“What’s New” In The Charleston, SC Area Winter 2007
For Immediate Release, November 2007NEW HONORS & AWARDS
- For the fifteenth consecutive year, readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine honored Charleston as a Top 10 travel destination in the U.S. Charleston was honored with a No. 3 slot. Only San Francisco and New York City ranked higher. Last year, Charleston ranked No. 5 in the poll. Additionally, the Boardwalk Inn at Wild Dunes on the Isle of Palms received a No. 8 ranking in the Top Resort category.
- Condé Nast Traveler readers also recognized several individual properties in the Charleston area. The list of top hotels in the U.S. included No. 26 Charleston Place, No. 50 Market Pavilion Hotel, No. 51 Wentworth Mansion, No. 65 The Woodlands Resort & Inn and No. 69 John Rutledge House Inn.
- Charleston has been lauded by a recent Travel + Leisure and CNN poll. In a survey that generated 60,000 responses, it became apparent that Charleston, SC has struck a chord with travelers. When compared to other top cities such as Chicago, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and more, Charleston was honored with several distinctions. The Holy City scored well, grabbing the No. 1 spot in the Friendly People category. The city was ranked No. 2 for its Architecture & Notable Buildings, Antiques, Flea Markets, Home Design stores and Pedestrian Friendliness. Additionally, Charlestonians were rated No. 3 in the Attractive People category.
- Charleston has accepted the Most Mannerly City Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr. William Stewart, Marjabelle Young Stewart’s husband, has given his blessing to the honoring of his wife’s memory to Ms. Cindy Grosso, owner of Charleston School of Protocol, so that she may continue his wife’s legacy. Ms. Grosso has assumed the responsibility of compiling the annual Most Mannerly Cities list. Marjabelle Young Stewart, nationally renowned etiquette expert, named Charleston, South Carolina the Most Mannerly City in America for the final 11 years that she bestowed the award. The winner was chosen based on comments from executives and those who completed her etiquette courses. She also considered thousands of letters, faxes, e-mails and phone calls. Since Charleston was the longstanding recipient of this honor, the city has now been deemed worthy of recognition in the form of the Lifetime Achievement Award that Ms. Cindy Grosso presented to the Mayor at a Charleston City Council meeting. To learn more about the Most Mannerly City in America and to cast your vote, please visit www.CharlestonSchoolofProtocol.com.
- The Holiday Inn-Charleston Airport/Convention Center has received the IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)] 2007 Newcomer Award as one of the best properties that joined the system within the last year as either a new development or conversion from another hotel chain. IHG is the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms. www.holidayinn.com/chastnairport
- The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort recently received the following awards:
o Five Diamond Award – American Automobile Association
o Top Resort Hotels in America (No.1)– Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report
o Top Family Resort in America (No.1) – Travel + Leisure Family
o Top Continental US and Canada Hotels (No.5) – Travel + Leisure
o Among Top 10 North American Resorts – Conde Nast Traveler
o Gold List Award – Conde Nast Traveler
o No. 2 Ranking for Hotel Spa in Continental U.S. and Canada by Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards
www.kiawahresort.com
- Daniel Island has again been recognized as one of America’s 100 Best Master-Planned Communities by Where to Retire magazine. On Daniel Island, more than 400 acres are dedicated to a network of parks and open greenspace, and 12 miles of trails (with more to come) link parks and neighborhoods with downtown Daniel Island shops restaurants and conveniences. Additionally, Golfweek has named Daniel Island’s Ralston Creek “One of the Nation’s Best New Golf Courses” and dubs it a “Lowcountry version of St. Andrews.” www.danielisland.com.
- Make it five in a row for the Wentworth Mansion. The luxurious historic Charleston hotel scored its fifth diamond from AAA’s prestigious Diamond Rating System for the fifth consecutive year.
The only hotel in downtown Charleston to earn the honor, the 21-room Wentworth Mansion is in the company of 99 other properties who received the ranking, just 0.27 percent of the 60,000 Diamond Rated lodgings and restaurants throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Located in the heart of historic downtown Charleston, S.C., the Wentworth Mansion is a 21-room, AAA Five Diamond luxury hotel that offers guests a taste of Southern hospitality in an intimate setting. Elegant rooms and expansive suites feature gas-lit fireplaces with their original marble mantels, king-size sleigh beds with European linens, inlaid design floors, whirlpool tubs and double, glass-walled walk-in showers. Guests can relax at the Spa at the Wentworth Mansion enjoy a 360- degree view of the city from the hotel's rooftop cupola or dine on sophisticated Southern cuisine with a twist at Circa 1886, the AAA Four Diamond restaurant located on the hotel grounds. For more information, please visit www.wentworthmansion.com.
- For the twelfth consecutive year, AAA has bestowed upon The Dining Room at Woodlands the prestigious Five Diamond Award. In addition, Woodlands for the eleventh consecutive year received a Five Diamond rating for its luxurious accommodations. Woodlands Resort & Inn is an immaculately restored 1906 classic revival mansion set amidst 42 acres of parkland grounds. The resort is just minutes from Charleston in the charming village of Summerville. www.woodlandsinn.com
- The oldest restaurant in downtown Charleston, Poogan’s Porch, recently received the 2007 Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator magazine, making this the fourth consecutive year that Wine Spectator has awarded Poogan’s Porch with this honor. www.poogansporch.com. 843.577.2337.
NEW DEVELOPMENTS
- The Old Slave Mart Museum tells an important story in the history of Charleston and the region. It has re-opened to rave reviews and the permanent exhibition features two main areas. In the orientation area, visitors will be introduced to the domestic slave trade within the greater historical context of slavery in the United States as well as an overview of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. An architectural side-bar tells the story of the building using visual and archival documentation of the site’s changing footprint and function over time. Located at 6 Chalmers Street, it is open from 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday. Contact Barbara Vaughn for more information: vaugnb@ci.charleston.sc.us.
- The Naval Base Memorial at Riverfront Park in North Charleston has been unveiled. The site on the Cooper River is adjacent to the northern boundary of the former Navy Shipyard offers stunning views. To the south, in the foreground, one can see the piers of the old shipyard and Naval Station. In the distance is the beautiful Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge connecting Charleston to Mount Pleasant. Looking to the north is the expanse of North Charleston’s new Riverfront park with pathways leading to the future site of the recovered and restored Confederate Submarine H.L. Hunley. Within Memorial Park are the pavilion rises from the earth in a graceful shape reminiscent of the bow of a ship. The Pavilion wall is segmented into 5 historical periods, i.e., Early Years, WWI, WWII, Korean/Vietnam/Cold War and Base Closure, each containing period photos. To learn more, please visit: www.northcharleston.org/memorialpark.aspx
- The Museum Mile already exists as almost precisely a mile-long stretch that features stops at the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry, the Charleston Museum, the Gibbes Museum of Art, the South Carolina Historical Society, the Old Slave Mart Museum, the Washington Light Infantry and more. "Once it's recognized ... it will be an area like any of the definitive areas of Charleston," said John Brumgardt, executive director of the Charleston Museum, which is leading the effort. For updated information on this ongoing project, continue to check www.charlestoncvb.com.
- Drayton Hall recently acquired 43.8 acres of marshland that will be forever protected thanks to the Historic Ricefields Association (HRA). The marsh parcels are located on the west bank of the Ashley River and down-river from Drayton Hall. The Ashley River Region, named one of the “11 Most Endangered Places in America” by the National Trust, is made up of a diverse habitat. For more information, please visit www.draytonhall.org.
- The Charleston Visitor Center, located at 375 Meeting Street, has added a new bonus to the already information-packed offerings. The interactive map and four laser screen displays will walk any visitor through the vast possibilities of a day, week, or month spent in Charleston. The Charleston Visitor Center is a beautifully restored 1856 railroad warehouse that showcases the hospitality and service you would expect in the "most mannerly city." www.charlestoncvb.com.
- The North Charleston and American LaFrance Fire Museum and Educational Center houses replicas of the oldest fire trucks in America. Enthusiasts and casual observers alike can learn about fire safety, the history of fire fighting and marvel at the evolution of these amazing vehicles. The innovative museum and the Heritage Corridor Museum will share a roof with the freshly minted North Charleston Visitors Center. The museum features an indoor playground. Call 843-740-5550 or visit www.legacyofheroes.org.
- Thirty-five miles outside of Charleston Hampton Plantation State Historic Site is tucked away in the remote last vestiges of a colonial-era rice plantation. The plantation’s Georgian-style mansion and well-kept grounds serve as an interpretive site for the system of slavery that helped build such plantations into the greatest generators of wealth in early American history. They also tell the story of the freed people who made their homes there for generations after emancipation. Visitors can explore the mansion, wander the plantation grounds or just look out upon Wambaw Creek at the remains of rice fields that once stretched as far as the eye could see. George Washington had such a view when he stood on the Hampton family’s portico in 1791. A historic kitchen building, huge live oaks, camellia gardens and archaeological sites also tell the story of Lowcountry rice culture. Hampton is an ideal place to discover the surrounding Santee Delta’s natural beauty, which inspired the works of a South Carolina poet laureate, Archibald Rutledge, who lived here and gave it to the people of South Carolina as a legacy. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark. www.southcarolinaparks.com
- The International Center for Birds of Prey is now open for group tours. Experience more than 80 species of eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, and other birds of prey from all parts of the world in this 152-acre campus dedicated to education, avian medicine, research, and conservation. Featured are display aviaries housing more than 250 raptors, indoor and outdoor educational programs, and daily demonstrations of birds in free flight. This gem is located 12 miles from downtown Charleston. Please note that the center is not yet open to the public at large. For more information, please visit www.internationalbirdsofprey.org.
- Visitors to the newly renovated Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site can not only see history come alive, now they can hear it. The park has installed an audio tour system on its history trail to help visitors better understand the 665-acre site where the first permanent European settlement in South Carolina was established in 1670. Additionally, Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site will gladly extend to your group our Group Admission Rates as applicable on the day of your event. For more information and to learn about group tours, visit www.charlestowne.org.
NEW EVENTS
- The 61st Annual Festival of Houses & Gardens will be held March 13 – April 12, 2008, with the 2008 Charleston International Antiques Show kicking off the festivities March 14-16. Sponsored by Historic Charleston Foundation, Charleston puts on her Sunday best to invite visitors to experience first-hand some of the nation’s most impressive antiques, historic interiors and garden design. Please visit www.historiccharleston.org or call 843.722.3405 for more information.
- Special Event Series at Kiawah Island Golf Resort include:
January 11-13, 2008 – Second Annual Seaside Serenade Weekend
January 18-20, 2008 – Murder on the 19th Hole – Murder Mystery Weekend
January 25-27, 2008 – Fourth Annual Women’s Escape Weekend
January 25-27 and February 1-3, 2008 – Third Annual Women’s Tennis League Weekend.
February 2-4 – Second Annual Bud Bowl 2008 at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
February 8-10 – Weekend with the Dolans: Ride the Wave to Financial Success
February 8-10 – Southeastern Winter Art Show
February 14-17 – Par for Pairs Couples’ Golf Retreat
February 22-24 – Second Annual Friendship Cup
February 28-March 2 – The Hickory Golf Challenge at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
March 2-6 – Ninth Annual Kiawah Island Golf Resort Pro-Am
March 7-9 – Shaggin’ on Kiawah: A Celebration of our State Dance
March 7-9 – Golf for Women Weekend Retreat
March 14-16 – Golf Health at Kiawah
Learn more about special events at www.kiawahresort.com.
- Some of Charleston's most beautiful private homes and gardens will be part of the annual Ashley Hall Tour of Homes and Gardens on Saturday, April 12, 2008, from 2-5pm. This tour offers a rare glimpse of some architecturally unique private dwellings and gardens. They are all within walking distance of each other in the historic distract and not normally on display to the public. All proceeds benefit the Ashley Hall Alumnae Scholarship Fund. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased on www.etix.com. Tickets will also be on sale at the Charleston Visitor Center, located at 375 Meeting Street, on April 11 from 1-5pm and April 12 from 11am-2pm. Full details are listed on www.ashleyhall.org on the April 2008 calendar.
- The 4th Annual Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Festival is part of the renowned annual Piccolo Spoleto celebration. Learn about the history of the art, engage in sweetgrass basket demonstration, share the experience and enjoy the Gullah Geechee culture at the 2008 Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Festival. This year, the event will be held at Laing Middle School in Mount Pleasant on Friday, June 6 and Saturday, June 7. For additional information please call (843) 856-9732 or (843) 971-3564 or visit www.sweetgrassfestival.com.
NEW EXHIBITS
- Art Discovery Walking Tours at the Gibbes Museum of Art. The Original Charleston Walks company has teamed up with the Gibbes to offer a look at artistic treasures at the Gibbes and then walk in the footsteps of the artists who created them. This 90-minute tour highlights the many historic sites that have inspired artists for centuries. Reservations should be made through The Original Charleston Walks at www.charlestonwalks.com or by calling 1.800.729.3420.
- Also at the Gibbes: William Christenberry: Photographs, 1961-2005 will run December 21 – March 16, 2008. Ranging from his earliest Brownie photographs of the 1960’s to his later work with a large-format camera, this exhibition is a survey of Christenberry’s documentation of southern vernacular architecture, signage and landscape that captures moments of quiet beauty in a sometimes rustic terrain. www.gibbesmuseum.org/explore
- South Carolina Aquarium is offering behind-the-scenes tours of the sea turtle hospital. Formerly off-limits to the public, the Sea Turtle Hospital is now open to guests. The special tours are conducted weekly on Wednesdays and Fridays at 1:00 pm and offer a firsthand look at the efforts of the Aquarium’s team of trained professionals as they care for sick and injured sea turtles each day through the renowned Sea Turtle Rescue Program. Attendees will meet the Hospital’s current patients, and hear about the intensive treatment and daily care that help to nurse the vulnerable turtles back to health. For more information call 843.720.1990 or visit www.scaquarium.org.
- The elite fighter jet Hornet is on the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum. One of the most impressive and feared fighter jets in military history is now on display on the flight deck. Hornet becomes the second new museum aircraft to join the Patriots Point air wing in less than a year. The single seat Hornet last served as part of the Flying Gators, squadron VMFA-142 stationed at Naval Air Station Atlanta, where aircraft and crew served in the Marine Corp Reserve Hornet squadron. In 2005, the Flying Gators became the first fixed wing Marine Reserve unit activated to combat since the Korean War, flying missions in Iraq. In addition to the priceless collection of vintage aircraft in Yortown’s hangar bay, Hornet joins an impressive roster of modern jet aircraft on the carrier flight deck including the F-14 Tomcat, S-3 Viking, A-7 Corsair and A-6 Intruder. Learn more at www.patriotspoint.org.
- Helena Fox Fine Art’s annual exhibition titled, “In and Out,” is dedicated to the individual inspiration and diversity of style by three nationally recognized artists: Donald Demers, West Fraser and Billyo O’Donnell. For more information visit www.helenafoxfineart.com.
NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
- Ticket packages are now available for the Family Circle Cup 35th Anniversary Event. This premier women’s professional tennis tournament on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, the Family Circle Cup has attracted the top female athletes in the world throughout its storied history. Every April, tennis stars descend on Charleston to compete for one of the most coveted trophies in the sport. The Family Circle Cup, the only Tier I clay court event in the United States, will be held April 12th -20th, 2008 at the Family Circle Tennis Center in Charleston, South Carolina. Ticket packages for the 2008 Family Circle Cup are now on sale and can be obtained by calling (800) 677-2293, (843) 856-7900, or on-line via the tournament’s official website at www.familycirclecup.com.
- Charleston FitQuest’s first week of operation will be January 6th. A New Years Special has been offered. This innovative new program is an all-inclusive affordable active vacation that specializes in fitness and weight loss. FitQuest encourages a new lifestyle through education and ongoing support, no matter what your fitness level FitQuest can improve your health. www.charlestonfitquest.com.
NEW FOOD NEWS
- Charleston chefs debuted at James Beard House in NYC. In September, Ryan Herrmann – Executive Chef of the Boathouse on East Bay, Charles Arena – Executive Chef from the Boathouse at Breach Inlet, Jeremiah Bacon – Executive Chef of Carolina’s Restaurant and Craig Ashman – Chef of Carolina Catering were inspired by the Crew Carolina’s Plantation-to-Plate initiative, which supplies fresh produce grown at Kensington Plantation north of Charleston, SC to the company’s restaurant group. A menu including figs, mixed greens, cowpeas, black eyed peas, snap beans, squash and several spices from the garden was presented in New York, and similar offerings are made available throughout the year at the local Crew Carolina restaurants. Learn more at www.crewcarolina.com.
- BB&T Charleston Food + Wine Festival has been selected as one of the Southeast’s Top 20 Events by the Southeast Tourism Society. This year, the festival will be held February 28-March 2, 2008 and will feature Grand Tasting Tents, Salutes to Charleston Chefs, Dine-Arounds, extravagant parties, a Culinary Village, Gospel Brunch, Wine Seminars, Brewmaster Beer Dinners and more. For information and tickets, please visit www.charlestonfoodandwine.com or call 843.722.5547.
- Carolina FoodPros, led by local food expert, Amanda Dew Manning, and her culinary team will host special holiday culinary walking tours that are sure to please chocolate enthusiasts’ taste buds. Indulge yourself in chocolate lover’s dream as you go behind the scenes to meet pastry chefs, bakers and Chocolatiers. Discover why chocolate has played such a significant role throughout history. Taste some of the world’s best chocolate and comfort your soul with a sampling of decadent chocolate desserts at some of Charleston’s finest restaurants, bakeries and specialty shops. Register online at www.carolinafoodpros.com or call 1.800.979.3370.
NEW RENOVATIONS
- The $20 million clubhouse at The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort features excellent meeting space, and is a jewel in the crown of the renowned facilities recognized around the world for perfection and service. With panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, it features low-profile rooflines, wraparound porches and shingle-style architectural details. It contains four meeting rooms and over 3,000 square feet of flexible meeting space on the second floor. Also located at the clubhouse are a spacious pro shop, upstairs and downstairs locker rooms, The Atlantic Room – a three-meal restaurant offering fine dining in the evening, The Ryder Cup Bar and a large veranda with two fireplaces for outdoor dining. For more, visit www.kiawahresort.com or call 1.800.654.2924.
NEW PACKAGES
- Enjoy the best of the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition and the luxury of Charleston’s landmark Mills House Hotel for a golden combination and VIP Package. $1925 includes 4 nights stay, SEWE Bronze Benefactor package for 2, breakfast daily, parking, and taxes. Availability is limited. Enjoy total access to the Southeastern Wildlife Expo with a Bronze Benefactor package, which includes passes for two to:
all SEWE exhibits, demos and venues (2/15-17)
Featured Artist Reception (2/13)
Preview Gala and Auction (2/14)
SEWE Soiree (2/16)
Access to SEWE VIP Suites, with complimentary cocktails
Included with your package is four nights at the historic Mills House Hotel, in a deluxe room enhanced with a demi-canopy bed, breakfast daily for two, nightly turndown service, and a special welcome amenity.
Room Rates: $1925. Dates Available: Feb 13, 2008 to Feb 17, 2008. Visit www.millshouse.com for more information.
- Get away with your sweetheart and the Charleston Place Luxury Honeymoon Package.
Voted one of the most romantic destinations in America, newlyweds or anniversary couples will adore Charleston's warm romantic atmosphere with a two-night package that includes:
* Two nights accommodation in a luxurious suite
* A beautiful bouquet of roses upon arrival
* Assorted spa bath amenities
* A beautiful silver frame with the couple's favorite photo and a silver travel candle for keepsakes. A photo will be requested when making reservations
* A private carriage tour of the city
Three-course dinner for two at our Mobil Four-star Charleston Grill accompanied by our fine selection of vintage wines
* Upon returning from dinner the couple will find rose petals strewn around the bed, a bottle of chilled champagne, tea candles, Godiva chocolates placed on your pillows, and, upon request, a bath will be drawn while at dinner
* Breakfast in bed or from our delightful Palmetto Cafe
* Chilled white wine and canapés delivered in-room on the second evening.
Room Rates of $2538 per couple are based on availability during Jan 1, 2008 to Dec 30, 2008
- Quality Inn & Suites at Patriots Point invites cruisers to stay a while longer. Enjoy walking or cycling the new Cooper River Bridge, visit Patriots Point & tour Charleston’s historic district from our central location, conveniently located 3 miles from the Passenger Terminal. Parking available for the duration of your cruise. Transportation can be arranged if necessary. This offer is based on availability. Room Rates: From $89. Dates Available: Sep 23, 2007 to Feb 29, 2008
- For a full list of all Winter Packages, visit: www.charlestoncvb.com/visitors/packages.html.
NEW LINKS
- Shopping on Upper King Street in Charleston, South Carolina has never been better, or more accessible. Check out www.upperkingdesigndistrict.com to learn more.
