Being in Charleston is like a walk back in time. From the cobblestone streets to the Antebellum houses, this historic city is picturesque and unique. There is not a better way to tour the streets than with a tour on a horse drawn carriage!
After some consideration and research, we booked our tours with Palmetto Carriage Works. Since 1972, this company operates out of a beautiful, red barn and commits to the welfare of its animals. To learn more about their animal care, click here.
We spent the morning walking around the city and exploring on our own before we decided to book a horse drawn carriage tour. We were glad we did! Even though we could have seen some of the landmarks on our own, we really did not know what we were looking at. All of the tour guides are well versed historians and told us interesting stories about each spot.
To reduce traffic, the city limits the amount of carriages on the streets and randomly selects different routes for the tours. Therefore, if you take the tour a couple of times, you may not be taking the same route.
We passed by the Charleston City Market and looked out on all the shoppers. The driver pointed out the stunning St. Philip's Episcopal Church and Circular Congregational Church. We then rode past the haunted Old City Jail, which has a terrifying history that attracts history lovers and ghost hunters from all the country. Finally, we pulled through the shopping district, and window shopped from the carriage.
As you make your way through the city, keep an eye out for homes with Haint blue doors and ceilings of the porches. This Southern tradition of painting entrances with this pale blue has been passed on through generations. According to local culture and history, the color keeps away evil spirits and prevents the home owner from being taken, because it is the color of an open body of water. In this belief, spirits cannot cross open bodies of water.
After your tour, take a moment to thank and pet the horses. Taking a carriage ride is a must-do in Charleston, SC!
