ResortQuest - Charleston’s Islands Blog

The 27th annual Southeastern Wildlife Exposition will again be hosted by Historic Charleston, South Carolina. Charleston was recently ranked the #2 travel destination in the United States by Conde Nast Traveler! Attracting over 35,000 visitors, the Exposition is the largest of its kind. Gifted sculptors, wood carvers, custom knife makers, painters and other artists of the wildlife genre are showcased.

Educational outreach is another key element of the Exposition. Exhibitors like the Charleston Center for Birds of Prey and the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary host programs offering the public a rare glimpse of wild animals and the opportunity to learn about nature up close and personal. Wildlife and habitat conservation are encouraged by the public witnessing demonstrations while enjoying lectures by trained handlers. The importance of both wild and domestic animals is showcased by observing great presentations like ‘Living with Wolves’ and ‘Retriever’ demonstrations.

Historic Charleston and the surrounding barrier islands are all about the sea – and visitors to the Exposition will also be treated to demonstrations like how to ‘Cast Net’ and ‘Fly Fish’ and the whole family will learn a lot from the ‘Fish Lady’. ‘Dock Dogs’ is a not-to-be-missed demonstration of some four-legged jumpers who can really make a big splash!

Children are welcome guests to the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition. There is a special ‘Children’s Square’ dedicated to fun and educational activities for kids of any age. Examples of kid-friendly doings at the Expo are: Exotic Petting Zoo, Pony & Camel rides, Power Rock Climbing, Craft making and science station, Spider Jump and a special tent by the Edisto Island Serpentarium.

You can purchased your advance tickets right at the Kiawah Visitors Center. Tickets for Isle of Palms guests can be purchased at the Mt. Pleasant Visitors Center. Gaillard Auditorium in Historic Charleston also has the tickets – Friday & Saturday tickets are $20 each; 3 Day Tickets are $40, Sunday only is $10. Children 10 and under are FREE with an adult.

ResortQuest Charleston’s Islands invites you to come stay at the beach
& enjoy Historic Charleston – a great destination for adults and children
alike. ResortQuest’s fully-equipped vacation homes, villas and cottages
are the ideal family-friendly beach getaway. Save precious dollars by ‘dining
in’ your property on Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island, Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s
Island or Wild Dunes. Marry your beach holiday with the educational sites and
sounds of Historic Charleston!

Lowcountry Children’s Museum offers ‘Hands-On’ Fun for the
Holidays and Beyond

The Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry, on 25 Ann Street in Historic
Charleston, SC specializes in hands-on, interactive experiences for children.
Enticing exhibits allow children to think creatively, dress-up, problem-solve
and have tons of fun! The environments are designed for children ages 3 months
to 12 years and their families.

January 2009 and beyond continues special programs like Toddler Time and Kinder
Art each Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m. There are sing-a-longs, stories, colors,
animals and shapes.

‘Little Chefs’ occurs at 3:15 p.m. each Wednesday. Young Chefs
can actually play with their food and make caterpillars out of bananas. These
creative young culinaries get to take home the ‘fruits of their labors’.

Puppet Shows are performed by Play Specialists every Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
Traditional stories like Rapunzel, Hansel & Gretel, Cinderella, as well
as, more contemporary stories bring gales of laughter from young observers.

Every day of the year, children love dressing up in costumes at Creativity
Castle, or in full rain gear to navigate the ‘doings’ at the full-size
Shrimp Boat. Lowcountry Children’s Museum is a not-to-be-missed stop for
families of all ages while visiting Historic Charleston and the beaches.

The 28th Annual Taste of Charleston will take place from October 10-12, 2008. Two new events have been added to the popular 3-day celebration: the Iron Chef Competition and Taste of the Arts. Named a “top 20 event in the southeast” by the Southeastern Tourism Society for 20 consecutive years, the Taste of Charleston hopes to add to the 8,000 people that attended last year. General Admission is $12, with children under 10 years of age admitted free. Food tickets are sold in $1.00 increments at the event. No pets or coolers are allowed.

The main event on Sunday, October 12, at historic Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens in Mount Pleasant, offers samples from more than 40 area restaurants and a selection of specialty and imported beers. Activities include cooking demonstrations, contests (waiters racing to the finish line balancing wine glasses on trays is a favorite), and a Kids Corner, complete with petting zoo. Live bands will entertain on the main stage throughout the day.

Those who enjoy art will also appreciate the Taste of the Arts event on Saturday, October 11th. Participating galleries in historic downtown Charleston will offer appetizers and desserts from local restaurants. The Iron Chef Competition on Friday, October 10th, will pit some of Charleston’s high profile Chefs in a culinary battle and will also serve as a public introduction of the new $10 million Palmer Campus at the Charleston Culinary Institute.

The 32nd Annual Fall tour of Homes & Gardens will take place from September 25 - October 26 in Charleston, SC. Self-paced and self-guided walking tours include, on average, eight to ten properties per tour. All properties are in historic districts listed in the National Register of Historic Places and all vary in architectural styles and periods. Volunteers are stationed inside, offering helpful information and guidance along the way. Tickets are $45 per person, per tour and can be purchased online at preservationsociety.org; by calling 843-722-4630; in person at 147 King Street; or by mailing in the ticket order form.

Tours usually include properties on more than one street and cover six to eight blocks. No high heels are allowed since they can damage historic wood floors, so put on your flat-soled walking shoes. Having a flashlight in tow is also helpful when touring during evening hours. You’ll visit historic streets like King Street (named for King George I of England) Broad Street with its Greek Revival and Victorian architecture, and the South Battery, where grand and stately homes include some of the city’s finest examples of the Neoclassical Revival Period.

The five week event is sponsored by The Preservation Society of Charleston and allows visitors an up-close-and-personal glimpse of the architecture of historic properties and an understanding of the unique heritage that this National Historic Landmark city enjoys. The Preservation Society was founded in 1920 by a concerned group of Charlestonians interested in preserving American collections of 18th, 19th and 20th century architecture.

Family-friendly events and activities, Scottish-style, will be the highlight of the Scottish Games and Highland Gathering on September 20, 2008. The event will be held from 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. at historic Boone Hall Plantation in Mt. Pleasant. Tickets at the gate are $15 for adults, $5 for children and free for kids 5 years old and under. The houses and grounds of Boone Hall Plantation can also be explored. Attendees will enjoy bagpipe bands, drumming, fiddling, highland dancing, Olympic-style competitions and kids’ games. There will be a genealogy and clan tent and plenty of Scottish merchandise and food. A Border Collie Demo will feature examples of the energetic dog known for its intelligence and skill as a sheep herder.

In a nod to their original incarnation centuries ago, modern Scottish Highland Games revolve around athletic and sports competitions. Heavy athletic events (the weightiness of the objects being tossed or thrown makes the name an obvious choice) like the caber toss and 56 lb. weight toss are impressive demonstrations of strength and skill. Some consider the other activities and entertainment at these events to be simply icing on the cake, but what tasty icing it has proven to be as the thousands who attend the Charleston event each year can attest to. Over 25 bagpipe bands, Celtic rock bands and the sounds of laughter and merriment can be heard echoing across Boone Hall’s scenic marshlands and through the live oaks draped with moss, as people of all ages and from all backgrounds enjoy some Scottish spirit on a beautiful September day.

Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens is one of America’s oldest working plantations and has been open to the public since 1956. A variety of crops are grown on site and some of the most popular are for sale at a large indoor market down the street. The grounds have been used as a scenic landmark in popular A-list movies like The Patriot and The Notebook, so don’t be surprised if the locale seems familiar.

The largest Green Event in South Carolina will occur in Charleston on September 28, 2008 from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Marion Square, the popular greenspace in historic downtown Charleston, will be the site of the Charleston 2008 Green Fair, showcasing eco-friendly products, services and technologies in an environmentally responsible way. Entry is free, with live music and fun interactive activities planned for all ages. Local restaurants will showcase tasty sustainable food (taking into account environmental, health and social concerns) and tickets for the Wine and Beer Garden will be sold on site. Call 843-720-8525 for more information about the Fair.

The purpose of the Charleston Green Fair is to create excitement and enthusiasm for green products, services and technologies using an environmentally responsible forum of education and entertainment. Attendees will see demonstrations on alternative energy, find out about growing green initiatives and talk with citizens and business owners who are making strides in the field. The public is encouraged to bring small electronics (smaller than a toaster) to be recycled at the event. The goal is to demonstrate a waste free, environmentally responsible large event that supports local businesses and non-profit organizations promoting green initiatives. For example, food vendors must use 100% biodegradable and eco-friendly disposable service ware instead of traditional plastic and Styrofoam, since these items can be composted, rather than put into a landfill.

We made this video a little while ago. The footage is taken from the South Carolina Aquarium here in Charleston. This is an amazing aquarium and unique in that it focuses on the marine life found here in the wildlife-rich state of South Carolina. Stepping out on the harbor side of the aquarium you can usually spot dolphin swimming, Pelicans diving and fantastic views of the Ravenel bridge and Charleston Harbor. If you ever find yourself here in Charleston, I highly recommend a visit to this aquarium.

Fall and Winter Golf Escapes Feature Up to 30% Off Lodging at Kiawah Island, Seabrook, Isle of Palms and Wild Dunes

Does your idea of the perfect golf vacation include top courses, private and secure lodging, great dining, entertainment and amazing things for non-golfers to do? ResortQuest on Charleston’s Islands has the answer for you with their Fall and Winter Golf Escapes featuring up to 30% off lodging on Kiawah Island (home of the upcoming 2012 PGA Championship), Seabrook, Isle of Palms and Wild Dunes. Add the historic pedigree and friendly tours, restaurants, shopping and entertainment venues in Charleston, and you have the makings of a dream trip for golfers and those that are lucky enough to tag along. Call the ResortQuest Golf Coordinator at 800-465-3247 for discounted rates.

On Kiawah, choose from 1, 2, or 3-bedroom villa and cottage rentals, or 3-7 bedroom private home rentals. Kiawah’s 5 golf courses are each highly regarded. The most famous, the Pete Dye designed Ocean Course, will be the site of the 2012 PGA Championship, and was the site of the 2007 PGA Senior’s Championship, as well as past Ryder Cup, UBS Warburg Cup and World Cup championships. Those who play it will appreciate that it has more seaside holes than any other course in the Northern Hemisphere. Movie goers may find it familiar as one of the scenic locations for the Will Smith/Matt Damon movie The Legend of Bagger Vance, about a golfer and his mysterious caddy. Other highly regarded Kiawah courses include Osprey Point designed by Tom Fazio, Jack Nichlaus’ Turtle Point, Cougar Point redesigned by Gary Player and Oak Point designed by Clyde Johnston.

RiverTowne Country Club is another Charleston area course included in ResortQuest’s Fall/Winter Golf Getaway packages. The 18-hole championship course recently hosted a top LPGA event. Patriot’s Point Links on Charleston Harbor, is another great course. You’ll find many other courses from which to choose, each unique in its own way, and offering close proximity to all of the wonderful features that the area offers.

Bohicket Marina on Seabrook Island will host the Bohicket Marina Invitational Billfish Tournament from July 23-26. This is the last of the events for this year’s annual South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfish Tournament series. Participating boats amass points for billfish landed or released and compete for major awards. Now in its 20th year, the Governor’s Cup Billfish Series is designed to promote South Carolina’s Billfishing Tournament industry, increase coastal tourism and encourage the conservation of ocean pelagic fish through the tag and release of billfish. Prior to the start of the series, less than ten percent of the state’s billfish were released after being caught. South Carolina anglers, undoubtedly inspired by the message of conservation that the Series has fostered, now release over ninety percent of the billfish caught, contributing to the state’s reputation as a world leader in marine fisheries conservation.