(C) A Taste of Charleston
Exploring South Carolina's Lowcountry
Join us as we explore the traditions of Charleston and the Lowcountry region just beyond. Charleston, one of the best-preserved cities in America’s Old South, is rich in its traditions of gracious hospitality and sumptuous food. We’ll walk the historic streets on a culinary food tour and cruise along the coast of Charleston Harbor for a unique view of celebrated landmarks. We’ll venture beyond the city for a taste of Lowcountry fare and visit a local winery and the only tea plantation in the US. We’ll also spend time on a former rice plantation that is now a world-class garden. You’ll soon agree that there is no place like Lowcountry!
(C) A Taste of Charleston
May 2 - May 7, 2020Highlights
- Experience Lowcountry hospitality
- Enjoy a culinary walking tour
- Taste the wines of the area
- Learn about tea production
- Delve further into Charleston's culture
- Time to explore personal interests
- Suggestions for additional things to see
- Small group no larger than 14
- And More...See itinerary for details
Itinerary
Saturday, 02 May 2020: Arrive Charleston; Welcome Dinner (D)
Charleston welcomes you! Schedule your arrival no later than 4:00pm and take local transportation to the hotel. Should you arrive earlier in the day, you might want to stroll down to White Point Garden, a waterfront park located on the Charleston Battery, which is less than a mile from our hotel. The tour begins at 6:00pm in the lobby of the hotel. We will make introductions at our Welcome Meeting and then depart for a local restaurant for our Welcome Dinner. Overnight Charleston, SC – 5 nights
Sunday, 03 May 2020: Charleston Harbor Tour; Culinary Walking Tour (B,L)
The spirit of the Lowcountry is found in Charleston Harbor. Beyond beauty, the harbor has also played a major role in the naval history of the United States and is today vital to the economy of South Carolina. We’ll learn about Charleston’s fascinating history as we cruise along her scenic coastline and see such notable landmarks as Fort Sumter, the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, stately homes on the Battery, and the state-of-the-art Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge. We then explore the heart of Lowcountry – its cuisine! Our culinary walking tour takes us through the cobblestone streets of historic Charleston as we sample some of the city’s traditional favorites from locally owned restaurants. We leave the tour satiated and with a fresh perspective of Charleston’s culture and culinary heritage.
Monday, 04 May 2020: Brookgreen Gardens & Oaks Plantation (B,L)
We travel north this morning to Brookgreen Gardens, a cultural center that seamlessly blends art with horticulture and nature. As the oldest and largest sculpture garden in the country. Walking beneath 250-year-old Live Oak trees reminds us that this land was once a thriving rice plantation. This afternoon, we will join an interpreter to learn about the history of the individuals who lived and worked at the Oaks Plantation during its rice-producing years. Brookgreen Gardens is recognized as one of South Carolina’s most beloved landmarks – we’re sure you will agree!
Tuesday, 05 May 2020: Wadmalaw Island - Tea Plantation; Deep Water Vineyard (B,L)
Today we cross the bridge over Church Creek to take in the tranquility of Wadmalaw Island, known for its old-growth Live Oaks and unspoiled beauty. Wadmalaw Island is also home to the only working tea plantation in the United States. The grounds of the Charleston Tea Plantation include 127 acres of tea plants and a working tea factory. We explore the acres aboard a trolley and hear about the tea operation. We learn what it to takes to care for tea bushes and walk through the tea production building to see the equipment it takes to process tea from the field and prepare it for market. This afternoon, we'll stop at Deep Water Vineyard to sample authentic muscadine wines that are blended and produced here. This winery is the only domestic winery in Charleston and it grows and harvests its own muscadine grapes, one of the only truly native grapes to the US. We return to Charleston late afternoon.
Wednesday, 06 May 2020: Free Day in Charleston; Farewell Dinner (B,D)
Today is free to further explore what interests you most in Charleston. You may want to begin with a leisurely walk through the Historic Charleston City Market, recognized as one of the oldest public markets in the country. Here you will find over 300 local vendors offering a wide range of goods from crafts and artwork to spices and food. Of particular interest are sweetgrass baskets, considered one of the most sought-after treasures of the Lowcountry. Your Tour Leader will have suggestions for this day and can help pair travelers with similar interests. We'll gather together early this evening for our Farewell Dinner.
Thursday, 07 May 2020: Return home from Charleston
Sadly, our time together in Lowcountry has come to an end. Make your return flight at your convenience. Based on the departure time you provide WTT, your Tour Leader can assist with organizing travelers into small groups so you can ride-share to the airport if you wish.
(C) A Taste of Charleston
May 2 - May 7, 2020Pricing
Room Share
$2,244.00Single Room
$3,224.00Non-Members
ADD $50.00Status of this Tour
Do not Display to the Web
Tour Pricing Includes
- All meals and activities expressly listed in the itinerary, PLUS...
- All tipping of local guides
- WTT Tour Leader to enhance the individual & group experience
- Transportation in WTT's own Mercedes mini-coach
- Arranged room sharing with another solo traveler
- Travel Dollar credits (a benefit of WTT membership) toward future travel with WTT
Not Included In The Price
- Airfare or other transportation to and from the tour
- Airport transfers
- Meals and activities not specified in the itinerary
- Any personal expenses or expenditures
- Any pre- or post- tour arrangements
- Any gratuities for the WTT tour leader
- Travel Insurance
Payment Dates -and- Cancellation Terms for This Tour
At Space Reservation: Initial Deposit is due.
Monday, 4 Nov 2019: Initial deposit cannot be parked and is forfeited if traveler cancels after this date.
Sunday, 2 Feb 2020: Payment in full. 50% cancellation penalty after this date.
Wednesday, 18 Mar 2020: 100% forfeited if traveler cancels after this date.
Please review our Terms and Conditions before making your reservation. You will be required to confirm you have read and agree to WTT's terms & conditions before our website will allow you to submit the Reservation FORM.
By submitting the Reservation Form you are providing your electronic signature that you are authorizing WTT to charge your credit card the required amount due for the tour at this time, and to charge your credit card in a separate transaction for the membership length selected, if applicable.
Travel Insurance: It is your responsibility to purchase the amount of travel insurance you determine is appropriate to protect you from the risk of financial loss should you have to cancel your tour, or should unforeseen events, due to no fault of WTT, prevent the tour from operating in whole or in part as originally scheduled.
WTT does not sell travel insurance. As a convenience, we will email you information from 2 reliable travel insurance providers at the time we confirm your reservation, however you can purchase insurance from any provider you choose.
You can review the insurance information from TravelGuard to get an idea of rates.
(C) A Taste of Charleston
May 2 - May 7, 2020Flights, Transfers & Lodging
Arrival & Departure Information
Travelers will make their own air arrangements as follows:
Arrival Airport: CHS - Charleston, SC (Charleston Int'l Airport)
Arrival Date: Tuesday, April 27th. Arrive no later than 4:00pm.
Arrival Transfer: Use local taxi or shuttle service. Details provided in Final Travel Instructions.
Departure Airport: CHS - Charleston, SC (Charleston Int'l Airport)
Departure Date: Sunday, May 2nd. Depart at your convenience.
Departure Transfer: Use local taxi or shuttle.
Lodging / Hotels
Charleston, SC: The Indigo Inn
In the unlikely event WTT is unable to provide the hotel accommodation(s) listed, for whatever reason, WTT will substitute similar quality accommodation(s) at no additional cost to the traveler.
Want to Arrive a Day Early?
- The room (standard check-in times apply)
- Breakfast the following morning
- Optional activity suggestions prior to tour
$194.00 Roomshare $387.00 Single
The pre-tour package is an optional service. Rates are established at time of tour posting. Early check-in is solely at the discretion of the hotel and cannot be arranged in advance.
Additional Reminders About This Tour
This tour uses a 15-passenger Mini-Coach for transportation while on tour. Learn more about The WTT North American Travel Experience by downloading/opening the pdf.
(C) A Taste of Charleston
May 2 - May 7, 2020Destination Information
What do others say about this tour and traveling with WTT?
How Does Room Sharing Work?
- If you wish to share with another solo traveler, select this option on the Reservation Form and your tour price will automatically be based on the room share price.
- Or, you may select a single room, when available, on the Reservation Form and your tour price will be automatically based on the single room price.
- These choices are clearly stated on the Reservation Form.
- All shared rooms have 2 beds
- All shared rooms are non-smoking
- No special requests about your roommate can be accommodated
- Most solo travelers elect to share a room
- See "Frequently Asked Questions" TAB for more details
How Active is this Tour?
Because of this requirement, WTT tours are not suitable for anyone who is physically challenged, walking impaired, or is a slow walker that cannot keep up with the pace of the group.
The activities on this tour are rated as follows:
- 70% Easy
- 30% Moderate (walking tours)
If you are in doubt as to your ability to meet the physical activity requirements, you should not sign up for this trip.
Read more about Activity Levels
What meals are included and how are dietary restrictions accommodated?
- Breakfast daily
- 3 Lunches (includes one culinary walking tour)
- 2 Dinners
Selections for the included lunches and dinners will highlight the local cuisine. For the most part vegetarian and gluten-free dietary requests can be accommodated on this tour with limited selections. The culinary walking tour is unable to accommodate vegan or dairy-free diets.
What clothing and items should I pack for this trip?
In general this time of year the average temperature during the day in Charleston is in the mid-70s with lows in the 60s. Savannah may be slightly warmer with highs in upper 70s.
For This Trip You May Want—
- Smart-casual wear if you'd like to dress up a bit for dinners.
- Lightweight but warm jacket/sweater for the cool mornings and evenings or the unusually brisk day.
- Inexpensive rain poncho or travel umbrella, just in case
- Bring what you need to get a good night's sleep, such as ear plugs, white noise generator, sleeping pills, etc. Unfamiliar noises of all types can disrupt your rest.
Good Packing Habits—
- Pack a limited amount of comfortable, casual clothing that layer and coordinate. Your fellow travelers will not mind or even notice – seeing you in the same clothing.
- Be mindful, the streets in the Historic District have very uneven cobblestone streets and sidewalks so bring one pair of well-broken-in, sturdy walking shoes.
- You might want a second pair that could do double-duty as a casual walking shoe or a slightly dressy shoe.
- Pare down your beauty regimen to the bare minimum and always pack travel-sized toiletries.
- Pack medication in your carry-on and pack only as much as needed for the duration of your tour plus a few extra days as a precaution.
What are the luggage restrictions for this tour?
- We strongly recommend you bring only one suitcase plus small shoulder bag/day pack/purse.
- You are responsible for managing your own belongings.
How much money should I bring on this tour?
Only you can determine the optimum amount of cash to take on tour. When budgeting for out-of-pocket expenses, there are several aspects to consider: the number of meals you are responsible for, the amount of money you like to have on-hand for snacks and drinks, and your individual shopping interests and habits.
- Notify your credit card issuer that you will be traveling and provide dates of travel.
- ATMs are typically the best way of obtaining cash; you must know your PIN number for your debit and credit cards in order to use the ATMs.
What are the tipping guidelines for this tour?
All tips to local guides during your tour have already been paid on your behalf.
- You are responsible for tipping wait-staff, porters, or other individuals who provide a service to you at the hotel, or other public locations.
- You may want to tip your WTT Tour Leader for an outstanding job. The amount is entirely a personal preference. If you'd like a guideline, consider $8-$10 per day.
What other Additional Information do I need to know?
This tour uses a 15-passenger Mini-Coach for transportation while on tour. Learn more about The WTT North American Travel Experience by downloading/opening the pdf.
Can I transfer my deposit to another tour?
To get off this tour and register for another tour, you must follow these steps - in the order shown:
2) WAIT before submitting your new reservation! You must receive the Cancellation Confirmation email before submitting your new reservation. This can take up to 2 business days. The Cancellation Confirmation email will list the amount of parked credits from this tour that are now available to use on a new reservation.
3) COMPLETE the new Reservation Form and USE the parked credits towards your deposit on the new tour.
Note: If you used Parked Credits to pay the deposit on this tour, these credits cannot be used a second time and are not eligible to be transferred.
What happens if I need to cancel this tour?
Our Promise to You
It doesn’t matter which tour you choose.
You’ll find your people and make memories that last a lifetime.