery was
great. If you are looking for souvenir's look in the shops, then goto the
market, the prices there can be 10-15% cheaper. We walked everywhere. The
Edmonston-Allston and Nathaniel Russell houses were fascinating. History
buffs would love it here. Military folks will be kept in awe over at the
'USS Yorktown' and Fort Sumter. We did attend a ghost walk, but didn't
really enjoy it. We still have many places to visit in Charleston and we
plan to re-visit probably for our first anniversary. Enjoy!!!!! Don't miss the lighthouses! The Morris Island Lighthouse at the end of
Folly Beach is quite a haunting sight. It sits in the water alone and in
horrible shape. We're hoping it soon is bought and preserved. It's history
is very interesting. The Sullivans Island Lighthouse is the most modern of
lighthouses - it even has an elevator! It can be seen from the beach at
Sullivans Island or from the street! Enjoy! I will agree with all of the letters I have read-Charleston is a great
place to visit. You can find a little bit of everything-historic areas,
great food, nightlife, and wonderful southern hospitality. I have
vacationed there in the summers of 1995 and 1996 and I hope to return very
soon. Some of my favorite places to eat (although there are too many to
name them all) are California Dreaming, Tommy Condon's, and Wild Wing
Cafe. Walks along the Battery at night are breathtaking, and the deck is a
great place to hang out on a swing with someone special. The historic
houses and plantations are wonderful to see and tour, but lots of film is
a must. Any area you see will make you want to stay. Charleston was a pleasure to behold ......so much to do! My favorite
restaurants are Ansons, Carolinas and Fulton 5. The sightseeing is amazing
.... especially if you are a history buff like my wife and I are ..... and
shopping..... amazing! From the obvious stores filled with wonderful
antiques to fresh upbeat contemporary stores like STUDIO on historic KING
STREET. Loved Charleston! Can't wait to go back! My wife & I just returned from 4 days in Charleston -- we had a great
time & would like to make a few recommendations: hey, I enjoy Charleston alot! My boyfriend is from there so we go home
all the time. We go to college together in Spartanburg at SMC. We love to
spend time in Charleston together. I especially love the MarketPlace and
all of downtown. If you ever get a chance take the dinner cruise on the
Spirit of Charleston. It is sooo romantic! Charleston is truely a city for
lovers! I recomend you spend honeymoons and vacations there. It's the best
city in all of South Carolina!! These Charleston rookies are now huge Charleston fans! My wife and I
spent a week over the 4th of July in Charleston for our Honeymoon. What a
wonderful vacation! We stayed the first 3 days at Seabrook Island, a
perfect place to unwind, walk the beach, and play some great golf. We then
stayed at the Vendue Inn B&B next to the waterfront park. It was excellent
(huge, beautifully appointed suites with delicious breakfast) and within
walking distance of the market, the Battery and the rest of the historic
district. Our last night we ate at Crandall's on East Bay. It was simply
one of the best dining experiences of our lives! It is in a restored home
with huge piazzas. The atmosphere is charming and intimate, but very
inviting (not stuffy), the service excellent, and the food was wonderful!
We highly recommend it. Other suggestions include Boone Hall Plantation,
the city theater productions, Bocci's for Italian, the civil war walking
tour, Ft. Moultrie and simply wandering the streets of this fascinating
city. Enjoy! I am a native Charlestonian who graduated from the College of
Charleston in 92. I now live in San Francisco. For those interested in
visiting Charleson, I would recommend eating at Carolina's Restaraunt,
McCrady's Restaraunt or Hymens Seafood. For nightlife, I would recommend
Arizona's Bar and Grill, Southend Brewery and Wild Wing Cafe. For the best
music check out Cumberlands and The Music Farm. You can't go wrong
visiting Charleston. It has the best food anywhere in the world
(especially seafood) and the friendliest people around. For those
interested in the College of Charleston. All I can say is what a blast! Go
to class not the beach! Enjoy your stay. My husband and I have gone to Charleston for the past two years. It is
Great! I read, from one of your letters that wassubmitted, to go to the
East Bay Trading Co. Restaurant --it is closed. It was an excellent place
to eat! Shopping-- anything you can imagine. I have a question hopefully
someone out there can answer...There is a shop that if you stand at the
back end of the marketplace and look to your left it sits there and across
the street sits more shops. The shop is a rather large building for
vendors, so the variety in there is a lot. Anyone know the name???? I
found something in there that I wanted to buy, but I didn't and now I
could kick myself. If you could help out I would appreciate it. We recently vacationed in Charleston, South Carolina and took the best
sightseeing tour we have ever taken in any city! It was an owner-operated
bus tour company called "Talk of the Towne". We chose this type of tour
because, having previously taken a horse drawn carriage tour, we were
informed that the motorized tours covered a much greater area of the
historic district. Our guide was experienced, well informed and
articulate. I also recommend McCrady's restaurant in the historic
district. It was excellent! My husband commented yesterday about our 30th anniversary trip to
Charleston this past weekend and I felt he didn't give enough credit to
the Gray Lines Boat Tours - they are fantastic. We took the dinner cruise
the first night we were there and the food, music and people were great.
However, knowing we didn't really get to see too many of the sights after
dark, we had to go back again during the day to see the sights from the
harbor. It was great with a great captain that added to our sightseeing
pleasure plus the price was unbelievably low. This is a must for everyone
in my book. My wife and I spent our thirtieth anniversary in Charleston this past
weekend. We stayed at the Ansonborough Inn on Hasell and this place has
got to be the best. The price is great, the breakfast outstanding, and the
wine and cheese in the afternoon can't be better. Park your car and you
can walk everywhere. If you like to have munches in your room, a great
grocery store is across the street. But if dining out is your fare, by all
means try Hymans Seafood Company on Meeting Street. Our waitress, Sara
Pride, took exceptional care of us, from recommending diner entree's and
by all means wine. If your taste for wine is for flavor rather than cost,
try the Sutters Home for ten bucks. Can't go wrong. Diner, wine and tip
ran a little over fifty, but so much food we had a "doggie bag" for the
next day. If you are in the Market area around lunch time, don't miss
T-Bonz. We had rib eye sandwiches, drinks, and tip for twenty five bucks.
The rib eye was to perfection. We recommend a carriage ride to see the
sights, but be aware you may not see the exact sites you want because
Charleston runs a sort of lottery about which carriage goes to what area.
And you won't know where you are going until you have started the tour.
Seems the reason is to limit how many carriages are in what area at any
given time. We took the Old South Carriage Company tour, the guides are
dressed in Confederate Uniforms with red sashes. Taylor was our guide who
did a superb job with descriptions. We also took the Gray Line Water
Tours, both the diner tour and the day tour. The diner tour was great but
we couldn't see any sights so we went back for the day tour. Remember to
take comfortable clothes espically shoes and walk around to see the
sights. Oh yes, don't leave out a walk along East Bay all the way to the
Battery. Enjoy Charleston. We are frequent visitors to the Charleston area and I am a true
Charleston fanatic!! When it comes to Plantation homes; I highly recommend
Middleton Place on the Ashley River. The main house was burned by Union
troops during the US Civil War, but the gardens are spectacular! A MUST
SEE!! The other plantation recommendation I have is Boone Hall. If you
will be visiting in the month of November, try to make it to the
reenactment of The Battle Of Seccesionville (we will be there). Downtown
is an absolute joy, from the Battery, to Waterfront Park, and, of course,
the Public Market. And while visiting the Historic District, stop for a
bite to eat at Hyman's Seafood/Aaron's Deli. The Best Food in Charleston!!
If you want to learn about Charleston History in one spot (or escape the
heat) try the Charleston Museum. Enjoy your trip, maybe we'll see you
there.... My wife and I returned to Charleston, 14 years after our honeymoon
there. I was there for business, we stayed at an adequate hotel, the
Francis Marion. It is very convenient to the downtown area. We were
especially impressed with the friendly atmosphere of the people who work
in the downtown area. The food was fantastic, we hit all the hot spots and
enjoyed the reasonable prices. We heard a great band SKWZBXX at the
MILL. They played outside and we were fortunate to talk with the
parents of one of the band members. This group is an experience for all
ages. The only complaint I have of the area is that the people drive like
Wildabeasts so be careful as you walk around. We did not take the rides
because we are walkers and we felt the need because of all the food we
ate. Charleston is still one of the best places to visit in America. We
will try some of the other places the next time we return. My sister, cousin, and I had the opportunity to spend July 13-21, 1996
in Charleston! We LOVED it! You don't even need to bother with a car if
you'll be staying in the historic district. Take the time out to walk
around the city streets. There's a beautiful view no matter where you go.
Take a carriage tour when you get there. I recommend Old South Carriage.
They're the people with the Confederate uniforms. Our guide, Brian, was
informative and fun. Once you've done a carriage tour, you'll get a good
idea of where to go from there. As far as restaurants, we didn't hit a bad
one. Try Sticky Fingers for the casual dining. If you want a fancier
feast, try 82 Queen. Go to see Boone Hall Plantation and Magnolia
Plantation and Gardens. You can tour the houses and then enjoy a walk
through the gardens. Thanks for such a great trip, we'll definitely be
back. :-) There are a few elements that seem to be missing from the travelogue
compositions. I have been fortunate enough to be introduced to Charleston
by a native of the Holy City, my husband. We have just returned from a week's stay in Charleston from June
29-July 6, 1996. We stayed at the Indigo Inn in the Historic District and
enjoyed it very much. Our room was large, quiet, and very convenient to
all the things we wanted to do. We walked everywhere, exploring the back
streets and peeking into gardens. We were lucky enough to meet a resident
of one of the old historic homes, found we shared a common interest in
history and old houses, and were invited for a brunch on her piazza! All
the restaurants we ate in were wonderful with the exception of one at
Patriot's Point where we had a very disappointing lunch. Andaluccia
Restaurant at 83 Cumberland Street was our favorite. The food is Spanish
and very good. Be sure to sample as many of the tapas as you possibly can!
We were happily surprised to find that we were not bothered by bugs, even
at Magnolia Plantation where we spent one entire day. It's well
worth the short drive to it. We watched several sunrises from Waterfront
Park and then walked along the Battery. Our time in Charleston this
vacation only made us want more. We'll be going back as soon as we
possibly can! 7/9/96 my husband and I will be spending our second summer on Isle of
Palms at the Sea Cabins, very clean ocean front condos that sleep six,
very resonably priced. there is a great restaurant next door called the
one-eyed parrot serving local fare, very tasty and very reaonably priced.
Charleston is a beautiful city with lots to do. Make sure you go to Boone
Planation if money is tight it was very pleasant and historic. Hymans
Seafood is a must, the most incredible seafood dinner I have had, Poogans
Porch is wonderful very quaint comfortable atmosphere delicious food, make
sure that you have the whole day to spend at patriots point, it
took us 4 hours to cover only 1/2 of the air craft carrier. The tour of
fort sumter is a great boat ride but not much too the other part of
the tour. Fort Moultrie is just as good if you are tight for cash as well.
Went to Edisto for sea shells, was very disappointed as there were none to
be found. All in all a great vacation can't wait to get back there! We recently spent our Honeymoon week in Charleston and loved it. The
Ansonborough Inn was truly a pleasure. It would be difficult to find a
more Romantic setting than this. Our favorite restaurant was Bocci's with
A.W. Shucks a close second. A carriage tour is a great way to get familiar
but walking is the best way to explore. We highly recommend Charleston.
Bring lots of film and wear comfortable shoes. There is a great singer/songwriter and entertainer that plays regularly
at the Horse & Cart on King Street in Charleston. Matthew Temple a
classically trained guitarist performs his original folk/easy listening
acoustic compositions as well as covers from the 50's-60's-70's. He also
sings Marty Robbins songs like no one since the original. Catch him you'll
be pleasantly suprised. You'll get to hear his beautiful voice soon on his
next release "Summer Man" which he's just finished recording. He's
definitely a performer to watch!! Where to begin. We live in upstate South Carolina but go there several
times a year as my wife's family has a beach house in the Sullivan's
Island historic district that has been in the family since the 1870's. As
frequent visitors we would suggest (should you be short on time) several
must do's. First take a carriage ride around the lower end of the
city. Second try to take some time to WALK some of the side streets
adjacent to the streets you travelled on the carriage tour. The
candlelight home tours are great if you are into architecture and
interiors. If you don't wish to board the boat to visit Fort Sumter in the
harbor, drive out to Sullivan's Is. to visit Fort Moultrie. For as
quaint as many of the houses and yards are in the old section of the
island, keep in mind that Hurricane Hugo ripped away much of the old
vegetation back in 1989. Beware of the tourist trap restaurants on Shem
Creek in Mt. Pleasant. They are great for the view and scenery but the
food is a bit pricey for what you'd expect. As a professional photographer
I must attest that Charleston is a photographers paradise. Hope you enjoy
your visit and take things slowly if possible to soak up all the details
of this magnificent city and surrounding areas. I have been to Charleston at least 4 times and I feel like it is my
second home. A must do is the horse and buggy ride. It is so relaxing and
interesting. I was there with a friend during the Festival of House and
Gardens one year, a word of advice - if you indulge in the Candlelight
tour, make sure to ask how many houses you will actually be going inside.
A bit of dissapointment for us was that at least 3 of the 10 houses we had
paid for we only got to peek inside the windows. It was a bit
embarrassing. Otherwise, it's a wonderful city and the natives are very
friendly. Another restaurant you don't want to miss while in Charleston is
Poogan's Porch on Queen St. And at 56 Queen St., stop in at Savvy
of Charleston for some original jewelry and a visit with Bailey the poodle
and her human, Jane. Catherine and I just returned (April 15!!!)from a short but sweet visit
to Charleston. We drove down from snowy Boston to pick up our new Corsair
trimaran (those who don't know about this great boat can e mail me at
thistle@tiac.net) and first off want to thank Bud and all the helpful
people at the City Marina for their exemplary southern hospitality. We had
our most memorable meal at the Wreck of the Richard and Charlene in
Mt. Pleasant (yes it's hard to find but we were fortunate that the nice
man walking his dog confirmed that indeed we had arrived. The people at
the bicycle shop on the main road are accustomed to and gave excellent
directions - probably could also give execellent advice on your next bike
purchase.) I guess the many local folks who were enjoying their meals will
not appreciate our putting this out to the world, but the preparation of
seafood here is as good as it gets. You can't beat gorgeously fresh fish,
perfectly seasoned; when it's fried it's with the lightest batter allowing
you to savor the flavor. As yankees we found the boiled peanuts novel and
a great appetizer especially when accompanied by the local brew. Be
prepared for great service, low maintenance atmosphere -- you're there for
the food not the china. We only had a couple of hours to see the city;
park somewhere and walk -- there is a lot to see on foot especially on the
side streets. Azaleas were abundant, dogwoods just a tad past their peak,
weather was welcomely warm after 21 inches of snow the week before.
Breezes were a bit stiff for our maiden sail, but we would love to try
again. I like Charlestown Landing the best. The second best thing is
The Yorktown. The Yorktown is a replica aircraft carrier. You can explore
The Yorktown without a guide but you will definitly need a map. They also
have real planes used. We visited Charleston in February of '96, and really had a great time.
We traveled in a motor home and camped at James Island County Park. It was
great, spacious, well kept and good security. All of the people that we
came in contact with were extremely nice and friendly. We were
disappointed in Fort Sumter, but we especially enjoyed Fort Moultrie,
James Towne Landing, the Historic District, and the Yorktown Aircraft
Carrier. One great restaurant, off the beaten path, is one called
SEASONS, on 17 South, about a mile south of downtown. The Chef is a former
chef at Magnolia's. The food was great ! We also recommend Slightly North
of Broad & Magnolia's. Be sure to tour some of the older homes near the
Battery. We plan to return to Charleston in the spring to see everything
in bloom. My wife, myself and two other couples are about to spend three weeks in
the Charleston area to get away from the Canadian winter for a while. We
have never been in Charleston before and are delighted with all the
information available on the WWW but I can't find any information about
riding stables. The three guys are keen golfers, the wives are not! But
they would like to do some horseback riding while the golfers sample the
fine courses in the area. Can you give us some information about where to
go for this type of recreation. Many Thanks. Keep up the good work. Editor's Note:
Where to begin...as unofficial "natives" of Charleston, we can highly
recommend many local "spots" in Charleston. Downtown Charleston is a
shopper's paradise, which include many upscale stores, such as those
located in the Omni, to some more local stores such as Charleston
Chocolates (the best truffles you'll find anywhere!!) to the candlestore
near the intersection of Meeting Street and North Market. Our favorite
restaurants (and we've been to more of them), include Cappy's on Maybank
Highway on John's Island, where you'll get the best fried flounder and
shrimp dinner to the Shipwreck on the Isle of Palms, where you can sip
daiquris on their third deck while you watch the waves roll in.
Waterfront Park is a must see morning, noon, and night...each offers a
different experience. But a word to the wise...skip th Harbor Tour, just
go to Fort Sumter!! After any visit to Charleston, it will come a home
away from home for you, just as it has been for us!! We have been to Charleston twice, in the last two years. If there are
any persons who love Civil War history surely Charleston is the place to
go. But, it is much more than that to us. My daughters, and my and me,
loved visiting Charles Towne Landing. In my view it was a place to
visit than the more popular Magnolia Gardens (in May). We were very
disappointed at Magnolia, after all the hype l guess we expected more. We
have stopped at Fort Moultrie for a couple of visits and really
were taken by it. The park rangers were great. Fort Moultrie is better
than Fort Sumter, if you choose to visit only one fort. One of our
favourite memories was taking a buggy ride on PALMETTO CARRIAGE CO.
The staff were great and we really enjoyed the ride (even our two teenage
daughters loved it!) Our favourite restaurants were A.W. SHUCKS, TOMMY
CONDONS AND SULLIVANS (SULLIVANS ISLAND). Our favourite pastime is just
getting out of our car and walking down a street until we get to water!
My wife and I visited Charleston for the Thanksgiving holiday and had a
delightful visit. We stayed at the Lodge Alley Inn at the recommendation
of another posting. The lodging was great. We visited the Mills House
restaurant for Thanksgiving dinner. The buffet was second to none. We
shopped, walked, visited, and even took a carriage tour. The weather
cooperated little, but we didn't mind. We loved the evenings in the Lodge
Alley Inn lounge listening to the piano. We can't wait to return. Hi Y'all, Hello Youall! If you want a great dinner go to the East Bay Trading Co. and by all
means go on the Candlelight Tour of Homes - well worth the money!
Several years ago my wife and I had the very good fortune of visiting
Charleston in February during the Blues Festival. All the complimentary
things said about the people of Charleston we found to be true. Strangers
were very pleasant and helpful. I would say they had class. The
accomodations and resturants were top rate. My one problem. I have been
trying to learn since then the date of the Blues Festival in Charleston. I
was in February the year we were there. I would really like to plan a
return trip when I learn the date for 1996. I have called on the phone,
and written but with no response. If possible I would really appreciate an
email reply. In any case I can say that a Trip to Charleston is one worth
taking. Thank You We just returned home to Florida from Charleston and, to be honest, we
didn't want to leave. We've never felt more at home on any of our
vacations. The people make it that way. We stayed at the Ansonborough Inn
on Hasell St. and we loved it! Restaurants of note: Anson, McCrady's, and
Hyman's Half Shell. Points of Interest: Patriot's Point, the Market, and
ANYWHERE in the Historic District! And you simply must take a carriage
tour with Old South Carriage Co. Fun and informative. We hope to return to
Charleston soon! Incidentally, if anyone can get us the recipe for Anson's
Crispy Flounder, please, please E-Mail us immediately!!!! I lived in Charleston for several years, and have recently moved to
West Palm Beach, Florida. I may now be among the rich and famous, but
there is nothing that can compare to a romantic weekend trip to
Charleston. The history of the many plantations, houses on The Battery and
the Market is fantastic. If you like the outdoors, there are the many
beautiful beaches (Kiawah, Folly
Beach, Sullivan's Island), fishing (just about anywhere), and boating.
There are public parks everywhere, (Charlestown Landing). And food, if you
like to eat, this is the town for you! There is also nightlife galore, you
can park and walk to all of the various bars downtown (Henry's, Tommy
Condon's, the Jukebox). And for the morning after, if you're looking for a
downhome breakfast, without the atmosphere, try Joanne's, right on the
Hanahan line. In January, 1994, my husband and I travelled to Charleston for our
honeymoon. It was the trip of a lifetime for the both of us. The weather
was a delightful 70 degrees and a wonderful escape from the snow and ice
of Pennsylvania. We enjoyed strolling the Public Market, eating at
Hyman's Seafood and the East Bay Trading Co. We highly recommend staying
at the Lodge Alley Inn. Although we were not able to return in January,
1995, we are anxious to re-live the beauty and wonders of Charleston,
South Carolina again. I've just returned from a wonderful stay in Charleston. It's been more
than 10 years since I was there, and in that time I've moved from my
hometown of "the other Charleston" (W.Va.) to St. Louis. But Charleston,
S.C., was everything I remembered it to be and more. First, dining:
Magnolia's had outstanding, "nouvelle" Southern cuisine; Celia's had
excellent, light, fresh Italian food; Blossom's Cafe was a wonderful find
with a charming waiter who suggested they create a dish especially for me.
I didn't have dessert there, except for biscotti, but I saw some sweets
that would knock your teeth out; and Louis's Charleston Grille was elegant
and mouth watering. Second, hotels: I did not have a good experience at
the Mills House, but the Indigo Inn was a delight. The people there are
extremely helpful and friendly; the rooms are nice and comfortable;
breakfast is nice with an open courtyard for seating; and it has a great
central location. Third, what to do: I spent an afternoon at Kiawah
Island, where public access is at Beachwalker's Park. I rented a beach
cruising bike from the Bicycle Shoppe, which has shops throughout
the area, and pedaled the length of the beach and back. The person I spoke
to at the Bicycle Shoppe on Meeting Street in Charleston was very helpful
and knew the area well. I also went on a kayak trip on the Wambow
(spelling?) Creek (really a river) through Coastal Expeditions, a
kayak touring company. You don't have to know how to kayak -- the
instruction is great and safety is clearly important to them. Our guide,
and the co-owner, Tim, was a delight and very knowledgable about the area
and kayaking. It's not the typical thing to do in Charleston, but you'll
see areas you'd never see any other way. I highly recommend it. I also
recommend the Preservation Society's Candlelight Tour of Homes and
Gardens (September and October weekends). There were a few short lines
to get into some of the homes, but the wait was well worth it. It's the
best way to see the interiors of the beautiful homes and architecture in
Charleston. Charleston Walks offers a really neat ghost tour called the
Lowcountry Ghost Walk. It goes out every night at 6pm from Washington Park
(beside city hall). If you're looking for something to get you into the
Halloween sprit while you're in Charleston, this is a great choice! Don't miss Morris Island and their famous lighthouse constructed
in the 1800s. Morris Island, off of Folly Beach, was a famous battle place
of the Civil War. Uninhabited, it's a great place to spend the day (A Jon
boat will make it.) fishing, beach combing, and other sun fun "stuff."
Don't forget your camera and storage for all of the beautiful shells that
you'll find. I was stationed at Charleston AFB from 1986-1990. If you like
freshwater catfish, Charleston is THE place to go fishing! The
beaches are also quite beautiful at night. Be sure to visit The Battery
while you're there! For great seafood, visit the "One-Eyed Parrot" on the Isle of Palms.
The screened in porch is the best place to take in the sunset and enjoy
the breeze. In downtown Charleston, the Public Market is fun. Look
for the authentic sweetgrass baskets made by hand, only in this area. Also
in downtown, take a walking tour or carriage ride, there are many
historic homes and other rich history. Kiawah Island is a beautiful
place for riding bikes, canoeing, swimming and simply relaxing. Enjoy! California Dreaming is a great restaurant!! Also, you must of course go
through the marketplace Charleston Carriage Tour is a terrific way to spend the
afternoon learning about historic Charleston in a relaxing shaded
carriage. My family and I originally from Charleston, W.V., wanted to see
how the other Charlestonians live and originated. We were lucky enough to
have a friendly and knowledgeable tour guide, who's own family settled in
Charleston generations ago.
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