1961 Mini-Reunion
Charleston, SC
Sunday 19 March – Friday 24
March 2017
Note – send all commo to Joe Fishburne (
jopafish@gmail.com )
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STATUS REPORT
3 JANUARY
Attendance List
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Below is latest list of folks that indicated they are planning to attend.
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Very good group, up to 86 at this point.
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This is a busy time of year for the hotel, so if you have not registered you
should read the info below and submit your online registration survey NOW!
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Master Plan
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Event schedule has been
updated and modified.
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Main update are the entries
for the House and Garden Tour
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Check below for the latest
plan.
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Spring Festival of Houses and
Gardens
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Festival of House Tours
will begin at 1400 and homes are open until 1700.
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Go to
https://www.historiccharleston.org/events/annual-festival-of-houses-and-gardens
for info, to select tours and times, and to purchase tickets.
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If you want Joe to pick
up your ticket, send a copy of your receipt to
jopafish@gmail.com.
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Tickets go on sale on 1 November and
typically sell out by the
end of December.
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If you think you will
want to go on one or more of the tours, buy your tickets NOW!
-
We can probably resell
the tickets if you decide later that you will not attend or will not go on
the tour
IF
YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED DO SO NOW – READ ON
Mark your calendars for a great Mini in
Charleston, SC. You can come for all or any of the days. Your hosts, Joe
Fishburne and John Goldtrap, are coordinating a great get-together.
To register for this fun event, simply use the
following link to the on-line Registration Survey and complete your
registration.
FILL OUT FORM
List of folks that are planning to attend
First Name |
Last Name |
Joe |
Amlong |
Chuck |
Armstrong |
Brendan |
Battle |
George |
Bonville |
Peter |
Boylan |
Colleen ( wife of Mike) |
Brady |
Ed |
Brown |
Dick |
Buckner |
Larry |
Budge |
Larry |
Butterworth |
Jack |
Campbell |
Robert |
Chelberg |
Will |
Conley |
James |
Connolly |
Dutch |
Coulter |
Todd |
Counts |
Mike |
Eiland |
Bill |
Ford |
Francis "Frank" "Hoot" |
Gibson |
Bob |
Glass |
John |
Goldtrap |
Mike |
Hale |
Dan |
Halpin |
Bob |
Hampton |
Charlie |
Hansell |
Bob |
Hardiman |
Jim |
Harmon |
Pat |
Hillier |
H. Hampton |
Hodges |
Pat C. |
Hoy |
GARY |
HYDE |
Hank |
Kenny |
George |
Kopcsak |
Don |
Landry |
Barney |
Legge |
Denny |
Lenhart |
Don |
Lionetti |
William |
Mackie |
Phil |
Mallory |
jay |
mccann |
Burke |
Mucho |
Bruce |
Nichols |
Hank |
Rennagel |
Jim |
Stokes |
Tom |
Stone |
Mike |
Urette |
Jack |
Veatch |
David |
White |
Gene |
Witherspoon |
Woodie |
Woodward |
Following is info
for planning purposes and some things you need to do.
1.
The Venue
Charleston, SC |
Charleston is one of the most popular destinations in the World. In
Charleston you can expect to find a rich combination of hospitality and
charm resonant of the "Old South."
Downtown District
Besides the historic churches, buildings, and landmarks that you'll want to
see, there are plenty of opportunities for shopping. Downtown is a
convenient starting point for getting to know Charleston as it is a vibrant
combination of old and new, offering diverse attractions. The oldest part
of town where a lot of the buildings and houses have been preserved, spark
architectural interest. Tours, like the Historic Homes Walk, allow you to
learn more about this amazing architecture dating back to the mid-18th
century.
Mount Pleasant District
Founded in 1680 and located to the East of Charleston, the Mount Pleasant
District is known for its fine dining. Mount Pleasant is also the home of
one of the biggest naval & maritime museums in the world, Patriots Point
Naval & Maritime Museum. Tour boats are available from Mount Pleasant to
view Fort Sumter. |
2.
Things to Do
The primary reasons for picking March dates are the Spring
Festival of Houses and Gardens, beautiful spring flowers, and weather. Here
are a few of the main activities of interest with more details on each item
printed below as you scroll down the page. We will need to know if you are
interested in any of these so we can make plans and arrange group tours, if
appropriate.
·
Spring Festival of Houses and Gardens
·
Patriots Point
·
Ft Sumter
·
Ft Moultrie
·
Confederate Submarine H.L. Hunley
·
The Gardens at Middleton Place
·
The Charleston Tea
Plantation
·
The Original Firefly Distillery
·
Charleston Carriage Tour
·
Charleston Walking Tour (conducted by Joe Fishburne)
·
Charleston Boat Tour
·
Golf
3.
Daily Plan
Event |
Sun 19 Mar
Arrival |
Mon 20 Mar |
Tues 21 Mar |
Wed 22 Mar |
Thur 23 Mar |
Fri 24 Mar
Departure |
Breakfast |
|
Hotel Dining Room |
Hotel Dining Room |
Hotel Dining Room |
Hotel Dining Room |
Hotel Dining Room |
Hospitality suite
|
61 Hosp Ste
3PM till |
61 Hosp Ste
8AM til |
61 Hosp Ste
8AM til |
61 Hosp Ste
8AM til |
61 Hosp Ste
8AM til |
N/A |
Day trips and
Group Tours* |
Open |
Historic Charleston Walking Tour
0930-1200 |
|
Day Trip -
Middleton Gardens & Tea Plantation
0830-1700 |
Historic Charleston Walking Tour
0930-1200 |
Open |
|
Hunley Museum Tour 1400-1500
|
Festival of Houses and Gardens
1400-1700 |
Festival of Houses and Gardens
1400-1700 |
Festival of Houses and Gardens
1400-1700 |
|
|
Boat Cruise
1700-1900 |
|
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|
|
Golf |
|
TBA |
TBA |
TBA |
TBA |
|
Cocktails/Dinner |
Casual Dinner Private Room at Hotel
1830-2130 |
Your Choice |
Your Choice |
Casual Dinner Private Room at Hotel
1830-2130 |
Leftover - potluck dinner at Hotel or Pavilion at Simmons Pointe 1830-till |
|
·
Spring Festival of Houses and Gardens.
The Spring Festival of Houses and
Gardens tour days have been announced. The Festival of House Tours will begin
at 1400 and homes are open until 1700. Please go to
https://www.historiccharleston.org/events/annual-festival-of-houses-and-gardens
for info and to purchase tickets. The cost for the tour, self-guided, is $50
per person.. We can pick up tickets for you once you have purchased them. We
will need a copy of your receipt that you can e-mail to us at
jopafish@gmail.com.
Tickets for the Festival of Houses and Gardens
go on sale on 1 November. We are told the tickets are typically sold out
by the end of December. If you think you will want to go on one or more of the
tours, buy your tickets NOW! We can probably resell the tickets if you decide
later that you will not attend or will not go on the tour.
·
Golf.
Spring is a prime time for playing golf in the Charleston area.
If you are interested in playing golf, indicate
that fact in your survey input ASAP so that we can start talking with the
golf course management. Game plan depends upon the number of individuals
interested in playing. If there are fewer numbers of golfers, we will establish
tee times for those interested in playing. We would need at least eight to
nine committed foursomes for a shotgun start.
·
The
Hunley
submarine Museum is typically open only over the weekend. However, a special
tour can be arranged for our group if we have at least 30 people interested.
Since our last visit, there has been considerable cleaning of the hull of the
submarine and it is much more visible as is the interior.
·
Sunset Boat Cruise.
We can schedule a sunset boat cruise
on the Palmetto Breeze, a fifty foot catamaran, regardless of the number of
individuals interested. However, to reserve the whole boat, we need to have
fifty people interested in going on the cruise. If we have the entire boat, we
can bring our own booze and snacks. We did this the last time and it worked out
well.
4.
Our
Hotel
Homewood Suites by Hilton Charleston - Mount Pleasant
http://homewoodsuites3.hilton.com/en/hotels/south-carolina/homewood-suites-by-hilton-charleston-mt-pleasant-CHSHWHW/index.html

We're all about Southern Hospitality here at the Homewood Suites by Hilton -
Mount Pleasant!
Located close to Charleston hot spots and attractions, yet nestled in a
quiet residential neighborhood, the newly renovated
Homewood Suites by Hilton Charleston - Mt. Pleasant hotel is a great home
base for touring historic Charleston or relaxing on Isle of Palm beach. Walk
to boutiques and local restaurants or take a short drive to the attractions
of historic downtown Charleston.
Suites feature separate living areas and fully equipped kitchens with
full-sized refrigerators, two-burner ranges, a microwave and dishwasher. If
you'd like, we'll even stock the pantry and refrigerator with your favorite
groceries. All suites include free WiFi and an additional full-sized
sleeper.
Enjoy a workout in the fitness center or a swim in the pool. Join us for a
daily hot full breakfast and complimentary evening social* served Monday
through Thursday. |
Amenities |
As a guest at the Homewood Suites, you will be treated
to the following amenities:
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Complimentary Wireless High-Speed Internet Access
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Full
Kitchenettes in every suite with Coffee Maker, Toaster, Microwave
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Flat
Screen HDTVs with Cable and Satellite Channels
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Iron
and Ironing Board
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Complimentary Southern Breakfast 7 days a week, Complimentary Evening
Social with beer and wine Monday- Thursday
|
Hotel Reservation Info |
Name |
Homewood Suites by Hilton Charleston - Mount Pleasant |
Group Name |
West Point Mini Reunion |
Reservations |
(843) 881-6950 (Hotel direct number) |
Rate |
$139.00 Sunday night - $144.00 Monday - Thursday night |
Option |
Come early/stay late |
Cancellation Policy |
72 hours in advance |
Reservation Cut-off date |
February 19, 2017 |
Room Note |
King Suites, 2 Handicapped Suites with Roll In Showers Available |
Special Needs |
Note when making reservation |
Standard Check-in |
1500 hrs |
5.
Now
here is what you need to do:
·
Have a look at the attractions and activities available and decide
what you might like to do so we can plan tours, golf days, etc.
·
Complete the Registration Survey per the directions above. Let us know if you
are at all interested in joining us and what activities you might have an
interest in so we can start getting headcount estimates. Maybe’s are fine, you
can always make changes later.
·
If you think you will be coming, make your hotel reservation now.
You can always cancel up to 72 hours ahead if things change.
·
To make
a reservation you can call the hotel directly at 843-881-6950 and
ask for the Reservations Department. Guests will need to mention the West Point
Reunion as well as their desired check in and check out dates. Reservations can
also be made by calling toll free 1-800-HILTONS. If any guests are having
trouble making a reservation, would like to request one of the two handicapped
rooms, or would like to come in early or stay later than the contracted block,
please direct all phone calls to Parke Shields at 843-881-6950.
·
Send any questions to
Joe Fishburne <jopafish@gmail.com>.
6.
Here is some info on the many attractions in the area and group events we are
considering.
SPRING FESTIVAL OF HOUSES AND GARDENS
https://www.historiccharleston.org/events/annual-festival-of-houses-and-gardens.aspx
|
Experience the charm found only beyond Charleston’s private garden gates and
historic doorways. The Festival is made possible by the dedication and
generosity of more than 150 property owners and 650 volunteers.
Set amid the ambience of the city’s Old &
Historic District, this series of award-winning tours and educational events
showcase Charleston’s distinctive architecture, history, gardens and
culture. The tours provide a rare opportunity for guests to go inside the
private houses and gardens of some of America’s most beautiful historic
residences. Tours and events vary by day. Tickets go on sale Nov. 1, 2016.
We are told tickets may be sold out by early December. So if you are
interested in this attraction you should purchase your tickets ASAP.
|
Patriots Point
http://www.patriotspoint.org/
|
USS Yorktown |
The
USS YORKTOWN (CV-10) was the tenth aircraft carrier to serve in the United
States Navy. |
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USS Clamagore |
CLAMAGORE is the only GUPPY III submarine preserved in the United States. |
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USS LAFFEY |
The
LAFFEY (DD-724) was named for the first LAFFEY (DD-459), sunk at the Naval
Battle of Guadalcanal in November 1942.
|
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The Medal of Honor Museum |
The
Congressional Medal of Honor Museum is located on board the historic
aircraft carrier USS YORKTOWN. |
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This national museum is also
home to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, the most unique, and
perhaps the most exclusive, organization in the United States. The
Congressional Medal of Honor Museum features interactive exhibits that
explain the origin of the Medal of Honor and its distinctions. The exhibits
tell the stories of brave Americans who displayed remarkable courage such as
Audie Murphy, Sergeant Alvin York and Jimmy Doolittle. The Congressional
Medal of Honor Museum is included in the Patriots Point admission charge.
|
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Vietnam Support Base |
Patriots Point's Vietnam Naval Support Base Camp features many of the
various craft used to combat the dangers of patrolling the jungle and rivers
throughout the Vietnam War. |
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Ft Sumter
https://www.nps.gov/fosu/index.htm
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Where The American Civil War Began
Decades of growing strife between North and South erupted in civil war on
April 12, 1861, when Confederate artillery opened fire on this Federal fort
in Charleston Harbor. Fort Sumter surrendered 34 hours later. Union forces
would try for nearly four years to take it back. |
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Here, at the fort named for South Carolina Revolutionary War patriot Thomas
Sumter, the opening shots of the Civil War were fired on April 12, 1861. The
fort, shown above as it appeared on the eve of the war, was begun in 1829,
one of a series of coastal fortifications built by the United
States after the War of 1812. As with many Federal projects, enslaved
laborers and craftsmen were among the men who worked on this structure.
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The fort was still unfinished when Maj. Robert Anderson moved his 85-man
garrison into it the day after Christmas 1860, setting in motion events that
would tear the nation asunder four months later. The flag is the one that
flew over the fort during the 1861 bombardment. |
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Ft Moultrie
https://www.nps.gov/fosu/learn/historyculture/fort_moultrie.htm
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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,
Colonel. William Moultrie. After the Revolution, Fort Moultrie was
neglected, and by 1791 little of it remained. A second Fort Moultrie was
completed in 1798. It too suffered from neglect and was finally destroyed by
a hurricane in 1804. By 1809 a new brick fort stood on Sullivan's Island.
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In December 1860 South Carolina seceded from the Union, and the Federal
garrison abandoned Fort Moultrie for the stronger Sumter. In April 1863,
Federal iron-clads and shore batteries began a 20-month bombardment of
Sumter and Moultrie, yet Charleston’s defenses held. In February 1865, Fort
Moultrie lay hidden under the band of sand that protected its walls from
Federal shells.
Today Fort Moultrie has been restored to portray the major periods of its
history. A visitor to the fort moves steadily backwards in time from the
World War II Harbor Entrance Control Post to the site of the Palmetto-log
fort of 1776. |
 |
Confederate Submarine H.L. Hunley
http://www.hunley.org/ |
THE HISTORIC MISSION |
|
The Date:
February 17, 1864.
The Location:
Just outside Charleston Harbour approximately four miles off Breach Inlet in
Sullivan's Island on the moonlit sea.
The Conditions:
Cold. Bone chilling. Quiet.
The Situation:
Desperate. Frightening. A turning point in history. |

The Hunley making her way out to sea on the night of
February 17th, 1864.
(Image courtesy of Dan Dowdey). |
|
The Ship:
A lookout aboard the Union Navy's largest ship was tired, cold -- but
restless. Talk of a Confederate secret weapon was in and out of his
thoughts. Suddenly he spotted something move in the chilly waters. A
porpoise? There were certainly a lot of them around. But something about
this one didn't seem right. |

The USS Housatonic. |
|
Contact:
Below the waterline - as bullets bounced off its cylindrical body, the
H.L. Hunley rammed her long metal spar into the stern area, planting a
135 pound torpedo into the Warship Housatonic. The men inside the
Hunley lunged forward from the impact, then quickly backed their sub out
as the 150-foot attached detonation rope played out. Within seconds, the
world rocked and every man, above and below, became enveloped in a
concussion of destruction. |

Illustration of the H.L. Hunley
detonating its torpedo onside the hull of the USS Housatonic.
(Image courtesy of Dan Dowdey). |
|
That night history was made. At the same moment, a mystery was born. The
Hunley became the first submarine ever to sink an enemy ship. But why
had she suddenly disappeared? What caused her to sink? And would she ever be
found? |
The Hunley Today:
The world would have to wait until the tools of modern technology could
begin to unlock the secrets of the Hunley. In 1995, author and
adventurer Clive Cussler found the Hunley resting on the floor of the
Atlantic Ocean. Intact and remarkably well preserved, the Hunley was
found buried deep within the sand and silt just outside of Charleston
Harbor.
The recovery of the Hunley has turned out to be one of the most
important single events in the history of South Carolina. Today, well over a
century after Lt. Dixon and his courageous crew vanished, the South Carolina
Hunley Commission and a private, non-profit group called the Friends of the
Hunley are solving the mystery of the Hunley like a puzzle that
reveals new information one piece at a time. They are engaged in the single
most important archaeological investigations of the century and are everyday
coming closer to solving the mystery of why the Hunley never came
home. |
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The Gardens at Middleton Place
https://www.middletonplace.org/ |

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Middleton Place is a National Historic Landmark and home to America’s Oldest
Landscaped Gardens. The Garden Club of America has called the 65 acres “the
most important and most interesting garden in America”. Centuries-old
camellias bloom in the winter months and azaleas blaze on the hillside above
the Rice Mill Pond in the spring. In summer, kalmia, magnolias, crepe
myrtles and roses accent a landscape magnificent throughout the year. |
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House Museum
Built in 1755, the House
Museum interprets four generations of Middleton Family, with extraordinary
family furniture, silver, porcelain, rare books and portraits on
display. Birthplace of a signer of the Declaration of Independence,
Middleton Place and the Middletons have played an important role in American
history. The property has miraculously remained under the same family
stewardship for some 320 years, and today, successfully preserves history
for visitors to enjoy. |
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Plantation Stableyards
In the newly rejuvenated 18th and 19th century Plantation Stableyards
costumed interpreters demonstrate the skills once performed by enslaved
Africans. The Stableyards bring to life the sights and sounds of a Low
Country rice plantation. Craft artisans include a weaver, blacksmith,
potter, and cooper/carpenter. Many heritage breeds are found in the living
history Plantation Stableyards including Cashmere goats, Guinea Hogs, River
Water Buffalo, Brown Swiss and Jersey cows, as well as Dominique and Rhode
Island Red chickens. |
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The Charleston Tea Plantation
http://www.charlestonteaplantation.com/
|
 |
The Charleston Tea Plantation is located
on historic Wadmalaw Island in the heart of the Lowcountry of South
Carolina. |
Home to
The Charleston Tea Plantation, Wadmalaw
provides the perfect environment for propagating tea. With its sandy soils,
sub-tropical climate and average rainfall of 52 inches per year, Wadmalaw possess
idyllic conditions for the Camellia Sinensis plant. This plant is currently
used to produce both black and green teas and exists in over 320 varieties
on the 127 acre grounds of the Charleston Tea Plantation . Open 7 days a
week, with the exception of a few holidays. You will learn first-hand how
tea is made during an informative
Factory Tour. You can also take an
enjoyable
Trolley Ride through the tea fields,
shop our unique Plantation Gift Shop and help yourself to all of the iced
American Classic Tea you can drink. |
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The Original Firefly Distillery
http://www.fireflyspirits.com/
|
The Firefly Story
Nothing is better on a
hot, lazy summer day than sittin’ on the front porch, sippin’ a glass of
sweet tea. Jim Irvin and Scott Newitt couldn’t agree more—as long as it’s
sweet tea with a kick. Firefly is the brainchild of Jim and Scott, southern
gentlemen with a passion for the South and all that makes it unique.
“It doesn’t get more Southern than sweet tea,” that is 'genuinely
Southern.' Our vodka is distilled on Wadmalaw Island. Our tea comes from
our friends at the Charleston Tea Plantation. The sugar we use is from
Louisiana, it is pure cane sugar. We do not use any artificial
ingredients." |
The Distillery
Firefly Distillery is largest micro-distillery in South Carolina. Firefly
Distillery has a tasting room, where people may taste Firefly products and
purchase bottles. Visitors may partake in wine tastings and winery tours
within the 11 acres of muscadine grapes. |
Original Sweet Tea
Firefly is the world’s first hand-crafted sweet tea flavored vodka. Keeping
true to its Southern roots, Firefly is distilled four times, infused with
tea grown on a plantation five miles from the distillery and blended with
real Louisiana sugar cane. It tastes just like real sweet tea, but with an
even sweeter kick! |
Tours |
Typical Carriage Tours
-
How
long does an Olde Towne Daytime Historic Carriage tour last?
The ride lasts approximately one hour.
-
What
exact areas do you visit?
You will see the historic old market area where commerce has taken place
for over 250 years, historical houses maintained in timeless fashion,
beautiful gardens, artistic wrought iron gates and decorative entrances to
the many mansions as the tour winds through the 25 - 30 block area. In
addition, you will see parts of the old walled city and several of the
many churches that give Charleston its nickname of the “Holy City”. Your
tour guide will acquaint you with the history and architecture which make
Charleston one of the truly grand jewels of the South. Most importantly
you will gain a better understanding of the people that lived and
traversed over the past three hundred years, on the very streets you are
traveling.
-
Is
the carriage ride narrated?
Yes, the carriage tour is fully narrated by a professional tour guide.
|
Typical Walking Tours
Charleston, South Carolina is a
town of unimaginable beauty and is unrivaled in her preservation and
historical significance. The Historic District - with its hidden alleys,
majestic homes, manicured gardens, and tree canopied streets - is simply
perfect for walking freely and discovering a bygone era. Tour where
carriages and motorcoaches are not allowed as you take a fascinating stroll
with stories and traditions revealing Charleston’s rich history and colorful
past. This two hour tour through America’s most charming historical
district is sure to be the highlight of your visit.
Some of the highlights include:
-
Rainbow Row
-
Historic Waterfront Battery
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Antebellum Mansions
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Four
Corners of Law
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A
visual tour of Fort Sumter
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Hidden Gardens & Courtyards
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Historic Churches & Graveyards
-
The
Revolutionary and Civil War
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Sunset Harbor and Creek Tour
You
will enjoy a cool coastal breeze while unwinding during our Sunset Cruise.
You will relax and enjoy light hors d'oeuvres with a cash bar serving beer
and wine as you cruise through the Charleston harbor. You will see a
maritime forest as we meander down a salt-marsh creek or two depending on
the tides. You will see sites such as the forts, the Battery, the islands,
and the lighthouses. Charleston's church steeples add to its unique skyline
as they come alive at this hour of the day. The harbor's abundant wildlife
comes out to play during the "bluing hour". Dolphins and birds entertain us
with their whimsy. With the Holy City as your backdrop, you will enjoy
peaceful and breathtaking views of sunset-silhouetted steeples while
cruising along its waterways. |
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