Carriage Tours:  I personally think that a carriage tour is the best way to check out Downtown Charleston.  We go on tours every time we have visitors – and have never had a bad experience.  There are four different routes through Downtown that the carriages are allowed to take and there is a random lottery system that determines the tour you get.  There are several different companies that offer the tours, and they are all good.  They do compete against each other for sales, so feel free to try to negotiate your rate:)  All tours depart from Market Street in the heart of Downtown.  You can set up a private tour – and if you have several people in your family – it may not even cost much more!  Here are links to two websites:

http://carriagetour.com  (Palmetto Carriage Tours) – Great company – but they usually use a team of mules instead of horses (just thought I would point that out in case you have any die-hard horse lovers in your family!)

http://www.cpcc.com/ (Carolina Polo and carriage Company)

Walking Tours

I also recommend walking tours – especially the ghost tours that are offered at night.  This is a great way to see a different side of Charleston and learn about the city’s history.  The tour guides are great story tellers, I have enjoyed every tour I have been on.  My favorite is the cemetery tour – very interesting!  You can call to make a reservation, or you can book with vendors set up on Market Street.  Here is a good company:

 http://www.bulldogtours.com/

Market Street: Vendors set up daily on Market Street and sell all sorts of neat things.  Definitely worth walking through.  This is a great place to buy Sweetgrass Baskets!

King Street Shopping:  King Street is loaded with great stores – Apple Store, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren, Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Saks Fifth Avenue and tons of local boutiques, restaurants and antique shops.  I mostly window shop here . . . but it is always fun!

The Battery:  An absolute must-see!  As East Bay Street comes to an end you will pass the famous Rainbow Row and reach the tip of the peninsula.  Here you will find the old mansions lining the harbor, a beautiful walkway right on the water and a lovely park called White Point Gardens.  Free Parking on the street.  The owner of Middleton Place has a historic home here that you can tour – I strongly recommend checking it out!  It is called the Edmondston-Alston House (http://www.middletonplace.org/default.asp?catID=4515) and it is open daily for tours.  This is a great house – definitely worth checking out!

Edmondston-Alston House

The Battery

Our ceremony will be at the Butterfly Lakes at Middleton Place.  You can walk over to the ceremony from the Inn or you can drive.  The path is lit after dark if you decide to walk!  If you drive, there will be parking close by the reception site.  The reception will follow the ceremony and will be located at the Pavillion at Middleton Place.  We look forward to seeing you there!

For traditional Lowcountry Cuisine:

Jestine’s Kitchen - they do not have a website and they do not have anywhere to wait for a table, but trust us – this one is worth waiting for!  A line forms outside the restaurant located Downtown at 251 Meeting Street every day.  They are open for lunch and dinner.

Virginia’s On King - Located in Downtown Charleston at 412 King Street  http://www.virginiasonking.com/ 

82 Queen - Located at (yep!) 82 Queen Street, you will find the best She Crab Soup in town.  We frequent 82 Queen, as Season (one of my bridesmaids) has worked there for a few years.  This award-winning restaurant also serves a great BLT  for lunch and has a beautiful outdoor courtyard and very unique dining rooms.  http://www.82queen.com/

For Seafood:

Hank’s Seafood Restaurant – Located on the corner of Church and Hayne Streets near Market Street in Downtown Charleston.  By far our favorite seafood restaurant!  http://hanksseafoodrestaurant.com/

COAST - You will find COAST hidden slightly off of John Street.  Great seafood and a really cool atmosphere.  http://www.coastbarandgrill.com/

Ethnic

39 Rue de Jean - Right next door to COAST, Rue de Jean puts a Lowcountry twist on traditional French Cuisine.  http://www.39ruedejean.com/

Basil - For excellent Thai food in Downtown Charleston.  http://eatatbasil.com/

And if you want something close to the Inn at Middleton Place . . .

The Middleton Place Restaurant serves an awesome 3 course lunch every day and traditional Lowcountry fare at night. 

If you are looking for a great lunch close by – you must check out Ladles.  Fresh, homemade soups, sandwiches and salad!  Micheal eats lunch there pretty much every day, you might even see him there . . . Directions: From the Inn, make a left onto Ashley River Road and  turn right at the first stoplight you get to.  Take an immediate left into the Bi-Lo shopping center.  They change their soups everyday, but you can take a look at their website to see what is cooking: http://www.ladlessoups.com/dailyspecials.html

http://www.middletonplace.org/default.asp?id=110436&action=detail&catID=9468&parentID=9468

Please join us on Friday the 13th for an Oyster Roast and BBQ at the Middleton Inn’s Syrup Shed!  The Syrup Shed is at the Equestrian Center just before you get to the Inn.  Parking is available or you can walk from your room.  Bring a sweater because it may get a little chilly after dark, hopefully the bonfire will help keep us warm!  We will start roasting oysters at 6:30 pm and we hope to see you there!

The Inn at Middleton Place

Micheal was able to set up a rate of $99 for Standard River View or Woods View rooms and a rate of $119 for Grand Rooms.  Please call 800.543.4774 to make your reservation and just let them know you are with the Moffat-McDaniel wedding.  You must make your reservation over the phone to get our block rate, but definitely check out their website if you have the chance: www.theinnatmiddletonplace.com