Charleston is a popular travel destination attracting hundreds of thousands of foreign and domestic tourists each year. With a total economic impact of $8 billion, it is evident that tourism in this old city keeps blossoming. Besides the old colorful homes and the tall church steeples, the frequency of clip-clops emanating from the racing horses is a thrilling phenomenon.
One of the iconic experiences, when you visit Charleston, is the carriage rides. The open-air and ancient carriages will give you an overview of this great city. If you are visiting Charleston or want to know more about the classic carriage tours, read on.
The Time
If a Charleston carriage ride is on your bucket list, timing is everything. During summer, fall, or spring, the midday or afternoon sun can be torturous. The heat index goes up to 125 degrees.
Taking the ride early in the day will give you a better experience as opposed to midday or afternoons. The weather can get scorching, making an outdoor event uncomfortable. High temperatures also put the animals at risk. Consequently, it is hard to get horse carriage rides when the weather is hot.
You can also opt for evening carriage tours, to end your day with this relaxing activity. To make it extra special, you can book a private carriage. Watching the dazzling stars and the moon when touring across the streets of Charleston is something you don’t want to miss.
Carriage Routes
The carriage tours have predetermined routes. The City of Charleston has set 4 routes, meaning that you can’t just choose a random part of the town for your tour. These routes are assigned to carriages through a lottery system, and only 20 carriages can be on the roads at any given time. Establishing the fixed routes was aimed at reducing potential traffic snarl-ups and risks that can harm animals.
However, each of these routes has great historical sites. Furthermore, the guides are highly knowledgeable, and you will enjoy and learn more than you would expect.
Therefore, if you want to see the entire city, you might need to book multiple carriage tours. It is essential to note the carriage company does not have a direct impact on your tour. However, it is vital to vet the companies to ensure that the carriage is comfortable enough to give you a remarkable experience.
The carriages can be Mule or Horse-Drawn
Horse carriage rides are more prevalent in Charleston as compared to a mule-drawn carriages. However, some carriage tours prefer a team of mules to complete the traditional aspect of the activity. Mules happen to have a better health record than horses. Besides, they can withstand several harsh conditions and might only appear weak when overworked and exposed to extreme temperatures. The carriage rides will still give you memorable experiences, whether a team of mules or muscular horses draws your carriage.
Booking
While booking ahead of time saves you a great deal of trouble, especially during weekends, carriage tours in Charleston do not require a reservation. You can decide to do it day-of, and you will still have a great experience.
This aspect is especially helpful when making impromptu stopovers. It enables you to appreciate the benefits of spontaneity when pre-booking is not a prerequisite.
However, taking caution is critical because Charleston is often super busy, more so during weekends. If you wish to tour during weekends or public holidays and you have the benefit of time, making prior reservations is advisable.
Having the option to either pre-book or make spontaneous tours adds to the many advantages of taking a carriage ride in Charleston.
Bottom-Line
Adding a horse-drawn carriage among the things to do in Charleston will be a game-changer to your holidays. The one-of-a-kind experience will be your trip’s highlight. The certified and knowledgeable guides will give you a detailed history of the city as you tour across the streets. Whether you are traveling with your spouse or a group of friends, the experience you get from the horse-drawn carriages will be thrilling.
