Hi guys

Here's my 2nd attempt at this post; my first is impossible to read.

I would love to hear your thoughts on my itinerary:

3/16 - sunday
arrive
visitor's center
lunch: sermet's corner
walking tour (using booklet from visitor center)

3/17
Aquarium
Aiken-Rhett house
lunch: 5 Loaves Cafe
Ft. Sumter
King Street stroll/shopping?

3/18
Patriot's Point
*probably most of the day (either lunch or dinner at Boulevard Diner)

3/19
*Civil War Walking Tour (9am-11am)
*Heyward-Washington House and Nathaniel-Russel House
* Taste of Low Country cooking Class (lunch?)
?

3/20
*Gibbes Museum
*Lunch: Snob
House and Gardens Tour

3/21
*Ft. Moultrie
*lunch: Poe's
*High Tea/Charleston Place

3/22
*Culinary Walking Tour 9:30 am -11:30 am
Lunch: Cru
Gullah Tour

3/23:
Magnolia Plantation tour

3/24
maybe Brunch before I leave

I've tried to build in free time in which to relax by the Battery/Waterfront park - that kind of thing.
If anyone else has any thoughts on the above, I'd sure appreciate hearing them. I'm pretty expert at traveling solo, but I always love getting input from locals.
Thanks!

I think GoTravel has some good brunch recommendations - check her posts. Poogan's Porch is one. On the 22nd you might hit the Farmer's Market at Marion Square depending on timing.

I'm not sure if fitting in both Heyward-Washington and Nathaniel Russell Houses would work before Charelston Cooks without the mad-dash across town and being rushed, especially if teh Civil War Tour goes over. You could always hit one or the other after the Cooks class and maybe grab a little snack depending on how much they feed you at Charleston Cooks.

The same goes for your aquarium day. We spent a lot of time there when we went so to get over to the Aiken Rhett house, fit in lunch, then be in the appropriate place by 2:30 for the Ft. Sumpter tour might be rushing. You might do Aiken Rhett on your first day since it is 2 blocks from the Visitor Center, then grab lunch.

Hi dsgmi

Charleston Cooks is located around the battery, on East Bay Street. Nathaniel Russell and Heyward Washington houses are in that area, too. I should be fine, but if it ends up that I can only fit in one, then I can do the other house after the class ends.

If I have time, I can definitely do the Aiken-Rhett house on my first day, but I don't know that I will have time. Even if I take an early flight from NY, around 9 am, I won't get to my hotel until close to 1 pm. I'd like to have a nice relaxing lunch and then head over to the visitor's center. I don't think I'd have time to do Aiken-Rhett, but I'd have to see how that plays out. I think that's a bit of a tight squeeze on my Aquarium day, but I've changed my schedule and here is my new one - I think I can do Aiken Rhett house on the day I visit the Charleston Museum......

SUNDAY 3/16

•ARRIVE
PICK UP TICKETS FOR HOUSE AND GARDEN TOUR?

•LUNCH/BRUNCH:
•VISITOR’S CENTER
•WALKING TOUR (USING BOOKLET FROM VISITOR’S CENTER)

MONDAY 3/17

•AQUARIUM
•(AIKEN-RHETT HOUSE ?)

•LUNCH: FIVE LOAVES
•FORT SUMTER (BOOK TICKETS?)
•BATTERY/RELAX/LEGERE ST./RELAX?

TUESDAY 3/18

•WALK UP KING STREET (SHOPPING?)
•CHARLESTON MUSEUM
•LUNCH: SERMET’S CORNER

•MARKET AREA/STROLL
•HIGH TEA/CHARLESTON PLACE (BOOK!!)

WEDNESDAY 3/19

•CIVIL WAR WALKING TOUR 9AM-11AM (BOOKED – JUST SHOW UP)
•NATHANIEL RUSSEL HOUSE
•HEYWARD WASHINGTON HOUSE
•TASTE OF LOW COUNTRY COOKING CLASS *2PM (1 ½ TO 2 HOURS) – LUNCH ?

THURSDAY 3/20

•GIBBES MUSEUM
•LUNCH: SNOB
•HOUSE AND GARDENS TOUR (2-5 PM)

FRIDAY 3/21

•FORT MOULTRIE
•LUNCH: POE’S TAVERN

•PATRIOT’S POINT/YORKTOWN

•DINNER: BOULEVARD DINER
**USE BLACK CAB CO. AT LEAST ONE WAY FOR THIS DAY?

SATURDAY 3/22

•CULINARY TOUR 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM (BOOKED!!)
•LUNCH: CRU CAFÉ

•GULLAH TOUR 3:00PM – 5PM (BOOKED!!)

SUNDAY 3/23

•BRUNCH:
•MAGNOLIA PLANTATION TOUR (NEED TO BOOK!)

MONDAY 3/24
Leave


One thing I'm very disappointed in is that I will now be missing the farmer's market. It doesn't start until 4/12, but I had no choice and had to switch my dates.

Thanks for your tips, they were good ones!

marking

Hi Gretchen

FYI - I've decided to rent a car after all

I was really agonizing over missing out on See Wee - as a person who loves good food, I know I would regret not going there and it's just not feasible to get there by cabs. What I'm going to do is rent a car in Mt. Pleasant (someone on chowhound recommended this Hertz because they would pick me up and then drop me downtown later) and drive to See Wee; I'm hoping it's a pretty easy drive to Awendaw (I think it's on Hwy 17?). Have you ever been to See Wee?

Is there anything between See Wee and Charleston that might be of interest? Otherwise, I have the rest of my day planned downtown.

By the way, what does marking mean?

Thanks!!

My only suggestion would be your lunch destination on your Aquarium/Ft.Sumter Day. The Aquarium and Liberty Square, where you catch the boat to Fort Sumter, are right next to each other. Five Loaves is not very close to either of them. Of course, if you are taxi-ing, this is not a huge deal, but you might consider eating a big breakfast that day and visiting the Aquarium around 10am, then catching the noon boat to Ft. Sumter. You could always pack a snack in your purse and then have a later lunch at Five Loaves or somewhere else when you get back from Ft. Sumter. The total trip lasts around 2 hours, so you would make it back around 2pm. With this schedule, you would still have time to see the Aiken-Rhett House after lunch.

Hi Betsy

That makes sense;looking at maps, things appear closer than they actually are. You're right - it is a bit of a hike from the Aquarium area to Five Loaves - and you're plan is a good one. I'm going to follow your suggestion - have a good breakfast, then the Aquarium and Ft. Sumter, followed by lunch probably at Sermet's Corner.

Thanks for the tip!

Glad to help! I hope you have a great trip!

Hi Betsy

I definitely will have a great trip and I will post a report when I've returned.

By the way, this is my restaurant list - what do you think (if anyone else wants to chime in, please do!)?

Sunday dinner: SNOB
Monday dinner: High Cotton
Tuesday dinner: Cru
Wednesday dinner: Hanks
Thursday dinner: La Fourchette
Friday dinner: Boulevard Diner
Saturday dinner: Fig
Sunday dinner: Peninsula Grill

I'm going to try either High Cotton or Virginia's on King for Brunch on my last Sunday. I was going to try Joseph's on my first Sunday (the 16th), but I don't think I'll be able to make it there before they close at 2 pm.

Thanks!

Although Hank's Restaurant has an extensive menu, we thought it was nothing special. We thought 82 Queen St. was special.

Oh no, you've left Magnolia's off your dinner list! MY VERY FAVORITE ... we usually eat there at least twice per trip! (Also love S.N.O.B. ...)

Hi xkenx

I've heard too many really bad reviews of 82 Queen to put them on my list, but I'm glad that you had great experiences!

Elsie, I know you love Magnolia's - that also gets quite mixed reviews. There are simply just too many choices in Charleston; it's amazing that I'm going to be there for 7 full days and there will be many restaurants I won't even have time for. If I didn't have my heart set on Sermet's Corner, Poe's and Cru for lunches, I could definitely work Magnolia in because I know that a lot of people, besides yourself, love it.

On a positive note, I know Magnolia is your favorite plantation; I'm expecting to just adore it myself. Hopefully I'll have decent weather and the flowers will be blooming.

marking=bookmarking so I can find it again by clicking on my name.
How long are you going to rent a car and why do it in MT. Pleasant. You can rent a car for that week for $116. Where are you staying?

Hi Gretchen

I'm renting the car in Mt. Pleasant because I'm doing it for the specific reason for going to See Wee. It will be easier to get to Hwy 17 from there, and easier to return.

The only other time I would need a car is when I go to Magnolia Plantation (the day I go to Ft. Moultrie/Patriot's Point, I'm going to cab it), but I am still planning on doing that via bus tour. That would cost $50.00 - I'm not sure how much renting a car would be, but probably not much less than that. If it is quite a bit less, I may consider it.......IF it's an easy drive to Magnolia (meaning basically straight).

I'm staying at the Governor's House Inn, so I really don't need a car for the week. Plus, I don't want to drive in downtown.

betsyp, I am also headed to Charleston, and am interested to know what/where 'see wee' is...thanks!

SeaWee is on Route 17 a bit north of Mt. Pleasant.

Betsy, no way you can shop on King Street for only two hours on Tuesday. Start at Berlin's and head up King Street.

Also, there are some wonderful shops on East Bay where Charleston Cooks! is located.

Also, I'd skip High Cotton for your brunch on Sunday. Jestine's is much better. I eat at Jestine's at least twice a month and have no idea where the negative reviews come from.

Also, Poogan's Porch probably has the best brunch in Charleston. Not so much for lunch and dinner but a Do Not Miss for brunch.

BTW, love SeeWee but don't expect much in terms of decor. Definitely a seafood meat and three.

Hi Go Travel!

I eat in dumps and dives all the time (and I don't mean that in a negative way - I just mean places that really have no atmosphere). Actually, I think they have atmospheres all their own, but most importantly, I love good food. As long as I am enjoying what I'm eating, then I pay little attention to decor. Yumm....I just can't wait to try this place.

I'm probably going to end up at Virginia's on King for Sunday brunch. It's a new place on Upper King (where Chareleston Bookstore Cafe used to be, I think) that serves good old fashioned kind of southern food; it's gotten good reviews and since it's not the kind of food I can get in NY, I really want to try it (plus, they have banana pudding!). I went to Jestine's a few years ago - I enjoyed it. I'm not going out of my way to avoid it by any means (although it gets really mixed reviews on Chowhound), but it's just that there are so many places to try in Charleston. I'll be there for 8 days, and despite loads of meals, I still won't be able to sample all the city has to offer. Guess I'll just have to come back!

I'm not a big shopper, to be honest - I suspect I'm mostly going to go into stores just to browse. I won't be trying on clothes or shoes (HATE that), so that won't eat into my time. I've changed my itinerary a bit, but I admit that even if I just browse, I need to set aside time for King Street as opposed to just doing it haphazardly as I happen to be in the area. I'm going to review my itinerary and see where I can make changes. I look forward to shopping on East Bay - even if the class is two hours, it will end at 4 pm and that should give me time to browse.

I'm glad I need to tweak my itinerary a bit because I'm going crazy waiting for March!

Thanks for your great tips - if I don't get to use all of them this trip, I will certainly do so on my next trip!