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South Carolina

Christmastime in Charleston

Program No. 21206RJ
There’s no place like Charleston for Christmas. Come see why as you enjoy Lowcountry traditions, witness the Festival of Lights on James Island and attend a holiday show!
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  • A large Christmas tree stands in a grand foyer between two white pillars and a staircase in Charleston, South Carolina.
  • A historic building's balcony in Charleston, South Carolina, is decorated for Christmas with wreaths and garland against bright blue shutters.
  • A close-up of a festive Christmas wreath with red poinsettias and ornaments hanging on a building in Charleston, South Carolina.
  • A Gullah woman in Charleston, South Carolina, holds a handmade sweetgrass basket.
  • In Charleston, South Carolina, a Gullah artisan demonstrates traditional sweetgrass basket weaving to an attentive group of women.
  • Two women in festive winter coats smile for the camera in a sunny garden in Charleston, South Carolina.
  • A smiling woman with gray hair and a pink shawl stands on a balcony overlooking a city street in Charleston, South Carolina.
HolidaysCity DiscoveriesRegional Discoveries
Length
6 days
Rating (4.86)
Activity Level
Starts at
2,549
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
11 meals ( 4B, 3L, 4D )
3 expert-led lectures
6 expert-led field trips
3 performances
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
Program Registration: 4:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table in the lobby area to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Orientation: 5:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 25 miles throughout the day, approximately 1 hour total riding time. Walking up to 1/2 - 1 mile in the Magnolia gardens; some uneven terrain through the gardens of Magnolia. One step to board the Nature tram. Standing during narration in the Edmunston/Alston home can be up to one hour. No seating available.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
An expert local historian will join us at the hotel and introduce Charleston and the Carolina Lowcountry. This prefatory history of Charleston will prepare us for the field trips we will take during our stay. Our historian will include the craftsmanship and architecture of the homes decked in holiday finery and holiday customs leading to Christmas.
Lunch:
At the hotel.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we’ll ride to Magnolia Plantation, 12 miles from our hotel. Founded in 1676 by the Drayton family, it has survived the centuries and witnessed the history of our nation unfold from the American Revolution through the Civil War and on to the present day. It is the oldest public site open to visitors in the Lowcountry with the oldest public gardens in America. Their world-renowned camellia collection begins to bloom in early winter. As part of the Magnolia Plantation field trip, we will experience the beauty of the Audubon Swamp Garden. The Nature Train circles Magnolia's 450 acres of wetlands, forests, marshes, and swamps. As we ride, we'll explore the native plants and wildlife of the Lowcountry and discover the rich history of rice cultivation and phosphate mining on the property. Leaving the Magnolia Plantation property, we will travel back to downtown Charleston (12 miles). We will be treated to a candlelight field trip through the Edmunston/Alston Home located on Charleston’s historic Battery. See the house lit solely by candlelight with its mid-19th century holiday decor. Stationed throughout the house, docents will share the history of those that called 21 East Battery home.
Dinner:
At Hyman's Seafood Restaurant. The Hyman family has been at the same location for over 134 years. Starting out as a Wholesale dry goods store then changing to Hyman's Seafood in 1987. The Hyman's commitment to guaranteed customer satisfaction is the reason that Hyman's Seafood is now a Charleston landmark.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Heyward Washington home is standing for curator talk and walking through home for approx 1 hour. No elevator to second floor. No seating at historic home. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 20 miles throughout the day, approximately 2 hours total riding time as we travel to James Island for the Festival of Lights.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We'll meet together in our classroom for a presentation on Charleston by one of the College of Charleston's professors. After a brief break, we'll board our motor coach to celebrate this holiday season at the Heyward Washington House. We'll join the Curator of History for a walk through the Heyward Washington House. We'll learn how early Americans celebrated the winter holidays as we experience the home all decorated for Christmas. We'll return by coach to the hotel for lunch following our field trip.
Lunch:
At the hotel.
Afternoon:
In our meeting room at the hotel with a local expert, we’ll learn about the history and techniques that have birthed Charleston’s unique Sweetgrass Baskets. Brought to the area by slaves who came from the west coast of Africa, basket making is an ancient African art form in this country, which has been passed on from generation to generation. Skilled craftsmanship and long hours are involved in making these baskets. Sit back and enjoy the Sweetgrass baskets demonstration by the Stoneworth family.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
We’ll attend a performance of “The Sound of Charleston” at historic Circular Congregational Church. Professional performers will bring to life authentic music from throughout the city’s history, from the founding of one of America’s first musical organizations — the St. Cecilia Society (1766) — through Civil War songs, spirituals, gospel, Gullah, Gershwin, and jazz. We’ll hear about the words, context, and meanings of the music as we clap and sing along. “The Sound of Charleston” is the city’s longest running musical production. The church, founded in 1681, is one of the oldest continually worshipping congregations in the country; the present building dates from 1892. Returning to the hotel, prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Walking up to 5 blocks of the hotel on a field trip. Getting on/off a motorcoach.
Morning:
This morning, we’ll board our motorcoach for the Charleston history field trip with our expert historian. We will be getting on and off the bus as we stop at select points of interest.
Lunch:
On your own to enjoy what you like.
Afternoon:
Free time after the morning field trip with lunch on your own.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
We'll ride by coach to the Charleston Christmas Performance. Audiences of all ages will be delighted with this holiday musical show featuring some of the country’s most talented singers, dancers and musicians – now in it’s 31st spectacular year!
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 1.5 miles at Boone Hall; some uneven terrain. Sitting on benches outside for Gullah performance. ; driving about 20 miles throughout the day, approximately 2 hours total riding time as we travel to James Island for the Festival of Lights.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll board our motorcoach for Boone Hall Plantation. The mansion that stands today was built in 1936. With blended materials recovered from the original plantation and antique furnishings, we’ll enter an atmosphere of a Coastal Carolina family. Addressing the slavery at Boone Hall, we see and go into the different cabins to see how black Americans worked and lived, struggles that were faced, as well as follow periods of historical progression from the 1800s up to the present day. We will learn about the Gullah people and culture during a 30-minute Gullah presentation outside the slave cabins.
Lunch:
At High Cotton. Our private event room offers a unique blend of historic charm and sophisticated elegance. Reclaimed wood floors and exposed brick walls create a warm, inviting atmosphere, while palm leaf fans add a touch of old-world appeal. Lunch reservations for our group will be from 1:30 - 3:00 pm.
Afternoon:
The rest of the afternoon is free to rest, pack for home, walk around. It's up to you. We'll be leaving for Festival of Lights on James Island at 5:00 pm.
Dinner:
At the Brasserie La Banque. Brasserie la Banque is a neighborhood French restaurant situated in historic downtown Charleston, SC. This is our farewell time to say goodbyes and cherish our newfound friends.
Evening:
We’ll leave on our motorcoach for James Island to cruise along the three-mile display of glimmering lights through the park. The festival features over 750 light displays, including the newly refurbished and rebuilt Cooper River Bridge display. This dazzling light show is one of Charleston’s most cherished holiday events, featuring an estimated two million twinkling lights. Dinner will follow this field trip to the festival of lights.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to like our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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