Adventure Through Charleston – 4 Days
Spend 4 days in the heart of South Carolina’s LowCountry. Dig into Charleston’s centuries-old history, visit a historic public market and get blown away by amazing pre-Civil War architecture.
Program Summary
Spanish moss-draped trees, spooky cemeteries, centuries-old mansions, and cobblestone alleys – that is how we would describe Charleston. Known for its rich history, well-preserved architecture, distinguished restaurants, and mannerly people, Charleston is bursting with Southern charm and hospitality.
Program Highlights & Inclusions
- Professional ETA Tour Manager throughout your trip
- Transportation throughout your trip
- Guided Historic Walking Tour of Charleston
- Guided Barrier Island Ecological Tour
- Admission to Fort Moultrie
- Charleston Carriage Tour
- Guided Ghost & Graveyard Tour
- Narrated Cruise to Historic Fort Sumter
- Visit to the Historic Charleston City Market
- Admission to the South Carolina Aquarium
- Admission to Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
- Admission to Frankie’s Fun Park
- Visit to the Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
Daily Itinerary
Upon arrival, you will meet your ETA Tour Manager and begin your trip.
Charleston, South Carolina, is a living classroom. Charleston Strolls invites you to participate in an entertaining, walking tour of the historic district with a licensed tour guide. During the tour you will experience the lifestyle of eighteenth and nineteenth century America. Commentary on three hundred years of tradition and history includes Charleston’s role in the Revolutionary War and Civil War, both of which were fought in and around this city. We will follow the footsteps of the famous and the infamous, from pirates to presidents. Landmarks include The High Battery, Rainbow Row & the Four Corners of Law. Experiencing downtown Charleston is a step back in time.
You will take a Barrier Island Ecological Tour. During the tour, the scientific process and inquiry skills are promoted and reinforced throughout the trip as students learn about organisms, habitats, communities, and ecosystems, as well as the environmental and geological factors that influence them.
You’ll take a self-guided visit to Fort Moultrie. Decades of growing strife between North and South erupted in civil war on April 12, 1861, when Confederate artillery opened fire on this Federal fort in Charleston Harbor. Fort Sumter surrendered 34 hours later. Union forces would try for nearly four years to take it back.
You will discover the historic center of Charleston on an authentic Carriage Tour and then get to enjoy the views of Charleston Harbor from Battery Park with some beach time to walk around and enjoy the beach.
You will take a guided Ghost & Graveyard Tour. You’ll get an exclusive opportunity to walk inside the gates of one of Charleston’s oldest graveyards after dark. Learn about the history of Charleston’s graveyards and hear the stories of the famous individuals who found their final resting place in the Holy City.
You will experience a relaxing 30 minute narrated cruise to historic Fort Sumter. You will learn about the events which led to the outbreak of America’s most bloody war. When you arrive you will be greeted by National Park Service Rangers who will provide further details about Fort Sumter and its pivotal role in the American Civil War. On the fort you will find a very informative museum with many historic artifacts and a souvenir shop. After your one hour visit, you will enjoy a scenic cruise back to your departure point.
Next, you will visit the historic Charleston City Market, the cultural heart of the City. As one of the nation’s oldest public markets, the historic Charleston City Market plays a leading role in the preservation of time-treasured customs and vibrant American history. Throughout the year, the local community and visitors alike gather for authentic experiences and interaction with more than 300 vibrant entrepreneurs.
You’ll visit the South Carolina Aquarium, a captivating journey from the mountains to the sea featuring 60 unique habitats, including our 385,000-gallon Great Ocean Tank.
You will take a trip through US military history at the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum. You’ll check out the USS Yorktown AirCraft Carrier, World War II’s famous “Fighting Lady” which participated significantly in the Pacific offensive that began in late 1943 and ended with the defeat of Japan in 1945. YORKTOWN received the Presidential Unit Citation and earned 11 battle stars for service in World War II. Take a look at the USS Laffey, the most decorated World War II era US Destroyer still in existence and the USS Clamagore, the only GUPPY III submarine preserved in the U.S. The USS CLAMAGORE is Patriots Point iconic Cold War submarine. You’ll explore the three vessels, working remnants of times gone by. You’ll step right inside a history book as you visit the Vietnam Experience and The Cold War Museum and you’ll celebrate our Country’s Military heroes with a visit to the Medal of Honor Museum.
You’ll visit Frankie’s Fun Park in Charleston featuring go-carts, bumper boats, arcade games and mini golf.
Founded in 1676 by the Drayton family, Magnolia Plantation has survived the centuries and witnessed the history of our nation unfold before it from the American Revolution through the Civil War and beyond. It is the oldest public tourist site in the Lowcountry, and the oldest public gardens in America, opening its doors to visitors in 1870 to view the thousands of beautiful flowers and plants in its famous gardens. Magnolia Plantation & Gardens bears witness to 350 years of American history. You’ll learn about the Europeans who colonized South Carolina, the Drayton family that still owns the plantation today, and the enslaved people who worked in the rice fields and in the gardens.
Your adventure comes to a close as you begin your trip home.
