Graziella5b

Hello.Escrunchy, going to Charleston a few days in middle September, Tuesday toFriday .Could you kindly recommend a decent guide?. I imagine there are many good ones but a recommendation will help.
We are going my husband and I,interested in Architecture plus history. Do not mind a small group or private.
Is tipping expected? Thank you

ekscrunchy

I recently took an architectural tour in Savannah but do not have info on any in Charleston. Give me a few days and I will see if I can call around and find a name for you. It is a lovely, lovely city and I would like to find a good guide myself, as I may pass through there at the end of the year. All the best, eks

Graziella5b

Thanks a lot,we agree it is a beautiful city . We have a daughter and son who are Architects and Gino and I we love art and history. we are looking forward to find a good guide, I am not looking for a complete scholar. but not interested in silly annecdotes.
Once we were at the Alambra in Granada and I could overheard a really incompetent guide , I thought shameful to treat tourists like that, I also have noticed in Versailles that the Tours in French are very different for the English ones. Which is sad and let us say unfriendly discrimination .
Thank you for your help.op

kathleen

I recommend Carol at broadstreetbiz dot com for excellent walking tours of Charleston. I’ve taken most of her tours—she has several themes from which to choose, depending on your interests. On her website, as you look through her list of tours you’ll notice she has premium tours and tours on demand. The larger group of themed tours is in the on demand category. After the success of Kidd’s book “The Invention of Wings”, she created her tour of the Grimke Sisters on the request of the Preservation Society of Charleston. It’s one of my favorites, as are the Renaissance: Arts and Literature and the Civil War /Slavery tours. I’ll be happy to answer any questions about her tours or about Charleston.

Graziella5b

Hello Kathleen, thank you very much for the information regarding tours. I shall look inmediatly the site you mentioned.
I am sure I shall have a few questions to ask you , would you be so kind as to respond directly to [email protected], so I can later on get in touch directly with you .
We have not been in Charleston for many years and we are thrilled with the idea of visiting again, as I recall it we had a feeling of being in XIX century England Or even earlier.Thank you.

cmcfong

While you are there stop by the Historical Society and pick up a copy of "Mrs Waley's Charleston Gardens" for an entertaining look at Charleston's evolution.

kathleen

Graziella,
Charleston is a lovely town with a wonderful historical context, as I'm sure you remember. We love living so close to it. Besides the excellent book that cmcfong recommended on Charleston’s gardens, there’s another that I find invaluable when we have out of town visitors, which is “The Complete Walking Tour of Historic Charleston” by Swann. It’s been around for quite a while, keeps getting reprinted, and is available at the Visitors’ Center and at the two Historical Shops also mentioned by cmcfong, and on-line. It lists a few different walking tours and guides you through the town. Sometimes you just want to explore on your own, and this guide is easy and thorough. Also, I will email you directly.

Not sure when in mid-September you’ll be visiting, but we have restaurant coming up! It’s always popular and tons of great restaurants are listed. http://www.charlestonrestaurantassoc...staurant-week/

starrs

ek, was that Dirk of Savannah Rambles in Savannah?

Graziella5b

Hello, Thsnk you very much for the information
regarding restaursnt's week,we will be in Charleston the. 13,14,15,16 Sep.we will certainly take advange of it.We had no idea.

The thing is , Gino does not have dinner, he has instead high tea.,

Of all the options for lunch which one would you choose?

Of course I know The Peninsula is famous.....I would like to have at least a lovely relaxed lunch in a real good Charleston rest., not that we are big eaters in quantity but of course enjoy good food.
If necessary I shall make reservations before getting there

Question no 2, we thought that Friday Sep 16 on our way driving to Asheville we could spend the morning in a Platation and then continue driving towards Asheville sleeping in some hotel on the way.
Would you suggest McLeod plantation or zMagnolia?
Thsnk you .

ekscrunchy

Starrs..No. But I don't have the guy's name on hand right now. I will do some looking around and post it here. He was excellent. We did a small group tour and price seemed very fair.

ekscrunchy

That was quick...Jonathan Stalcup. Has a master's in architecture. Next time I might see about a more intense private tour with him.

kathleen

Question #1 Of the choices for lunch/brunch listed, I'd choose 82 Queen, Poogan's Porch (both are reliable, popular and classic Charleston) or the new Eleve in the Grand Bohemian Hotel. Eleve's menu looks better to me than the other two. I've eaten several times at the first two, but not at Eleve, but want to. Keep checking the lists of restaurants, as more continue to get added. Book ahead.(open table)

We do have high tea at the Belmond, but I think only for parties of ten or more. I'd call and see if it's possible to be included if one is being offered on the day you're there.