Springtime in Charleston
April 18 - 22, 2011
Join Travel Crazy for a brand new trip to one of the most beautiful and historic cities in the South!
With a rich history dating back to the Revolutionary War, houses and buildings showcasing stunning historic architecture unparalleled anywhere else in America, an alluring waterfront and a bustling shopping district, Charleston is a fantastic place to vacation. Especially, in the Springtime!
Our 5-day trip to The Palmetto City consists of two direct drives--one full day to get to Charleston and one full day to get home. We'll spend three FULL days discovering why Charleston is considered a world-class travel destination, with each day focussing upon a different reason to visit Charleston!
During one day, we will introduce ourselves to this charming Southern City and learn about its history by joining two narrated tours. Our first tour will find us boarding vans that will whisk us throughout the city, pointing out the highlights of Charleston--such as the Citadel Military College, The Battery, Rainbow Row, the Old Slave Market, and Catfish Row. Our second tour will have us boarding horse-drawn carriages that will trod along the streets of the historic district where Antebellum Mansions (most over 200 years old) proudly stand testament of Charleston's distinctive past.
We'll tour the Rhett-Aiken Mansion and come to understand the difference between a preserved historic home and a restored historic home. As if frozen in time, the mansion's faded wallpaper, original woodwork and fixtures allows visitors to get a feel of a grand Charleston gem exactly as it was many, many years ago.
Finally, we'll spend some time shopping and dining around the Old City Market. The historic sheds of the open-air market span several blocks and beckon visitors to come haggle with the arts and crafts vendors who have set up stalls within it. Flanking the market are scads of stores and restaurants. All-in-all, it will be a great way to unwind after a full day of sightseeing!
Charleston is well-known for the plantations that lie just outside the city boundaries. And, visiting the grounds of these historic plantations is considered a must-do activity when touring the area. We'll be setting aside one day to call upon two of Charleston's most famous plantations.
At Middleton Place, we'll discover the huge formal gardens considered by many to be the most lovely around Charleston. At the plantation, we'll enjoy lunch in the Middleton Place Restaurant, where guests enjoy low country fare while overlooking the Rice Mill Pond and Azalea hillside.
From Middleton Place, we'll head for Magnolia Plantation to explore its grounds and to stroll along the boardwalks of its swamp garden. A narrated nature boat will glide us through Magnolia's old flooded rice field where we might spot an alligator or two! And, we'll join a fascinating tour of the plantation's restored slave cabins.
We'll be setting aside our third day in Charleston to call upon Patriots Point. The naval and maritime museum is one of the largest of its kind in the world. Here, we'll join a narrated guide of the
USS Yorktown which earned 11 battle stars for its service during World War II. In addition to learning about life aboard the an active aircraft carrier, we'll be able to see aircraft from every major conflict the United States has participated in. A Medal of Honor museum upon the hangar deck pays tribute to the great heros of the military. For those interested, there is also a submarine that can be toured.
Before continuing our day, we'll be treated to lunch in the CPO Galley!
From Patriots Point, we'll take a narrated ferry to Fort Sumter National Monument. During our visit to the fort, we'll see where the first shots of the Civil War occurred.
Our trip to Charleston is not only going to be very interesting. It's going to be a lot of fun, too! Don't miss out on this brand new Travel Crazy trip!
$709 per person (based on double occupancy)
Trip includes: motorcoach transportation, 4 nights hotel accommodations, baggage handling, van tour of Charleston, horse-drawn carriage tour, Rhett-Aiken Mansion admission, Admission to Middle Place, Admission to Magnolia Plantation, Lunch at Middleton Place, Guided tour of USS Yorktown, Ferry to Fort Sumter National Monument, lunch on USS Yorktown
Classic St. Louis
April 25 - 27, 2011
Photo courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden
Trip includes: motorcoach transportation, 2-nights hotel accommodations, baggage handling, St. Louis Arch tram and Construction of the Arch movie admission, Basilica St. Louis tour, Missouri Botanical Garden admission and tram tour. NOTE: Brewery Tour is complimentary
$299 per person (based on double occupancy)
There are certain trips we offer which feature such pleasant itineraries that we can deem them as "classic". This 3-day Springtime trip to St. Louis is one of those trips. It's well-paced, interesting, and a whole lot of fun.
During our trip, we will be utilizing hotel accommodations in Historic St. Charles. In addition to having the distinction of being the oldest town on the Missouri River, St. Charles also boasts the largest Historic District in the state of Missouri.
More than 125 one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants dot the district, and brick-lined sidewalks and gas lamps entice visitors to imagine they are stepping back in time.
In addition to being able to walk to a vast assortment of shops and restaurants, the casino in St. Charles is also within walking distance of our hotel. This makes the town a wonderful home base during our St. Louis exploration.
Throughout our trip, we'll be calling upon four fantastic St. Louis attractions--the Gateway Arch, the Anheuser Busch Brewery, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, and the Missouri Botanical Garden.
At the Gateway Arch, we'll show a little bit of love to one of the most recognizable landmarks in the United States. Those interested will be able to take a ride in a capsule up to the viewing platform at the top of the tallest monument in our country. A movie in a theater beneath the monument will give us insight to the arch construction. And, a museum dedicated to Westward Expansion (also located beneath the monument) will help us to understand exactly what the arch represents.
Later, a visit to the Cathedral Basilica of
St. Louis will find us joining a fascinating guided tour that will present to us the brilliant architecture and awe-inspiring collection of mosiacs (constructed of more than 41 million pieces of tile) that the church is known for.
Anheuser Busch will welcome us next. The Historic Brewery tour (a favorite among St. Louis visitors) will allow us to see the brewing process, the bottling building, and its famous Clydesdale stables.
The highlight of our trip will be our visit to the magnificent Missouri Botanical Garden, rated among the very best in the United States. We've purposely scheduled this trip for a time that we anticipate magnificent bursts of color will grace the numerous gardens which make up the park.
This truly impressive St. Louis attraction is reason enough to visit the city. . , especially in the Spring! The 79-acre park showcases more than 30 formal gardens and points of interest, including the largest traditional Japanese Tea Garden in North America. A narrated tram will give us an overview of the park, then we'll be free to explore the gardens on our own.
This Travel Crazy trip is perfect for groups looking for a short, yet very enjoyable Springtime excursion. And, it's a great way to spend time with Mom just before Mothers Day! Make your plans early to join us!
