This plantation is absolutely gorgeous. The whole place is rich with history and is very well preserved and maintained. The gardens are by far the highlight. There are a variety of tour options, and many people dressed in costume that have a wealth of knowledge to share. It was a beautiful place and wonderful experience! read more

Middleton Place - The Middleton Oak. - Museums Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

It's a lovely place. Where you can walk, relax, run away from sheep and alligators (not at the same time) You can sniff some culture by listening to the tour guides or just explore on your own. Find yourself lost for a day in this beautiful plantation and think you are Mel Gibson in The Patriot. Fun for the whole family guaranteed! read more

An educational and interesting way to spend a day exploring the various aspects of Lowcountry history. Lots of historical plaques and displays, heritage breed animals, craftsmen/women and beautiful scenery to see. We went on Thanksgiving and covered a large portion of the trails. We didn't do the house tour--we spent so much time walking the grounds and then enjoying dinner, then walking the grounds again we didn't get to it. We'll be back. Very well informed staff and guides was an additional plus. As a history educator/writer living in the Lowcountry I would rank the historical content and communication of the plantation's history as good. The plaques and signs do discuss the conditions of slavery and the massive amounts and types of work that slaves performed. In the chapel-spring house the historical displays convey the nuanced ways that slaves related to Christianity and practiced it. The displays also discussed the ways in which slaveowners used Christianity as a means of controlling their slaves--and the difficulty of assessing the question of what extent that was true because of the lack of archival sources. We did not visit the house--that'll happen on another visit so I don't know how enslavement and the owners of the plantation are discussed inside. I would say that there is room for improvement in discussing exact living conditions of slaves, punishments, and general quality of life of both slaves and the white owners/overseers. Brookgreen Gardens in Murrell's Inlet, SC, about 90 minutes up the coast from Charleston has a more detailed description of slave life, living quarters, and the cruelty of the plantation economy in a similarly important historic setting. read more

Hmm, this place makes me happy. It is beautiful, the grounds make me want to take walks there for hours and hours, there are a gazillion little nooks to explore there, from old plantation buildings to peacocks and landscaped gardens. The house itself is very much like a museum, and the tour focuses mainly on the objects collected inside along with the family history of the place. My highlight was definitely the outside. The tourism office in downtown Charleston sells passes that can save you a lot on admission if you visit several plantations, museums and historic buildings in and around town. Thus far this was a review of the grounds and house. The RESTAURANT I do NOT recommend. The food was tasty and the restaurant itself very pretty, but everything else was wrong. It is extremely expensive, portions are very small, and worst of all, as two young people in leisurely day tour clothing, I had a distinct feeling the staff considered us insufficiently uppity. Charleston has MUCH better places to offer in the way of high-end Southern cuisine, such as Poogan's Porch. read more

Thanksgiving day brunch and a stroll around the gardens. The price was significant (60$ per person, no drinks included other than coffee/tea), lets start there. If I'm paying a fair amount to have a very nice brunch, I get a liiiiiiittle aggravated when I'm told to be at the tent for my reservation 5 minutes early, and then have to wait in line for 15 minutes before anyone is even let in...for the FIRST seating! If you can't get your act together on a holiday for the first seating, thats not a good sign. Also, there were fires burning next to the line so you had a constant stream of smoke in your face. Now everyone in my party has to dry clean their nice jackets because we smell like a campfire. Next, the waitstaff appeared to have never had serving experience before. I watched various employees spilling things, confused about how to take orders...we ordered a bottle of wine and i watched someone start pouring it, then our waitress told that person to stop, then she proceeded to bring over the bottle with 5 wineglasses, and one that already had some red wine in it. No explanation. If I hadn't seen what happened across the room that would have been very strange... Let me also make clear that it was NOT extremely packed and there were a ton of servers so it's not like everyone was just overwhelmed. Third on my list of complaints, no bloody mary mix? Bizarre for a brunch... Now that the complaining is out of the way, I will say that the food was EXCELLENT. Ham and turkey were so delicious. I would love to eat that whole meal again. The grounds were also gorgeous, it was so nice to walk around. It would absolutely be worth the 60$ if they were actually able to get it together for the function - it's too bad starting off the day like that tarnishes the experience overall. EDIT: I feel like I may be over reacting. I want to say again that the buffet was really perfect, no waiting in a weird buffet line, everything hot and fresh...so that part was together. read more

We visited the gardens, home and restaurant in mid May. The gardens were lovely, but since it was May we missed the flowering azaleas (60K of them!). There are huge magnolias in fragrant bloom, live oaks draped with Spanish moss and 85 foot tall Hollies. There were also camellias in bloom. We took the garen tour and found out the designer of the Versaille designed this garden. We walked to the outbuildings and briefly looked at the looms, potter's wheel and bunch of farm implements. The highlight of the visit was watching a peacock strut his stuff when a peahen came by. He spread his tail feathers and they vibrated - weird. The home tour was rushed and too crowded. The total admission was $35 and is not a good value. I paid up, telling myself historical preservation is a good cause. Our meal at the restaurant was tasty, but portions were small, esp. my daughter's pulled pork. I had catfish (one filet), the remoulade made it too salty, but the seasoning alone was good. The collards and salad dressing were tasty. The corn pudding was good, with firm corn kernels. The okra was also firm, not slimy. The hoppin John was nothing special. The pecan pie was good. The key lime pie was pretty average. The service was slow, but I didn't mind because that gave us more time to sit on the shady patio sipping delicious sweet tea. read more

Visiting Middleton Place was a highlight of our trip to Charleston. We arrived at 11 am and didn't leave until 5 pm, and that was just touring the grounds! We also took advantage of two excellent free talks: About the Breeds and Beyond the Fields. We highly recommend both. The grounds are just spectacular, and we were enchanted by the many different animals and birds of MP. We had a delicious lunch buffet at the restaurant: fried chicken, hoppin john, corn pudding and more yummy Southern foods. It was relaxing to eat outside and watch a friendly peacock beg for food. The gardens and trees are among the most beautiful we've seen, and we've been to plantations and estates before. But do take the Beyond the Fields walk so you can learn more about the harsh realities of slavery and put everything you see here into true perspective. read more

This is such a wonderful place. We walked the grounds, ate at the restaurant (yum) and enjoyed the exhibits. The staff are knowledgeable and very welcoming. This is a must-see if you are in the Charleston area and interested in history and/or beautiful grounds - plenty of space for the kids to run! read more

This is a beautiful and relaxing place to spend the day. There are peacocks wandering the grounds and if you're lucky, you may see some right outside the window of the restaurant while you are eating lunch. Speaking of the restaurant, I thought the price-to-value ratio was very good. We had the prix-fixe meal for $17 (app, main, dessert). She-crab soup was very good. Shrimp and grits was good, but awfully heavy/rich. My wife thought her fried chicken was crisp, but a little bland. Of the two desserts, the pecan pie was much better than the key lime pie (not a huge surprise). Sweet tea was refreshing. Note that the restaurant *only* offers the prix-fixe. Two ladies came in looking for a light bite to eat and were told they could not order just appetizers and drinks. We did not do the house tour (not included on our two-day Charleston pass), but we still had a nice time strolling the grounds, petting the farm cats, watching the free-roaming chickens strutting around, etc. (We did somehow get off the main path at one point, which resulted in a roundabout trek through a dusty woodland path, so be careful about directions. The paths are not very clearly marked.) As someone else said, I'm sure it's possible to rush through in a couple of hours, but you'll probably have a much nicer time if you budget 3-4 hours and explore all the hidden gardens and other quiet spaces on this estate. It's the South, y'all. Slow down. Take your time. Relax and enjoy. :) For something a bit different, be sure to stop at the nearby Drayton Hall to see a preserved (not restored) Southern mansion. read more

One of the coolest things I saw in Charleston. Definitely save a whole day to see all this place has to offer. There are tours running throughout the day showing all the different aspects of southern life on a plantation. A must see! read more

Middleton Place - Museums Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

My bf and I arrived at Middleton on a rainy summer day. As a result, we began our visit in the gift shop, which is pretty awesome: there are lot of neat souvenirs, very few of which are junky. Tickets to the grounds were medium-expensive (25$ per person), but worth it: the gardens are extensive and beautiful. We did the full walk around the garden, following the path outlined in the free guidebook. It included a manicured garden area, a more woodsy, "natural" area, a rice mill, a chapel/spring house, a farm area with animals and several displays on trades on the plantation, and a house formerly populated by freed slaves who remained on the plantation after the Civil War. There is also a complimentary guided tour of the grounds offered, which we didn't take, since we paid to take the house tour (an extra $10). Overall, the house tour wasn't particularly impressive: I wouldn't do it again. The main house and music/library wing of Middleton Place were burned down during the Civil War, so only the guest house remains for touring. Since it was lived in up until the 1970s, it has been modernized. The interesting feature of the house is instead the items within it. Rather than obtain generic antiques from the right period, the foundation that runs Middleton Place focused on trying to amass a collection of artifacts that were owned by the Middleton family which would have likely been in the house prior to the Civil War. Unfortunately, so as to prevent sun damage to these artifacts, the house is kept pretty dark... you're pretty much dependent on the flashlight of the tour guide to see the items. We also had lunch in the restaurant on the grounds, which was a 3-course price fixe meal for $16.75. The food was acceptable (better than you would usually get at a museum or food stand), although not particularly remarkable. The She Crab Soup was very tasty, the pulled pork was tasty but a bit dry, the shrimp and grits was very salty, and the key lime pie was par for the course. That being said, the view of the grounds from the windows of the restaurant was absolutely lovely. My bf and I both felt that the grounds were truly worth the trip, even with the puddles. read more

Awesome place to visit in Charleston, gorgeous grounds and wonderful history here, always bring visitors.

There is a ton to see (grounds, animals, scenic vistas, slave chapel and homes and the perfectly preserved main house). It doesn't come cheap but we spent over 3 hours there and then had lunch in their garden nursery shop. Our guide for the tour of the slave experience, Leslie Manigault, was a treasure. He was funny, charming and when he sang a spiritual hymn in the slave chapel....well, I was moved to tears. read more

We chose to visit Middleton Plantation for its history and beauty. We were expecting to learn about life in the South on a plantation especially for slaves. However, the whole visit was about the gardens and the Middleton family. Although the gardens were beautiful and the family/house tour informative, there was very little information about slavery. In fact, the only information was hidden in a poorly labeled, small shed with one small room. The information lacked description on how the slaves were treated and their daily lives, which was disappointing considering the large roles they played in plantation life. Considering all this, admission was overpriced and we probably would have chosen another plantation if we had known the price vs information ratio. read more

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The restaurant overlooked the gardens and I felt like every where I looked needed to be a fabulous oil painting. Get the collard greens, pimento cheese hush puppies and fried chicken - mmm good! The pecan pie was perfect (hold the whipped cream because the pie is so good you don't need it). read more

Hello Friends I visited this place a while back, and really enjoyed myself. As noted in many reviews the cost can be pricey. Well, since this is not the norm save up a few more bucks to enjoy the place. It's not like your funding the local "Teamster". The place is really nice and very large. We did the walking tour. And after awhile wanted to do the guided tour. Glad we did. Since this was the 3rd stop, a lot of things mentioned by the tour guide was pretty much a confirmation of what i've heard before. GREAT!! This is a great place to get your photo's. Gator's, Ducks, Peacocks, rolling hills, azaleas, etc. Gotta find those discounts, AAA, City Pass, those little things in the hotel lobby. At what cost should you put on a new/different experience. Hell, you may even find something new that you never knew before. Priceless!! read more

I love visiting Middleton! I think it is so beautiful and historical and the tours are very interesting. If you do not want to take a tour there is tons of historical knowledge you can self educate yourself about. The events are always so fun with many different styles of food. The restaurant is so delicious with wonderful salad fresh produce from there own organic garden. I can't even recommend a dish because everything is so good. The staff is always so friendly and do amazing job and helpful. Love walking the gardens and the stables and seeing the water buffalo, goats, sheep, peacocks and many more animals! I had my wedding there last year and it was absolutely magical I recommend visiting going to an event or having your wedding there!! Or evening just taking a nice day to yourself and walking around. read more

The best part of Middleton Place are the sweeping river views from the gardens. I was there on a gorgeous fall afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed the views, the gardens, the birds and the lovely, peaceful setting. However, even skipping the house tour or any of the other add-ons, admission seemed quite expensive. Maybe if we'd spent more time and toured the outbuildings, it would have seemed like a better value? Four stars, because this is a beautiful setting and very much worth visiting, but if you have to choose one plantation, I'd suggest Magnolia instead, which is cheaper and more unique, if not quite as majestic. read more

Lovely place, but not the ideal vacationing spot when it's 100 degrees outside and nothing is in bloom! Also, the ground view of the gardens is nothing like the aerial view on postcards. (Don't be fooled!) However, the property is lovely and the animals are fun to observe and be around. Lots of fun history to pick up through the tours offered and the signs posted on the grounds. You only need about 2-3 hours to cover the whole place and go on the tours. Make sure to check the tour hours and offerings before you plan your visit. Most of them take place in the first half of the day. read more

I used my ancient university ID to get in for $15 instead of the outrageous general admission price (UCI SAY WERD?). SCORE! It didn't grant me access inside of the house but I wasn't really there to see how rich white people lived anyways. It was great to walk the grounds, which are truly beautiful by the way, and just spend a couple hours reflecting and taking photographs. Wow, I sound lame. Anyways, I can definitely recommend it for $15. You get to see water buffalos for crying out loud, that is just AWESOME! And there are peacocks running around everywhere!!! Peacocks!!!! So cool. You know what, I could spend up to $25 on this historical site, though keep in mind I'm a bit wealthier than the normal person. Wait what? Sup' ladiesssss. read more

My favorite place in Charleston! I visit here often just to take a stroll through the manicured gardens and grab a bite to eat at the restaurant. The wine strolls are fun and relaxed. The wedding event staff is EXCELLENT. So kind and friendly. In the spring, the blooms are overflowing and the grounds turn into a floral paradise. I find something new every time I visit and am totally in love with this place. read more

The gardens at Middleton Place were beautiful. I can only imagine how pretty they are in Spring when the azaleas are in bloom. The weather today, in October, was perfect! We toured the main house and the gardens and were very pleased. A little pricey, but that's why it's so nice. Go. read more

Middleton Place - Alligator enjoying what looked like a nutria or muskrat for lunch - Museums Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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As I drove up to Middleton Place, it was a gray, humid and rainy day. Having said that, I very much enjoyed visiting. You can take various tours but we were limited on time so we guided ourselves. It was a slow start walking through the gardens and taking in the scenery. We could not visit the Middleton house but were able to eat at the restaurant. This made the trip worth it! Loved the she crab soup and pulled pork sandwich with mustard bbq sauce. The waitress was a bit sassy (apparently french fries are reserved for children and I upset her by requesting that as my side) but otherwise nice and attentive. We then went to the area of the working plantation which is what made me enjoy Middleton Place as much as I did. They have workers still practicing the crafts common on the plantation through the centuries. The cooper still makes buckets that are used for example and shows you the process. The blacksmith shared an incredible amount of information on the family and brought us into present day explaining the family gets together every 5 years (includes Middleton decedents and slave decedents) and a 14 year old family member often visit and works in the barn. Overall an interesting history lesson and look into 18th and 19th century life. read more

What a beautifully maintained plantation. We thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of this activity. From the French influenced gardens, the on-site artisans/storytellers, the preserved artifacts, farm animals and pleasant staff this visit is a must when touring the Charlotte area. read more

Midelton place is a beautiful space! The gardens are stunning, and the animals are very fun. Make sure you get there in time ti tour the house! read more

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On a recent rip to Charleston, we rented a car and drove to Middleton and spent two hours walking the garden grounds before returning to town. Since we had purchased the city visitors pass (which got us entrance to both Middleton and Drayton Hall, which we actually didn't have time to visit, along with 6 other sites in Charleston proper), we didn't have to pay an entrance fee. The visit, though short, was well worth it. We had seen all of the historic homes in Charleston, so we opted to spend our time in the gardens rather than on the house tour (which also would have cost extra $). The grounds were enchanting, and luckily, the weather was perfect. We delighted in the scenic vistas that changed around every turn, the farm animals, and spotting alligators, turtles, and wild birds (we saw egrets, storks, and a blue heron). The setting was utterly idyllic. read more

Middleton Place - Museums Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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We visited Middleton Place Plantation & Gardens when we were guests of the Inn at Middleton Place. It is a nice property with various gardens, a historic plantation home, old slave house, a petting zoo, a marketplace gift shop with drinks & snacks, as well as a formal restaurant. It is a beautiful place to have a wedding or other special event. read more

wonderful place for a wedding. we had a open bar available by a large pond and the reception was on location. the food was really great. she crab soup, prime rib, salad, mac and cheese. I wish there would have been some aujus for the prime rib as well as steak knives instead of a bread knife to cut it with also there was only one choice for the salad dressing - a vinaigrette style that was just ok. but ranch is the universal dressing to have on hand. the horse and carriage trolley was unnecessary - and I don't recommend it for a wedding when people are in dresses and high heels - it is awkward to get on and off. we had a wonderful time at the event and I recommend it for parties etc! read more

My husband came to the states from Hawaii, and we decided to take a vacation to Charleston,SC. Someone at our hotel suggested we tour one of the plantations, and we stumbled across Middleton Place. We paid about 90$ for our family to see the plantation, and we did a tour. It was worth every penny, as we learned so much. At first I was disappointed that we were getting the perspective of the Middleton's, because I wanted to know more about the slaves. However, our tour guide was awesome in highlighting the importance of slaves, and we got to see their quarters. Being the only Black family on the tour, we felt very comfortable, partly because of the awesome tour guide (I can't remember her name). The grounds were beautifully maintained, and we even spotted an alligator on the premises. Coming here was the highlight of our trip :) They have a lot to offer, we came back the next day and did a kayaking tour as well. read more

Middleton Place - Museums Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Beautiful grounds and wonderful self guided tour. They also offer free guided tours and live sets with a blacksmith and basket weaving. Bring a camera so you can take plenty of beautiful pictures. Only dinged 1 star because the price without a student ID is pretty high. read more

Just outside Charleston (about 20 min), there are two MUST-SEE historic estates along the Ashley River--- Magnolia Plantation and Middleton Place. You might think seeing one is sufficient....but, if you can, visit both. They are completely different and each is lovely in its own way. For either location, plan on a half day visit and go first thing in the am...it's much cooler and less crowded before noon. Here's the key difference between the two estates: Magnolia is a lush, mostly shaded cottage-style garden. Think: narrow, winding walk-ways bordered by gigantic azaleas and topped with live oaks dripping in spanish moss. See my separate review of Manolia for more. Middleton is an grand, European-style cultured garden. Think: palace garden. Everything is designed to be pleasing to the eye.... From the expanse of lush, green lawn to the man made water features which are cut into the earth in the shape of butterfly wings. Honestly, it's amazing. Here, you will stroll along neat walk-ways boarded by hedges, in some places wide, in others narrow. Walk-ways are set up to create multiple geometric patterns. Marble statues create visual focal points long the way. The upper part of the garden is very sunny with no large trees for shade (wear sunscreen). The lower part winds along the riverbed and has a few shaded places where you can get out of the sun. Be sure to visit the GIGANTIC 1000 year-old live oak near the river. Highly recommend going to the lower garden, then stroll back to the front using a wooded pathway that leads away from the mill. This ends on a beautiful wooden bridge and it's just lovely. Plan to see lots of aquatic life...we saw multiple baby gators (nothing big) floating in the ponds and turtle and lizards sunning themselves on the grass. There were also birds everywhere. Beautiful! The stableyard....just really cool. Take a walk down to the stable to pet the horses and watch the guinea foul run around. Here, you will also find a series of outbuildings where you can see vignettes of life on the 1800's. The restaurant...we ate lunch in the restaurant. The view is lovely and the menu features dishes made with products from their garden. Food is fine, but it's expensive and the service was very slow. Wouldn't recommend it. The shopping...there is a regular gift shop and a plant nursery. In the nursery, you can pick up a permanent momento of your trip by selecting a plant grown from clippings at Middleton Place. Nice-looking plants... if you are a gardener, stop by! Hope you enjoy your visit as much as we did read more

The grounds - 4 stars The carriage tour - 2/3 stars The house tour - 2/3 stars The retaurant was closed. The grounds are absolutely beautiful and we thoroughly enjoyed walking them. We decided to take a carriage tour, which initially was supposed to go through the rice fields, however due to the weather (I think), we did a loop around the parking lot, then looped in front of the house... so really we could have just walked that ourselves. The tour guide was knowledgeable and nice. Overall, I don't think it was really worth the money we paid. Perhaps if we had been taken on the regular route. The house tour was okay. The tour guide knew what she was talking about as far as her regular script goes. When my husband asked questions about items hanging on the wall she didn't know all the answers. She also did not know some other questions he had, so that was somewhat disappointing. She was very nice though. If you are expecting the typical plantation that is shown in movies, this isn't it. It is a brick home. The two main homes were destroyed and are in rubble. The gardens are nice to walk through. read more

Restaurant -- Excellent experience, from wait staff to local, fresh selections to preparation to ambiance. My only negative, and a light negative at that, was the slight overuse of salt with some dishes - a southern thing, I know, so no biggie. A special thanks to the very knowledgeable waiter - sorry, I forgot your name. Pony tailed local guy who has worked there for 5+ years and is obviously very proud to work there and very knowledgeable about both foods and wines. Ourstanding. The experience made a romantic night an extremely romantic night! Grounds -- overpriced. Primarily spring flowers - dogwood, azalea, magnolia, jasmine, gardenias and camilia abound but little else (that we saw) so if you want to see flowers, go in April/May. read more

Visiting Middleton Place was such a magical experience. We went in the Middle of May and although nothing was in bloom I still would have gone back. The view was breathtaking and the free tour guides around the gardens, stables, and elsewhere gave great tours answering all out questions. The stable yard was my favorite. Seeing peacocks up close and a water buffalo along with many other domestic animals of that era was great. We also ate at the restaurant on the grounds and it was definitely "low-country" good southern cooking. For $18 you can get a buffet style lunch with delicious pork, friend chicken that isn't greasy, cornbread that is sweet and fluffy, and "Hoppin John" which is rice that they grow on the plantation with beans. Overall, we had an experience that was memorable and one that kept us smiling throughout the whole experience. read more

Grounds: perfection! Restaurant: Middleton Place Restaurant has wonderful views, excellent food, and great service. Their food is usually local and high quality, and the chefs certainly know what they are doing. read more

I love this place so much. I went here on Spring Break, and the Azalea's were blooming. The walking trails are clean and the whole place is quiet. We saw a bunch of squirrels on the trail, and a Heron eating a fish The animals are great, and we got to see a newborn lamb. My fiancée and I went to to the Magnolia Plantation as well, and it was not near as pretty. The restaurant is worth checking out as well. The food is good Overall highly recommend! Middleton is a very romantic and beautiful place. read more

We had a wonderful time checking out the grounds and the animals. It is beautifully preserved. Jean was very kind and drove my mother to the restaurant in a golf cart, because she had hurt her knee on our vacation and couldn't walk that far. I will say that the restaurant had mediocre food. Everything else was lovely! read more

Middleton Place is a lovely spot for a stroll through gardens, a quick visit to the historic house and a good meal at the restaurant. The history of the place and the family is rich and fascinating. Although I would definitely recommend this place and go again, I would carefully plan my visit with the following considerations in mind. We visited on a warm April afternoon and were sorry to have missed the colorful azaleas and camellias. The house tour seemed rushed and too crowded. If you have young kids with you, skip this. We couldn't really see most of the items being mentioned because there were too many people in the group for the small space. There are horse carriage rides but they usually end by late morning, so we missed those. For the kids there is a section with people demonstrating early American crafts and showing farm animals. Again, best to see this in the AM. The restaurant looked very appealing with an interesting menu and reasonable prices ($$), but again, our timing was off. There is a nice open-air gift shop where snacks are available including soft drinks, beer and a tasty pulled pork sandwich. I would definitely go again, but would be sure to arrive in the morning on a late March or early April weekday and plan to stay for lunch. read more

Middleton Place is a surprisingly pleasant plantation that remains interesting and educational. I went to this place with a group of friends and found myself equipped with the knowledge of the surrounding gardens as well as the knowledge of the historical background on the plantation. This plantation is rather larger and really should be considered a village. Middleton Place contains various gardens that surround the outskirts of the plantation. Additionally, there are rice field to look at and historical buildings that are in the middle of the plantation. Also they had several different animals by these buildings. Some of the animals I saw were pigs, horses, and goats. There is even a small restaurant on the grounds but I did not get a chance to eat there. My biggest drawback about the place is the lack of wheel chair/stroller accessibility, which could suck if you have kids or if you are disabled. During my time at the plantation, I had to pick up our friend's stroller on several occasions due to steps. Either way, we all had a good time at the plantation and I do recommend this place as a tourist spot in Charleston. Just make sure your ready to walk! read more

This is a great place to plan your day. Visit the gardens then have lunch here. The menu isn't anything special relative to Charleston fare, but it's good enough and the atmosphere is "steakhouse-ish." The wait staff was friendly, and in fact, it's the wait staff that garnered that extra star! I had the special pulled pork that came with rice and cole slaw. I was disapointed that they would not allow substitutions. My wife ordered the fried chicken and it was good, better then KFC but, I can tell you we'll remember the garden and grounds long before the meal. read more