We’ll admit to a little bit of bias. Charleston, SC is our home, after all—you have to believe that we of all people would think visiting Charleston, SC is about the best decision anyone can make for their next vacation. But it turns out we’re not alone. When Charleston, SC was named as the number one city to visit in the Conde Nast Traveler 2015 Readers’ Choice Awards, our suspicions—and our biases—were confirmed.

Fortunately, you agree, or else you wouldn’t be reading this. And, like us, you agree that scheduling a Charleston, SC carriage ride is one of the best and most relaxing ways to experience the city for the first time. And if it is your first time—well, you’ll want to make sure you have all of your ducks in a row before you come and visit us so you’re ready to sit back, relax, and enjoy the sights. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Charleston, SC for a carriage ride:

• The size of your party. You’ll first want a basic headcount. But don’t forget that when you book with us, certain groups can potentially ride free. Children 2 and under can come aboard for free. Active-duty military? Come aboard for free—just make sure to bring proof. Children 3-11 will also cost less. Knowing your basic numbers will let you set a price estimate so that there are no unnecessary surprises along the way—and since we offer a few discounts, you might be surprised to find out that the carriage ride doesn’t cost what you thought it would.
• The dates you’re going to visit. It’s probably not a good idea to book a flight to Charleston and count on a carriage ride being there. You’ll also want to book your carriage ride! These things have a tendency to go fast, especially in the typical vacation season, so make sure that you have your ride scheduled out well in advance to ensure that your carriage tour will go off without a hitch—pardon the pun.
• The rest of your itinerary. As much as we like to count ourselves as a comprehensive experience in visiting Charleston, SC, we recognize that eventually, the carriage ride has to end. We recommend scheduling out your itinerary in advance so that you’re not hungry during the ride, for example—so make sure to think about things like scheduling your group’s big meals and any other sites you want to hit while you’re visiting Charleston.

Enjoying a leisurely and informative carriage ride is one of the best ways to experience our city. But there’s no reason to assume that everything is going to go smoothly unless you prepare a little bit in advance. To do that, make sure that you get in touch with Charleston Carriage Works and let us know what we can do to make your trip to Charleston even smoother and more enjoyable.