“With its acclaimed restaurants, soul-stirring landscapes, vibrant culture, and exquisitely preserved Antebellum wonders, Charleston, South Carolina, exudes a gravitational pull for travelers as the one American South city they absolutely, positively, must visit.” – Vanity Fair Magazine
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
“The Belle of the South”
Food, Culture, Music & History Tour
February 23 - March 1, 2025
ACCOMMODATIONS:
PRIVATE BEACHFRONT RESIDENCE ON THE "ISLES OF PALMS"
DAY-BY-DAY-ITINERARY
DAY 1 - Sunday, February 23: ARRIVAL / WELCOME
Arrive at Charleston International airport (CHS). Group transfers to our Isle of Palms beachfront home just 20 minutes from the historic center of Charleston. Time to settle in and rest before evening activities. A private chef and their team will prepare and serve our evening welcome meal.
DAY 2 - Monday, February 24: HISTORIC CHARLESTON
Morning “Wake-Up Walk” around our neighborhood.
Continental breakfast at home.
Our day begins with a walking tour of historic Charleston – a lively experience discovering the sights, sounds, and traditions that define Charleston’s 350-year-old heart and soul.
Lunch will be enjoyed at a classic, local establishment to introduce us to creative Lowcountry cuisine.
In the afternoon, we will visit the Charleston Museum – “America’s First Museum.” Founded in 1773, it has been discovering, preserving, interpreting, celebrating, and sharing the South Carolina Lowcountry story ever since.
Dinner will be at Virginia’s on King, a sophisticated dining spot featuring a collection of family recipes and prepared with the freshest of local ingredients.
After dinner, we return to the Isle of the Palms.
DAY 3 - Tuesday, February 25: ISLES OF PALMS / FRENCH QUARTER
Morning “Wake-Up Walk” around our neighborhood.
Continental breakfast at home.
Today, we will be staying at the beach house. A day to explore; read and relax on the shore. In the late morning, together, we will prepare a classic Charleston beach picnic and relax around the pool.
In the early evening, we will head back into Charleston’s French Quarter to the Circular Congregational Church to hear history come to life from “Gospel to Gershwin” at The Sound of Charleston, Charleston’s longest running musical production.
We’ll finish the day on a French Quarter rooftop for later-night appetizers, drinks and music.
We return to the beach to rest for the next day’s activities.
DAY 4 - Wednesday, February 26: CHARLESTON HARBOR / CHARLESTON CITY MARKET
Morning “Wake-Up Walk” around our neighborhood.
Continental breakfast at home.
Our day begins on Charleston Harbor, with visits to two historic forts: Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter. Patriots inside a palmetto log fort, later named Fort Moultrie, defeated the Royal Navy in 1776. The Confederacy fired on the US garrison of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, opening the Civil War, which redefined American freedom.
We will meet our guides for a private group tour of each National Historic Park.
For lunch, we head back to the French Quarter to meet our chef and guide, Bob Waggoner, a Charleston legend, for our afternoon tour of the Charleston City Market and cooking class. Chef Bob will lead us through a hands-on cooking class preparing some of the region’s most iconic dishes using local seafood and the freshest local produce.
After dinner, we will return to the Isle of Palms to recover from another extraordinary day!
DAY 5 - Thursday, February 27: MCLEOD PLANTATION / AFRICAN AMERICAN CEMETERY / MOTHER EMANUEL AME CHURCH
Morning “Wake-Up Walk” around our neighborhood.
Early morning departure for the McLeod Plantation Historic Site. “McLeod Plantation, a 37-acre Gullah/Geechee heritage site, was built on the riches of sea island cotton – and on the backs of enslaved people whose work and culture are embedded in the Lowcountry’s very foundation. It is a living tribute to the men and women and their descendants that persevered in their efforts to achieve freedom, equality, and justice. We will take part in an interpretive tour.
Lunch will be at the popular Ms. Rose’s Fine Foods.
On our return home, we will visit the African American Cemetery, the first of many cemeteries that are being restored by the Preservation Society of Charleston, the Nation’s First Preservation Organization. And finally, we visit to pay our respects at the Mother Emanuel AME Church.
Dinner will be at Slightly North of Broad (SNOB) in the heart of the historic district.
After dinner, we will return to the beach house to rest from this spectacular day!
DAY 6 - Friday, February 28: ISLE OF PALMS / IN-HOME COOKING CLASS / MARION SQUARE / FAREWELL DINNER
Morning “Wake-Up Walk” around our neighborhood.
Brunch at home. Later-morning start. We will prepare brunch together at the beach house.
In the later afternoon, we will make our way back to Charleston. We will begin with cocktails on a rooftop bar at Marion Square, and our farewell dinner will be at one of the following: The Grocery / Circa 1886 / The Obstinate Daughter / The Ordinary / FIG.
We will finish the night with some Charleston Jazz before returning to the beach house.
DAY 7 - Saturday, March 1: DEPARTURE / TRAVEL DAY
Our last morning “Wake-Up Walk” around our neighborhood.
Continental breakfast at home.
Morning to relax before check-out.
Group transfers to the Charleston airport for trip to New Orleans or wherever your travels may take you.
COSTS
Airfare
Guests to purchase own airfare using miles and preferred class and upgrades. Flight and arrival times will be coordinated. Guests are free to arrive earlier or stay longer than the published itinerary, but are responsible to meet the group at stated times.
Travel Insurance
TRAVEL INSURANCE IS MANDATORY.
Epicurean Exchange Culinary Travel, in a effort to make travel with us thorough and stress-free, is partnering with Yonder Travel Insurance, a travel insurance comparison website where you can get quotes and compare travel insurance options from the nation’s top providers. Most travel insurance policies cover trip cancellation, emergency medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation and other travel loss/delay headaches.
Every travel insurance policy has a 24/7 emergency assistance number for medical and travel emergencies that may occur during the trip. Travel insurance brings extra peace of mind while you’re abroad!
Ground Costs Included
• Transportation available throughout the tour
• 6 nights lodgings in luxury accommodations
• Private dinners in specially-selected restaurants, beverages included (except where indicated)
• Private cooking classes with meals prepared
• Professional, local guides with knowledge of the secrets and stories of the region
Ground Costs Not Included
• Round trip airfare
• Cancellation insurance
• Personal expenses and tips
• Everything not clearly included in the section “Ground Costs Included”
Inclusive Tour Ground Cost (per person, double occupancy): $3,695 per person, $650 single supplement
Deposits: 50% to secure reservation
Balance Due: On or before November 25, 2024
Payments: Cash or checks, payable to Epicurean Exchange, accepted. Electronic invoices available for credit / debit card payments.
Cancellation Policy: We are willing to work with all our guests should situations arise that require guests to cancel plans with us. Please understand we have guidelines to ensure that both the operator and our guests are treated fairly. With that, travel insurance is MANDATORY, to reimburse you should cancellation be necessary. Epicurean Exchange reserves the right to cancel a tour due to low enrollment or other circumstances which would make the trip non-viable. Deposits and balances paid will be refunded if the trip is canceled by the operator. Travelers can cancel up to 60 days prior to departure and receive a full refund of their deposit. Understand that as a small, boutique operator, even one last-minute cancellation can be an issue for the operator and other travelers. Therefore, after deposits and tour balances are received (60 days or less prior to departure) they are non-refundable. Travelers have the option to recruit another traveler to take their place or file with their insurance carrier to recover costs of the trip.