Itinerary
- Day 1
Charleston
You'll arrive at Charleston Airport and get transferred to the Embassy Suites by Hilton, which sits right within the historic Citadel walls near Marion Square. After settling in, meet your group leader and fellow travelers at 7:00pm for a walk down King Street, one of Charleston's most historically significant streets. Grab dinner at a restaurant of your choice from the many options along the way.
Optional Activities
- Dinner and exploration on King Street
Landmarks King Street Marion Square - Day 2
Charleston
This morning head to Magnolia Plantation to explore America's oldest public gardens and oldest public tourist site in the Lowcountry. You'll do a self-guided tour of the historic gardens that go back three centuries, then take a guided half-hour tour of the mansion. After that, hop on a 45-minute Nature Train ride through different landscapes where you might spot alligators and blue herons. You also have access to the Garden Maze, Petting Zoo, Conservatory, and an Old African American Cabin. By evening, head to Henry's On The Market for the Welcome Dinner with live music and southern charm.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome Dinner at Henry's On The Market, historic eclectic restaurant and bar featuring live music, southern porch and rooftop deck, exclusive dance lounge, and classic speakeasy bar)
Included Activities
- Self-guided tour of Magnolia Plantation historic gardens
- Guided tour of plantation mansion (half hour)
- Nature Train tram tour (45 minutes) of plantation landscapes, lakes, woodlands, marshes, and rivers
- Garden Maze access
- Petting Zoo access
- Conservatory access
- Old African American Cabin access
- Orientation Theater film viewing (30 minutes)
- Welcome Dinner at Henry's On The Market
Landmarks Magnolia Plantation Henry's On The Market - Day 3
Charleston
Start at the South Carolina Aquarium overlooking Charleston Harbor, which has over 5,000 animals including sea turtles at the Zucker Family Sea Turtle Recovery center. You'll get hands-on time with stingrays, sharks, and other marine life. Later, take a harbor cruise with National Park Ranger guides out to Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the American Civil War happened. Back in Charleston, enjoy a guided horse-drawn carriage tour through the cobblestone streets of the historic district. Spend the evening at Charleston City Night Market, where over 100 artisans, crafts, live entertainment, and food vendors are set up.
Included Activities
- South Carolina Aquarium visit with over 5,000 animals
- Zucker Family Sea Turtle Recovery center access
- Hands-on experience with stingrays, sharks, horseshoe crabs, sea stars, and urchins
- Daily dive shows and animal encounters
- Harbor cruise to Fort Sumter with National Park Ranger guide
- Fort Sumter guided tour with National Park Ranger
- Guided horse-drawn carriage tour through historic Charleston
Optional Activities
- Charleston City Night Market browsing and dining at food vendors
Landmarks South Carolina Aquarium Fort Sumter Charleston Harbor Charleston City Night Market - Day 4
Charleston
After a leisurely breakfast, visit Boone Hall Plantation, one of America's oldest continuously operating farms that's been around for 320 years. Tour the 1936 Georgian-designed mansion, then take a 30 to 40 minute motorized tour of the 738 acres. Explore the Black History in America Exhibit with nine historic slave cabins built between 1790 and 1810, and watch a live Gullah Culture presentation. Check out the Butterfly Pavilion before heading back to Charleston. You'll have free time to shop or relax, then gather for a farewell dinner followed by a ghost and cemetery tour with exclusive after-hours access to Unitarian Church Graveyard.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Leisurely breakfast), Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Boone Hall Plantation guided mansion tour (first floor)
- Motorized plantation tour (30-40 minutes) of 738 acres
- Black History in America Exhibit access with nine historic slave cabins
- Live Gullah Culture presentation with storytelling, song, and dance
- Butterfly Pavilion access
- Farewell dinner
- Evening ghost and cemetery tour with exclusive after-hours Unitarian Church Graveyard access
Optional Activities
- Shopping in Charleston
- Museum visits
Landmarks Boone Hall Plantation Unitarian Church Graveyard - Day 5
Charleston
Take a leisurely morning to do some last-minute shopping and explore Charleston before checkout at noon. From there, transfer to the airport based on your flight schedule to head home.
Optional Activities
- Last minute shopping in Charleston
- Last minute exploring in Charleston
