CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
A to Z Recipes will hold it's annual gathering in the Charleston, South Carolina area. The dates are: Saturday, November 5th through Friday, November 11th, 2011. (We will arrive on Saturday 5th @ 4:00 pm and depart Saturday 12th @ 10:00 am.)
CHARLESTON, SC
The City of Charleston is located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean at the juncture of the Ashley and Cooper Rivers. Occupying 88.14 square miles, Charleston has 7.6 square miles of a vital, bustling downtown which is home to the City's central business district. The Peninsula's dense urban streets set in dramatic contrast to the vast expanses of marsh which lay in buffer around the highlands. Many islands incorporated by Charleston add beauty, charm and a wealth of American history to this fascinating city. The rich history, culture, sites and delicious cuisine made this the location chosen for 2011 by attendees of the 2010 A to Z Recipes annual gathering.
ISLE OF PALMS - IOP is close to Charleston (15 mi) and has pristine beaches and southern hospitality. This is where we will be staying during our trip. See the rental house description in the Rental Agreement and Trip Guidelines below. The Charleston, SC area offers us the chance for some of the best down-home cooking and Lowcountry cuisine. Very important in the coastal region of South Carolina to Northern Florida is the Gullah culture. See this PBS primer for details. http://www.pbs.org/now/arts/gullah.html
The average high temperature for November in Charleston is 68F with the low being 53F.
Planned events so far . . .
Meet us for brunch on Sunday, November 7 at noon at Crave. We will have an area reserved by the owner, Chris Nolan (and no waiting!). Crave is located in Mt. Pleasant, which is very near our beach rental. See the Brunch menu by clicking this link: http://www.cravemtp.com/
After a day of sightseeing and shopping on Wednesday, November 9, we will meet at 5 o'clock for an early dinner at
NOTE: READ ALL RENTAL AGREEMENT AND TRIP GUIDELINES (BELOW) BEFORE DECIDING UPON THE TRIP.
Once you decide you'd like to attend the 2011 gathering, you may want to start planning and checking out the possibilities in the area.
Try sending off for a great (free) Official Visitor's Guide. It is excellent. I received mine in only a few days. It is an unbelievable, well-planned booklet which includes many maps, points of interest, phone numbers, as well as price ranges for each activity, hotel, restaurant, etc. http://www.charlestoncvb.com/visitors/travel_support/visitorguide.html
SOME POINTS OF INTEREST
Fort Sumter Tour and Cruise
http://www.spiritlinecruises.com/
Stops at Fort Sumter National Monument, where the Civil War began. Cruise to the island fort while you enjoy breathtaking views of Charleston and her Harbor. Depart from the Visitor Education Facility at Liberty Square downtown and from Patriots Point in Mt. Pleasant. This is an extremely affordable excursion!
Angel Oak Tree
http://www.angeloaktree.org/
Located on James Island, the Angel Oak is a Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) that is a native species found throughout the Lowcountry (Coastal Carolina). Believed to be in excess of 1500 years old, its massive, draping limbs and wide spreading canopy present the aura of an angel but the naming of this tree was acquired from the tree's previous owners, Martha and Justin Angel. There is no cost for this excursion.
Charleston Old City Market
http://thecharlestoncitymarket.com/
Steeped in history and charm, the Charleston City Market is a popular destination for all who visit the Holy City. Open 365 days per year, the Market is an exciting place for tourists and local Charleston residents alike. Market Hall stands facing Meeting Street as the main entrance to four blocks of open-air buildings. Strolling through the Market you will encounter a wide assortment of vendors selling high quality products including paintings, pottery, Charleston's famous sweetgrass baskets, casual and fine dining & more! There is no cost for this excursion.
RENTAL AGREEMENT AND TRIP GUIDELINES:
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT/ROOM SHARES: Our vacation house prices are per person, based on double occupancy. Single accommodations are subject to availability, and may be confirmed for an additional charge. Larger bed preference will be given to those needing room for two (as in a couple).
AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION AND LUGGAGE/BAGGAGE HANDLING: Every effort will be made to arrange for low- to no-cost transportation to and from the airport and house. Ultimately, the responsibility of ground transportation to and from the airport and house is yours. However, if possible, no-cost ground transport will be arranged on a first-come, first-served basis. It is your responsibility to porter your own bags.
GROUND TRANSPORTATION: A vehicle will be available to take you where you desire to go. This will be on a first-come, first-serve basis (the vehicle is privately owned, driven, and insured). If you desire more personal service, you may seek a rental vehicle at the various agencies which serve the Charleston, SC area. Taxis and limos are relatively inexpensive.
TRAVELERS REQUIRING SPECIAL ASSISTANCE: Any disability requiring special attention should be reported to us at the time the reservation is made and is subject to approval. We regret that we cannot provide individual assistance for walking, dining, embarking/disembarking transportation, and/or for other personal needs. Once approved, a qualified companion must accompany travelers who need such assistance. This would include dispensing any needed medications/treatment (and in a discreet manner, please).
REFUNDS: Once you commit to stay in the vacation rental house with the group and submit rental fees, your rental fees are non-refundable. An exception would be if someone else were to sign up for the trip and take your place in the house. In that event, a full refund (minus a $25 handling fee) would be extended.
EXCURSIONS/ACTIVITIES: A main meal (where all participants gather at a restaurant) as well as a few suggested tours will be offered. The expense of each is for each traveler to pay. There is NO charge for this trip beyond your personal expenses. If you intend to stay at the rental house with the group, you will be responsible for your share of the rental and a portion of the food expenses. There are no charges for anything else. No one from A to Z Recipes makes a profit from this or any other gathering.
RENTAL HOUSE: The rental house is lovely and close to the beach (.3 mi) on Isle of Palms, South Carolina. The house will sleep 12-14 comfortably (double occupancy, 6 bedrooms, K,K,Q,Q,2T,2T, 5 full baths and 2 half baths). It has every possible convenience and luxury. From the beautiful pool and outdoor cooking/serving area, the comfy seating areas indoors, fabulous gourmet kitchen, to the relaxing porches, this is a perfect place for our gathering. Just bring your personal essentials and you're good to go. Until we get a firm commitment, we are unable to give an exact amount for the shared cost of the house, however, it is believed the cost should be around $300 per person. The more that join in, the less the cost per person. Conversely, the fewer the number, the more each person will pay. Each person who agrees to attend must pay a deposit (we are expected to pay a deposit and it will be shared by each attendee). The deposit is due immediately and will go toward the full amount each person is expected to pay as their share of the rental. There are also many reasonably priced hotels and B&B's in the area. Here is a link to other activities and lodging: http://www.sciway.net/city/islepalms.html. We respectfully request that travelers staying at the house be at least 18 years of age.
We have room for TWO more persons (double occupancy) This will keep the costs down and fill up the available sleeping areas. Until those are filled, we are looking at approximately $350pp. If you are interested, drop me a line. The remaining 2 slots would keep the cost at about $300pp.
Here are some links to the IOP Beach House our group will be sharing. The youtube link is a walk-through which shows everything really well.
3901 Cameron Blvd, Isle of Palms, SC 29451
http://www.iopbeachhouse.com/index.html
http://www.vrbo.com/49211
http://www.resortquestisleofpalms.com/alpha_search.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vuk6wCKW7U
LET'S GET STARTED: I will need a commitment from each interested person immediately. A deposit of $100pp is due by December 1, 2010. All of the deposit goes toward the shared rental price each would pay. The remainder (which we are unsure of until we get a head count, but should not exceed an additional $200 - for a grand total of $300pp for the rental) would be due one month before our stay, or approximately September 15, 2011. This will give me enough time to get the fees to the owner.
The name and address for all rental fees:
Maggie Blackwell
P O Box 485
Brazoria, Texas 77422
Contact me if you have any questions. You may email me at maggieblackwell@hotmail.com. PLEASE use 'Charleston' in your 'subject line' so I will know you are a friend.
