Handicapped Friendly?

We are bringing my grandmother to your lovely town for a weekend visit. We will be visiting Fort Moultrie and the Angel Oak Tree for sure. (She will be able to browse the main bldg/watch the movie at Fort Moultrie.)

What other sites would you recommend for someone in a wheelchair? We want to do a plantation. Is that do-able?

Thank you in advance!

Handicapped Friendly?

Alas, I think you have found our Achilles heel. Charleston tourist sites are generally not very handicap-friendly. Most of it you will understand when you arrive - our historic streets (some cobblestone) are tough even for able-bodied pedestrians, and many of our historic homes do not have elevator access to higher levels. (In fact, it would be rare for a historic home to have such access). Our lovely sidewalks, though dripping with the charm of historic oaks and magnolias, also suffer the effects of their enjoyment of our climate as their abundant roots often create uneven pavement.

Definitely don%26#39;t go to Drayton Hall as the home tour is on 3 levels with no elevator access. Magnolia Plantation Garden is doable from a wheelchair if the ground is dry - most paths are lined with crushed gravel. Since the gravel is applied thinly I don%26#39;t think the wheels of the wheelchair would have trouble. The swamp tour is mostly on elevated wooden walkways so you should be fine there. Boone Hall required going up some stairs, but they may have handicap access (I didn%26#39;t notice). The rest of the grounds are accessible from dirt pathways mostly. Middleton - the parking area is tricky (dirt) but the grounds are nice. The house would be out of the question - in fact, skip Middleton.

In the city you would enjoy the Market but try not to go on a busy day (weekend) as it will be tough to get through the market. I%26#39;d recommend a harbor cruise or even a trip to Ft. Sumter (I believe there is an elevator - ?)

Ft. Moultrie and Angel Oak should be fine and enjoyable. Patriot%26#39;s Point - someone else can address this as it has been a very long time since I%26#39;ve been there. Enjoy!

Handicapped Friendly?

If you%26#39;re planning on visiting Angel Oak, make a stop at the Charleston Tea Plantation on Wadmalaw Island. The building that houses the gift shop and ';tour'; are of newer construction, thus ADA compliant.

The ferry out to Fort Sumter is also do-able and there is at least one lift at the Fort.

You might want to gather your ';to-do'; list, then call the places and find out how accessible they are.

CultureHound put it eloquently;-) Downtown Charleston has retained much of its charm of centuries ago.

Thank you both. I have been to Charleston a dozen times in the past five years, but never looked at it with a handicap-perspective. This trip will change that. :P

I%26#39;m sure she will love just driving through the downtown areas and cobblestone streets. Maybe even a walk along the battery. If I remember correctly, that%26#39;s just a cement sidewalk, correct?

Thank you for the plantation advice. I believe we will probably skip them altogether.

And the Tea Plantation is a great idea! Is it near the Angel Oak or Folly? We will be coming from Folly.

The tea plantation is on Wadmalaw Is. If you%26#39;re coming Maybank Hwy from Folly, instead of turning left to go to Angel Oak at ';four corners';--Maybank and Main Rd--you%26#39;ll continue going straight. It%26#39;s about 10 miles down Maybank.

http://www.bigelowtea.com/act/

Scroll to the bottom of the page for directions.

I dragged my husband to the tea plantation a couple of years ago. We were both really impressed.

Thanks for the info. I will let you know how it goes. :)