1.  Start Planning Well Ahead of Time

Planning well ahead of time is one way you can ensure that your time in Charleston, SC will be well spent.  As a local bed and breakfast in Charleston South Carolina, we can help provide you with advice on what to do and see in the area.  Take the time up front to research what you want to do and see and plan ahead by booking tours, purchasing tickets, and making reservations.  That way, you’ll have no worries on what to do and where to go when you get to the Lowcountry.

2.  Set Your Plans to Tour the City

There are many different ways to see the Charleston peninsula, so you should plan ahead how you want to tour through downtown.  You can opt to see the city by foot, or you can reserve bikes at the inn, a carriage tour, or boat ride around the harbor.  When it comes to witnessing what Charleston has to offer and experiencing the history, there is no better way than to embark on a sightseeing tour.  These tours vary by mode of transport: bike, carriage, foot, and boat.  The carriage tours through downtown take visitors back in time through the alleyways and streets. Whereas, the boat tours give you a unique vantage point to view the peninsula’s architecture and see why Charleston is called the Holy City!

3.  Reserve Your Spot at the Dinner Table!

Many of the visitors to Charleston come to experience the great cuisine.  You’ll have a range of restaurants to choose from, whether you are looking for fresh seafood or something truly Southern. As your local Charleston bed and breakfast, we want to help make your stay as great as possible. We know the area, and we can help provide you restaurant recommendations in Charleston no matter the time of day or season.  Make sure you plan ahead and book your reservations early so you can eat when and where you desire!

Bars:

4 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate

1 cup margarine

4 eggs

2 cups sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

½ tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

Melt chocolate and margarine over hot water, cool slightly. Beat eggs until light. Cream in sugar. Add remaining ingredients. Beat 1 minute. Pour into 10×14 inch pan lined with parchment paper. Bake 25 min @ 325 degrees. Cool.

Filling:

½ cup butter

4 cups powdered sugar

¼ cup half and half

¼ cup sherry

Beat butter and sugar together gradually adding cream and sherry. Should be light and and fluffy. Spread over bars and chill.

Topping:

1 (12-ounce) package semi-sweet morsels

4 Tbl water

4 Tbl butter

Melt chocolate with butter and water over hot water. Mix well. Spread. Chill until firm. Cut into 1-inch bars. Store in refrigerator. Makes 5 dozen

The Weather is Beautiful

It is truly hard to beat the weather this time of the year in Charleston, South Carolina.  It is warming up nicely, but it is still mild enough so that you can enjoy the beaches along with walks through downtown.  As you stroll through downtown make sure you visit the art galleries, and be sure to check out the Gibbes Museum of Art.  You can also check out bikes from the inn to take your own self guided tour through downtown.  With this spring and early summer weather, make sure you walk to the market, marion square, and the battery.  This will give you a great taste of the city’s architecture and you will get to see the many gardens that define the landscape.

Art Galore!  

Along with May, comes the Spoleto Festival USA.  This is one of the best arts festivals in the nation, and a great opportunity to witness Charleston culture at its best.  The festival lasts for 17 days, and takes place every Spring.  Every year, the Spoleto Festival transforms the theaters, churches, and outdoor spaces in downtown charleston and fills them with renowned artists and performers.  You will have the opportunity to enjoy great theater, opera, dance, chamber, symphonic, choral, and jazz music in addition to other great forms of visual art.  The Spoleto Festival is arguably the nation’s premir performing arts festival!  Don’t miss an opportunity to see Charleston in a way like no other time of the year.

If you decide to take our advice, and visit Charleston in the near future, then do not hesitate to call on us to help you plan your trip.  We at the Governor’s House Inn, want your trip to Charleston to be a success.  We want you to feel and experience Charleston and make the most of your time here.  Call on us and we can help you book and plan your vacation ahead of time.  We can provide advice from dinner recommendations to must see historic sites.  Contact us today to start planning your vacation.

Here is some more information and history about Fort Sumter from the National Park Service if you are planning a trip in the near future:

The first shot of the American Civil War didn’t hit anything. It was a 10-inch mortar shell, fired from Fort Johnson, that exploded above Fort Sumter as a signal for Confederate artillery to open fire on the Union-held fort…

If you are traveling to Fort Sumter, remember that you cannot get to Fort Sumter from Sullivan’s Island and Fort Moultrie. Sullivan’s Island is the mailing address of the park and the location of Fort Moultrie and Park Headquarters.  Fort Sumter is located on an island in Charleston harbor and is only accessible by boat.

If you do not have access to a private boat, a concession-operated ferry is available. The primary departure site is from the Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center located in downtown Charleston. For departure schedules and fees, visit the concessioner page.

The secondary departure site is located at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant. Visitors with large vehicles such as buses and RVs should plan on using the Patriots Point departure site.

Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center

340 Concord Street

Charleston, South Carolina

We would be more than glad to help you plan your trip around the festival, so you get the most out of the experience.  The Governor’s House Inn is also a great location in relation to the various venues that are a part of the festival.  Here is some additional information on the Spoleto Festival from their website to help you plan for your trip:

What is the best way to begin planning my Spoleto Festival USA experience?

To begin planning, we recommend either paging through our 44-page color brochure or browsing online, either by program view or by schedule view. If you have questions about specific performances, please feel free to call 843.579.3100 to speak with a box office representative.

Are there any packages or discounts available?

Yes, discounts for students, seniors and military are available for select performances. Additionally, our Go Spoleto! hotel and ticket packages offer savings for patrons seeking to enjoy performances while staying near the Festival action. Please call the box office at 843.579.3100 for details.

Are group discounts available?

Groups of 15 or more save on select performances. Click here for more information about group discounts and other benefits.

Where is the Spoleto Festival USA Box Office?

The Spoleto Festival USA box office opens April 23, 2012, at Gaillard Auditorium, 77 Calhoun St. 

Can I buy tickets at the door?

Tickets go on sale at the individual performance venue’s box office one hour before performance time. Tickets are only available at venue box offices the day of performance, not at any other time.

The Spoleto Festival is a great chance to witness art across several different mediums, and it is a wonderful time to visit Charleston, South Carolina.  It is a long festival with many events, so if you need help planning or want a local perspective on the festival, don’t hesitate to reach out and give us a call at the inn.  We can help you plan your itinerary around the festival, and ensure that you get the most out of your stay.

Blueberry Strata

• This recipe will need to be chilled for eight hours over night!
• Double the recipe for a Full House
• Cook Time : 55 minutes
• Serves 12 people.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ to 2 loaves French Bread cubed.
• 2 packages (16 ounces total) of cream cheese.
• 1 ½ cups fresh or frozen blueberries, thawed.
• 8 eggs.
• 2 cups half and half.
• ¼ cup of maple syrup or any other syrup.
• 1 tsp. vanilla.

Preparation:

• Spray baking dish with Pam.
• Cut bread into 2 inch cubes. Place half in 13 x 9 inch baking dish.
• Cut cream cheese into 1 inch cubes, place over bread.
• Top with blueberries and remaining bread.
• In a large bowl, beat eggs.
• Whisk in milk and syrup and blend well.
• Pour egg mixture over bread and cream cheese layers.
• Press down lightly to ensure egg mixture covers all bread cubes.
• Cover and chill for 8 hours or overnight.
• Remove from fridge 30 minutes before baking.
• Cover with foil and bake a 350° for 30 minutes.
• Uncover, bake 25-30 minutes more or until golden brown and the center is set.
• Let stand for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.

Sauce:

• ½ cup sugar
• 2tbs cornstarch
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup blueberries
• ¼ cup orange juice
• 1tbs butter

In a small saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch and water until smooth. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 3 minutes. Stir in blueberries and orange juice; reduce heat. Simmer for 8-10 minutes or until berries have burst. Strain the sauce and toss the blueberry skins of using frozen berries (the skins get tough when berries are frozen).  Stir in butter until melted.  Pour on sauce.

Have you planned your trip to Charleston, South Carolina, but you are still wondering what to do when you get here?  Well, there is no shortage of things to do and see in this historical city, and you honestly can’t go wrong no matter what you decide to take part in.  If you need help rounding out your itinerary, then check out our brief guide below on what to do in Charleston:

What to Do In Charleston:

1. Take a Carriage Tour Downtown:  When you take a carriage tour through downtown Charleston, you will truly have a unique opportunity to take in the architecture and learn about the history that shaped the region.  This is one of the best ways to see and learn about the city!  If you would rather something more active, you should check out some of our bikes at the inn, and take a leisurely ride through the city.
2. Walk the Cooper River Bridge (Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge):  Not only is this bridge an architectural icon for Charleston, it provides it’s own unique vantage point to see the Charleston harbor and take in the rest of the city’s unique architecture and historical sites.
3. Tour one of the Area Plantations:  As you visit Charleston, remember many historic plantations are located around historic downtown in both Mount Pleasant and West Ashley.  Drayton Hall plantation is a great option:  it was built in 1738, and is the oldest plantation house open to the public. 
4. Go to the Beach!  There’s no shortage of great beaches in the Charleston area. Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, and Folly Beach are all within a short driving distance of downtown and all have something unique to offer.  If you decided to head out to Sullivan’s island, make sure you pay a visit to Fort Moultrie!
5. Try The Restaurants & Bring Your Appetite!  When you come to Charleston, SC, bring your appetite with you.   There are plenty of great restaurants to chose from, and we can help you plan for it by providing recommendations and helping you book your reservation.

Here at the Governor’s House Inn, we understand what makes Charleston, SC a top destination for travelers.  Our experienced Innkeepers at the Governor’s House can plan the perfect getaway for you and your special someone.  We can also plan your upcoming Corporate retreat. Check out our Specials page or call us today at 800 720 9812. You can also connect with us via Facebook or our Contact Us page.

The Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina is organized by Spoleto Festival USA.  It is truly one of the country’s, if not the world’s, premier performing arts festivals of its kind.  How did it get started?  In 1977 it was originally founded by Gian Carlo Menotti, who won a Pulitzer Prize winner for musical composition, and who sought to create a sister festival in Charleston South Carolina that would compliment the Festival dei Due Mondei (The Festival of Two Worlds) in Spoleto, Italy.   Here is more information about the Spoleto Arts Festival in Charleston SC, and where you can go to purchase tickets:

Overview

For 17 days and nights each spring, Spoleto Festival USA fills Charleston, South Carolina’s historic theaters, churches and outdoor spaces with performances by renowned artists as well as emerging performers in opera, theater, dance, and chamber, symphonic, choral and jazz music. Now approaching its 36th season, Spoleto Festival USA is internationally recognized as America’s premier performing arts festival.

Mission

The Festival mission is to present programs of the highest artistic caliber while maintaining a dedication to young artists, a commitment to all forms of the performing arts, a passion for contemporary innovation, and an enthusiasm for providing unusual performance opportunities for established artists. This focus has brought the Festival international acclaim year after year.

Contributing to the Festival’s ongoing success is its location in Charleston. World-renowned for its stunning natural beauty, impressive array of preserved historical architecture, and wealth of charming performance venues, Charleston provides an incomparable setting for audience members and guest artists alike.

History

Spoleto Festival USA was founded in 1977 by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Gian Carlo Menotti, Christopher Keene, and others who sought to create an American counterpart to their annual Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto, Italy. Looking for a city that would provide the charm of Spoleto as well as its wealth of theaters, churches and other performances spaces, they selected Charleston as the ideal location. The historic city provided a perfect fit: intimate enough that the Festival would captivate the entire city, yet cosmopolitan enough to provide an enthusiastic audience and robust infrastructure.

Notable premieres

In the decades since its inception, Spoleto Festival USA has firmly established itself as one of the world’s leading festivals, presenting more than 200 world or American premieres. Notable past premieres and commissions include: Monkey: Journey to the West by Chen Shi-Zheng, Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett; Peter and Wendy by Lee Breuer; Creve Coeur by Tennessee Williams; The American Clock by Arthur Miller; The Mechanical Organ by the Nikolais Dance Theatre; Miracolo d’Amore by Martha Clarke; Empty Places by Laurie Anderson; Hydrogen Jukebox by Philip Glass and Allen Ginsberg; Praise House by Urban Bush Women; Three Tales by Steve Reich and Beryl Korot; and Tenebrae by Osvaldo Golijav.

World-renowned artists who performed early in their careers at Spoleto Festival USA include Renée Flemming, Emanuel Ax, Joshua Bell, Yo-Yo Ma, the Emerson String Quartet and Jean-Yves Thibaudet.

 If you are interested in going to the festival, you can purchase tickets online by following this link:  Spoletousa.org.

]]> http://www.governorshouse.com/2012/03/are-you-ready-for-spoleto-remember-plan-ahead/feed/ 0 http://www.governorshouse.com/2012/03/battery-park-charleston-sc/ http://www.governorshouse.com/2012/03/battery-park-charleston-sc/#comments Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:12:49 +0000 Governor's House Inn http://www.governorshouse.com/?p=556 Continue reading →]]> Are you planning a trip to Charleston in the not too distant future?  Have you already made your plans, booked your reservations, and built your itinerary?  We know that planning your vacation can be a little overwhelming at times, and we’re here to help make your trip to Charleston one to remember!  Don’t sweat it if you have already made your plans for your next visit, but be sure to walk around Battery Park, you won’t regret it!

If you are planning to visit Charleston sometime soon, it is always worthwhile to take a stroll through one of Charleston’s best promenades, Battery Park or White Point Gardens.  It is a great place to get to know this historic city.  When you are visiting Charleston, you will quickly realize there is no shortage of things to do and see.  However, taking a walk from the Governor’s House Inn to Battery Park is one walk you will not regret.

Battery Park provides views of Fort Sumter and the various historic antebellum homes that define the Charleston landscape.  The park is located at the southeastern point of the peninsula, and was originally established as a fort.  It was converted into a park in 1837, but was then used in the Civil War by the Confederate Army as an artillery battery.

When you stroll through the park today, now known as White Point Gardens, you’ll quickly fall in love with the giant oak trees that line the promenade.  The park also includes many historical monuments, memorials, and artifacts including cannons from the Civil War, the Torpedo Boatman Memorial, the Moultrie Monument, the USS Amberjack Memorial, and many more.

Walking from the Governor’s House Inn towards the battery will show you why Charleston has been a beloved place for so many years.  It is always difficult to define a place by describing it in images and words.  When people ask me to define Charleston, a walk to Battery Park is an experience that always comes to mind.  However, do not take our word for it, next time you’re in town, walk it for yourself.

]]> http://www.governorshouse.com/2012/03/battery-park-charleston-sc/feed/ 0 http://www.governorshouse.com/2012/03/the-low-country-boil-a-charleston-tradition/ http://www.governorshouse.com/2012/03/the-low-country-boil-a-charleston-tradition/#comments Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:26:02 +0000 Governor's House Inn http://www.governorshouse.com/?p=550 Continue reading →]]> If you have visited Charleston or the “Low Country,” you may have had the opportunity to try a “Low Country” boil.  If you haven’t heard it called by this name, perhaps you have heard it called by it’s less appealing name, Frogmore Stew.  It does not matter what you call it, it is a traditional recipe you should definitely try at some point.

Here is a little history about the traditional dish and a recipe from Coastal Magazine for you try:

Once called Frogmore Stew, this one-pot wonder was created by a National Guardsman when he needed to cook a meal for 100 soldiers. Richard Gay, who learned the recipe from his family, had everyone remembering his stew. The dish was later named Frogmore, where Richard was from, by the guards who teased him about home. The postal service eliminated the name Frogmore, which changed this popular dish to Lowcountry boil.

This seafood dish is a combination of shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes. Great for relaxing trips to the beach, it is also easy to create for a crowd. Lowcountry boil can be served on newspaper for easy clean up. Crab, onion, and butter are frequent additions to the pot, and having a removable drain basket only makes cooking easier. The rule of thumb here is the bigger the crowd, the bigger the pot.

Lowcountry Boil

4 pounds small red potatoes
5 quarts water
1 (3-ounce) bag of crab boil seasoning
4 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning
2 pounds kielbasa or hot smoked link sausage, cut into 1½-inch pieces
6 ears of corn, halved
4 pounds large fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined optional
Cocktail sauce

Add potatoes to large pot, then add 5 quarts water and seasonings. Cover pot and heat to a rolling boil; cook 5 minutes. Add sausage and corn, and return to a boil. Cook 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Add shrimp to stockpot; cook 3 to 4 minutes or until shrimp turn pink. Drain. Serve with cocktail sauce. Serves 12.

As you can tell, when it comes to a Low Country Boil, simplicity usually wins out.  It is not a complicated concoction, but one that you will definitely enjoy if you are a seafood lover.  Remember, however, you can definitely add in additional ingredients as you see fit.  You can throw in additional forms of seafood if you desire, but we recommend trying it for the first time in it’s most traditional form.  We hope you enjoy the recipe!