CiaoBellia

Going back to Charleston after many years break. My boyfriend has never been and I want to show him a good sampling of the town in a weekend. We are staying at the Charleston Place. I want to do a Ghost Tour - suggestion, is that a good idea? A carriage ride - any particular one the best and how much do they cost? I would like to walk on the beach - we have a car so which beach would be best? I'm a photographer and love nature shots where are the best roads with the overhanging branches?
Restaurant suggestions? I know this is a lot - but thanks so much in advance

birgator

All carriage rides are good -- I've done most of them, and it really depends on the guide for that day. Routes are by draw, so you can't pick the area ahead of time. Seems to me it was about $18 or so (and I think you can probably find a coupon somewhere).

Take a ride to Edisto Beach, which will take care of beach walking, plus your trees on the road down, and explore the side roads for more nature and marsh. Stop at Angel Oak on your way back to Chs.

Dining? Well, what would you like to eat? Charleston Place is without a doubt marvelous, but a tad stuffy/formal and on top of the price barometer. SNOB is always good and reliable.

chs29445

Agree on the carriage rides. Be aware, Edisto is a good 1hr drive from downtown. But for a more "natural" drive it does get you out of the more developed areas. As for a sGhost tours they are all very similar just depends how "dressed up" you want them. Bulldog tours is probably the biggest. They have an "Old Jail tour"- the 1801 original jail - and the Dungeon tour. Charlestonsbesttours have excellent guides and offer low-key "dark side" tours.(start ands end at a pub if that matter
Try explorecharleston.com for the visitors guide/info

suewoo

birgator is right. The tour companies actually are on a lottery and don't get to choose their routes (so they don't all go to the same places at the same time). So unless you hire one privately you line up with all the others wanting to take a tour and get on when it's your turn. They are all good.

The drive to Edisto is beautiful. If the azaleas are blooming you'll be in luck. Also the drive to/from the Angel Oak will have those live oaks.

Google Charleston restaurants and look at some menus. Then get back to us and we can help you narrow it down. My favorites are SNOB, FIG, Husk, 82 Queen, Peninsula Grill, Magnolia's downtown, Red Drum, Mustard Seed and Atlanticville east of the Cooper.

starrs

<red>birgator is back! YAY! How've ya been?!?

<black> I'll defer to the Charleston experts for restaurants but a group that owns two of my favorite restaurants in Savannah also owns Anson. I'm going to try it next time I'm in town.

http://www.ansonrestaurant.com/
Right now they are offering a 3 course for $35 special

Wine Spectator magazine called them "the most romantic restaurant in Charleston".
http://www.ansonrestaurant.com/reviews.html

Just an idea...

suewoo

Anson IS great, but I haven't been in a long time and I hate to recommend without current information. Maybe I need to get myself down there!

CiaoBellia

Wow thank y'all so very much! This is all great info.

birgator

Starrs: OK, but issues. I'm still at yahoo.

I think the only tour I didn't really enjoy was the Dungeon one (company comes and I play tourist) -- not very informative, and a bit hokey.

I love afternoon tea at the Thoroughbred Club in Charleston Place. Very civilized, and certainly opulent.

If you favor nature and photography, think about a kayak tour on Shem Creek, or a trip out to one of the barrier islands (Capers is particularly interesting).

Gretchen

Maybe for photography maybe this. I'd for sure take Sue' recs.
http://www.huntingisland.com/

suewoo

Oh Hunting Island, my favorite place on earth! It's a bit of a drive but it's worh it.

suewoo

Cat assisting with my typing!

MissMandy

I can't recommend a carriage ride as I always think they are cruel to the horses but I can recommend restuarants!

Charleston Place is an excellent hotel I had a very enjoyable birthday there last November and an outstanding birthday meal at the Charleston Grill.

Other restaurants are Hanks (which seems to get overlooked on this forum), Grill 255 and 82 Queen (excellent Sunday brunch). We also went to Magnolias which was disappointing compared to the others. Food was not special and full of large groups of tourists.
SNOB looks nice but we thought it had a limiting menu so I recommend checking out all the restaurants menus online first. It's all part of the vacation fun!

McCrady’s Restaurant won the 2010 James Beard Best Chef Southeast award, sadly we did not have time for this but his restaurant is tucked on the side of a side street and looked wonderful.
Don't forget to visit the plantations, Boone Hall in particular will enable you to get some very fine photos.

suewoo

Restaurants that serve locally sourced items change their menus daily, so the limited menu you saw probably didn't include the daily specials.

The carriage companies in Charleston have strict laws that prohibit mistreatment of their animals. One violation could put them out of business-it's serious.

McCrady's is great, as is Husk. But it's the same thing with both-you won't see the daily specials on the online menus.