Whether you are a history buff, a lover of architecture, a nature lover or just love peace and quiet, the friendly Southern charm and hospitality of Historic Charleston should not be missed. While many land-touring opportunities are available, touring Charleston by the sea is rather unique. Charleston is often very hot and humid, so a tour from the water can be refreshing and relaxing with cooling and rejuvenating sea breezes.
Carolina Marine Group is famous for its tours of Charleston harbor. Tour participants can board a private yacht for an unrivaled harbor cruise to view the hidden beauty of Charleston that most people never see. Captain Dave Gugliotti is very knowledgeable about Charleston history. He also has a wealth of information on the best things to do in Charleston, places to eat, and things you will not want to miss while visiting.
Charleston’s beautiful coastal location affords a wide variety of places to see from the water such as the incredible views of the Battery and the French Quarter architecture of 18th Century homes as you pass by the Waterfront Park, or the awesome views as you pass under the magnificent Ravenel Bridge, and iconic sites such as Shutes Folly Island and Castle Pinkney. On a harbor cruise you are likely to even see Dolphins and a variety of sea birds!
For history buffs, you can experience a part of maritime history when you tour the Charleston Harbor. You can view Fort Sumter where the first battle of the Civil War took place as well as Patriots Point, home to the USS Yorktown, dubbed The Fighting Lady. This famous battleship played a significant role in the Pacific during World War II and participated in the recovery of the crew of Apollo 8 before being decommissioned. Next to the USS Yorktown is the USS Laffey, a World War II destroyer, and the USS Clamagore, an attack submarine.
Along the way, you can even stop at a waterfront restaurant for lunch or dinner. Carolina marine Group prides themselves on accommodating their guests and are known for having fun. This is one of many reasons they were voted “Best Tour Company” in The Post and Courier Charleston’s Choice Awards in 2018. Their private boat tours are a great way to avoid the crowds and come with perks like being able to bring your own drinks and snacks aboard and play your favorite music.
Another amazing way to experience Charleston is to spend your nights aboard the Motor Yacht Southern Comfort which is a luxury yacht that sleeps 8 and also surprisingly very affordable. Southern Comfort is docked at the Charleston City Marina on 17 Lockwood Drive in downtown Charleston and is literally minutes from restaurants, shopping, and the historic sites of downtown Charleston. This boat is also part of Carolina Marine Group's fleet and can be booked through their website or on Airbnb. Whether you stay on land or on the water, Charleston is a travel destination to be noticed.
