GOLF & TRAVEL
Historic Charleston
Charleston,
S.C., is a wonderful mix of history, culture and leisure activites. Downtown
Charleston has been carefully preserved, allowing visitors to share in its rich
history. Just minutes from downtown lie an abundance of great golf
opportunities. The area sports pristine beaches and numerous waterways for
boating. The Market Pavilion Hotel in the downtown area is an elegant choice
for taking all this in.
Historic
downtown Charleston is considered the cultural capital of the South. Most of
the town appears as it did centuries ago including the city market, churches,
the Battery and harbor view homes. A walking tour is a must here and make sure
to take in grand homes such as the Aiken-Rhett House, the Nathaniel Russell
House and the Edmondston-Alston House. College of Charleston is also worth a
visit and was founded in way back in 1770, when the city was already a century
old. The first shots of the Civil War were fired here at Fort Sumter, in the
mouth of Charleston Harbor.
The
Market Pavilion Hotel is perhaps the finest hotel in Charleston. Located on Bay
Street at the City Market, it is easily within walking distance of all the
historic sites. The accommodations and service exemplify the finest of Southern
Hospitality. The rooms are designed in an old Charleston style yet feature all
the comforts of modern luxury. The large bathrooms include Italian marble, with
separate shower and tub. The concierge level is an excellent choice for guests.
They serve breakfast each morning and hors d’oeuvres with cocktails each
evening. The concierge staff here is very knowledgeable about things to do in
the area, and a good source. As a matter of fact I found the entire staff at
the Market Pavilion to be very service-oriented and extremely helpful. For more
information visit www.marketpavilion.com.
The
rooftop Pavilion Bar and Café is an excellent place to get your bearings, with
360-degree views of the downtown area and waterways. Grill 225 is located in
the lobby area of the Market Pavilion and features fine dining in an elegant
setting. The dining room is decorated with rich, dark wood, gilded mirrors and
high, curved booths. My choice of ahi, or yellowfin tuna, was expertly prepared
and the service was outstanding. The restaurant is well known for its beef
dishes as well. I noticed that Grill 225 seemed to attract a lot of
well-dressed local businessman and well-to-do families celebrating special
events. For more information visit www.grill225.com.
Across
the Cooper River Bridge to the north you will find the closest golf to the
downtown area. Patriots Point is an excellent public course set right on
Charleston Harbor. The last three holes run right along the water and offer
some unforgettable views. Looking at nearby Shem Creek made me think that I was
in Cape Cod. Patriots Point is operated by the Ginn Company, which also owns
Rivertowne Country Club a couple of miles farther up the road. Rivertowne is
host to the LPGA event named in honor of Annika. It is a well-maintained Arnold
Palmer layout with great marsh and river views. Dunes West, also a Palmer
design, is very close by as well. This course is a bit more forgiving and is
set on an old plantation. Kiawah Island is about 30 minutes to the south and
sports numerous great courses, including the famed Ocean Course which was home
to the famous “War by the Shore” Ryder Cup Match.
If
plantations are of interest you have come to the right spot. Drayton Hall,
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, as well as Middleton Place are all short
drives from downtown.
A great
way to experience the area is to get out on one of the many waterways. There
are dinner cruises and boat tours available. Another great way to see this part
of the Low Country is to walk, bike or run across the new Cooper River Bridge.
This unique structure has added a new dimension to Charleston. Great beaches
also can be found close by. Locals opt for Folly Beach or Wild Dunes. Kiawah
Island beaches are internationally renowned as well. For more information visit
www.charlestoncvb.com.
The
Charleston Airport is fairly modern and easy to deal with. It is about a 20
minute drive to downtown and even less to Mt. Pleasant. Avis was my choice for
rental car, and it was a smooth transition.
The Avis
counter is adjacent to the baggage claim area and the cars are just out a side
door. Avis features state of the art navigation systems on most cars now and
Internet access also is available.
For more
info visit http://www.avis.com.