Okay—off the bat, we have to admit we’re a little biased when it comes to Charleston. Yes, Charleston, SC was named the top city in 2015. And yes, TripAdvisor lists us in the top 10 of outdoor activities in Charleston. But just because we have a vested interest in people checking out our carriage tours in Charleston doesn’t mean that we want you to make a snap decision, either. It’s understandable if you feel a little lost when choosing carriage tours—and where to take them. After all, who shops for carriage tours all that often? It’s not a skill you hone over time; it’s something you have to tackle as the need approaches.
To that end, we’ve put together a brief guide on making sure that you’re working with the best carriage ride around. Yes, we hope you’ll conclude, as TripAdvisor did, that we’re the best—but it doesn’t hurt to know how to do your research. Especially if you happen to—for whatever strange reason—visit a city other than Charleston, South Carolina.
Read the Maps First
The very first thing you need to do is find out where the carriage tour will take you. If you have your eyes on some particular landmarks, then you don’t want to skip over them during your tour of Charleston. You can find information about the Charleston Carriage Works routes here at our site, of course—but make sure to open up your own Google Maps tab and see if you can scout it out for yourself and see what you’ll be looking at throughout the tour.
A carriage ride is a little slower than what most people are used to. It’s more akin to a walking tour of a city than it is a bus tour, for example. That’s why it’s important to know the maps first before making any final decision.
Know the Details
The maps are just one detail of the journey. You also want to make sure that you’ll have enough carriage space to handle your group—the carriages at Charleston Carriage Works can seat 16 people, for example. But not everyone is as thorough as us when posting their information online—so if you can, be sure to follow up with your carriage company and call them ahead of time.
Read the Hours
Charleston Carriage Works is open 7 days a week—but you should make sure you know your individual carriage provider’s information before you plan the day around a carriage ride. Fortunately, if the carriage company allows you to make reservations—and most will insist upon it—you’ll be able to get an idea of the hours ahead of time. Just make sure that you don’t make any other arrangements until you figure this part out first.
Although we’ve earned our spot atop the Charleston outdoor activities scene by providing great carriage service and southern hospitality to each of our customers, we can’t be everywhere. If you’re looking for a carriage ride of your own, keep these tips in mind. Or simply come to Charleston, contact Charleston Carriage Works, and consider your research done.
