Great Places — On Your Own
There are so many great places to visit and only so much time to travel. At Green Concierge Travel, we can help you find where you want to go and set up a trip that will allow you to explore these places in a way that is in tune with your values. See some of our special itineraries to learn more about how you can travel in style while supporting local economies and the environment.
Staycations – a new word for a green theme. Since opening in 2006, Green Concierge Travel has emphasized green travel in North America. By staying closer to home, travelers can save money but they can also reduce their environmental footprint especially greenhouse gas emissions.
In this section, Great Places On Your Own, we highlight selected destinations, most in North America, and offer you portraits of eco “staycations”. We hope this will excite you to think about other destinations in your backyard.
Charleston, South Carolina:
An Adventure in Arts, Food and History
Charleston offers visitors adventures in history and food, arts festivals, and a chance to explore the southeastern intercoastal rivers, wetlands, islands and marshes. Located at the confluence of the Ashley, Cooper and Wando Rivers, Charleston sits at the end of the peninsula at the head of the harbor. Early residents moved from Charles Towne Landing to this defensible and prominent location.
The city was founded on Oyster Point now known as the Battery. History lies thick in the layers of this community - from the pre-colonial Cusabo nation to English settlement and pirate raiders to Revolutionary War and Independence to the slave trade and Civil War and the War of 1812. And it has a diverse faith history with a range of denominations taking hold within the city. (the largest Jewish settlement in the new world and oldest synagogue). Over 150 churches, horse drawn carriages and old world gardens amidst centuries old mansions compete for your attention with a modern arts, culture and culinary scene.
Charleston's Green Initiative
Greening the City of Charleston is has been assigned to the City staff Green Team and the Charleston Green Committee (CGC). Being on the coast, Charleston residents and leaders have recognized the vulnerability of their location from climate change (intensification of storms) punctuated by Hurricane Hugo's passage through the area. In 2005, Mayor Riley Jr. of Charleston signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and committed the City of Charleston to e a 7% reduction of CO2 emissions by 2012.
Launching a Green Initiative, the City has embarked on a path towards sustainability with the goal of making Charleston a better place to live, work and play. On Earth Day 2008, a list of twelve first steps towards sustainability was sent to the City Council. And in February 2010, the Charleston Green Plan was completed. The Plan provides an integrated community-wide approach to sustainability and a guide to address climate change.
Transportation
Charleston should be explored on the ground. Walk or take a carriage ride to see the older parts of the city. Biking offers you flexibility to stop and explore wherever you want to in the historic downtown. Public transit can get you most places unless a visit to the outer islands is a must on your itinerary.
Rail: Charleston is on the route of Amtrak's Tran No 89/90, the Palmetto or Train No 97/98 the Silver Meteor. Both trains run daily connecting with trains on the Northeast corridor from Boston through New York, Philadelphia, and Washington DC.
North Charleston has received funding and its design plans are out for a new intermodal station that will link local and regional bus with Amtrak rail service. But until the new station is built, travelers arriving by train should be aware that the station has little access to transit. Taxis are the recommended way to get downtown. Try Charleston Green Taxi listed below. If no taxi is waiting, the Amtrak agents at the station should be able to help you.
Air: Charleston International Airport is served by American Eagle, Continental, Delta, United Express and US Airways. Like most airports, shuttles are available and the local transit system Charleston Area Transportation Authority (CARTA) connects the airport to the downtown on Route 11 (Dorchester/Airport).
Public Transit: CARTA or the Charleston Area Transportation Authority provides regular bus routes that serve the downtown and many of the outlying areas including the airport.
Route 11 serves the airport. Departing from the Airport, it arrives downtown at Meeting and Mary Streets in the heart of Charleston and returns to the airport from here. The schedule runs hourly Monday through Friday into the evening and is more limited on Saturdays and Sundays.
Three trolley routes, or DASH, circulate on popular routes. These routes link the Battery, the Waterfront, the Aquarium and the main Visitor's Center, Marion Square and the College of Charleston. NOTE: DASH to DASH route transfers are not allowed but you can transfer from a fixed route bus service to DASH.
One way fare is $1.75, $6.00 for a one day pass and $12.00 for a three day pass. Visit www.ridecarta.com or call (843) 747-0922 for more information and help with planning your route.
Biking: Another great way to see the city is bicycling. Most routes are relatively level and you can stop when ever a historic site or garden catches your eye!
Try the Bicycle Shoppe located on Meeting St. The shop is open seven days a week and will drop a bike at your inn or bed and breakfast. Call ahead to make a reservation and to make the most of biking around Charleston. They also have a shop in Mt. Pleasanton. Bikes can be rented by the hour, the day or the week.
The Bicycle Shoppe, 280 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401. (843) 722-8168
Taxi: If you need a taxi during your stay for any reason, try Charleston Green Taxi. Their slogan says it all “Travel Safe & Clean…Go Green!”. They offer a selection of vehicle types, hybrids and minivans for groups that need a little more space. Green Taxi also provides airport service. Reservations can be made 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The service operates 6 to midnight, Sunday through Monday and 6 to 2:30 AM on Friday and Saturday. Call 843-819-0846.
Accommodations
In the downtown area, historic building shine and have been renovated to offer comfortable lodging for visitors to Charleston. One feature of these older structures, the piazza, is defined by the Historic Charleston Foundation as "a covered open porch or veranda supported by columns or pillars and attached to the outside of a building. In Charleston, such porches usually append to the side elevation of single houses and were intended as outdoor living space and a device to shade south- or west-facing windows from the heat of the sun." So when looking for the right place for your visit, a piazza accessible from your room will provide a truly authentic Charleston experience!
Charleston offers a variety of midsized inns and hotels man of them independently owned. Many of them offer great location in the heart of the downtown. And of course there are numerous bed and breakfasts. Below are a few standouts.
1837 Bed and Breakfast
http://www.1837bb.com/
126 Wentworth Street, Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 723-7166, Toll Free: (877) 723-1837
Fax: (843) 722-7179, reservations@1837bb.com
This historic cotton planter's home with 9 bedrooms offers a comfortable central location from which to explore Charleston and rest of the historic district. The six rooms in the main house are on the second and third floors have canopied Queen beds, antique and reproduction furniture and private baths. While the house has no elevator, it does have piazzas on all three floors where you can relax after a day of exploring Charleston. The three rooms in the carriage house are split with two on the ground floor and a two room suite on the second floor.
Breakfast is served from 8:30 to 9:30 with coffee and starters available at 8 AM. Dietary restrictions can be accommodated with 48 hour notice. And for those who like to slow things down, tea is served daily 3 to 5 PM
1837 Bed and Breakfast can be found on Route 210 DASH trolley line. This line links you to Marion Square, the Aquarium and the other two trolley lines. The 1837 Bed and Breakfast is also near several bus routes on Meeting Street and Route 21 on Wentworth Street.
Rates: Vary depending on the room, season and what's going on in Charleston. You can pay between $99 and $205 for one of the 1875 Bed and Breakfast's rooms.
The Ashley Inn Bed and Breakfast
www.charleston-sc-inns.com
201 Ashley Ave., Charleston, South Carolina 29403
(843) 723-1848, (800) 581-6658
Fax: (843) 579-9080, Ashleyinnbb@aol.com
In this 1832 architectural treasure, the Ashley Inn, visitors to Charleston can find beautiful accommodations and wonderful breakfasts. The inn offers six guest rooms and one suite all furnished with antique beds. All rooms have private baths and air conditioning. The Carriage house has two rooms, one King bedroom and one Queen bed suite, a sleigh bed and a sofa sleeper.
The Ashley Inn has bikes that are available for guest use and offers picnics for your daily explorations. The Inn prides itself on its gourmet breakfasts. Your sumptuous breakfast might be served on the piazza overlooking the garden.
The Ashley Inn lies on Route 21. A variety of Routes run along Cannon Street a block away from the Inn including Route 213 DASH trolley route.
Rates: Vary depending on the room, the season and what's going on in Charleston. Expect to pay from $99 up to $259 for accommodations and of course your delicious breakfast.
Phoebe Pember Retreat Center
www.PhoebePemberHouse.com
26 Society Street, Charleston, SC
843.722.4186, 843.722.0557 fax
Info@PhoebePemberHouse.com
The historic Phoebe Pember House and studio has been transformed into an urban relaxation oasis in the middle of historic Charleston. The property includes a two hundred year old Federal Style main house and carriage houses. Guests are encouraged to relax on piazzas overlooking private walled gardens.
In addition to rooms with King, Queen or Twin beds, private baths and sitting areas, guests can enjoy massage services or participate in yoga classes in the studio. Continental breakfast is provided to guests.
The Phoebe Pember House is located at East Bay and Society Streets which is accessible on the DASH 211 and 212 routes. So if you do not stay here, you may want to visit for a spa treatment or a yoga class!
Phoebe Pember House Tariff $140 - $250. Because this is a retreat center and spa, the Phoebe Pember House offers a variety of packages including wellness packages that include a massage and carriage ride.
Tours
With rich history and diverse coastal ecosystems, vendors provide a variety of choices for tours. Bus, walking and kayaking tours can all be found depending on what you are looking for. And of course, you are encouraged to explore on your own. Here are a few ideas that Green Concierge Travel found:
Gullah Tours (bus tour)
Gullah Tours explores the places, history, and stories that are relevant to the rich and varied contributions made by Black Charlestonians. Gullah is the name for the language spoken by the Lowcountry's first black inhabitants. The basic tour lasts 2 hours and uses a 21 passenger air conditioned bus.
The tour guide, Alphonso Brown, speaks and writes Gullah and is the author A Gullah Guide to Charleston: Walking Through Black History. If you can not take the tour with Mr. Brown, you may want to purchase the book which highlights three walking tours and one driving tour. See and hear about Charleston from another perspective.
Old Charleston Walking Tours (walking)
Old Charleston offers a range of tours from Slavery and Civil War tours to historic homes, a ghost tour and a tour that traces Charleston's emergence as one of the United States' artistic centers, its collapse and its renaissance in the 1920s and 30s. Old Charleston Walking Tours has just added a South of Broad Tour based on the #1 New York Times Best Seller by Pat Conroy. The tour brings to life the characters and vistas of this novel.
Most tours depart from Washington Square Park. The prices range from $15 per adult to $25 per adult. The price for the Charles Towne Pub Stroll does not include drinks.
Bulldog Tours, (walking)
Bulldog Tours specializes in haunted walks. Visit a dungeon or jail or take a night ramble through a cemetery. In a city as old as Charleston there are many infamous and haunted places to explore.
Bulldog Tours also has a more traditional historic walk, Charleston Strolls. Prices are $18 per adult for all tours which depart from different points depending on the tour.
Culinary Tours of Charleston, (walking)
Culinary Tours of Charleston offers two tours – a Flavors Tour and a Kitchen Tour. The flavors tour focuses on exploring the various unique flavors and foods in Lowcountry cooking. You get to sample different foods along the way. The Kitchen Tour brings you into the kitchen of some of the leading chefs of Charleston.
Both tours cost $42 per adult which covers food tasting along the way. Tickets for these tours are purchased through Bulldog Tours.
Nature Adventures, (kayak tours)
Nature Adventures, based in Mt Pleasant, recently received the “Gold Level” recognition by the South Carolina Nature-Based Tourism Association. They operate kayak tours from several locations but the most convenient to visitors to Charleston not using a car is the Mt Pleasant Shem Creek. Choose a saltwater tour; they offer a variety of times and lengths of tours. Or rent a kayak from this location. They recommend reservations to assure that your kayak is waiting for you when you arrive at the dock. Call 843-568-3222 or 800-673-0679 for a reservation. They are open 7 days a week and hours vary seasonally.
Their location at 483 West Coleman Blvd, Mt. Pleasant 29464 is accessible by Green Taxi or public transit. At present, the closest stop on Route 40 is Patriot's Point in the USS Yorktown State Park. The walk from this stop is about 2 miles following W Coleman Blvd. The bike ride from downtown is about five miles but you must cross the bridge which arcs making the ride a bit more challenging.
Charleston Pirate Tours (walking)
843-442-7299 or toll free at 800-838-3006.
Charleston Pirate Tours features Eric Lavendar and Captain Bob, the blue & gold macaw, who introduce you to pirate history in the United States and in particular, Charleston's past. Their exciting, historic walking tour takes you through what was once the walled city of Charles Towne. Or every Friday at 1:30 at the Powder Magazine Museum you can settle in for Eric's exciting storytelling performance, Charleston's Golden Age of Piracy. Pirate history and lore fascinates young and old alike so this tour would lend itself to the adventurous of any age.
Tours depart daily from April to October (different times in winter months) at 10:00 AM from the Powder Magazine, 79 Cumberland Street. Charleston Pirate Tours also offers an evening walk on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM. The day tours include a visit to the Powder Magazine (included) and the company of Captain Bob. Tickets run from $18 per adult to free for children under 4. Tickets for the storytelling on Fridays are $8.
Food
You could spend your whole time exploring Charleston through food. The old and new cuisine play off one another and old ingredients find new presentations in the new chefs. You can still find grits
FIG
232 Meeting Street Charleston, 843.805.5900
FIG or Food Is Good is a local neighborhood restaurant with a beyond the neighborhood following. FIG's menu is inspired by seasonally available and local, sustainable ingredients. Chef Mike Lata is inspired by his suppliers and knows them personally.
The restaurant creates a strong interactive environment for diners with an educated staff and a bistro/retro diner/neighborhood café atmosphere.
The Lowcountry or lowcountry, is a geographic and cultural region located along South Carolina's coast. The region includes the South Carolina Sea Islands. Once known for its agricultural wealth, the Lowcountry today is internationally renowned for its historic cities and communities, its natural beauty, and its unique cultural heritage.
Cypress – A Lowcountry Grill (restaurant)
167 East Bay Street, 843.727.0111
Another restaurant that takes pride in local sourcing for ingredients, Cypress is one of trio of restaurants under the same management – Cypress, Magnolias and Blossom. Ingredients are sourced from lowcountry farmers and fisherman. Chef Craig Deihl presents a seasonal menu with these regional ingredients.
Caviar and Bananas, Gourmet Market and Cafe
51 George Street Charleston SC 29401, 877.579.7757 or 843.577.7757
fax: 843.577.7778, info@caviarandbananas.com
Check the menu for breakfast selections and a wide range of prepared foods. Sandwiches, salads and sushi are all available. Have Caviar and Bananas put together a box lunch for one of your adventures. The Café is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and has a good selection of wine and beer. Have a glass of wine with their popular cheese board.
Charleston Farmer's Market
The Farmer's Market takes place in Historic Francis Marion Square between King and Meeting Streets. This is the place to find fresh produce, freshly prepared goodies and arts and crafts presented by local artisans. Held on Saturdays 8 AM to 2 PM April to December. The December markets are transformed into holiday celebrations with tree lighting the first Saturday of December and extended hours.
Festivals
Spoleto Festival USA, end of May to early June (May 27th – June 12th 2011)
The Spoleto USA Festival was founded in 1977 as the American counterpart to the annual festival in Spoleto Italy. Organizers sought a city with old world charm and a rich diversity of performance spaces including theaters and churches. With 150 churches and other performance spaces, Charleston offered this and its intimate setting that engages the entire city. Charleston has provided n international stage for performances of all types during the last 30 plus years and a location for American premiere performances.
Piccolo Spoleto Festival, end of May to early June (May 11th – June 12th 2011)
Focusing primarily on artists of the Southeast region, Piccolo Spoleto is the perfect complement to the international scope of its parent festival and its 700 events in 17 days, transforms Charleston into an exhilarating celebration of performing, literary and visual arts. Piccolo Spoleto's traditional program offerings include visual arts exhibits, classical music, jazz, dance, theatre, poetry readings, children's activities, choral music, ethnic cultural presentations, crafts and film.
MOJA Arts Festival, late September to early October (Sept 23rd – Oct 3rd, 2010)
2010 marks the 27th year Charleston has hosted the MOJA Arts Festival. MOJA, a Swahili word meaning “One,” appropriately names the festival which highlights the many African-American and Caribbean contributions to western and world cultures. And is a celebration of the diversity of the Charleston community.
MOJA's wide range of events include visual arts, classical music, dance, gospel, jazz, poetry, R&B music, storytelling, theatre, children's activities, traditional crafts, ethnic food, and much, much more. Educational outreach to children and seniors is an important component of this community based fete of arts and culture.
And the good news is the majority of MOJA's events are free with reasonable prices for those that do charge an admission.
Holiday Magic in Historic Charleston
Charleston celebrates the holidays in style and has become known internationally as a holiday destination. In downtown Charleston, the festivities begin with an extended Holiday Farmers Market and Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony in Marion Square.
Charleston's celebrations continue through the season on and off the water with a boat parade, special holiday markets and family-oriented activities, performances and decorations that capture the spirit of the season for everyone in the community. For example, Chanukah and Kwanza are celebrated in the square with candle lighting and celebration. Look for events in the surrounding communities and islands.
For other sample itineraries, see the left bar on this page. If you would like to plan a trip to Charleston or another destination, email Green Concierge Travel at info@greenconciergetravel.com or call 608.204.2717.
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