Charleston Festival of Houses and Gardens, March 18 20

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1 Charleston Festival of Houses and Gardens, March Do you want to know more? The Meeting Street Crawl. Meeting Street is in many ways Charleston s Main Street, connecting commercial arteries to the north of the old city to the tip of Charleston s neck, framed by the Ashley and Cooper Rivers. Below Broad Street, you find a succession of impressive residences, which culminate in the White Point Gardens the Battery. Homes on lower Meeting Street include the Calhoun Mansion, Charleston s largest residence, and the beautiful Nathaniel Russell home a Regency-styled house built in 1808 for a wealthy Charleston merchant. [see photos below] Rockville and the Charleston Tea Plantation. Rockville is that quintessential sleepy little bayside village, beyond reach of tour buses and tourists. Our Explore Up Close blend-in style allows us to drive into Rockville and have a look around without disturbing anyone. Just back up the road is the fascinating Charleston Tea Plantation. The tea plants are stock from a Dorchester County (SC) plantation, that grew tea brought from China in the 19 th century. That s why they say America s only native tea plantation. The Cooper River s historic legacy... Three of the five area plantations opened to the touring public are on the Ashley River. Zero are on the Cooper River. We ll drive the old Cainhoy Road on the eastern bank of the Cooper, and take in the sites of several 18 th century churches, and enjoy lovely views of the river. Meals... Some terrific (and newer) Charleston establishments, including FIG, the Hominy Grill, the Stono Market and Tomato Shed Café, (and more).

2 The Itinerary in brief: Sunday, March 18 We ll depart the Upstate for our descent to the Low Country. Past Columbia, we ll leave the interstate, driving beautiful blue roads that wind through greening agricultural fields. We ll stop in the town of Santee for lunch, then enter the Lake Moultrie area. The region s historic legacy will be palpable in the steady progression of historic markers, old churches, and gated plantations that mark our drive into the basin of the Cooper River. Highlights of our Cooper River Drive will include a stop at the site of the Henry Laurens plantation Mepkin Hall, and the Strawberry Chapel an Episcopal Chapel of Ease, constructed in Upon arrival in Charleston, we ll check into the Meeting Street Inn. Relax and unwind. Dinner this evening at FIG just a short walk north on Meeting Street. Monday, March 19 This morning, we ll be treated to breakfast delicacies of our choice at the Meeting Street Inn. We ll enjoy and short driving orientation to Charleston s central historic district, then visit the Avery Institute one of the foremost preservers of African American history in South Carolina (and in the US). In the mid-morning, we ll drive to James Island, where we ll uncover several notable sites: McLeod Plantation; the old community of Secessionville; and a beach view toward the site of Fort Wagner (think 54 th Massachusetts Regiment) and the Morris Island Lighthouse. In the afternoon, we ll begin our discovery of Meeting Street houses and gardens (2:00 pm 5:00 pm). Back at the hotel... there s a wine and cheese reception. Dinner is own you on. Those who care to join me can try out the acclaimed Hominy Grill in the Cannonborough section of downtown. Tuesday, March 20 Enjoy one last delicious breakfast at the Meeting Street Inn. We ll drive past the Angel Oak (one of the largest and oldest live oak trees in the world), then visit the Charleston Tea Plantation, and the lovely village of Rockville. Lunch at the Stono Market and Tomato Shed Café. In the afternoon, we ll drive home to the Upstate. Photo Gallery and Registration Form follow:

3 St. Philip s Episcopal Church, from Church Street (one block from the Meeting Street Inn) the stately Nathaniel Russell House, Meeting Street

4 Nathaniel Russell House interiors

5 the Meeting Street Inn

6 Outliers... Sea Island and Cooper River scenes

7 and America s only native-grown tea!

8 Trip Registration Charleston s Festival of Houses and Gardens, March 18 20, 2018 Please print and mail this registration form, along with your $250 / person deposit (check, payable to Explore Up Close), to: Explore Up Close, LLC 613 Poplar St. Spartanburg, SC Your Name: Mailing Address: Telephone: Name of person(s) traveling with you (if applicable): ; Contact information (if different from yours): Telephone: Lodging specifics (requests will be honored to the degree possible): room with two (2) beds room with one (1) bed Enclosed is my check, payable to Explore Up Close, in the amount of. Final trip payment is due on February 16, Refunds can be granted prior to that date, minus a $100 service fee and any non-refundable vendor monies (hotel, etc.). (864) chumley@exploreupclose.com