Charleston, South Carolina
Low Country Charm at it’s Best!
April 6-11, 2010

Click Here to Download Registration Form (PDF File)

Our 2010 tour and convention will take us to Charleston, South Carolina to discover History, Culture, Gardens and a Low Country way of life.

Most of us will be arriving on Tuesday, April 6, 2010. We’ll be staying at the Best Western King Charles Inn located in the heart of the Historic District of Charleston. The Inn is just blocks away from the famous Market, historic homes and churches.

Since it’s been a while since we last saw each other, there will be a welcome reception and registration in the Dining Room of the Best Western King Charles Inn from 4 pm. – 6 p.m. This gives everyone a chance to catch up with old friends.

Wednesday, April 7
At 9:00, we are off to tour four of Charleston’s private, historic gardens. Planted behind decorative iron gates, these private gardens have been perfectly planted to create magical "Garden rooms". It was once believed that an enclosed garden pushed back the wilderness to keep one safe from the "haints" (ghost). You can decide for yourself on that theory.

The gardens are in close proximity to the hotel. You will want to wear good walking shoes because Charleston is also known for cobblestone streets and brick walkways.

We will end the morning tour at the Nathaniel Russell House. Set amid spacious formal gardens, the Nathaniel Russell House is a National Historic Landmark and is widely recognized as one of America’s most important neoclassical dwellings. The graceful interior with elaborate plasterwork ornamentation, geometrically shaped rooms and a magnificent free-flying staircase are among the most exuberant ever created in early America.

We will stop for lunch at Poogan’s Porch – Tucked away on a charming downtown street, Poogan’s Porch is one of Charleston’s oldest and most reputable culinary establishments. After lunch we will take a carriage ride through historical Charleston to see the city and learn about its rich and vast historical areas and attractions. So, sit back and enjoy the experience of over 300 years of history.

The rest of the afternoon you will have time to explore Charleston on your own. Visit the Market, Museums, Churches and other local landmarks. We will have dinner at 7:00 at Hyman’s Seafood. The restaurant is located in one of the buildings which were once known in the 1800’s as the Wholesale District and it housed the first southeast distributor of Hanes underwear. This Local landmark has been recognized by Southern Living as having the best seafood in the Southeast for 8 years running.

Thursday, April 8
At 8:30 we are off to the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. Founded in 1676 by the Drayton family, Magnolia Plantation has 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 Low Country, and the oldest public gardens in America. Magnolia Plantation opened its doors to visitors in 1870 to view the thousands of beautiful flowers and plants in its famous gardens.

At 12:00 we will head to lunch at the Middleton Plantation just up the Ashley River. Don’t worry, it’s just a few miles away by bus. After lunch, you will have time to explore the oldest landscaped garden. With 65 acres of landscaped terraces, shadowy allees, ornamental ponds and garden rooms that are laid out with precise symmetry and balance, Middleton Plantation is the most unique and grand garden of it’s time.

At 3:30 we will leave for the Inn, so everyone can get ready for the night on the Ashley River. We will leave the Inn at 5:45 and head over to the docks to board our cruise for dinner. While on board, you will enjoy a fantastic view of the Charleston Harbor, a multi-course dinner and live music. Be sure to brush up on your "Carolina Shag" lessons because — after dinner — you will be able to dance the night away or just sit back and take in the sunset.

Friday • April 9
We will start the morning off at 8:30 headed for the Charleston Tea Plantation on Wadmalaw Island. These 127 acres are the only plantation that grows and produces tea in the United States. We will tour the grounds and have the opportunity to see how the tea is processed from camellia sinensis leaves to tea. During our visit, we will have “tea time”, tea and cookies, under the magnificent oak trees.

As we head toward the Irvin-House Vineyards, we will make a quick stop at the "Angel Oak Tree". The "Angel Oak Tree" is reportedly the oldest thing — living or man-made — east of the Rockies. The Angel Oak is a live oak tree aged approximately 1,400 years.

Next, we are off to the Irvin-House Vineyards which is located on 48 acres and is the only domestic winery in Charleston. We will start the tour with a catered lunch from the Stono Farm Market, a local favorite market that grows and hand picks their fruits and vegetables every day for a yummy fresh meal. After lunch we will have a guided tour of the Vineyards. Irvin-House Vineyards grows the grapes (muscadines), harvests them, produces the wine and bottles it on the site. There are 5 different varieties of the muscadine wine for your tasting and enjoyment.

After a wonderful day on Wadmalaw Island we will head back to the Inn to get ready for a southern treat. Dinner will be at 7:00 at Charleston’s original "Sticky Fingers" – authentic Memphis style BBQ but made with a southern twist. Tomorrow is an early morning – don’t stay out too late on the town.

Saturday, April 10

At 8:00, we are off to Brookgreen Gardens (which is approx. 70 miles north of Charleston at Murrells Inlet). In 1931, Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington founded Brookgreen Gardens, a non-profit garden museum, to preserve the native flora and fauna and display objects of art within that natural setting. The garden was designed in the shape of a spread wing butterfly by Anna Hyatt Huntington herself.

Today, Brookgreen Gardens is a National Historic Landmark with the most significant collection of figurative sculpture in an outdoor setting. With 9,200 acres, Brookgreen continues to preserve its natural heritage. It has developed spectacular display gardens continuing Huntington’s vision.

Upon arrival we will have a guided tour of the gardens and then you are able to explore at your own leisure. Lunch will be at 12:30, buffet style so you can quickly get back to visiting the many beautiful sites in the garden on your own time.

Be sure to visit the gift shop before we leave for it carries an impressive array of beautiful gifts for the home and garden, as well as original artworks, one-of-a-kind handcrafted jewelry and many other wonderful items.

We will leave Brookgreen at 3:00 to head back to Charleston to take a short nap before dinner.

Dinner will be at 7:00 at Magnolia’s. (This will be our last night together as a group) Magnolia’s, one of Charleston’s most popular restaurants, is located at the site of the city’s original Customs House (circa 1739). This is an uptown American fine dining cuisine with a down south flavor that is sure to make your trip to Charleston a memorable one. This experience will make you want to return to the South!

Sunday, April 11

Checkout and departure.

Click Here to Download Registration Form (PDF File)