Grand Old Lady of The South, Charlestown SC

It is Springtime in the South and there is no city below the Mason-Dixon that is more beautiful than Charleston, SC. Despite having over 600 buildings and 160 acres destroyed during the Civil War, Charleston managed to survive and rebuild.
Today she is definitely the Queen City of our South! Your eyes will feast on the spring flowers with the top two being the dogwoods and the azaleas. The tour includes 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 3 dinners. We will depart Manassas at 6:00 a.m. and Woodbridge at 6:45 a.m. Return time is approximately 6:30 p.m.
The Itinerary
Day One Thursday April 18:
Today is a travel day into the Deep South as we sit back and enjoy all the beautiful scenery that comes with springtime. We will pull in at a McDonald’s for that cup of coffee and a sandwich and use of the restroom. Return to the bus with our little shack, we can sit back and remember when we could only dream of this life of leisure. Our lunch stop we will be at Casey’s Buffet in Wilmington, NC Our journey continues to the beautiful city of Charleston. We will be checking in the Limited Hotel in the historic Charleston area where we will drop off our baggage and then proceed dinner at the Crab House Restaurant [With reservation indicate your choice of: Fried shrimp and Flounder platter or Grilled Chicken Breast Alfredo]. After dinner we will return to the hotel to check-in our rooms.
Day Two Friday April 19:
Rise and Shine and prepare for breakfast followed by a full day of sightseeing. Today we are off to Boone Plantation that was founded in 1681 when Englishman Major John Boone came to Charleston and established a lucrative plantation with a gracious home on the banks of Wampacheone Creek. The home is famed for its ¾ mile of moss draped Avenue of Oaks a la “Gone With The Wind” time. There is so much to see and we have requested a private guide to help us not to miss anything including a hot buffet private lunch for our group only.
Also included is a tractor ride, and private
Gullah performance. We are now headed for downtown Charleston to have free time at the famous Charleston City Market. Established in the 1790s, the market stretches for four city blocks from the architecturally-significant Market Hall, which faces Meeting Street, through a continuous series of one-story market sheds, the last of which terminates at East Bay Street. This evening we are in for a special treat as you board the Spirit of Carolina Riverboat to enjoy four course dinner, made to order from local seasonal ingredients. As you dine, the Spirit of Carolina will cruise through the beautiful Charleston Harbor, past Fort Sumter, along the Battery and beneath the Ravenel Bridge. Pair that with amazing Charleston harbor sunset views, and you have the makings for an unforgettable evening on the water.
Day Three Saturday April 20: Breakfast. This morning we will meet our stepon guide for a tour of historic Charleston. We will make an afternoon lunch break on your own at McDonald’s. This afternoon enjoy the Low country’s ultimate garden experience on 66 acres of romantic-style gardens, including plants and trees that have been growing on the property since the 1840s. Welcome to Magnolia Plantation that was once a working rice plantation. No visit can be complete without an understanding of the families who have lived on the “Street”—first as enslaved workers, and then as paid garden staff all throughout Magnolia’s 350year history. The cabins featured on our From Slavery to Freedom tour have been preserved and restored, each representing a time period significant to both African American and Low country history. This tour honors and remembers the men, women, and children who designed, planted, and worked in the gardens, built and maintained the bridges, and labored in the house and the rice fields. We will also enjoy the Nature Train that circumnavigates Magnolia’s 450 acres of wetlands, forests, marsh, and swamp. While riding you’ll learn about the native plants and animals of the Low country, as well as the history of rice cultivation and phosphate mining at Magnolia. Your guide will point out birds, alligators, turtles, and more. Then, join us for a special walking tour of Magnolia’s beautiful gardens! Along the way we will be introduced to the vistas and scenery that have made this garden a must-see in Charleston for over 150 years. You’ll learn about Magnolia’s role in both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars and the Drayton family tomb. Some of the many camellia and azaleas cultivars that have been planted here over the centuries will be pointed out. Boarding our bus, we will proceed to the Tanger Outlets to give you additional shopping time followed by a buffet dinner at the near-by Golden
Corral. before returning to our lodging.
Day Four Sunday April 21 Breakfast and then head home with lunch at the Cracker Barrel ($18 Gift Card).