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.

I have a Question.

I am a huge dirt track racing fan. We go every week to the one about 30 minutes from where I live. I want to know if there are in in MB no farther than 30 min from mb.

I have a Question.

bump

MBC or Aybob, do yall know?

I have a Question.

bump

MBC or Aybob, do yall know?

I did a little searching and didn%26#39;t come up with much in the way of dirt. I did find one dirt track in Aynor, about 30 minutes away, it%26#39;s www.lowcountrykartway.net, but it appears to be kart racing, but still might interest you. Of course Myrtle Beach does have its own speedway, paved, but its at www.myrtlebeachspeedway.com. If you were in Virginia I could show you where all the dirt tracks are, I used to run a slighly modified Chevette at Oak Level dirt track in Bassett, Va. quite a few years ago, but I%26#39;ve never looked for that venue in SC. Hope this helps.

Unfortunately, there aren%26#39;t many dirt tracks left near MB. The only one I can think of used to be near Loris, but I think it is gone. The Myrtle Beach Speedway is a lot of fun, though. If you can tolerate an asphalt track, it%26#39;s good racing.

Sorry, CBR....no dirt tracks at all in this area. But as the above poster stated that MB Speedway is alot of fun, and a number of Nascars current drivers cut there teeth on this track...including Dale Jr.! But I know when your a dirt-tracker...nothing, not even asphalt, is the same! My parents both were HUGE dirt track fans...I grew up with dust in my veins! LOL.... We%26#39;d go racing Friday, Saturdays and Sundays....

:)

blackheads

Best route to avoid traffic

This is the route I will be coming. Can anyone give me rough idea of the distance between each of the exits I have to take....Or if anyone knows a good site I would be happy to research it myself......Rookie and with a car full of kids I dont want to get lost...tx all.

Best route to avoid traffic

Ok....I Know I just woke up but is something missing here?

Best route to avoid traffic

Brain dead.

Richmond VA to myrtle beach resort kings highway

From 95 southbound, take exit 14 (Lumberton) onto 74E.

Turn Right onto 701S

Turn L onto 9(EorS)

Turn R onto 17S (take Bypass) ,

you will then take 31S. This is a new limited access road %26amp; they have just recently completed it the whole way to 544 (will not be on the maps yet).

Then take 544E to 17N .

95S to 40E in NC

40E look for signs to 17S - they are working on a bypass, but it isn%26#39;t done so you will only be on it for a little while, I think it is 240 or something close.

Either way, the ';to 17S'; is all well marked

Just got back yesterday, it is a smooth drive that way

Just looked on a map and the 95-40E to 17 looks good....anyone else gone this way?

I guess its personal preference, but I really hate coming into the beach on Rt 17. I know it really depends on the time of day and what month you are planning your trip, but 17 can really get backed up starting at the ICW bridge all the way into NMB. It is 4 lane (2north and 2south) but with all the traffic and all the stoplights, it can be a nightmare...

I usually go 95S to Rt 74E to Rt 76W (towards Chadborn) to Rt 9S to Rt 31S ....then depending on where you are staying at the beach would dictate which exit off 31 you would need to take...the Rt 22 exit for NMB, Cherry Grove and the Arcadia Section, the Grissom Pkwy exit for MB, the Rt 501 Exit for the southern end of MB, and Rt 544 for Garden City/Surfside/Murrells and all points south.

All of the above roads are 4 lane with a small section of Rt 76 being 2 lane, all lightly traveled...Rt 31 is a newer road in the area with posted 60mph and 6 lanes.

:)

leo221 - I come down from Ohio, so I obviously take a different route to get to MB. However, I used to stay at the Myrtle Beach Resort every summer, and we would come in on 544. I can tell you that 544 dumps out onto Kings Hwy almost directly in front of the entrance to the MB Resort! You%26#39;ll turn left onto Kings Hwy and MB Resort entrance will be on your right. However, you have to go on up Kings Hwy a bit to the check-in office before they will let you through the gate at MB Resort. It%26#39;s not very far at all, and it will also be on the right side. The gate office should be able to tell you what to look for.

Hey briezer19,

I will be coming down from Kentucky and have decided to take the 544 into the beach this year. We are going to get off of 501 @ Conway...what type road is it? Is it congested as 501? What about stop lights?? Leaving in 18 days YEAH!! Thanks for the description!

to answer the last post: Rt. 544 is just like most of 501...lots of lights %26amp; traffic, but you won%26#39;t be on it all that long.

To OP: I will consider taking 40 when they get that bypass around Wilmington COMPLETELY done. In the meantime, any time you save on 40 will be lost getting around Wilmington %26amp; from there to MB. I have friends that go to Little River %26amp; even they won%26#39;t take 40.

I%26#39;d stick with the orginal directions or MBConceirge%26#39;s.

Have a great vacation!

mrrouthie - I have actually not been on 544 in quite some time, but people have told me that it has been widened to 4 lanes. From what I remember, there are alot of lights. There are alot of campgrounds near Myrtle Beach Resort (actually on both sides of the resort). Someone was telling me that most of the campers use 544 and when you figure in the trailers that they are hauling, that slows down traffic alot. It%26#39;s my understanding that 544 moves a little faster than 501 but not much. However, it dumps you out pretty much exactly where you%26#39;re going to need to be. I would personally stick with 544, but be prepared for traffic.

Which building are you staying in at MBResort? When we used to stay there we always stayed in the Tower. Great views from the 22nd floor! The beach bar and grill they have was always alot of fun too!

Sorry, part of that last post is meant for leo also.

looking for best sport bar

looking for best sport bar in M/B . with nice big plasma HD not that off the wall faded stuff .

thanks

looking for best sport bar

Overtime in North Myrtle. These web site has a few other options;

sportstavern.com/scarolina/myrtlebeach.html

looking for best sport bar

see my post below for melons

You might also want to check out Five O%26#39;clock Somewhere....they are located at 19th Ave N and Kings Hwy....

:)

Saturday Parking

Is there still metered parking at Alder Lane?

And who has the best fireworks on the 4th?

Saturday Parking

Don%26#39;t know for sure, but i believe it is limited to the Forest Beach Public parking area.

The town has contributed the same amount to fund each of the three fireworks displays. I really have never seen a comparison of the three vanues.

Stan (hhiguy)

Is December a good time to visit?

Is the time between Christmas and New Year%26#39;s a good time to visit? It would be me, 11 year old daughter, sister and mother-in-law. Two of us work for schools so we are on break along with my daughter. Can you give me any insight on crowds, weather, etc. Is everything open during that time--museums, homes, tourist sites?

Thank you!!

Is December a good time to visit?

Anytime of the year is an excellent time to visit Charleston. Many things are open year round. Visit the Market, walk on the Battery, take a tour of Fort Sumter, stroll on the beaches of Sullivans Island, take the tour of the Yorktown. There is so much more to do. The crowds will be thin and the weather mild, not freezing cold.

We go to Charleston as often as we can, we lived there back in the eighties.

Vince

Is December a good time to visit?

The time between Christmas and New Years we are SLAMMED in the visitors center. That seems to be the time that families are here on vacation. With that said I don%26#39;t want to scare you away from coming, we have plenty of room for you!!

Yes things will be open and you will be able to take part in alot of the Holiday activities.

As far as the weather goes, it will be anyones guess. Sometimes it is cold and sometimes it is mild.

For a listing of everyting that is going on at that time you might want to check out our web-site. www.charlestoncvb.com

1st timer where to stay

Planning a R%26amp;R vacation for a week. Never been to MB before. Looking to rent a condo, with pool .however, not sure of the area I want.. I like walking the beach..but hate the commercial strip. Having read some of the forums maybe NMB would be better? Anybody have a recommendation for a condo. Not into golf, I like to shop and love sea food...and will have transport.. Any suggestions on where to stay and where to eat...thanks in Advance...September is the time I will be there...Cheers:)

1st timer where to stay

or another choice of where to stay would be the Garden city Surfside area. It is just south of Myrtle Beach.

1st timer where to stay

or another choice of where to stay would be the Garden city Surfside area. It is just south of Myrtle Beach.

The good news is that since you are going in Sept. things will be considerably slower than the busy summer months. And you are correct that NMB is a better bet as it does not have a Central Business District like Myrtle Beach. But if you are in NMB or MB and staying at any address on Ocean Drive, it will not be the most relaxing vacation you ever had.

If you are looking for relaxtion and a quiet location you will need a larger property (not just a single tower or low rise condo building on the beach). There are two large properties in the NMB area that have direct beach/ocean access, one is Ocean Creek and the other is Kingston Plantation. OC is about 55 acres and KP is about 150 acres. Both have a large variety of accommodations, ie: Lodges, Townhouses %26amp; Towers. And various size units, ie: studios, 1 bd, 2 bd %26amp; 3bd. If you are looking for peace and quiet and don%26#39;t want/need an ocean view, avoid the towers at both OC and KP. Lodge type units just behind the towers are very quiet and considerably cheaper on the wallet.

I think OC is more relaxing and quieter than KP. But on average the units are a little nicer at KP. But since private individuals own each unit at OC and KP there can be a big difference in the quality of the accommodations at the same property. Note that since KP is 3 times as large as OC, depending on where you are located on the property, you can have a pretty far walk to the beach at KP.

Each property has a web site that you can view to get an overall idea of what the properties are like.

Here%26#39;s OC%26#39;s http://www.oceancreek.com/ The ';accommodations'; link on the web site will give you a aerial photo of the property.

Here%26#39;s KP%26#39;s http://kingstonplantation.com The ';Directions - resort map'; will give you an overall layout.

Not trying to nit pic but need to avoid confusion. Kingston and Ocean Creek are good choices but they%26#39;re in the ';north end of Myrtle Beach'; area. Not the city of North Myrtle Beach. NMB is a few mile north of that area. Where ever you stay it%26#39;s not that bad of a drive to get around. Not half as confusing as it might sound.

Areas south of MB are quiet and relaxing. Many restuarants. For shopping you%26#39;d be driving a bit further. In MB you have the Coastal Mall. Towards the north end you have Broadway At The Beach, Tangers Outlets, Colonial Mall and Barefoot Landing. Plus another string of restuarants all through the area.

I agree with NMB or ';north end of MB'; for your first trip. You can always drive down to the ';strip'; to see what%26#39;s down there. Kingston, Ocean Creek and anything else in that area would be nice. Not crowded and away from the congestion of the strip.

NMB is a seperate city. Made up of four beach sections stretched out along a little less than ten miles of beach. Way I see it is in south end of NMB around Windy Hill you have the larger resort style condo complexes and they thin out the further north you go. At the north end in Cherry Grove you have smaller buildings(starting to build up).Something for all tastes and budgets.

Here is site for one of the largest selections of rentals in NMB. Half the fun is picking and chosing.

northmyrtlebeachtravel.com/book/query.html

Great section between 50th and 79th in the Northern section of Myrtle Beach.Prefer this area over North Myrtle Beach as it is much more centrally located.Forest Dunes, Beach Colony, Grande Shores and South Wnd are some good choices in this area.

If you want to drive South from North Myrtle Beach you have to pass thru 2 very congested intersections at Barefoot Landing and then at Galleria Shopping Center.Whereas the section mentioned above has easy access to Rt.17,Grissom Parkway,Rt.31 and 17 bypass.

Traffic would be a non-factor in September. Biggest problem I%26#39;ve had in summer is Barefoot Landing the nights they have a big name performer in town for a show. Have learned to stay away those nights.

From Cherry Grove it%26#39;s just a hop and skip out to Rt 31 and straight shot south. In May I saw some road construction around Main Street, Ocean Drive section. Wondered where it was going. Could that be another feeder to Rt 31 going in?