Traveler of Charleston Mag | 2016 Winter

Best Places to Eat Oysters

Must Visit Local Landmarks

Plantations Rich with History

january – march 2016

TRAVELER

®

of Charleston

The Source For All Things Charleston

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Contents

DEPARTMENTS 6 16 40 44 48 63 64 69

Welcome to Charleston See + Do Shop + Savor Shopping Guide Eat + Drink Social Media Maps Directory of Advertisers

FEATURES 10 12

Charleston History Timeline

21

Taste of the South: Boiled Peanuts

22 26 32 35

Five Charleston Freebies

42 54

Best Brews: Local Coffee Shops

69

Camellias are Calling

Area Platations Showcase History

Visit These Local Landmarks How Sweet It Is: Tea History Spotlight on Palmetto Carriage Works Oysters are a Charleston Delicacy

4 TRAVELER ofCharleston.com january-march 2016

42

From the Publisher Welcome to Charleston! isitors regularly point to Charleston’s incredible history as one of the city’s best attributes. Experience all aspects of local history at the area plantations. History isn’t always pretty and one new historic site, McLeod Plantation, does a great job paying tribute to the slaves who labored on the plantation grounds and their fight for freedom.

Don’t leave town without trying some oysters. On Page 54 we offer up a list of restaurants serving up oysters raw, steamed and fried. Or shuck ’em yourself at the Lowountry Oyster Roast at Boone Hall Plantation.

The oyster roast is just one of the many events happening as festival season kicks into high gear with the Southeastern Wildlife Expo, Charleston Wine + Food Festival and more. Get the details on Page 58.

Thankfully our winters are pretty mild, but we’ll take any excuse for another cup of coffee. Warm up from the winter chill at one of the area’s many local coffee shops where you can take a break from sightseeing to enjoy a mocha and a muffin.

If you need more information, download our free mobile app overflowing with visitor information, including maps, parking locations, public restroom listings, and details on attractions, restaurants and tours. Search “Charleston SC”on iTunes or Google Play.

And be sure to stop by our website at TravelerofCharleston.com for even more visitor information, coupons, an expanded calendar of events and our award-winning blog.

V

TRAVELER

®

of Charleston Member of: Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau; Charleston Restaurant Association; Summerville/Dorchester Chamber of Commerce.

Traveler of Charleston Team KEITH SIMMONS has an extensive publishing, marketing and advertising background and founded Traveler Magazine in 2005. His purpose was to develop an affordable and effective visitor medium where businesses could advertise their service. Traveler is now one of the leading visitor resources in the city. Keith lives in Mount Pleasant with his wife and sons.

He enjoys fishing, kayaking and spending time with his family.

HOLLY FISHER is a long-time writer and editor with a love of telling stories. She has lived in Charleston more than a decade and enjoys sharing the tales of the Holy City with visitors and newcomers to the area. Holly lives in the Mount Pleasant area with her husband, daughter and three dogs. When she isn’t at her computer writing for work and for fun, you can find her reading or doing CrossFit.

SALLY HEINEMAN honed her knack for graphic design at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA where she received a BFA in Graphic Design. Drawn to the South and the love of everything Lowcountry, Sally opened the doors of her graphic design business, Heineman Design, in 1992.

Publisher/Founder.................... Keith Simmons Editor........................................... Holly Fisher Graphic Designer...................... Heineman Design Distribution................................ Denise Fletcher Distribution................................ Brian Bean Distribution................................ Debbi Farrell

info@TRAVELERofCharleston.com | 843-352-9048 | TRAVELERofCharleston.com TRAVELER of Charleston is produced by the Traveler Communications Group, LLC, and is published four times yearly and distributed to various locations throughout the Charleston area, including all visitors centers, hotels, airports, beach rentals, grocery stores, high-traffic areas, advertiser locations and many other points throughout the surrounding area. Concept, design and contents of TRAVELER of Charleston are copyrighted and may not be reproduced. www.travelerofcharleston.com.

The copy and advertising deadline for the next issue is March 1, 2016.

6 TRAVELER ofCharleston.com january-march 2016

to CHARLESTON

T

HIS AMAZING PLACE ONLY GETS BETTER WITH TIME. Each year more people flock to this historic port city to soak up the history, culture and architecture and bask in Southern goodness.

In recent years, Charleston has become a destination for shopping and its incredible culinary scene is attracting global attention.

From arts and theater to fine dining and watersports, this is one city that truly offers something for everyone. But this Holy City has a storied past.

An early English settlement, Charleston has survived wars, fires, earthquakes and hurricanes to rise up as one of the country’s top travel destinations.

As you’re visiting our beloved city, get acquainted with her history, celebrate her charms and delight in all the amazing beauty Charleston has to offer.

1718

1672 English colonists settle Charles Town on the Ashley River

Blackbeard the Pirate sails into Charles Town Harbor with four ships; takes hostages for ransom

1740 Charles Town becomes most critical port in North America for exporting rice, indigo and cotton

1719 City is renamed “Charlestown”

1783 City renamed “Charleston”

1718 1680

Pirate Stede Bonnet is hanged at White Point Garden

Settlement is relocated to peninsula Charles Town – population 1,000

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1736 Dock Street Theatre opens, first building in U.S. used exclusively for theatrical performances

1775-1783

1790

Revolutionary War; Siege of Charleston in 1780

College of Charleston founded

1920

1824

Preservation Society founded to protect historic resources

Charleston Museum opens

1828-29 Young Army recruit named Edgar Allan Poe is stationed at Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island

1864 CSS Hunley sinks USS Housatonic in Charleston harbor

1989 Hurricane Hugo hits the city and surrounding areas with 135 mph winds

2006 Charleston Wine + Food Festival founded

1886 1861 1791 President George Washington visits, lodging at the Daniel Hayward House and attending a reception at the Old Exchange and a social at McCrady’s Longroom

Confederate troops fire the first shots of the Civil War upon Fort Sumter

Major earthquake hits Charleston, damaging 2,000 buildings, killing 110 people

2005 Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge over the Cooper River opens

1977 Spoleto Festival USA begins

january-march 2016 TRAVELER ofCharleston.com 11

Area plantations showcase Charleston's storied past

By Holly Fisher ACH YEAR VISITORS COME TO Charleston to soak up the area’s rich history. They are eager to step back in time to the 18th and 19th centuries, gaining a deeper understanding of Charleston’s past. That history is deeply intertwined with that of the slaves who worked the rice and cotton plantations and cared for the stately mansions in downtown Charleston.

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The recently opened McLeod Plantation Historic Site provides a detailed history of the slaves who worked its cotton fields and their struggle for freedom following the Civil War. The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission operates the 37-acre site, which opened to the public in April 2015 after four years of work to ready the site for tours.

The property was first occupied by Native Americans before English colonists 12 TRAVELER ofCharleston.com january-march 2016

arrived in 1670. It had a few different owners before William Wallace McLeod purchased the 1,700 acres in 1851 for $11,500.

The McLeods turned the land into a sea island cotton plantation, using as many as 100 slaves to work the land and tend to the farm animals and gardens. Sea island cotton – extinct in 1918 after a boll weevil outbreak – grew 8 to 12 feet tall. It was picked every 10 days from August to December, maybe even January if the weather was warm.

According to plantation records for 1859 to 1860, the McLeod plantation generated 64 400-pound bags of cotton. Considering the processing of the cotton to extract just the best pieces means the slaves picked 90 tons of cotton that year while also caring for 70 hogs, 24 sheep, 50 dairy cows and much more.

The McLeods grew cotton for a decade before the Civil War broke out. A secessionist, William Wallace McLeod left his plantation home to join the Charleston Light Dragoons. He died in 1865 while returning home from the war.

James Island was a strategic location for Charleston's defense during the Civil War so McLeod Plantation became the headquarters for Confederate and Union troops.

Following the Civil War, the 55th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, a regiment made up of free African Americans, set up

Photo courtesy of the Drayton Hall Preservation Trust. Photography by Charlotte Caldwell.

a field office at McLeod and the row of small houses – once occupied by the slaves – were now homes for the freedmen and their families.

Some of those houses on “transition row” as well as the Worship House remain on the site for visitors to get a glimpse of how the slaves and subsequent freedmen made their homes on the property.

Much of the site’s interpretive history and tours focus on the transition following the Civil War, highlighting the slaves who worked the plantation and their struggle for freedom.

Take advantage of the 45-minute guided tours to go deeper into the plantation’s history. There’s also a free app for Apple devices called “Transition to Freedom” that visitors can download to supplement their experience.

Plantation life in the Lowcountry Charleston is home to several plantations, many of them offering special programs that detail the history of slaves who worked on the property. Touring these many historic homes and plantation grounds is an excellent way to gain a deeper and broader understanding of what life was like for slaves in Charleston as well as AfricanAmerican history and culture.

Photo: Middleton Place

Bottom: Historical interpreter Jamal Hall depicts life at Middleton Place.

Middleton Place Middleton Place was settled in the late 17th century and acquired through marriage

by Henry Middleton in 1741. For more than 125 years, four generations of Middletons lived and worked on the property with many playing integral roles in the country’s history. Henry Middleton was the second president of the First Continental Congress and his son, Arthur, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Arthur’s son, Henry, was governor of South Carolina and his son, Williams, signed the Ordinance of Secession.

Today, Middleton Place is known for having America’s oldest landscaped gardens and a house museum filled with extraordinary family furniture, silver, porcelain, rare books and portraits.

Visitors can tour various parts of the plantation, including taking the “Beyond the Fields” tour that offers an extensive history of the slaves who lived and worked on the plantation as well as the freedmen at Middleton Place and other plantations. january-march 2016 TRAVELER ofCharleston.com 13

McLeod Plantation Historic Site. Photo: Keith Simmons

Touring Charleston plantations is an excellent way to gain a deeper and broader understanding of local history.

A key stop on the tour is Eliza's House, once occupied by former Middleton slaves.

The house has historical exhibits and a list of the 2,800 enslaved people who worked on the Middleton’s various plantations around the Lowcountry. The house is named for Eliza Leach, a South Carolina African American born in 1891 and the last person to live in the building. Along the “Beyond the Fields” tour, guides discuss domestic life at Eliza’s House, the labor at the rice mill and spring house as well as spirituality at the Plantation Chapel and slave cemetery.

Visitors can also stop off at the Plantation Stableyards to see the many jobs of the slaves who worked there.

Boone Hall Plantation Another beautiful and historic plantation is found in Mount Pleasant. Englishman Maj. John Boone established Boone Hall Plantation in 1681 when he started his plantation on the banks of Wampacheone Creek. Boone Hall – spanning 738 acres – provides a variety of tours and exhibits detailing plantation life, including black history and details on the slaves who lived at the plantation.

“Black History in America” is a selfguided tour told using eight of the original servant quarters located on Boone Hall Plantation that were built between 1790 14 TRAVELER ofCharleston.com january-march 2016

and 1810. Each cabin highlights a different historic theme – including praise house, sweetgrass baskets, work and life, emancipation and freedom, civil rights – using life-size figures, photos, relics and prerecorded narratives.

"Exploring The Gullah Culture" is a live presentation in The Gullah Theater, located at the end of Slave Street. The Slave Street and History Presentation begins at the top of Slave Street in front of the slave cabins.

A guide provides a historical look at the living quarters, historic relics and lifestyle of the slaves that lived at Boone Hall. (Check schedule sheet at front gate for times.)

Magnolia Plantation Founded in 1676 by the Drayton family, Magnolia Plantation is home to the oldest public gardens in America. It opened in 1870, welcoming visitors to its gardens filled with thousands of beautiful flowers and plants.

Magnolia Plantation brought the family great wealth as a rice plantation during the Colonial era. Later, British and American troops occupied the grounds during the American Revolution, while the Drayton sons would become both statesmen and soldiers fighting against British rule.

The gardens were established in the late 17th century and into the 18th century, flourishing on a grand scale in the early 19th century, largely thanks to John Grimké Drayton’s efforts to create a series of romantic gardens for his wife, Julia.

Several years ago, Magnolia Plantation embarked on a project to preserve five 1850s slave dwellings as part of its Magnolia Cabin Project. Visitors can experience the

Eliza's House. Photo: Middleton Place

“From Slavery to Freedom” tour, a 45minute presentation on African-American history. Explore each cabin to appreciate how long they were actively occupied – from the 1850s to the late 1990s.

Drayton Hall Widower John Drayton moved to Drayton Hall with sons William Henry and Charles in the early 1750s. The 350-acre plantation served as the hub for Drayton’s vast commercial plantation empire. Over the course of his lifetime, he owned close to 100 different plantations across South Carolina and Georgia where enslaved Africans, Native Americans and their descendants grew rice and indigo.

“Connections: From Africa to America” is a 30-minute interactive program about the history of the slaves who lived and worked at Drayton Hall. Museum interpreters use images and artifacts to tell the story of the enslaved people and their descendants.

Drayton Hall’s African-American Cemetery is one of the oldest documented African-American cemeteries in the nation still in use. The earliest surviving record dates from about 1790 and it remains the final resting place for at least 40 people – enslaved and free. Many of the original markers have deteriorated so fewer than 10 graves have been identified.

Visit McLeod Plantation 325 Country Club Drive Charleston, SC 29412 843-762-9514 • ccprc.com Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tuesday – Sunday $10 admission; $6 for ages 3-12 Guided tours are offered at the top of each hour, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (included with admission).

Visit Middleton Place 4300 Ashley River Road Charleston, SC 29414 843-556-6020 • middletonplace.org Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. $28 general admission; $15 for students 14 and up; $10 ages 6-13 “Beyond the Fields” tour offered daily at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. (included with admission).

Visit Boone Hall Plantation 1235 Long Point Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 843-884-4371 • boonehallplantation.com Open daily $20 general admission; $10 ages 6-12; $18 military, seniors, AAA (tours included with admission).

Visit Magnolia Plantation & Gardens 3550 Ashley River Road Charleston, SC 29414 843-571-1266 • magnoliaplantation.com Open daily 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through February; 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. beginning March 10. $15 general admission; $10 ages 6-12 (tours may require an additional fee; “From Slavery to Freedom” cabin tour is $8)

1790s map identifying African-American Cemetery Courtesy of the Drayton Hall Preservation Trust.

Learn more about African-American history in the Lowcountry at myafricana.org, a website sponsored by the Magnolia Plantation Foundation of Charleston.

Visit Drayton Hall 3380 Ashley River Road Charleston, SC 29414 843-769-2600 • draytonhall.org Open 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday; 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday (closed first week of February for maintenance) $22 general admission; $10 ages 12-18; $6 ages 6-11 (tours included with admission). january-march 2016 TRAVELER ofCharleston.com 15

See + Do Charleston is known for her rich history, picturesque scenery and culinary excellence.

Many experienced touring companies are ready to show you a great time.

How to use this magazine: You’ll find each type of tour and attraction categorized for easy reference. Many listings include a map grid locator. Find the grid location, then reference the maps on pages 64 through 68.

WHETHER YOU’RE A HISTORY BUFF, WATER ENTHUSIAST OR SIMPLY ENJOY STROLLING THE COBBLESTONE STREETS OF CHARLESTON YOU’LL FIND PLENTY OF WAYS TO EXPLORE THE HOLY CITY. See a plantation home, tour the harbor, take a carriage ride or visit a museum.

SEE + DO

ART & THEATER ACTIVITIES The Footlight Players 20 Queen St. • Charleston • (Map: H:8) 843-722-4487 • footlightplayers.net The Footlight Players, formed in 1932, provides professional quality, affordable community theater for the Lowcountry at the historic Footlight Players Theatre in the heart of downtown Charleston. Its ongoing productions include comedies, dramas, musicals, seasonal productions and children’s theater.

The Black Fedora Comedy Mystery Theatre & Shoppe 164 Church St. • Charleston • (Map: H:7/8) 843-WE SMILE (937-6453) charlestonmysteries.com • Live comedy theatre in a cozy setting -- clean comic whodunit shows, volunteer audience participation, a la carte appetizers, drinks and desserts. Featuring Inspector NoClue's Murder Mystery (one of Charleston's longest continually running shows), Sherlock Holmes & the Charleston History Mystery, Heist, Heist Baby, and Church Street Daughters of the Late Unpleasantness Garden, Gun & Gin Club, and many more. 1/2 block off City Market.

CARRIAGE TOURS Palmetto Carriage Works 8 Guignard St. • (Map: H:7) • 843-723-8145 palmettocarriage.com • Departs from The Big Red Barn every 15 to 20 minutes, rain or shine, beginning at 9 a.m. Tours are one hour long, covering about 25 blocks of residential and historic districts. Guides are city licensed.

See our ad on the inside front cover.

Tour Charleston’s Museum Mile, a 1-mile section of Meeting Street with six museums, five historic homes, four parks and more. During the month of January, purchase one ticket and gain access to 11 participating Museum Mile sites. Tickets are $25/adults and $10/children; purchase at charlestonsmuseummile.org.

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SEE + DO

COMBO TOURS Carriage & Harbor Combo Tour Harbor Tours • 10 Wharfside St. • (Map :J:5/6) Palmetto Carriage • 8 Guignard Street 888-224-5037 or 843-722-1112 charlestonharbortours • Harbor Tours departs from the Maritime Center three times daily with a 90-minute live narrated sightseeing cruise aboard the 1920s style Bay Steamer – Carolina Belle. Palmetto Carriage tour departs from the Big Red Barn every 20-30 minutes beginning at 9 a.m. The one-hour tour covers 25 to 30 blocks of the historic and residential districts.

Ghost Walking & Harbor Combo Tour For tickets: 10 Wharfside St. • (Map: J:5/6) online at charlestonharbortours.com or bulldogtours.com • Zerve Ticketing at 888-224-5037 or 843-722-1112 • Take one of Charleston’s best Ghost Tours and a Harbor of History Tour aboard the Carolina Belle. You get to choose from the spooktacular “Ghost and Graveyard” walking tour or the Haunted Jail Tour and you get a harbor tour featuring Fort Sumter, Fort Moultrie, the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge and 70+ other points of interest. Tours may be taken on different days.

Plantation & Harbor Combo Tour For tickets: 10 Wharfside St. • (Map: J:5/6) charlestonharbortours.com or Zerve ticketing: 888-224-5037 or 843-722-1112 Tour a spectacular Southern plantation, the new Slave Museum and beautiful grounds paired with a 90-minute “Harbor of History” tour. Fort Sumter, Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, the Battery and downtown landmarks. Tours may be taken on different days.

Gray Line & Fort Sumter Tour Combo 843-722-BOAT(2628) • fortsumtertours.com, graylineofcharleston.com • Save $4 per person!

Enjoy a comprehensive tour of Charleston’s historic district and take the only boat tour to Fort Sumter. Licensed and experienced tour guides lead a 90-minute exploration of Charleston’s rich history on air-conditioned mini-buses. The Gray Line tour features 100+ points of interest with a stop at the Battery. Tours depart every 30 minutes from the Charleston Visitor’s Center, 375 Meeting St. Free hotel pickup in historic district.

FISHING CHARTERS Reel Deal Charter Multiple area departure locations - some tours depart from Shem Creek, Mount Pleasant 843-388-5093 • thereeldealcharters.com Join The Reel Deal Charters for year-round inshore/offshore, deep-sea, big game and saltwater fishing. Includes licenses, bait and tackle. Operating several boats with the lowest prices for a “reel” fishing experience! Mention “Traveler” for discounts.

20 TRAVELER ofCharleston.com january-march 2016

Taste of the South Want to get a true Southern experience while visiting Charleston? Order a bag of boiled peanuts and start eating them straight from the bag. Talk about a Southern treat!

PEANUT PERFECTION Boiled peanuts were most likely brought here by African slaves. During the summer months, the slaves would harvest peanut crops and the surplus peanuts would be boiled – an opportunity for families and neighbors to gather and socialize. Boiled peanuts became mainstream in the South in the early 1900s.

Boiled peanuts are made using green peanuts that are recently harvested and haven’t been dried. You can also use raw peanuts, which are uncooked but dried. They have to be soaked in water overnight before boiling. The water is salted and in go the peanuts. Some people add Cajun seasoning for a spicy kick.

On May 1, 2006, boiled peanuts became the official snack food of South Carolina. Read more about the history of boiled peanuts at nationalpeanutboard.org.

GET ‘EM FRESH: PEANUT DUDE 695 Coleman Blvd. in Mount Pleasant (GDC parking lot) • peanutdude.com TIMBO’S PEANUTS 2484 Ashley River Road in Charleston • facebook.com/Timbos-Peanuts310457123524 BOONE HALL FARMS 2521 Highway 17 North in Mount Pleasant • 843-856-8154 boonehallfarms.com january-march 2016 TRAVELER ofCharleston.com 21

SEE + DO

MOTORIZED LAND TOURS Gray Line of Charleston

Five Charleston Freebies Charleston has so much to do and see you just might need a vacation from your vacation! Add these activities to your sightseeing list. Plus, you can do all these for free.

1. Mace Brown Museum of Natural History at the College of Charleston.

This museum houses 3,000 fossil specimens, including dinosaurs, cave bears, Pleistocene mammals of the Carolinas, fossil plants and more. Geology students work at the museum and can give guided tours. Free admission; open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day except Wednesday. geology.cofc.edu/natural-history-museum 843-953-5589 2. Charleston is home to numerous art galleries and several regular walks that are free to anyone wanting to browse paintings, sculptures and photography.

Visit CharlestonGalleryAssociation.com for a printable map.

3. See Charleston’s historic City Hall (80 Broad St.), constructed in the early 1800s. Also, the picturesque Washington Square Park is located by city hall and features beautiful architecture and ironwork.

4. Watch the cadets at The Citadel conduct a dress parade. At various times throughout the year, the cadets parade the grounds, also using the time to present awards and recognize notable individuals. Free and open to the public.

For parade schedule: citadel.edu/root/parade-schedule 5. Memorial Waterfront Park is at the base of the Ravenel Bridge in Mount Pleasant. Enjoy the large lawn, pier and nautical-themed playground. Also stop by the Sweetgrass Basket Pavilion, a cultural

arts exhibit on the history of sweetgrass basket making.

Be sure to visit the Traveler of Charleston Blog for more free and lowcost things to do around Charleston: travelerofcharleston.com/blog

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graylineofcharleston.com • 843-722-4444 Explore 300 years of history with experienced, licensed tour guides onboard our mini-buses.

Gray Line offers a comprehensive tour of Charleston’s Historic District with 100+ points of interest and a stop at Charleston’s Battery.

Take our 90 minute tour or add a visit to a fully restored antebellum home. Land & Sea Combo includes either a visit to Fort Sumter or a 90-minute tour of the harbor. Tours depart every 30 minutes from the Charleston Visitor’s Center, 375 Meeting St. Free hotel pickup in historic district.

MUSEUMS AND PARKS Audubon Center at Beidler Forest 843-462-2150 • beidlerforest.com Francis Beidler Forest contains the largest stand of virgin bald cypress and tupelo gum swamp forest left in the world. See 1,000-yearold trees and native wildlife; walk the 1.75-mile boardwalk into the swamp. Tues.-Sun. 9 a.m-5 p.m. Harleyville, S.C.

Caw Caw Interpretive Center 5200 Savannah Hwy • Ravenel, SC 29470 843-889-8898 charlestoncountyparks.com/cawcaw Explore colonial era rice plantations and a principle site of the 1739 Stono Rebellion, seven miles of walking trails and boardwalks, guided bird walks, wildlife preserve, butterfly garden and more.

City of North Charleston 843-554-5700 • northcharleston.org North Charleston is a lively center of hospitality.

There’s plenty to see and do from waterfront parks, art galleries and gardens to historical sites, museums and shopping centers. Book a tee time for golf, dine at a local restaurant or buy tickets for a show.

Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site 1500 Old Towne Road • Charleston (area map) • 843-852-4200 • Hours: daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. • charlestownelanding.travel Established in the 1670, this is the birthplace of Charleston. Experiences include a museum, outdoor exhibits along the History Trail with an accompanying audio tour, cannon demonstrations and special events, an Animal Forest zoo and the “Adventure,” a reproduction 17th-century trading vessel.

Edmondston-Alston House 21 East Battery • Charleston • (Map: H:9) 843-722-7171 • middletonplace.org Built in 1825, the house is a repository of family treasures, including Alston family silver, furniture, books and paintings. Look seaward from the second floor piazza, where Gen. Beauregard watched the bombardment of Fort Sumter.

SEE + DO january-march 2016 TRAVELER ofCharleston.com 23

SEE + DO

MUSEUMS AND PARKS

MUSEUMS AND PARKS

Fort Sumter Tours

Wild Blue Ropes

843-722-BOAT(2628) • fortsumtertours.com Walk in the footsteps of Civil War soldiers as you visit this National Historic Site. Cost includes tour of Charleston harbor onboard the boat plus an hour to explore the fort. The National Park Service maintains the Civil War era fortifications as well as restrooms, a gift shop and the Fort Sumter Museum. Fort Sumter Tours is an authorized concessionaire of the National Park Service and the only tour that stops at historic Fort Sumter. Tours depart Liberty Square in downtown Charleston (handicapped accessible) and Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant

1595 Highland Ave • James Island (area map) 843-5024066 • wildblueropes.com If you’re looking for a something-to-writehome-about-holy-cow-I-can’t-believe-I-just-didthat adventure, you’ve come to the right place.

An aerial ropes course with 70+ challenge features reaching 35 feet above the ground.

Designed at 3 levels of difficulty that’s fun for the whole family. Imagine a jungle gym suspended 35 feet in the air.

Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum 40 Patriots Point Road • Mount Pleasant (Map: O:2) • 843-884-2727 • patriotspoint.org Home to the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, WWII's Fighting Lady. Museum includes the destroyer USS Laffey, the submarine USS Clamagore, a re-creation of a Vietnam Naval Support Base, 28 historic military aircraft, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s Museum. Free map for self-guided tours.

North Charleston/American LaFrance Fire Museum 4975 Centre Point Dr • North Charleston (Map: KK:5) • 843-740-5550 northcharlestonfiremuseum.org The Fire Museum, located adjacent to Tanger Outlet Center, is home to the largest collection of fully restored American LaFrance fire trucks and antique fire equipment in the country. It is a wonderful museum for the firefighter in all of us. Great demonstration for kids and people of all ages.

South Carolina Aquarium 100 Aquarium Wharf • Charleston 843-720-1990 • scaquarium.org The South Carolina Aquarium is home to more than 5,000 animals found across the state.

Explore 385,000-gallon Great Ocean Tank or enjoy a movie in the interactive 4-D movie theater. Journey from the mountains to the sea and find family fun around every corner.

PLANTATIONS Boone Hall Plantation 1235 Long Point Road • Mount Pleasant (Map: L:4) • 843-884-4371 boonehallplantation.com • One of America’s oldest plantations with more than 320 years of history. Located 8 miles north of Charleston.

The “Avenue of Oaks,” nine original slave cabins, house tours and shows included in admission.

Mon.-Sat. 8:30 a.m.-6:30p.m.; Sun. 1-5 p.m.

Drayton Hall 3380 Ashley River Road (Highway 61) Charleston • (area map) • 843-769-2600 draytonhall.org • Drayton Hall (circa 1738) is the oldest unrestored plantation house in America open to the public. Admission includes tours river and marsh walks, the African-American cemetery and artisaninspired Museum Shop.

Middleton Place National Historic Landmark • 4300 Ashley River Road (Highway 61) • Charleston • (area map) 843-556-6020 • middletonplace.org • An 18th-century rice plantation and National Historic Landmark comprising 65 acres of America’s oldest landscaped gardens. See the house museum, craftspeople in the stable yards or take an African-American focus tour.

Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

TRANSPORTION

Town of Summerville

Charleston Water Taxi

Visitor Center: 402 Main St., Summerville (see maps) • With over 700 homes and buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, the city is known for its historic character.

A charming downtown is a must visit along with the “Sweet Tea Trail.”

Downtown: Maritime Center • 10 Wharfside St. (Map: K:5/6) • Mount Pleasant: Charleston Harbor Marina at Patriots Point • (Map: O:2) 843-330-2989 • charlestonwatertaxi.com The water taxi runs on a continuous loop around Charleston Harbor between Patriots Point (USS Yorktown) and downtown Charleston.

For the fifth consecutive year, Charleston was named the No. 1 Small U.S. City by Condé Nast Traveler 2015 Readers’ Choice Awards. The city was heralded for her “beautiful gardens, vibrantly painted Georgian houses along Rainbow Row, and carriages clacking across cobblestone streets.”

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Sightseeing: Put these spots on your must-visit list

Fort Moultrie The first fort on Sullivan's Island was still incomplete when Commodore Sir Peter Parker and nine warships attacked it on June 28, 1776. After a nine-hour battle, the ships were forced to retire. Charleston was saved from British occupation, and the fort was named in honor of its commander, Col. William Moultrie. Open daily on Sullivan’s Island; $3/adult.

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Photo: Beverly Donald

Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon The Old Exchange Building is rich with history. Not only is it an architectural jewel, but was a prison during the Revolution, a spot where slaves were sold and received a visit from George Washington. Open daily at 122 East Bay St. in Charleston. $10/adult oldexchange.org

Photo: Town of Summerville

Magnolia Cemetery This historic cemetery sits on a former rice plantation. It opened in 1850 – the design reflecting a new rural cemetery movement that crossed from Europe to America in the mid-19th century. With landscaped paths, ponds, trees and green space, Charlestonians would visit their deceased loves ones as well as picnic and play on the 130-acre property. Open daily at 70 Cunnington Ave. in Charleston magnoliacemetery.net

Shem Creek Located in the heart of Mount Pleasant, Shem Creek is popular among visitors and locals. Enjoy seafood restaurants with water views. During warm weather, it’s a popular spot for kayaking and paddleboarding. Be sure to stop by Shem Creek Park, a 2,200-foot boardwalk that stretches from Coleman Boulevard to the mouth of the creek at the Charleston harbor. The park has floating dock space and a commercial fishing dock.

Azalea Park A visit to the Town of Summerville isn’t complete without a stop at Azalea Park, a 12-acre garden just blocks from the historic town square. Stroll the paved pathways, enjoying a number of bronze sculptures, the reflection pond and seasonal color (this park really pops in March and April).

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Photo: Town of Mount Pleasant

Ravenel Bridge The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge spanning the Cooper River has a more than 2-mile bike/pedestrian lane called Wonders’ Way. It is accessible from East Bay Street in downtown Charleston and on the Mount Pleasant side. Be sure to stop at the top for a bird’s eye view of Charleston.

Fort Sumter Learn about the pivotal role of Fort Sumter during the Civil War at an on-site museum with exhibits and artifacts. The North and South erupted in civil war on April 12, 1861, when Confederate artillery opened fire on this Federal fort in Charleston Harbor. SpirtLine Cruises provides boat rides to and from Fort Sumter. Info: nps.gov/fosu

Pitt Street Bridge Located in the Old Village, Pitt Street Bridge spanned Cove Inlet to connect Mount Pleasant to Sullivan's Island. When the Ben Sawyer Bridge was constructed, this bridge was no longer used. Today it's a great spot to relax and watch a Charleston sunset. comeonovermp.com.

Angel Oak For centuries, the Angel Oak on Johns Island has grown up to 65 feet and its canopy of branches spans 17,000 square feet. The tree is located in a public park owned by the City of Charleston.

For more ideas on what to see and do around the Charleston area, visit our website at travelerofcharleston.com/see-do.

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SEE + DO

WALKING TOURS Bulldog Tours 18 Anson St. • Charleston • (Map: H:7) 843-722-TOUR • bulldogtours.com As seen on the Travel Channel’s “America’s Most Haunted Places,” this walking tour company will have you exhilarated and entertained. Choose from four tours: Ghost & Graveyard, The Dark Side of Charleston, Ghost Dungeon and Haunted Jail Tour.

Charleston Strolls Walk With History Departs from Mills House Hotel (corner of Meeting & Queen) • 843-766-2080 charlestonstrolls.com • Featured in The New York Times, this two-hour tour is the best way to see Charleston’s Historic District. Famous landmarks, historic highlights, antebellum mansions, quaint alleys and hidden gardens.

Everyday at 10 a.m. Requires reservation.

Culinary Tours Of Charleston 18 Anson St. • Charleston • (Map: H:7) 843-727-1100 • culinarytoursofcharleston.com Walk, talk and taste your way through Charleston while experiencing history through Lowcountry cuisine. Daily tasting tours introduce guests to tasty bites at many great restaurants. Go behind the scenes and visit with chefs, bakers, artisan food producers, chocolatiers and specialty shops.

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How Sweet It Is HERE IN THE SOUTH, tea is served sweet. It goes perfectly with a plate of barbecue, a bowl of shrimp ‘n grits or, well, anything, for that matter. What you may not realize is that tea has deep roots here in Charleston.

The tea plant (Camellia Sinensis) arrived in Summerville in the late 1700s imported by Andre Michaux, a French explorer and botanist. In 1888, Dr. Charles Shepard was the first to successfully propagate and produce tea for consumption when he acquired 600 acres in Summerville and established the Pinehurst Tea Plantation. Dr. Shepard produced award-winning teas until his death in 1915. His plantation was closed until 1963 when Lipton paid to have the surviving tea plants at Pinehurst relocated to its experimental tea farm on Wadmalaw Island.

That tea farm – now owned by Bigelow and run by professional tea maker William Barclay Hall – is the Charleston Tea Plantation.

LEARN MORE: Visit the CHARLESTON TEA PLANTATION, America's only tea garden 6617 Maybank Highway in Charleston • 843-559-0383 charlestonteaplantation.com. Open daily with factory and trolley tours; gift shop and samples.

SWEET TEA TROLLEY TOUR IN SUMMERVILLE 843-654-5199 • lowcountrylooptrolley.com Experience the charm of a Southern town on this tour while learning more about the birthplace of tea.

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SEE + DO

WALKING TOURS Yorktown Ghost Tours 40 Patriots Point Road • Mount Pleasant (Map: O:2) • 843-277-0577 yorktownghosttours.com • Guided tour explores the unexplained mysteries of this WWII aircraft carrier. Hear stories of sacrifice and devastation as this tour ventures into areas normally restricted to the public.

In 2015, the City of North Charleston was named one of the 20 Coolest Towns in the U.S. by online travel magazine MatadorNetwork.com.

Check out the vibrant Park Circle area filled with restaurants, shops and nightlife.

Looking for things to do in Charleston?

It’s easy with our free mobile app! Search “Charleston” in the app stores or go to travelerofcharleston.com on your smartphone.

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Spotlight On...

Palmetto Carriage Works

By Holly Fisher

I

t’s a safe bet that if the mules and horses working local carriage tours could talk, they could easily recite the best parts of Charleston’s history. They’ve certainly heard the stories plenty of times as they mosey through the city streets.

Carriage tours are a popular activity and the steeds pulling the carriages may very well be the city’s best ambassadors, drawing in visitors with their easy gait and gentle spirit.

They play an important role in Charleston tourism, and Benjamin Doyle of Palmetto Carriage Works knows it. That’s why he takes such good care of the animals who pull his carriages, ensuring they are healthy and happy employees.

They may not be earning a paycheck but they get plenty of vacation time and the health care package is pretty tough to beat.

Doyle carefully selects horses and mules that can tolerate Charleston’s warm climate and are gentle and not bothered by people, traffic and city noise. Most often the animals have retired from pulling plows all day, usually in Pennsylvania’s Amish country. They semi-retire to Charleston – as so many from that area do – and take up work pulling carriages.

It’s an easier job than life on the farm – the days are shorter, the loads lighter and the carriages have wheels.

Doyle – whose father purchased Palmetto Carriage in 1979 – explains how his company carefully follows the rules and regulations laid out by the City of Charleston

for carriage tour operators, often going a step further to provide the very best care for the animals.

The city regulates the weight of the carriage, requires records on the animals’ body temperature and work activity and conducts veterinarian inspections twice a year.

For example, when the temperature reaches 98 degrees or the heat index hits 125 degrees, all carriage tours must stop operations. Beginning at 85 degrees, carriage tour operators have to take their animals' body temperature but Palmetto does this year-round. Doyle said it’s a good way to monitor any potential issues and to ensure the animals have plenty of time to cool off under the fans behind the barn.

Palmetto Carriage has 35 mules and 20 horses that rotate between the barn downtown and the company’s farm on Johns Island. Animals at Palmetto Carriage work about 150 days a year – that’s about 14 hours each week.

“If I don’t take care of them and keep them happy, it shows,” Doyle said. “My reputation is at stake. Not only did I give this animal a second chance, but we give them a great life.”

The Big Red Barn is open to the public and Doyle is happy to show visitors around and explain the process for caring for the animals. Stop by and check it out at 8 Guignard St. near the City Market. Hours are 9 a.m .to 4 p.m. Monday to Sunday | palmettocarriage.com january-march 2016 TRAVELER ofCharleston.com 35

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SEE + DO

WATER TOURS

WATER TOURS

Barrier Island Eco-Tours

Schooner Pride – Charleston’s Tall Ship

50 41st Ave. • Isle of Palms Marina • (Map: N:6) 843-886-5000 • nature-tours.com • Naturalist guided boat excursions to Capers Island Preserve. Travel the salt marsh creeks, see dolphins and wildlife up close, explore the “boneyard beach” and walk inland trails.

Morning and sunset eco-tours, creek fishing, crabbing, kayaking or beach-side cookouts.

360 Concord St. • Charleston • (Map: J:5) 888-245-9206 or 843-722-1112 schoonerpride.com • Marvel at the Holy City skyline while sailing by the forts where history was made. See dolphins playing and experience a Charleston sunset. Take an afternoon dolphin sail or a sunset sail; available for private charters. Combo tour available.

Charleston Harbor Tours Charleston Maritime Center. • 10 Wharfside St., Charleston • (Map: J:5/6) • 888-224-5037 or 843-722-1112 • charlestonharbortours.com Board the Carolina Belle for Charleston’s only live narrated harbor history tour. Relax and enjoy a beverage from the snack bar as the captain details the forts and landmarks that shaped Charleston’s historic harbor. Private charters and group dinner cruises available.

Nature Adventure Tours 325 W. Coleman Blvd. • Mount Pleasant (Map: O:2 at Shem Creek, on the water) 843-568-3222 • kayakcharlestonsc.com Charleston’s outstanding naturalist-guided kayak, canoe and paddle-board tour service.

Tour salt-water marshes, swamps, rice plantations. See dolphins, pelicans and a wide variety of wildlife. Families and beginners are welcome; rentals also available.

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SpiritLine Charleston Harbor Tour 843-722-BOAT(2628) • spiritlinecruises.com Enjoy a 90-minute tour of Charleston’s harbor with 75+ points of interest narrated by City of Charleston licensed tour guides. Discounted Land & Sea Combo Tours available: include either a 90-minute Gray Line City Tour or a 60minute Old South Carriage Tour. Tours depart Aquarium Wharf in downtown Charleston and Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant.

Looking for art and theater events around Charleston? Pop over to ArtsCharleston.org for theater, music, visual arts and more.

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Shop + Savor Charleston was founded in the late 1600s as a port city, and it has remained a thriving place to buy goods ever since. Buy local and enjoy the rewards.

Shop King Street On the second Sunday of each month, the street is closed so visitors and locals can enjoy shopping, dining and entertainment.

WHETHER YOU’RE SHOPPING FOR SOUVENIRS, A DRESS FOR DINNER OR A BOX OF BENNE WAFERS, YOU’LL FIND JUST WHAT YOU WANT IN THE CITY’S MANY RETAIL OUTLETS. The Charleston peninsula has boutiques, national retailers and a market full of Southern charm.

SHOPPING

Dacuba’s Fine Jewelry

Terrace Oaks Antique Mall

84 N. Market St. • Charleston • (Map: H:7/8) 843-853-0103 • dacubasjewelry.citymax.com Nestled in the heart of Charleston, Dacuba’s is a unique fine jewelry store with a wonderful selection of sterling silver and 14kt gold jewelry.

Its classic Charleston “Southern Gate” collection is fashioned after the wrought-iron work seen throughout this historical city.

2037 Maybank Highway • James Island (area map) • 843-795-9689 • Mon-Sat. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. • terraceoaksantiques.com A leader in the Charleston area for multidealer antique shops since 1988. The 10,000-squarefoot, climate-controlled shop houses 90+ booths with all different tastes and styles.

When it comes to antiques, they have just about anything your heart desires.

Nice Ice Fine Jewelry 145 Market St. • Charleston • (Map: G:7) 843-577-7029 • Since 1974 they have been providing Charleston and visitors with the most exquisite and unique jewelry. Designers such as Rudolf Friedman, Judith Ripka, Slane & Slane, Jude Frances, Charriol and Nanis.

Shades of Charleston

Town of Mount Pleasant comeonovermp.com • Mount Pleasant is not your average place to visit. Filled with an array of restaurants, taverns, activities and accommodations, the vacation you’re anticipating will be more than just a trip from home; it will be an experience of indescribable magic and warmth.

233 Mathis Ferry Road • Mount Pleasant (Map: N:2) • 843-388-4369 shadesofcharleston.com • Since 1979, this collection of polarized sunglasses is the largest in the Charleston metro area and includes such lines as Costa, Maui Jim, Ray Ban, Oakley and much more.

Shop the quaint boutiques of historic Summerville. Short Central, in particular, is filled with shops, galleries and cafés. Every third Thursday, stores are open late for extra shopping and entertainment. facebook.com/ShopShortCentral

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SHOP + SAVOR

SHOPPING

Best Brews Great places to grab a coffee around Charleston

By Holly Fisher

hether you need an afternoon pick-me-up after a busy day of sightseeing or you simply want to relax with a morning latte in the heart of downtown Charleston, there are plenty of great choices. The Charleston area has some delicious local coffee shops that make a mean mocha and serve up fresh pastries, muffins and breakfast sandwiches. Here are a few of our favorite picks:

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CHARLESTON Black Tap Coffee, 70 ½ Beaufain St. – This cozy coffeehouse is in Charleston’s historic Harleston Village and outfitted with custom-built tables made from heart pine wood used in the construction of some of Charleston’s oldest buildings and a stand-up bar with wrought iron stools. Enjoy a selection of coffees from around the world. blacktapcoffee.com

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Kudu Coffee & Craft Beer, 4 Vanderhorst St. – This shop roasts its own specialty coffee plus espresso beverages. Order up pastries and sandwiches made by local bakeries Wild Flour Pastry, Normandy Farm Artisan Bakery and Saffron Bakery.

There’s no Wi-Fi at this coffee shop but there’s a great outdoor patio where you can get your caffeine fix before heading out for a day of touring Charleston. kuducoffeeandcraftbeer.com

Saint Alban, 710 King St. – This allday café serves up lattes, mochas and drip coffee plus breakfast, lunch and cocktails. Bonus: free parking behind the coffee shop. saintalbanallday.com Bakehouse Charleston, 160 East Bay St. – Located in the historic district near the City Market, this café serves up custom-roasted Bakehouse Blend coffee plus fresh baked goods, including cakes, cookies, brownie bars, tarts and quiches. bakehousecharleston.com

MOUNT PLEASANT Collective Coffee, 7766 S. Shelmore Lane – Baristas use the single-pour method, so each cup is prepared singularly using seasonal Intelligentsia coffees and teas. collective-coffee.com Metto Coffee & Tea, 354 W. Coleman Blvd. – This spot is a favorite among locals for a cup of morning joe while doing a little work or meeting with friends. Enjoy specialty coffee and made-from-scratch pastries and paninis. facebook.com/mettocoffee Vintage Coffee Café, 219 Simmons St. New to the Mount Pleasant coffee shop scene, this fun little café brews up delicious coffee and lattes. It serves breakfast and lunch, plus has a kid’s menu. vintagecoffeecafe.com

JAMES ISLAND Muddy Waters Coffee Bar, 1739 Maybank Highway – This café brews Counter Culture Coffee from Durham, N.C., plus a selection of teas. And pick up a tasty treat from Wild Flour Pastry. muddywaterscoffee.com WEST ASHLEY Classic Coffee Roasters, 27 Magnolia Road – Situated in the trendy Avondale neighborhood, this café has plenty of space and an outdoor courtyard. Stop off here for a tasty vanilla latte, shot of espresso and a pastry from Wild Flour Pastry or Normandy Farm Artisan Bakery. classiccoffeeroasters.com NORTH CHARLESTON Orange Spot Coffeehouse, 4824 Chateau Ave. – Located in the Park Circle area, this coffeehouse is close to several local businesses and restaurants. Stop by for an afternoon Cha Yen (Thai iced tea) or start your day with freshly roasted coffee from Thirty-Thirty Coffee Co. or one of the house-made seasonal creations. theorangespotcoffeehouse.com SUMMERVILLE Coastal Coffee Roasters, 108 E. 3rd North St. – This great local shop specializes in small batch roasting. Plus, it serves breakfast and lunch. Check the calendar for special events like yoga and live music. coastalcoffeeroasters.com Do you have a favorite Charleston area coffee shop? Share with us on Facebook (facebook.com/travelermag) or Twitter (@traveler_mag) or Instagram (@travelerofcharleston)

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Shop Dine Relax

DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON Spend the day walking King Street with its clothing boutiques, shoe stores, gift shops and more. Start near Charleston Place Hotel and head toward Calhoun Street for a wide selection of local boutiques, gift shops and national retailers. If you’re in the market for rare finds, make your way down Lower King Street (south of Market Street), the city’s antique district.

On the second Sunday of each month, several blocks of King Street are closed off to vehicles, and people (and pets) flood the streets for open-air dining, music, shopping and entertainment.

The City Market stretches from Meeting to East Bay Street and is home to more than 100 vendors. Dozens of businesses and restaurants line Market Street, making it a great place to pick up souvenirs, sweetgrass baskets, art and jewelry.

After the sun sets, head to Upper King Street, which in recent years has transformed into a hip design district with a bustling nightlife. The area stretches from Calhoun up to about Mary Street and is filled with trendy clubs and bars and highend restaurants, giving the street a sort of New York City vibe.

The Cocktail Club offers a refined atmosphere with its house-made drinks and rooftop terrace or stop off at The Belmont for a scotch and a cheese and charcuterie plate. Named a 2013 Best New Restaurant finalist by the James Beard Foundation, The Ordinary is a Southern seafood hall and oyster bar from Chef Mike Lata, best known for his other Charleston restaurant, FIG (Food Is Good).

SUMMERVILLE Summerville’s Town Square is filled with local boutiques and shops, including 12 antique stores, a children’s book store and one of the top 10 quilt shops in the country.

MOUNT PLEASANT ■ Mount Pleasant Towne Centre on Highway 17 North is home to national retailers, local boutiques and restaurants.

Shop at Belk and Belk Men’s Store, Copper Penny Shooz, Palmetto Moon, Hairy Winston Pet Boutique, Athleta and more. mtpleasanttownecentre.com ■ Belle Hall Shopping Center is located on Long Point Road ( just off Interstate 526). Stop by Wonder Works for a large selection of children’s toys and gifts or visit Princess of Tides for costumes and tutus. Carolina Girls carries gift items, jewelry and stationery. The Coastal Cupboard has a selection of specialty food items and cookware. shopbellehall.com After a full day of sightseeing and shopping, relax on Shem Creek – cold drink in hand and seafood platter on the table. Shem Creek’s laid-back atmosphere makes it the perfect spot to unwind while watching the shrimp boats dock in the creek and the dolphins play in the water.

NORTH CHARLESTON ■ Tanger Outlets has dozens of nationally known retailers offering apparel for adults and children, shoes, accessories, housewares and jewelry. Tanger is easily accessible from both Interstates 526 and 26. tangeroutlet.com/charleston

Share your Charleston shopping moments on our Facebook page at facebook.com/travelermag

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SHOP + SAVOR

St. Philip’s Church was established in 1860, originally at the corner of Meeting and Broad streets. It moved to its present location at 142 Church St. in 1710 after the original church was damaged in a hurricane.

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Eat + Drink Charleston’s diverse culinary scene is amazing.

Innovative chefs and their dishes will dazzle the taste buds and warm the heart.

Charleston has great taste!

Get Crafty The craft beer scene is hoppin' here in Charleston.

Visit chsbeer.org for a list of breweries and events.

TRUST US, YOU WON’T LEAVE CHARLESTON HUNGRY. In fact you might spend half your vacation simply deciding which delectable restaurant to try next. Our city has world-class chefs cooking up plates filled with Southern goodness. Our desserts are claiming national recognition.

FINE DINING Cru Cafe´ 18 Pinckney St. • Charleston • (Map: H:7) 843-534-2434 • crucafe.com • In an 18th-century home on Pinckney Street, Charlestonians sip mint julep tea on the porch and dine on upscale comfort food at John Zucker’s Cru Cafe. “Do it right and use the best possible ingredients” is his mantra. Lunch and dinner.

SpiritLine Dinner Cruise Departs from 40 Patriots Point Road Mount Pleasant • (Map: O:2) • 843-722-2628 spiritlinecruises.com • The SpiritLine Dinner Cruise aboard the Spirit of Carolina features fine cuisine prepared to order onboard, entertainment, dancing, fully stocked bar and a magnificent cruise on Charleston Harbor.

Call for reservations.

Middleton Place Restaurant 4300 Ashley River Road • Charleston (area map) • 843-556-6020 • middletonplace.org Savor Lowcountry cuisine while taking in views of America’s oldest landscaped gardens.

For lunch, visitors enjoy a three-course, prix fixe menu. Lunch served daily. Dinner guests pay no admission after 5:30 p.m. and can stroll through the gardens prior to dinner.

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EAT + DRINK

CASUAL DINING A.W. Shuck’s 35 South Market St. • Charleston • (Map: H:7) 843-723-1151 • a-w-shucks.com • A.W. Shucks’ menu is inspired by classic Charleston Tradition with stuffed shrimp, the Lowcountry’s best shecrab soup, and seafood casserole that’s a legend among locals. Plus, an extensive selection of craft beers. Lunch and dinner served daily beginning at 11 a.m.

Charleston Crab House Downtown: 41 S. Market St. (Map I:7) • 843-795-1963. James Island: 145 Wappoo Creek Dr. • (Area Map) • 843-853-2900 charlestoncrabhouse.com • Serving Fresh Lowcountry seafood everyday! Indoor/patio, casual and family friendly. Visit James Island for waterfront dining or Market Street for rooftop dining. Reservations recommended.

Chow Down Charleston Food Tours All tours depart from: 40 Broad St. • Charleston 866-736-6343 • chowdowncharleston.com Their food tasting and historical walking tours allow you to step off the beaten path as they explore 6 different tastings showcasing local ingredients, Lowcountry classics, and the true culinary technique and genius that Charleston is famous for. See $2 off per person coupon in ad!

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EAT + DRINK

CASUAL DINING

CASUAL DINING

East Bay Deli

In the Kitchen with Bob Waggoner

334 East Bay St. • Charleston • (Map: I:5) 843-216-5473 • 1120 Oakland Market Road Mount Pleasant • (Map: L:5) • 843-216-5473 9135 University Blvd. • North Charleston 843-553-7374 • 4405 Dorchester Road North Charleston • (Map: W:4) • 843-747-1235 New York-style deli using only quality products such as Thumann’s deli meats and Hebrew National deli dogs. The varied menu comes with many options: soups, chili, both hearty and heart-healthy sandwiches, wraps, giant spuds and desserts.

164 Market St. • Charleston • (Map G:7) 843-619-7529 • chefbobwaggoner.com Amazing cooking classes with Chef Bob, an award winning chef, who will teach you tips and techniques to build confidence in the kitchen.

Each night is a truly unique and fun dinner party with every detail carefully crafted.

Hyman’s Seafood 215 Meeting St. • Charleston • (Map: G:7) 843-723-6000 • hymanseafood.com Voted No. 1 seafood restaurant in the Southeast

by Southern Living magazine nine years in a row. Lunch and dinner served daily. Parking and back entrance from Charleston Place.

No reservations; come early to avoid the wait.

See coupon in ad.

Joe Pasta 428 King St. (Corner of King & John streets) Charleston • (Map: F/G:4) • 843-965-5252 Menu features soups, salads, Parmesan sandwiches, pizza, pastas, desserts and a full liquor, wine and beer bar. The restaurant provides a laid-back and cozy atmosphere that is family friendly. See coupon in ad.

Sample carefully selected beers from local and regional breweries at Brewvival 2016, a joint venture of COAST Brewing Co. and Edmund’s Oast. Plus, enjoy live music, vendors and more. The event is Feb. 27 at COAST Brewing in North Charleston. Tickets: $75 | brewvival.com

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Fried, steamed or raw, oysters are a Charleston delicacy

By Holly Fisher

HAT COULD BE BETTER than gathering with friends and family over a steaming bucket of local oysters on a chilly day in Charleston? You’ve timed your visit with oyster season so take advantage of the Lowcountry’s many restaurants serving up local oysters plus the oyster roasts where you can experience first-hand an afternoon of oyster shucking.

Oyster season began in October and runs through May 15. A good rule of thumb on remembering when oysters are in season is if there’s an “r” in the month. That’s why late fall and early winter are prime months for a Lowcountry oyster roast.

Restaurants and seafood markets often sell a variety of oysters harvested locally and up and down the eastern seaboard.

While Carolina oysters may be the same species as other oysters along the East Coast, they are distinct in two ways. Local oysters are longer thanks to all the time they spend growing in the pluff mud. The oysters have to grow longer to stay above the pluff mud, explained Dan Long, wholesale manager and vice president of Crosby’s Seafood Co. So, you can recognize a Charleston oyster because its shell is longer; whereas oysters from the Gulf Coast, for example, are more rounded and cup-shaped.

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Charleston oysters grow in the local estuaries where high tides make the water more salty, Long said. So, expect a higher level of salinity from local oysters. To cut the salty taste, many people like to eat raw oysters with a dash of lemon juice or cocktail sauce.

Long said the demand for local oysters is high among restaurants as well as individuals who want to host a backyard oyster roast. Crosby’s offers 100 different types of oysters from along the East Coast as well as local oysters that are brought in daily.

When it comes to sampling a variety of oysters, Long joked that truly the “world is your oyster.” A number of Charleston area oyster bars provide a wide selection for any tastes.

Here are a few places you can order up oysters: A.W. Shuck's 35 S. Market St. in Charleston 843-723-1151 • awshucks.menu Menu: Toss back an oyster shooter (raw oyster, infused vodka, spicy shooter sauce); fireball oysters tossed in Sriracha ranch, sesame seeds, fried; oysters cooked in garlic butter, Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, fire roasted on a cedar plank.

Amen Street Fish & Raw Bar East Bay St. in Charleston 843-853-8600 • amenstreet.com Menu: Fried oysters with a side of homemade dill tartar, oyster po' boy or add fried oysters to any salad selection.

Bowens Island Restaurant 1870 Bowens Island Road in Charleston (Folly Beach) • 843-795-2757 Menu: A favorite oyster-eating spot among locals, this is a great place to try local oysters in a casual, beachy setting.

Charleston Crab House 41 S. Market St. in Charleston 843-853-2900 145 Wappoo Creek Drive in Charleston (James Island) 843-795-1963 • charlestoncrabhouse.com Menu: Carolina oysters, baked oysters McClellanville or chilled raw oysters on the half shell.

Coast Bar and Grill 39-D John St. in Charleston 843-722-8838 • holycityhospitality.com Menu: Oyster happy hour (1/2 dozen raw, steamed or fried), oysters Rockefeller or fried oyster platter.

Hyman's Seafood 215 Meeting St. in Charleston 843-723-6000 • hymanseafood.com Menu: Fried oysters, fried oysters dipped in buffalo sauce, raw oysters on the half shell or oyster po' boy.

Morgan Creek Grill 80 41st Ave. on Isle of Palms 843-886-8980 • morgancreekgrill.com Menu: Fried oysters with buffalo sauce or order a fried or broiled platter of oysters.

Check the website for details on Saturday afternoon oyster roasts.

33RD ANNUAL LOWCOUNTRY OYSTER FESTIVAL – Join in the world’s largest oyster festival on Jan. 31 at Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant.

This event has been named one of the “top 20 events in the Southeast” by the Southeastern Tourism Society. More than 80,000 pounds of oysters are part of this favorite winter event that includes oyster shucking and oyster eating contests as well as live music, wine, a selection of domestic and imported beers, a children’s area and a food court showcasing a variety of local restaurants. A portion of the proceeds benefit local charities. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; tickets are $25 the day of the event. charlestonrestaurantassociation.com 843-577-4030 OYSTERS ON THE POINT – Music, chili, locally steamed oysters and a Bloody Mary bar from 2-6 p.m. Jan. 23, Feb. 20 and March 20 at Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina in Mount Pleasant. Cost: $5 general admission; free for children 12 and under. facebook.com/OystersOnThePoint

Folly Beach Crab Shack 26 Center St. on Folly Beach 843-588-3080 • crabshacks.com Menu: Order up a dozen oysters on the half shell, an oyster bucket or fried oysters.

Hank's Seafood Restaurant 10 Hayne St. in Charleston 843-723-3474 hanksseafoodrestaurant.com Menu: Raw bar with gulf oysters or oyster sampler, Hank's Oyster Stew or fried oysters platter. january-march 2016 TRAVELER ofCharleston.com 55

Noisy Oyster Seafood Restaurant 24 N. Market St. in Charleston 843-723-0044 7842 Rivers Ave. in North Charleston 843-824-1000 • noisyoysterseafood.com Menu: Order up six fresh shucked gulf oysters topped with spinach, bacon, garlic and Parmesan cheese; deep-fried gulf oysters in spicy buffalo sauce, or a fried oyster and bacon po’ boy.

Pearlz Oyster Bar 153 East Bay St. in Charleston 843-577-5755 9 Magnolia Road in Charleston (West Ashley) 843-573-2277 • pearlzoysterbar.com Menu: Sample oysters from Charleston, plus from along the East Coast, Gulf Coast and British Columbia.

167 Raw 289 East Bay St. 843-579-4997 • 167raw.com/Charleston Menu: Order up oysters from the raw bar or purchase oysters individually from the fish market.

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Interested in hosting your own oyster roast? Pick up a bushel at: CROSBY’S SEAFOOD RETAIL 382 Spring St. in Charleston 843-937-0029 • crosbysseafood.com BOONE HALL FARMS 2521 Highway 17 North in Mount Pleasant 843-856-8154 • boonehallfarms.com HUFF’S SEAFOOD 765 Folly Road on James Island 843-762-1989 • huffsseafood.com MT. PLEASANT SEAFOOD CO. 1 Seafood Drive in Mt. Pleasant (on Shem Creek) 843-884-4122 • mtpleasantseafood.com

january – march 2016

Braise & Brew

JANUARY 6-17

Charleston Restaurant Week – Dozens of restaurants all over the Charleston area offer specially priced menus. charlestonrestaurantassociation.com | 843-577-4030

16

Charleston Marathon – Marathon and half-marathon course with scenic views of the water, the Battery and historic King Street. charlestonmarathon.com

22-2/-7 “A Streetcar Named Desire” – The Footlight Players perform this Tennessee Williams classic of what happens when two worlds collide. Performance at 20 Queen St. in Charleston. footlightplayers.net | 843-722-4487 22-2/27 “Groovy Kinda Love” – A small town flips when a mod rockster helps a shy outcast find her groove. This musical comedy by 34 West Theater Co. features 1960s tunes from Motown to the Beach Boys. 34west.org | 843-901-9343 23

Braise & Brew Dinner – The Middleton Place Restaurant hosts an evening of braised meats and vegetables specially paired with seasonal beers and micro-brews from Holy City Brewing in the Pavilion. middletonplace.org | 843-556-6020

23-24

“A Year With Frog and Toad” – This Tony-nominated Broadway musical was written just for kids. It tells the story of jolly Frog and his friend, the grumpy Toad. Performed

by Charleston Stage at the historic Dock Street Theatre. charlestonstage.com 843-577-7183

29-30

Kiawah Comedy Weekend – Get away to Kiawah Island Golf Resort for two nights of nonstop laughter with some of the nation’s most acclaimed comedians. Packages include exclusive table seating and a Q&A with select comedians. kiawahcomedyweekend.com | 800-654-2924

31

Lowcountry Oyster Festival – Join in the world’s largest oyster festival at Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant. More than 80,000 pounds of oysters are part of this favorite winter event that includes oyster shucking and oyster eating contests as well as live music, wine, a selection of domestic and imported beers, a children’s area and a food court. charlestonrestaurantassociation.com | 843-577-4030

FEBRUARY 5-14

“Barefoot in the Park” – The Flowertown Players perform Neil Simon’s much-loved romantic comedy of opposite attraction. Shows at the James F. Dean Theater in Summerville. flowertownplayers.org | 843-875-9251

12-14

Southeastern Wildlife Exposition – Conservationists, art collectors and nature enthusiasts come from all over the country for this three-day celebration of art, animal demonstrations, environmental education and culinary events. sewe.com 843-723-1748

12-28

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” – The Crabpot Players in Mount Pleasant perform William Shakespeare’s most popular comedy. Follow the adventures of four young lovers and a group of amateur actors in an enchanted forest. crabpotplayers.com 888-303-0763

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photo: Middleton Place

Charleston Area Events

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Valentine’s Eve Couples Night Climb – Grab your sweetie for an evening climb on the ropes course at Wild Blue Ropes. It’s a BYOB and picnic dinner around the bonfire. $50/couple. wildblueropes.com | 843-502-4066

13

Ovation Concert Series: From Paris, With Love – Spend a romantic evening listening to chamber music for piano and strings at Memminger Auditorium. chambermusiccharleston.com | 843-763-4941

14

Sweetheart of a Deal at Wild Blue Ropes – Between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. purchase a challenge pass for $25. wildblueropes.com | 843-502-4066

19-21

Gourmet & Grapes – This event at The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island showcases the best of local and regional cuisine paired with outstanding wines from around the world while raising money for research at the Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina. kiawahresort.com

20

Bacon and Bourbon – Enjoy unlimited samples of bacon dishes and bourbon tastings plus live music, bull riding championship, laser skeet shooting and a cigar cabana. Event is at Memminger Auditorium in downtown Charleston. baconandbourbonsc.com

26-27

CSO Masterworks: Mozart and Brahms – Charleston Symphony Orchestra performs at the Gaillard Center, featuring Sandra Wright Shen on piano. gaillardcenter.com

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

brewery/distillery article.

For more Charleston area events, stop by our online calendar at travelerofcharleston.com/events.

photo: Robin Davis

MARCH 2-6

Charleston Wine + Food Festival – Food lovers won’t want to miss this annual celebration of culinary excellence. Enjoy the flavors of Charleston’s culinary scene and renowned culture at numerous events featuring outstanding chefs from around the country as well as pastry chefs, authors, beverage professionals and food writers. charlestonwineandfood.com | 843-727-9998

6

Teddy Bear Picnic – Free afternoon event for families in Hampton Park with entertainment and children’s activities. charlestonparksconservancy.org

6-10

Kiawah National Pro-Am – PGA club professionals from all across the U.S., along with three of their members, will tee it up during this 72-hole stroke play event on four of Kiawah Island Golf Resort's championship courses. kiawahresortevents.com 800-654-2924

A Streetcar Named Desire

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Easter Eggstravaganza 10-13

Friendship Cup – A two-man tournament for male amateur players at the Ocean Course and Osprey Point Golf Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort. kiawahresortevents.com | 800-654-2924

11-12

Charleston Tells Storytelling Festival – Gather round to hear from the best local, regional and national storytellers as they celebrate this art form and the Lowcountry’s storytelling heritage. Events are at Wragg Square on Meeting Street. ccpl.org/charlestontells | 843-805-6930

11-27

“Shear Madness” – Follow the trail of clues as the audience gets to vote on each turn in the road in a hilarious murder mystery unlike any you have ever seen.

Performed by Charleston Stage at the historic Dock Street Theatre. charlestonstage.com | 843-577-7183

12

Mount Pleasant Art Fest – Artists of all kinds gather for this event at Mount Pleasant Towne Centre. Local dance and music groups perform and the Mount Pleasant Artists Guild presents a juried art show. Free arts activities for children. comeonovermp.com

12

Charleston Symphony Orchestra Pops: Country Legends – Nashville performers Rachel Potter and Patrick Thomas are guests in a tribute to the greatest stars in country music. Performance at the Gaillard Center. gaillardcenter.com

14

St. Paddy's Day Block Party & Parade – Wear green and celebrate with live music, street vendors, a kids’ zone and more in the Olde Village of North Charleston.

The parade begins at noon and festivities continue until 7 p.m. northcharleston.org

15-19

Charleston Fashion Week – Pack the tents in Marion Square in the heart of Charleston for runway shows, bridal shoes, interactive entertainment, parties and the Emerging Designer Competition: East and more. charlestonmag.com/fashionweek 843-971-9811

16-April 2 Festival of Houses and Garden – Explore the city’s historic district in a series of tours showcasing Charleston’s distinctive architecture, history, gardens and culture.

A number of special events are also part of this springtime event, including morning history walks, Circa 1886 Wine Tastings, Mimosas at Middleton Place and Harbor of History Boat Cruises. historiccharleston.org | 843-722-3405 18-4/3

“The Odd Couple” – The Crabpot Players in Mount Pleasant perform Neil Simon’s classic comedy when a divorced and sloppy Oscar Madison rooms with clean-freak and newly separated Felix Unger. crabpotplayers.com | 888-303-0763 (excluding Easter Sunday)

18-20

Charleston International Antiques Show – Collectors and enthusiasts will enjoy this range of English, European and American period furnishing, decorative arts and fine art plus architectural elements, garden furniture, vintage jewelry and silver – all from the late 17th to 20th centuries. historiccharleston.org | 843-722-3405

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19-20

Pet Fest – Bring your four-legged and leashed friends to Mount Pleasant Palmetto Islands County Park for exhibits, demonstrations, experts and entertainment.

Pet-related organizations and businesses will showcase their causes, products and services. ccprc.com

23-5/25 Spring Wine Strolls – Sip and stroll in a different garden location each week at Middleton Place while sampling old and new world wines. middletonplace.org 843-556-6020 26

The Hat Ladies 15th annual Easter Promenade – The Hat Ladies and their families are dressed in their Easter best at Washington Park next to City Hall at Broad and Meeting streets for photos. hatladies.org

26

Easter Eggstravaganza – Bring a basket for the egg hunts in the gardens at Middleton Place. Collect the hard-boiled eggs and then take them to the Stableyards to be dyed. middletonplace.org | 843-556-6020

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

brewery/distillery article.

For more Charleston area events, stop by our online calendar at travelerofcharleston.com/events.

photo by Adam Chandler courtesy of Charleston Wine + Food

Charleston Wine + Food Festival

photo: Historic Charleston Foundation

Antiques Show

january-march 2016 TRAVELER ofCharleston.com 61

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Night Market ONGOING EVENTS “Inspector NoClue’s Murder Mystery,” a classic comic whodunit at the Black Fedora Comedy Mystery Theatre. charlestonmysteries.com | 843-937-6453 Sweet Tea Trolley Tour – Hear anecdotes and history from the last 300+ years while enjoying Summerville’s varied architecture, lush foliage and historic buildings. Plus see the site where sweet tea was born. summervilledream.org | 843-654-5199 Night Market – Beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays from March to December this event showcases local artists, food vendors and designers in the historic Charleston City Market. thecharlestoncitymarket.com 2nd Sunday on King Street – On the second Sunday of each month. Street is closed to vehicular traffic from Queen Street North to Calhoun Street. 2ndsundayonkingstreet.com 843-852-4200 “Sherlock Holmes and the Charleston History Mystery,” a hauntingly historical, hysterical whodunit for fans of the Master Sleuth at the Black Fedora Comedy Mystery Theatre. charlestonmysteries.com | 843-937-6453 Third Thursdays – Head to historic downtown Summerville from 5-8 p.m. every third Thursday. Shops and restaurants will be open late and some have special promotions. summervilledream.org First Friday of each month First Friday’s On Broad Art Walk. 5-8 p.m. at art galleries along Broad Street in downtown Charleston. charlestongalleryrow.com Charles Towne Landing special events – Special educational event on the second Saturday of the month; cannon demonstrations the third Saturday of the month (except January).

843-852-4200 | charlestownelanding.travel The Sound of Charleston – Hear the music of Charleston’s history, including gospel spirituals, music of George Gershwin, songs sung around the campfires during the Civil War, light classics of the St. Cecelia Society, and “Amazing Grace,” whose composer John Newton worshipped and received inspiration at Circular Congregational Church. soundofcharleston.com | 800-838-3006 “Heist, Heist Baby,” a comic stage caper where you can play a part yourself or just sit back and try to crack the case of what's really going down before the gig is up at the Black Fedora Comedy Mystery Theatre. charlestonmysteries.com | 843-937-6453 * Event details are subject to change. Please call ahead or check the listed website for confirmation.

rewery/distillery article.

Follow us on Twitter @Traveler_Mag and on Facebook for more Charleston events, festivals and activities.

For even more Charleston area events, check our online calendar at travelerofcharleston.com/events

62 TRAVELER ofCharleston.com january-march 2016.

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SOCIAL MEDIA

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Charleston Area Map

Getting Around Some transportation options for getting around downtown Charleston and the surrounding areas.

■ WATER TAXI: Transports visitors from downtown Charleston (Aquarium Wharf or Waterfront Park) to Mount Pleasant (Patriots Point or Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina).

Taxi runs each hour; $10 for all-day pass. No reservations needed. $20 round trip.

Call 843-330-2989 for pickup. charlestonwatertaxi.com ■ BUS: The CARTA bus system has regular routes that travel to major destinations. The DASH trolley service is available free of charge if you’re traveling around downtown Charleston. ridecarta.com | 843-724-7420 ■ LOWCOUNTRY LOOP TROLLEY: Go from downtown Charleston to attractions in Mount Pleasant and the beaches using this hop-on/hop-off trolley.

Cost is $15 for an individual roundtrip day pass. lowcountrylooptrolley.com 843-654-5199

■ RICKSHAWS AND PEDICABS: Available in downtown Charleston as are taxi cabs for transportation around the Lowcountry.

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SEE + DO

Camellias are calling One of benefits of Charleston’s mild winters is the blooms that add a pop of color to the season – a sure sign spring is just around the corner. The camellias, in particular, really come to life in the winter. Add some color to your visit with one of these special events.

Middleton Place hosts camellia walks at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday Feb. 9 through March 19. Middleton Place has more than 4,000 camellias, many of which are more than 220 years old. Special tours given by expert guides focus on the camellia varieties, including the 1786 Reine des Fleurs, one of the first camellias planted in America.

Free with general admission, but reservations are required. Call 843-556-6020 or visit middletonplace.org.

Beauty & History: Camellias at Middleton Place is Feb. 6-7. Camellia season kicks off with a weekend of events highlighting the winter-blooming flower with a workshop discussing growing camellias, from propagation to care, on Saturday, and a lecture and reception on Sunday. Each event includes a special guided camellia walk.

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens offers free camellia walks daily through March. Some 20,000 camellias are in bloom, including more than 1,000 cultivators of Japonica – more than any garden in America. Ancient camellias (dating to pre-1900) are a specialty at Magnolia. The family introduced more than 150 cultivars of Japonica to America from the 1840s to 1940s as well as searching worldwide for camellias facing the threat of extinction. magnoliaplantation.com

Adventure Sightseeing Bus Tours Audubon Center at Beidler Forest Barrier Island Eco Tours Black Fedora Comedy Mystery Theatre Boone Hall Plantation Bulldog Walking Tours Carriage & Harbor Tour Combo Charles Towne Landing Charleston Harbor Tours Culinary Tours of Charleston Edmondston-Alston House Fort Sumter Tours GrayLine Bus Tours McLeod Plantation Middleton Place Nature Adventures Outfitters North Charleston Fire Museum North Charleston, City of Palmetto Carriage Patriots Point Schooner Pride South Carolina Aquarium SpiritLine Charleston Harbor Tour Summerville, Town of The Footlight Players The Reel Deal Fishing Charters USS Yorktown Ghost Tours Wild Blue Ropes

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SHOP + SAVOR Dacuba’s Fine Jewelry Mount Pleasant, Town of Nice Ice Jewelry Shades of Charleston Terrace Oaks Antique Mall

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EAT + DRINK A.W. Shuck’s Charleston Crab House Chow Down Charleston Food Tours Cru Café East Bay Deli Hyman’s Seafood In the Kitchen with Bob Joe Pasta Middleton Place Restaurant SpiritLine Dinner Cruise

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