Hi! Thanks for all of your help when I posted a few months ago.....

I originally planned to be in Charleston for 6 days, but my May vacation to Boston, though unbelieveably great, was also expensive. I'm thinking of cutting my stay to 4 days. Do you think I could do/see the following in that time? I hate to rush around on vacation!

Hunley
Fort Sumter
Plantation tours
Charleston Museum
Historic District/shopping
Historic homes (Edmonston-Allston, etc.......)

Thanks! (now if only I could bring myself to make plane reservations).......

Dear Betsy,
I just came back from Charleston. I think four days is more than enough time to do the things on your list. I really enjoyed the town.

I agree. 4 days is more than enought...

2-3 days is plenty

Thanks! Now I feel better about my decision......

Teri, any particular restaurants that you would recommend? I have too big a list as is, but I'll narrow it down, somehow........

Betsy

Four should be enough. Here are my estimates:

Fort Sumter - 2 1/2 hours (boat ride and hour on the island)

Plantations - Boone Hall - 2 hours max; Drayton Hall - 2 hours; Middleton Place - 3-4 hours; Magnolia - 30-45 minutes for Swamp Garden, hour for boat (probably same for tram - haven't done that one), 1-2 hours for gardens, may wish to visit house and shops. Pick no more than two plantations with four days. Middleton, Drayton, and Magnolia are all very close together. Boone Hall is over near Mt. Pleasant. I would pick either Middleton or Magnolia and then Drayton (make sure to take the house tour).

Charleston Museum - 2-3 hours

Historic District - give yourself 1 to 1 1/2 days to see it well; maybe see part on a carriage ride.

Homes - pick 2-3 for four days; my favorites are Edmonton-Alston and Nathaniel Russell; Rhett-Atkins is good for something different.

Hunley - 30-40 minutes for driving there and back and 1 1/2 to 2 hours at the facility. Remember that tours are only on the weekends.

Four days is perfect for a good Charleston vacation without beach days.

That is plenty of time. My wife & I go there often for long weekends. (We reside in Charlotte, NC).

If you start to run out of time, may I suggest skipping the Fort Sumter tour. It takes a long time, and there's really not much to see when you get out there. Granted, I was a teenager when I went, but I was BORED to death and my six-grade-teacher-Mom looked pretty damn bored too, and she has a high tolerance for "learning experiences".

Pardon, that's "sixth".

Hank's- great seafood
pennisula grill - elegent dining
Rue de Jean - excellent french food
Tristen's
82 Queen- great brunch
Skip Hyman's not as great as they tell you!!

4 days are more than enough!! Use the visitor's center. The trolley's leave from there-- a great way/easy/inexpensive/ way to get around.. The Center was soo very help and pleasant-- make sure to utilize them. We took a horse carriage tour around the city very nice-- We did do Fort Sumpter-- I thought it was nice ride out and the view was gorgeous--Worth the trip (by the way I am 32 and enjoyed the fort--just so you did not think I was 82 sr cit on a bus tour)

Do go to the Fort, it IS worth the trip. 82 Queen, skip Magnolia's, Pennisula Grill & Bocci's (Italian). Go to one of the Plantations, it is kind of repetitive to do more than one.

I do agree somewhat about limiting the number of plantations. However, Drayton Hall is the one that is very different. It is the only one with the original house (no furnishings though), but go to Middleton or Magnolia for gardens.

I guess I should define "original." I mean the same main house that existed on the site at the time of the Civil War.

Thank you all for your help!

I’m going to combine Middleton/Drayton plantations in a tour with Sara Ragdale, who is supposed to be absolutely wonderful. She specializes in personal tours of Charleston, and can tailor a tour to a person’s particular interests. That will be a full day, as it includes a walking tour of historic district. I’m definitely seeing the Hunley, and despite the mixed review, Fort Sumter is a must for me. I’m a Civil War buff, and to visit an actual site is very special to me.

I figure that I’d do the Charleston Museum and the Aiken/Rhett house on the same day....I hope that the Civil War exhibit at the museum is open, but even if it’s not, I’m sure it will be fascinating. I’m arriving around noon on a Friday, so if it’s decent weather, I think I’ll get my bearings by walking downtown, going to the Old City Market, etc.......I don’t want to push it.

If I stay an extra day, I might use it to take an eco-tour of Capers Island,......something unusual like that. I just want to make sure that I don’t rush around, because then I won’t remember a thing....I want to take it all in slowly.

Betsy,
Four days is enough time to visit Charleston. I agree with all the posted suggestions with one addition: take a carriage tour upon arrival. The guides are terrific and you'll get to see wonderful architecture. The one-hour tour (give or take 15 min.) is well-worth the cost. Legare St. has magnificent homes. If you have time, take a stroll; it's delightful
You'll love Middleton - it was a highlight of our last visit to Charleston (wear comfy shoes).
Restaurants: we enjoyed Peninsula Grill, Hank's, Blossom Cafe and Hominy Grill (excellent, local cuisine).
Have a wonderful vacation!

I completely agree about taking the carriage tour first. Combined with the Charleston Museum (maybe the second morning), it will give you a great overview before you have your tour and get into more indepth sightseeing. They start off right beside the City Market, so that should work for you. You won't know which zone you are going to see until the carriage gets going. More tips: I love the Battery end of Church Street on a peaceful morning or late afternoon. You will see why. Visit the two big churches when you get a chance. I always seemed to get by after hours or during a wedding until near the end of my second trip. The South Battery is especially nice early in the morning when there are fewer people, and the sun is shining on the fronts of the homes.

plane reservations huh? if you go to www.dollaradaytravel.com all you hafto do is fill out some forms they send you and they'll do the rest, plus you don't hafto pay everything one shot.