house and garden tours

A group of us college ( now way post college) friends are planning a trip to Charleston and Savannah for the house and garden tours in ';09 -- there will be about 10 of us and all new to these cities.... I have already received some info from the Historical Societies describing this years tours and was amazed at the info in this forum. If anyone has enjoyed a particular house tour that fills up quickly , we would like to know . Also any hints about charming places to stay and good eats and fun evenings... We know this is early , but who wants to find out too late that we missed ';the best___'; ! Thanks! Louise

house and garden tours

First of all, great idea to go with a bunch of friends from college, and even better that you chose Charleston and Savannah. Rest assured that no matter which tour you take you will be inundated with charm.

I can vouch for the South Battery tour, since I%26#39;ve been on that one. For each afternoon (or evening - there are many different types of tours you can take) - expect about 8-10 homes to be open. The ticket you get will have a list of the houses on the tour and it is easy to walk from one home to the next as not only are they marked well with flags, but there are Street Marshalls and docents everywhere ready to help you. On the South Battery tour, there was only one ';new'; house (built in 1920) but all of the rest were beautifully-maintained historic properties with amazing detail and antiques. This year I%26#39;ll do other tours and post here, but it would be great if those who have seen a few of the tours could post their favorites (and why they are their favorite). For gardens, I ';insist'; you see the Sword Gate House garden, but gardens are why people love Charleston and every one on tour will be magnificent in some unique way.

As far as visiting Savannah during the same trip - I might be wrong but I did%26#39;t think that the tours were held simultaneously. I met so many people in Charleston who were on the tour but visiting from Savannah, I%26#39;m just assuming the Charleston tours are more popular.

Oh one thing...the homes on tour are private homes, and not every homeowner from 2008 will be displaying their homes in 2009 (other homes will be chosen to substitute if a homeowner ';drops out';).

Have a blast planning - and feel free to keep the questions coming!

house and garden tours

A couple of tips is to start as soon as the tour starts, other wise you may not finish. Start in the middle of the street ';on tour'; and finish up on the other side of the street. Everyone seems to start at the ends of the block and the lines are long there while the house in the middle are shorter. Wear comfortable flat shoes. Remember you are touring people%26#39;s private homes and some have beautiful wood floors that heels indent. Carry a small flashlight. Some of the streets are dark and some sidewalks are uneven.

I must reiterate the advice to carry a flashlight if you go on the garden tours at night. There are candles and lights set up in the gardens, but to see the blooms up close (or even to read your map) you will often have to use your own flashlight. And it%26#39;ll help you from spraining your ankle on the uneven pavement. Don%26#39;t forget an umbrella if the weather is iffy as the tours go on, rain or shine or dark of night.

We will be in Charleston April 5-8. Is April 10 the only day that week that there is a garden tour? That is how it appears from my info. Thanks for any help.

Mplstraveler - here is the link.

historiccharleston.org/news_events/festival_鈥?/a> Many homes and gardens to visit! Enjoy!