best carriage tour

We are traveling with our 8 %26amp; 10 year olds. Which tour is the best (entertaining yet historical)?

Would a walking tour be interesting too, or would it just be more of the same?

Thanks!

best carriage tour

I just went on a carriage tour yesterday because family was visiting Charleston for the first time. I have gone on Palmetto Carriage 2 times previously and it was always very interesting and the guides were very good. It figures, of all times when family is here we have to get the Jerry Seinfeld of tour guides. He spent more time trying to be a comedian then being a tour guide. I have been on tours before and I knew the history of some of the buildings we passed. I sat and waited for him to say something about them and NOTHING was said. We did get a history lesson about mules though, like we really cared. While at the battery all we were told is that JFK had an affair at a hotel there. Who cares? What does this have to do with the history of Charleston? We were shown a house where a movie was filmed. Big deal.

I was very disappointed and somewhat embarrassed, as I had told my family before we arrived that Palmetto was the best. The next time I take someone visiting on a carriage ride it won%26#39;t be with Palmetto I can assure you of that. We have more family coming next month and I am trying a different company. Sorry for the rant, it%26#39;s still fresh and these tours aren%26#39;t exactly cheap. I know I really should have complained and demanded a new tour with a different guide, but I didn%26#39;t want to give the family a bad impression of Charleston right off the bat. It was something that kinda bugged me more and more as the day went on. I hope it goes better for you. I think this was just something unusual, most of the tours get great reviews.

As far as a walking tour goes, I have never been on one but would love to try it. I would think that it would be more interesting and informative than a carriage ride as you would move at a slower pace. Charleston Stroll is mentioned in another thread and it sounds pretty good.

best carriage tour

I would say that Palmetto Carriage Tour is the best one to go on especially with children. However, reading the post above I am not sure what to think? Some other tour companies that do a good job are Old South and Carolina Polo. Don%26#39;t forget to stop by the Visitors Center to get your discount tickets. We sell them for $13.50-16.50 depending on company.

For a walking tour I would suggest Tommy Dew. He leaves from the market at 11am or Charleston Strolls they leave from the Mills House Hotel at 10am. Both will last about and hour and a half.

Who do you think has the best carriage rides for adults?

I went on Old South Carriage tours and thought it was great. The guide was entertaining but also taught us a lot of neat things about the city. Before the tour you can visit some of the horses in the barn area. Once you get on the carriage there is a short video about Charleston. Since we were there the ';earliest'; we saw the whole thing. The animals are well taken care of(I use to own a horse so I know a little bit about proper care). Our tour ran about an hour, but we weren%26#39;t bored at all. There is a lot to look around at and see. Have fun!

Much like I posted in response to Pinkhouses%26#39; request of things to day on a day in Charleston, I have to recommend Palmetto Carriage. They have been in business longer than any other tour company in the city. They have the most experienced guides. I know someone earlier had a bad experience. I hate that happened, everbody had a bad one now and again. I would say that you should be proactive when on tour. Ask questions. Palmetto has a great reputation with locals. I can tell you they are the company the big name hotels in town use when any celebrity is visiting. I wouldn%26#39;t go with anyone else. Final analysis for me is how they treat their animals and their safety record. I want to know I will make it back in one piece.