Charleston tours
 

We will only be in Charleston for a day and a half.
We would like to do a walking tour and see some historic houses.
Are the houses on the walking tour? Which tour is best?
Which house should not be missed? Is it walking distance from the historic center?
Also, we want to do a carriage ride. Would this be repeating what we see on the walking tour?

Thanks for answering all of my questions.

Molly

There are competing historical societies in Charleston. One of them headquarters (at least for tours) at the corner of Chalmers and Meeting St. From there we had an architectural tour, which did not include any interiors. The next day we visited interiors that was included in an open garden day in Charleston. You might want to take a look at my trip report; click on my name to find it. Others might offer more specific information regarding tours.

Michael gave you good advice. You don't have much time. I usually recommend a carriage ride first thing. That way you can get your bearings and decide what you might like to revisit. People like Ed Grimball and Michael Trouche. I haven't done a tour in decades so I can't give you specifics. I have to work and dumb stuff like that. :)

When is your trip? I'm going to docent for the Historic Society on Sunday.

We took Michael Trouche's walking tour and thought it was terrific. See my trip report about our time in Charleston -- http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...rleston-sc.cfm.

Hi Molly23,

While I didn't do a horse tour or walking tour in Charleston, I enjoyed both the house tours of the Aiken-Rhett House and the Nathaniel Russell House (note that the price is $10 for each home separately, but $16 to see both homes). Quite different experiences, as the first is preserved (with only the true original pieces from the home, shows one truly what 150 years can do) and the second is restored (gives a sense of how it looked in its days of glory).

Nathaniel Russell House is an easy walk from locales in the historic center. The Aiken-Rhett House is a longer walk (but do-able) or you can opt to take the free CARTA (Charleston transit) #211 trolley.

http://www.ridecarta.com/riding-cart...lley-map-times

Have a great trip! Daniel