The Pineapple Fountain

Perhaps one of the most famous fountains here on the Charleston peninsula is the symbolic Pineapple Fountain at Waterfront Park. The pineapple has long been a symbol for hospitality and since Charleston has been repeatedly nominated as one of America’s friendliest cities by Travel + Leisure Magazine and Conde Nast, it only makes sense that one of Charleston’s focal points would be a stunning, larger than life fountain in the shape of a beautiful pineapple. It is said that Christopher Columbus first made mention of this succulent fruit when he and his men landed on the island of Guadaloupe. So enamored with this delicious and juicy treat, they brought the pineapple back to Europe where it gained popularity. During America’s colonial period, the pineapple was what every hospitable hostess would serve to her guests. It would first grace the table as a centerpiece and then be cut and offered to her guests for dessert. Since then, the symbol of the pineapple can be found everywhere, especially in Charleston, where the people are just as warm as its weather.

Waterfront Park’s Splash Fountain

Another must-see fountain here in Charleston is the splash fountain, also found at Waterfront Park. After a long day of walking Charleston’s charming streets, shopping in our incredible and eclectic shops, and visiting our plentiful historical sites, there is no better place to cool off and refresh your feet than the immense splash pad that greets you on the corner of Vendue Range and Concord Streets. If you’re not in the mood to actually get wet, it’s always entertaining to watch people (and often a friendly dog or two) play among the rushing jets of crystal clear water.

Chapel Street Fountain Park

The Chapel Street Fountain Park is a perfect example of the quintessential quiet neighborhood park. Peaceful and secluded, this romantic spot is the perfect setting for folks who want to get away from the city’s hustle and bustle. Verdant greenery and foliage surround the large, iron fountain. Sit in the shade and read a book. Bring your special someone along and share a picnic lunch on one of the park benches. Have your binoculars handy and do some bird watching while enjoying the gentle sound of the rushing water. This charming Charleston fountain is located on … you guessed it… Chapel Street.

Be sure to visit Charleston’s gorgeous and relaxing fountains while staying here at the Governor’s House Inn! It’s one way to help stay cool and really enjoy all that our sweet city has to offer. Contact us today to reserve your unique room!

Photo courtesy of: Ron Cogswell

Your residence for the weekend is the Governor’s  House Inn located at 117 Broad Street, Charleston, SC 29401. The inn is a historic Georgian double house, built in 1760, and eventually owned by Edward Rutledge, the youngest signer of the Declaration  of Independence.

After experiencing a restful night’s sleep, enjoy a Southern breakfast before heading to Charleston’s Old City Market on Meeting Street.  There you can meander among the flea market and small surrounding shops for hours, stopping to refresh yourself with food or drink from one of the varied  restaurants nearby.  At the market you can watch the basket weavers carry on the tradition of weaving  sweetgrass baskets as they hope you will purchase and claim one of these beloved Charleston souvenirs  as your own.  Near the market, horse carriage tours are waiting to stroll you through the streets of  downtown Charleston (a few of which are cobblestone), taking you back in time.  To cool off, walk to Charleston’s Waterfront Park.  A beautiful pineapple fountain – the pineapple symbolizes hospitality – is the park’s centerpiece.  Both children and adults cool off in its spray.  From there you can sit on one of  the large swings and watch the ships and boats as they pass through the harbor.  Head back to the Governor’s House Inn for afternoon tea on the veranda as you prepare to make the short drive over the Arthur Ravenel Bridge  for some great seafood at one of the restaurants on Shem Creek off Coleman Boulevard in Mount  Pleasant.

The next morning continue your visit downtown at Charleston’s Battery and White Point Gardens. As you walk among the grandeur of historic homes overlooking the Charleston Harbor, you  will spot historic Fort Sumter which saw the first shots of the Civil War.  Follow along East Bay Street and you  will come across Rainbow Row, which consists of a series of different colored houses that, in the 18th   century, served as Charleston’s waterfront district.  Close to the Battery, located at 14-16 Meeting  Street, is the Calhoun Mansion which is available for tours beginning at 11 am.  If time allows, veer off the main path and stroll the downtown streets admiring the diverse architecture.  Downtown boasts architecture ranging from classical Georgian, Federal style, Adamesque, Greek revival, Italian  Renaissance, Victorian, and the common colonial-era single and double houses.  A self-guided walking tour also enables you to view the many beautiful iron gates allowing a glimpse into well-manicured courtyards.

A weekend in Charleston is a memorable experience, and a teaser drawing you back,  time and time again.  Allow the staff at the Governor’s House Inn Bed and Breakfast to personally tailor your  Charleston experience. Contact us today to check for availability!

Photo courtesy of:    Jeff Milton

Fine Dining:

82 Queen (located conveniently at 82 Queen Street) is the epitome of elegant atmosphere, dining in one of the restaurant’s three 300 year old buildings, or if the weather permits, one may enjoy their meal in the quaint and quiet courtyard, surrounded by magnificent oaks and magnolias. They are open for lunch Monday through Saturday from 11:30-3:00, for Sunday brunch from 10:30-3:00, for dinner on Friday and Saturday from 5:30-10:30, and dinner on Thursday and Sunday 5:30-10:00. Visit their website at http://www.82queen.com/.

Casual Fine Dining:

Fleet Landing (186 Concord Street) is located directly on the water, right next to Charleston’s gorgeous Waterfront Park. The restaurant, itself, is an old 1940s Naval building and actually sits over the marsh for some of the most spectacular views of our stunning harbor. The menu caters to all cravings and features many traditional and signature dishes. This is a fun place for all members of the family and is sure to satisfy! Their website is http://www.fleetlanding.net/.

Moderate Eats:

Hominy Grill (207 Rutledge Avenue) is a rare jewel of a restaurant in that it provides fresh and inspired fare, and yet leaves the wallet happy. Known for its southern and soul food, the restaurant, located in an historic Charleston single house, is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and for brunch on weekends. One can even enjoy a cool cocktail while sitting in their courtyard! For more information, visit their website at http://hominygrill.com/.

Cheap Eats:

Taco Boy is the place to be! Now serving in two locations, the first is located at 217 Huger Street and the newest member of the family is at 15 Center Street on Folly Beach. Taco Boy serves some of the freshest and most inspired Tex/Mex fare that is sure to delight! Be sure to try their margaritas while sitting either in their festive dining room or out on the patio. With the motto “Skip Siesta, Let’s Fiesta”, how can anyone go wrong? http://www.tacoboy.net/index.php

Eating is an important part of your trip to Charleston, but you must also secure accommodations! For a really special stay, consider the Governor’s House Inn. It is a beautiful and historic B & B and will not disappoint. Click here for availability!!

Photo courtesy of:  wallyg

Middleton Place

Middleton Place is a National Historic Landmark and home to America’s Oldest Landscaped Gardens. The Garden Club of America has called the 65 acres “the most important and most interesting garden in America”.  Centuries-old camellias bloom in the winter months and azaleas blaze on the hillside above the Rice Mill Pond in the spring. In summer, kalmia, magnolias, crepe myrtles and roses accent a landscape magnificent throughout the year. The Gardens have been planned so that there is something blooming at Middleton Place year-round.

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

The gardens at Magnolia Plantation are of such beauty and variety that they have brought tourists from around the world to view them since they were open to the public in the early 1870s. However, many parts of the gardens are much older, some sections more than 325 years old, making them the oldest unrestored gardens in America. As the plantation has stayed within the ownership of the same family for more than three centuries, each generation has added their own personal touch to the gardens, expanding and adding to their variety. Today there are various varieties of flowers from camellias, daffodils, to azalea’s and countless other species in bloom year round, with the climax of incredible beauty building towards the spring bloom. When you visit, you can experience how one family’s vision of creating order and beauty in an untamed new world has evolved over the centuries into the magnificent sprawling gardens that the public can enjoy today.

Magnolia Plantation also boasts a Swamp Garden! The Audubon Swamp Garden is a unique world where trees grow from the water, islands float, and everywhere wild creatures go about their secret lives. It boasts a diversity of living things almost unequaled anywhere else in America. Thousands of plant and animal species coexist amongst the cypress and tupelo gum trees, surrounded by blackwater. Each year, hundreds of egrets, herons, and other waterfowl nest within feet of the walking path. You can explore this wild and otherwise inaccessible landscape on boardwalks, bridges, and dikes.

Drayton Hall

On the river-front lawn is the 18th-century ha-ha, the ditch that provided a nearly invisible barrier that kept large animals in grazing areas without disrupting the sweeping view. On the land-front lawn is the Victorian garden mound. A camellia planted about 1920 by Richmond Bowens, the descendant of seven generations of African Americans at Drayton Hall, survives as a key element of the gardens. This preservation approach to the landscape makes Drayton Hall exemplary among historic sites in the nation. According to Southern landscape historian Suzanne Turner, Drayton Hall has “the most significant undisturbed historic landscape in America.” Visitors to the site today can explore various parts of the landscape through the River Walk along the Ashley River and the Marsh Walk along the salt river marsh and the remains of 18^th century rice fields.

So, as you plan your trip to Charleston, remember that there is so much history here and so much beauty to be enjoyed! Staying at the Governor’s House Inn downtown will provide exactly that as well! There is much beauty and much history to be enjoyed! This bed and breakfast will delight you as you are pampered and treated with much southern hospitality! Book your stay today!!

Photos courtesy of:  meckleychina,  found_drama,   marybernsen,   wallyg

]]> http://www.governorshouse.com/2013/05/visit-our-charleston-gardens/feed/ 0 http://www.governorshouse.com/2013/05/the-charleston-city-market-a-brief-history/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed http://www.governorshouse.com/2013/05/the-charleston-city-market-a-brief-history/#comments Sun, 19 May 2013 17:15:18 +0000 Governor's House Inn http://www.governorshouse.com/?p=1474 Continue reading →]]> In the 1700s in Charleston, there was no refrigeration, and so it was necessary to go to the market for food each day. In the 1790s, at the corner of Broad and Meeting Street, the first public market was established in Charleston. At first, beef was sold at Meeting and Broad Streets, fish at the East end of Queen Street, which is now Vendue Range, farm produce from the barrier island planters at the East end of Tradd Street, now South Adger’s Wharf, and butter was sold on the peninsula. After the American Revolution, city planners decided for many reasons to consolidate these markets into one Center Market at Broad and Meeting. Turkey buzzards, called Charleston Eagles, were a common sight and were protected by law since they rid the area of scraps. Contrary to what most people believe, slaves were not sold at the Charleston City Market. At first, only food was sold here. Later it became a place for locals to meet, drink, and play games. In the 1840s, Charleston architect Edward B. White, designed the Market Hall at Meeting and Broad Streets. In 1788 Charles Pinkney donated a strip of recovered marsh to establish Center Market, which stretched from the docks of Charleston Harbor to Meeting Street. Other wealthy donors provided the additional land that was needed. The work to complete the market was extensive, as a canal had to be filled in.

In 1901, the number of food merchants using the market dropped, so City Council had to consider whether or not to use the area from East Bay to Anson Street for a park instead. This was considered repeatedly over the next few years, with the folks interested in historical preservation leading the debate. The Charleston Market is today a National Landmark.

Disasters and other Changes

In 1938, tornadoes severely damaged the City Market. They were repaired. In 1954 the Charleston Ground Observers positioned a plane spotting tower and telephone on top of the Market roof. The Market was again damaged in 1989 by Hurricane Hugo. It was restored and repainted in the original colors including a strong ochre and bright green iron work.

Today

Today the one story covered shelters extend four blocks to East Bay Street. They are open air and rest rooms have been added. The Market is open 365 days per year. You can find all sorts of souvenirs here: T-shirts, jewelry, post cards, handmade items, and Gullah Sweet Grass baskets as the makers themselves weave them before you.

According to visitor surveys conducted by the Center for Business Research of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, the Charleston Market is the most popular, free attraction in the city. It is a great place to browse, pick up gifts, and people watch. It provides a lot to see as you walk around the city and experience famous points of interest.

So, as you plan your historic Charleston vacation, what better place to stay than an historical bed and breakfast! The Governor’s House Inn will fit the bill.  Contact them today to secure your special room!

Photo courtesy of:robertnebel

In a random and unofficial poll, High Cotton , at 199 East Bay Street, was mentioned as a favorite of locals for brunch. It was also named the best brunch spot in Charleston by Martha Stewart Weddings. This upscale restaurant, with its big ceiling fans and Dixieland Band, is relaxed, and gracious– just the sort of Southern Hospitality you would expect to find in Charleston. They specialize in Lowcountry cuisine and place a great emphasis on using local foods grown with sustainable methods. How about some sweet corn johnny cakes or a southern breakfast cassoulet? You won’t be disappointed. You can make reservations online or call 843-724-3815.

Hominy Grill is another favorite of locals and visitors alike. Located at 207 Rutledge Avenue, in a historic Charleston single house, Hominy Grill has been serving Lowcountry favorites since 1996. You can enjoy such brunch items as strawberry rhubarb pop tarts, smoked duck and asparagus hash, grilled shrimp and rice salad, and cornmeal pancakes. They accept dinner reservations only, so get there early! Saturday and Sunday brunch begins at 9am.

If you are looking for good food with a view, you can’t beat Fleet Landing. Located at 6 Concord Street, Fleet Landing is on the Charleston Harbor in a renovated 1940s retired naval building. It was once used as a debarkation point for sailors but it ended up vacant after WWII and was later used as storage by the State Port Authority. A young man with a vision purchased the building and Fleet Landing was born. Not only will you have unobstructed views of the harbor here, but you will enjoy tantalizing Southern style seafood , which has been recognized by Food and Wine Magazine. Their brunch menu includes such delectable items as pan roasted crab cakes, pulled pork barbecue with buttermilk biscuits and fried eggs, quiche of the day, and crème brulee french toast. Reservations are encouraged by going online or calling 843-722-8100.

The Grocery, at 4 Cannon Street, is a delicious, warm, and comfortable place with cuisine made from the freshest local produce and seafood. Once a furniture warehouse, The Grocery now boasts a wood burning oven that creates a friendly atmosphere in the dining room. Hungry for some good, innovative Lowcountry cuisine? How about Southern fried quail, with cornmeal brioche and orange-sorghum syrup? Or what about ginger-sage sausage, scrambled egg, cheddar cheese and dijonaise on an English muffin? Or maybe you’d like to try duck confit with fennel, new potatoes, spring onion, greens and a sunny side up egg? Whatever you choose, you are sure to leave happy and satisfied. Reservations can be made online or by calling 843-302-8825.

Obviously this is not an exhaustive list of the fine places to dine for brunch in Charleston, but it should give you some ideas of what is available. As you make plans to visit Charleston, why not stay in a Bed and Breakfast? The Governor’s House Inn is one of the most classic bed and breakfasts and has received numerous accolades from many travel magazines and Southern Living. This historic landmark lets you experience pre-Revolutionary Southern grandeur and comfort. When you plan that special trip to Charleston, don’t forget to check here for availability at the Governor’s House Inn!

Photo courtesy of ESPemporium

One of these is the Spoleto Festival and Piccolo Spoleto Festival. These began May 24 but continue until the finale on June 9. You can check out the link for tickets to specific venues if you would like to enjoy the arts, music, theater, dance, and other events. The finale is not to be missed. It is a great family event at Middleton Plantation. You can walk around and enjoy the gardens, have a picnic on the grass as you listen to the Spoleto Orchestra, and then enjoy the fireworks after dark.

The Sweetgrass Festival is a great event to celebrate the Gullah Geechee cultural heritage. You can purchase these fine handcrafted baskets and also learn about the Gullah Geechee culture.  The legacy of the sweetgrass basket makers of Christ Church Parish in Mt. Pleasant was handed down through oral history of the African slaves. The basket making technique can be traced to West Africa and has remained the same all these years. Basket making became a family business in the 1920s. In the 1930s, the first basket stand was placed on Highway 17 and news spread quickly after the first sale. More stands sprang up and the business grew to what it is today. Sweetgrass basket making remains a handmade craft to this day.

The Charleston Farmers Market is available April 13th to December 21st each Saturday from 8am-2pm and select Sundays during the Piccolo Spoleto Festival from 9am to 3pm. It is located in the beautiful Marion Square, between King and Meeting Streets at the edge of Calhoun Street in the Upper King Street Design District. The park at Marion Square has long been the center of festive activities and is the perfect tranquil setting for the Charleston Farmers Market. Nestled beneath beautiful trees with plenty of room for families to gather and children to play, the Charleston Farmers Market comes to life and offers an abundance of the freshest local produce, plants, herbs and cut flowers. While strolling the Charleston Farmers Market, a delicious breakfast, brunch or lunches are available while listening to a variety of live entertainment. The Farmers Market also offers an amazing assortment of arts and crafts, providing the best selection and most talented local artisans.

The Sound of Charleston is a co-production of Charleston Musical Heritage Productions and The Company Company. Charleston Musical Heritage Productions, LLC. was founded in March of 2010 by Yvonne D. Evans and William K. Perry with the mission of bringing professionally presented, authentic music of Charleston’s heritage to our many visitors to the Lowcountry and to residents as well. The Company Company is a non-profit organization that produces musical and theatrical events which promote personal transformation and benefit the common good. During its lifetime, TCC has entertained an audience of 48,800 people. Last year, 10,100 people enjoyed its productions. William Schlitt and Maida Libkin are the co-founders. You will find styles in a range from Gershwin to Gospel! Click on the link above to order tickets to individual events.

If you are a sports enthusiast, you will not want to miss Riverdogs baseball! The baseball park, affectionately called “The Joe”, named after Mayor Joe Riley, is beautiful and is located right on the Ashley River downtown. This is a fun place to bring the whole family! There is always something fun happening at the Joe!

And if you are looking for a place to stay, a bed and breakfast is the perfect choice! The Governer’s House is a beautiful place to stay located in the heart of downtown, in walking distance to multiple things to do and see and places to eat. Click here to check on availability today!!

Photo courtesy of: skyliner72

Charleston was voted the #1 city by Condé Nast Traveler readers the second year in a row – and for good reason: In addition to amazing restaurants (chefs are stars here), gorgeous scenery, and an abundance of history, it’s the people who really make Charleston what it is. A welcoming smile. A gentleman who holds the door for a lady. Children who say “Yes, Sir” and Yes’ Ma’am.” Shopkeepers who go out of their way to help someone. Strangers who gladly give directions or advice on the hottest new restaurant. This is what a traveler can expect in Charleston. It’s why readers of Travel + Leisure magazine voted Charleston “Friendliest City” in 2009.

Charleston’s rich history may have something to do with this great Southern belle’s reputation. It’s a history full of pain and struggle, winning and losing and coming out of it all as a better place. Perhaps it’s the realization that life really IS good here in Charleston, and we should be thankful and joyful and friendly! Hard work brought prosperity to Charleston early on, with good soil for growing cotton and rice. A protected natural harbor brought shipping and prominence as a great city of America, eclipsing even Boston in her day. But the other side of this history is a dark period we Americans don’t like to dwell upon: slavery helped build the city. It fueled the plantation systems. Charleston fell a bit from grace. The Civil War left Charleston nearly destroyed and this great southern city lost its sheen, lost its prominence. But Charlestonians are resilient. They rebuilt. They persevered. They realized that people matter. All people. That’s the feeling you get when visiting here: that you matter. You are being helped because Charlestonians are glad you’re here; glad to share their beautiful city with you.

Experience the best in Charleston hospitality at:

• Hotels & B&B’s – service is a priority. The guest is the priority.
• Tour Guides – delighted to tell you all about their city and its colorful history.
• Restaurants – the best in fresh, inventive, local fare served with care and a smile.
• Shops – helpful service for the customer, a chat about this and that, a question or two about you, and always a smile.
• On the street – where can you find that museum or shop? Ask a local, they’ll be more than glad to help!

What is it that makes Charlestonians so warm and welcoming? Is it the delightful weather (well, mostly delightful, except for some days in July and August) with nary a day below freezing? Is it the surrounding beauty, the marshes, the ocean vistas, the dolphins “guiding” your boat as you glide through the harbor? Is it the history and gratefulness that we’ve succeeded when just the opposite could have happened? Or is it a combination of all of the above?

Definition (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
hos·pi·tal·i·ty – noun
1 : generous and friendly treatment of visitors and guests : hospitable treatment
▪ It was refreshing to be met with such hospitality after our long journey.

This definition helps to define Charleston’s friendly people: the key to southern hospitality in Charleston, SC is its people and their generous and friendly treatment of visitors and guests. The staff at The Governor’s House Inn is dedicated to showing that Charleston charm at every opportunity. Book your stay today and come experience the southern hospitality you deserve!

A Little Plantation History

Charleston’s wealth in the 18th and 19th centuries was derived, in large part, from the plantation system. In the early 1700s, planters began the arduous process of clearing and diking inland swamps to provide water for cultivation and began experimenting with a variety of crops. The first attempts at rice growing proved futile, but in 1726 rice crops were finally successful. With this success came the first wave of economic prosperity. By the mid-1700s, another profitable crop was introduced: indigo, a plant that produced a valuable dye.

Charleston Harbor served as a major shipping port for the rice and indigo cultivated throughout the region. It was also the first and largest port to receive the fuel with which the plantation system ran: slaves.

With the abolition of slavery in 1865, the society characterized by the opulent lifestyles of the plantation owners and their families collapsed. Without the labor needed to operate them, many of the plantations were abandoned and then fell into ruins or burned. Fortunately, several of the plantations survived and continue to this day to make major contributions to the community as living centers of education and research, preservation and commerce.

Charleston’s Plantations

The Charleston area has five plantations that are open to the public regularly, each uniquely reflecting various aspects of plantation life, as well as their vital roles in today’s Southern society.

Drayton Hall

Unique among plantation houses, Drayton Hall is the oldest unrestored plantation house in America open to the public. After seven generations, two great wars, and numerous hurricanes and earthquakes, the main house of this National Historic Landmark, built in 1738, remains in nearly original condition, showcasing three centuries of American history.

The main house is considered one of the finest examples of Georgian-Palladian architecture in the United States. In addition, the grounds represent one of the most significant, undisturbed historic landscapes in America.

It’s not uncommon for an archeological dig to be going on somewhere on the property, or for artisans of the building arts to be studying the structure to determine the most authentic way to reinforce or repair any deterioration to the house brought on by time.

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens

Just down the road from Drayton Hall lies Magnolia Plantation & Gardens. Founded in 1676 by the Drayton family, Magnolia Plantation has also survived the centuries and witnessed the history of our nation unfold, from the American Revolution through the Civil War and beyond. It is the oldest public tourist site in the Lowcountry and the oldest public garden in America.

The Drayton family has occupied the plantation for three centuries. The current main house gives a glimpse of plantation life in the 19th century. The 10 rooms open to the public are furnished with early-American antiques, porcelain, quilts and other Drayton family heirlooms. Guides describe life in the 19th century, using the furniture and household objects to bring plantation culture alive.

Lessons in horticulture abound at Magnolia Plantation. Its gardens are of such beauty and variety that they have brought tourists from around the world to view them since they were open to the public in the early 1870s. However, some sections are more than 325 years old, making them the oldest unrestored gardens in America. Because the plantation has stayed within the ownership of the same family for more than 300 years, each generation has added its own personal touch to the gardens, expanding and adding to their variety. Today there are various varieties of flowers such as camellias, daffodils, azaleas and countless other species in bloom year-round, with the climax of incredible beauty building toward the spring bloom. For a list of what’s currently blooming, click here.

Middleton Place

America’s oldest landscaped gardens are found at Middleton Place, an 18th-century rice plantation and National Historic Landmark, which also includes the Middleton Place House Museum and the Plantation Stable yards.

Middleton Place was established early in the life of the Carolina colony, and served as a base of operations for a great Lowcountry planter family. Begun in 1741 by Henry Middleton, president of the First Continental Congress, the landscaped garden was both an intellectual and emotional focus for successive generations of Middletons, including a signer of the Declaration of Independence; a South Carolina governor; and a U.S. minister to Russia.

But it’s the Gardens at Middleton Place, reflecting the elegant symmetry of 17th-century European design that truly captivate. The 65 acres of landscaped terraces, shadowy allées, ornamental ponds and garden rooms laid out with precise symmetry and balance, made Middleton Place the most unique and grand garden of its time.  Click here to see what’s blooming now. Today, as they did then, the gardens represent the Lowcountry’s most spectacular expression of an 18th-century ideal—the triumphant marriage between man and nature.

Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens

Boone Hall is one of America’s oldest working plantations, growing and producing crops for more than 320 years. Once known for cotton and pecans, Boone Hall actively produces strawberries, tomatoes, pumpkins and many other fruits and vegetables.

History is also on the menu at Boone Hall, where visitors can experience what plantation life was like in the 1800s by learning about the day-to-day activities of those who lived there.

One of the most distinctive features of Boone Hall is its spectacular entrance. In 1743, the son of Major John Boone planted live oak trees, arranging them in two evenly spaced rows along the long road leading to the main house. This Avenue of Oaks created a spectacular approach to the home, which came to symbolize Southern heritage. Today, the moss-draped Avenue of Oaks is one of the many reasons why Boone Hall is known as America’s most photographed plantation.

Charleston Tea Plantation

Charleston Tea Plantation, the only tea farm in America, offers visitors a look into the daily operations of a working, living plantation. Located on Wadmalaw Island just outside Charleston, the history here focuses on the Camellia sinensis, or tea plants.

In the 1700s, tea plants arrived in the Colonies from China. Over the next 150 years, a number of unsuccessful attempts were made to propagate and produce tea for consumption. Finally in 1888, Dr. Charles Shepard founded the Pinehurst Tea Plantation in Summerville, SC and American-grown tea became a reality. Tea plants grew wild at Pinehurst, where Shepard worked to develop award-winning teas until his death in 1915.

Today the Charleston Tea Plantation presents a learning experience unlike any other in the country. There, visitors can learn about the history of tea, the plantation site, and the actual harvesting and production process that takes place on-site at the Charleston Tea Plantation.

Experience the grandeur of Charleston’s plantations in bloom this spring. Book your room at The Governor’s House Inn today and begin your walk through history when you walk through our front door!

King Street Antiques District

King Street reigns supreme as the best place to get your bearings from a shopping and pricing perspective. Readers of Travel + Leisure magazine named the stretch from Broad to Market streets the best antique shopping in the U.S. Among the treasures you’ll find are fine English antiques and reproductions at Geo. C. Birlant & Co. (191 King Street). In three locations also on King Street, John Gibson Inc. is a wonderland of amazing furniture. (Note: The antiques shops are closed on Sundays.)  The Silver Vault (195 King Street) is THE place for anything silver – jewelry, silverware, serving pieces – you name it!

Mid-town King Street Fashion District

The Shops at Charleston Place

The Shops at Charleston Place are an exclusive collection of world-famous stores nestled in the heart of Charleston’s downtown shopping district. From Godiva to Gucci to St. John, it is the ultimate shopping experience. Located on the ground floor of Charleston Place Hotel, this legendary shopping location boasts the finest selections in the city.  From high-end fashion, jewelry, toiletries, linens and art, to contemporary and casual apparel, swimwear, chocolates and coffee, The Shops set the highest standards and offers our residents and visitors a truly unique shopping experience located in the heart of historic Charleston.

Local Stores – just a small sample of the great shops

Copper Penny – high-end misses clothing; a great collection and wonderful service.

Bob Ellis Shoes – from the latest designer styles, to practical yet stylish.

Bits of Lace – beautiful lingerie with a knowledgable, helpful staff.

319 Men – Suits, ties, expert tailoring, the latest men’s fashions.

Anne’s Downtown – quality ladies apparel with attentive service since 1942.

M. Dumas & Sons – an institution for men established in 1918; all things preppy!

City Market

Recent renovations have greatly improved the shopping experience here, including an enclosed, air-conditioned area with food, shops, and restrooms. The open-air portion has improved lighting for the vendors selling everything from Charleston t-shirts to beautiful, hand-made sweetgrass baskets, the ultimate souvenir from Charleston.

Upper King Street

L-Design (420 King St.) – unique handmade bags at a affordable price

Blue Bicycle Books (420 King St.) – fun, new and used bookstore

Modern Trousseau (418 King St.) – couture gowns with Charleston service

Butterfly Consignments (482 King St.) – top brand clothing, shoes, accessories

Meeting Street

The Trunk Show (281 Meeting St.) – elegant consignment, designer men’s & women’s clothing, estate jewelry & accessories.

The Shops of the Historic Charleston Foundation (108 Meeting St.) – home and garden furnishings and accessories that capture the essence of Charleston style. This unique blending of European, Asian, British and Caribbean influences is found in the alluring architecture, interiors and gardens of this historic city.

Off the Beaten Path

Graffito (151 East Bay St.) – jewelry from some 35 designers, local and international. A beautiful selection of art, handcrafted gifts, women‘s boutique items and even antiques.

Paulo Geiss Jewelers (116 East Bay St.) – designer jewelry, Rolex watches, and Forevermark diamonds.

The Hidden Countship (21 Burns Lane) – Made in Italy brands of luxury interior decor and fashion.

goat.sheep.cow (106 Church Street) – a cheese lover’s paradise, this adorable shop has the best cheeses from around the world.

This is just a small sample of the great shopping in Charleston. Plan your stay at The Governor’s House Inn and map out your downtown Charleston shopping adventure!