Charleston Ranked Among Top American Destinations for 13th Consecutive Year
For the 13th consecutive year, readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine honored Charleston as a TOP 10 travel destination in North America. Charleston, moving up to the No. 3 ranking after coming in No. 4 in last year�s survey. Kiawah Island was named the #2 island in North America. Charleston Place, John Rutledge House Inn, The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island, and Planters Inn also made the gold list. For more information visit CNTraveler.com.

Charleston Racks Up Cruise Honors
The Port of Charleston has picked up numerous distinctions for its place in the cruise business. For the second consecutive year, Charleston ranks high in passenger satisfaction among ports serving Norwegian Cruise Line�s fleet. The October 2005 passenger survey conducted by NCL showed that of nine cruise ships, the ship regularly calling Charleston had the highest satisfaction rate at 90%. Visit www.DestinationCharleston.info or www.scspa.com/cruises/cruises.asp for more.

Ratings Place Woodlands on Elite List for Third Consecutive Year
For the third consecutive year, the Mobil Travel Guide bestowed upon Woodlands Resort & Inn and The Dining Room at Woodlands one of the travel industry�s most coveted ratings - the Mobil Five-Star Award. This award maintains Woodlands� elite status of being one of only three properties in North America to currently hold a Mobil Five-Star rating for lodging and dining. Call 1-800-774-9999 or visit www.woodlandsinn.com.

Charleston City Marina Named 2005 Marina of the Year
Marina Dock Age Magazine, the marina industry�s leading business publication, has named the Charleston City Marina 2005 Marina of the Year. This national award is bestowed upon one marina annually that excels in best management practices, exhibits strong growth and development, achieves high levels of customer satisfaction and service, is a strong environmental steward, and successfully markets and promotes the marina and related services to its customers. Visit www.marinadockage.com.

Wentworth Mansion Again Awarded the City�s Only Five Diamond �Crown�
For the third year in a row, the luxury hotel Wentworth Mansion is the only hotel in the city|�|and one of only two in the state|�|to claim the highly-prized AAA Five Diamond designation. For six years running, Circa 1886, the Mansion�s on-property restaurant, has been honored with the Four Diamond rating. Only 78 hotels in the US are ranked as AAA Five Diamond properties. Call 843-853-1886 or visit www.wentworthmansion.com.

Romance and the High Seas Float Charleston to World�s Top 10 Ports of Call
Charleston has been christened romantic before, but this latest accolade brings a new pleasure. Porthole Cruise Magazine has named Charleston as one of the Top 10 Most Romantic Ports of Call. The Southern destination has the distinction of being the only continental U.S. port to be listed, and joins other quixotic cities like Barcelona, Bora Bora, Paris, and Rio de Janeiro. For more visit www.DestinationCharleston.info.

TripAdvisor 2005 Travelers� Choice Awards
French Quarter Inn & Holiday Inn � Historic District were both honored as winners of TripAdvisor�s 2005 Travelers� Choice Awards. French Quarter Inn came in 1st Place in the �Top 10 Luxury � U.S.� category and 10th place in the �Top 100 Luxury � World� category. While the Holiday Inn � Historic District took home 1st Place in both the �Top 10 Hidden Gems � World� and �Top 10 Hidden Gems � U.S.� categories. These awards are selected by millions of travelers on tripadvisor.com and across the internet. Visit www.TripAdvisor.com for more details.

Charleston Honored by Southern Living
Southern Living magazine�s February issue features the Reader�s Choice Awards, in which several honors go to the Charleston, SC area. Charleston was named Favorite City by readers of the wildly popular magazine. Honors also included top tier billing for favorite family vacation and best shopping. Many individual businesses from the Charleston area were also given top honors including: Charleston Place - best Resort Hotel category winner; 82 Queen, Magnolia�s and Charleston Grill � all named in the best Splurge Restaurant category and Hyman�s Restaurant was named top seafood restaurant. Visit www.SouthernLiving.com.

The Broad Street Guest House
Charleston�s Kosher Bed and Breakfast, located in Historic Downtown Charleston, is within walking distance to the Orthodox Synagogue. Walk to the harbor, shops, and other points of interest. A full breakfast is served as well as Sabbath meals. Luxurious family accommodations. Cable, DVD & VHS. Wireless internet connection. Under Rabbinical supervision. Call 843-577-5965 or visit www.charlestonkosherbedandbreakfast.com.

Holiday Inn Charleston Airport Convention Center
Charleston welcomes her newest hotel. Conveniently located at I-526 and International Blvd., minutes from Charleston International Airport, historic downtown, plantations, and dining. 142 spacious new rooms with all the convenience of home. Indigo restaurant serving breakfast and dinner. Relax in our outdoor heated pool and whirlpool or unwind in our Indigo Lounge. Call 843-576-0300.

Blush, A Girl�s Boutique
Rush to Blush, a unique boutique offering the latest fashions and accessories for girls� sizes 7-16, juniors and ladies. Whether it�s a trendy school look, a day at the office, or a night out, blush has you covered from head to toe...because it�s our job to keep you looking fashionable at any age! Call 843-388-9091 or visit www.blushboutiqueonline.com.

Ashley Hall Tour of Homes
Some of Charleston�s most beautiful private homes and gardens will be part of the Annual Ashley Hall Tour of Homes on Saturday, April 29, 2006, from 2-5pm. The homes and gardens on the tour are located on the peninsula of this historic city and are all within walking distance of one another. All proceeds benefit the Ashley Hall Alumnae Scholarship Fund. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased by calling 843-965-8547. Tickets will also be on sale at the Charleston Visitor Center, located at 375 Meeting Street, on April 28 and April 29.

Cardio Tennis Classes at Family Circle Tennis Center
Cardio Tennis is a new fitness initiative developed by the Tennis Industry Association with the support of the United States Tennis Association and is endorsed by renowned fitness expert Denise Austin. This nationwide program, which was unveiled at the 2005 US Open to rave reviews, is aimed at combining tennis with a high-energy, heart-pumping, cardio-vascular workout. The program is open to both Tennis Center members and nonmembers. Call 843-849-5304 or visit www.familycirclecup.com.

Easter Eggstravaganza
Celebrate the holiday with an Easter egg hunt in the yard of the Joseph Manigault House, April 8 from 10am to 12pm. Enjoy craft making at The Charleston Museum including egg dyeing and more. Every month The Charleston Museum offers a special Saturday program dedicated to providing an educational as well as exciting experience for the whole family. Call 843-722-2996 or visit www.charlestonmuseum.org for more.

Exhibition: A Proper and Polite Education: Girlhood Embroidery of the American South
Charleston Museum, April 5-September 30, 2006
Historians of girlhood education in this country have traditionally viewed samplers made in the South to be inferior forms of Northern models. This exhibit is a reconsideration of these embroideries. It offers a new approach that takes into account the cultural, ethnic, and racial diversity of the South, settlement patterns, changing priorities in women�s education, and the notion of �refinement.� Call 843-722-2996 or visit www.charlestonmuseum.org for more.

Salsa Under The Stars
Come out to the Folly Beach Fishing Pier on May 12 for the premiere of our newest event, Salsa under the Stars. DJ Luigi will spin the hottest salsa and Latin music around. Beverages will be available for purchase on-site. Food & snacks will also be available for purchase at Locklear�s Beach City Grill and the Gangplank Gift and Tackle Shop. Call 795-4FUN or visit www.ccprc.com.

Southern Living Selects Daniel Island for 2006 Idea House
Daniel Island has been selected by Southern Living magazine as the site of a 2006 Idea House. The Southern Living Idea House at Daniel Island will be open for tours from June through October and will be featured in the August 2006 issue of Southern Living. A majority of the proceeds from tours of the home will benefit a local charity. One of three 2006 Idea Houses, readers will have an opportunity to see Southern Living style up close and personal by touring the home, which will provide an abundance of ideas for homeowners. For more, visit www.SouthernLiving.com.

Little Fish Consulting
Little Fish Fun Consultants - Take a day of your Charleston vacation and climb aboard for a wild ride with Little Fish Fun Consultants. We�ll show you the side of Charleston no one else will! Our vehicle or yours. $300 per day. Call 843-697-5051 or visit www.ponyexpressmissions.com.

Urban Nirvana
Urban Nirvana, voted best day spa by the Charleston City Paper, is a full-service, upscale day spa offering a variety of services, including massages, facials, wraps, waxing, scrubs, hydrotherapy and specialty packages, in a unique ambiance. Visit our Mt. Pleasant location, as well, at Belle Hall Shopping Center. Call 843-720-8000 or visit www.urbannirvana.com.

Oakwood Worldwide
Oakwood Worldwide is the largest global provider of corporate housing and serviced apartments, with locations throughout the U.S., the U.K. and Asia. Oakwood�s award-winning, fully furnished apartments are delivered with a rich standard of quality, reliability and personal service. Ideal for business travelers, relocations and other extended stay needs. Call 843- 852-9721 or visit www.Oakwood.com.

The Cellar
The Cellar Club offering innovative nightlife to Charleston is also the Lowcountry�s newest and finest martini lounge. 70 hand crafted martinis 40 wines by the glass and top notch entertainment from national jazz acts to regional party bands and renowned turn tablists. Manhattan nightlife if treated with a southern charm. VIP Bottle Service and Club Concierge amenities available. Reservations suggested. Located at 143 Calhoun Street, Suite A. Call 843-709-5050.

Toucan Reef
Toucan Reef is upbeat and fun with great food and absolutely the best view of Charleston�s Harbor. We feature salads, sandwiches and regional specialties for lunch; flame broiled steaks, seafood specialties & a wide variety of appetizers for dinner; dancing and late night entertainment until 2 am. Call 843-853-5752 or visit www.toucanreef.com.

Lulu�s Southern American Bistro
Brothers Ahmed and Aadli Abdul-Kareem have joined forces with Executive Chef Jeremiah Jackson, formerly of Poogan�s Porch, to open a new bistro at 1956 Maybank Highway next door to the Terrace Theater. Sophisticated, low key and friendly, the owners want you to think of Lulu�s as a home away from home, where you�ll always see someone you know. Call 843-406-4989.

Tristan Offers Prix Fixe Lunch Menu
Tristain now offers a midday meal that offers unique choices in under an hour. It�s serving a growing need for a luncheon setting that offers both efficient service and a conversation-friendly atmosphere appropriate for business or social luncheons. Tristan�s Executive Chef Ciarán Duffy has developed a three-course Prix Fixe menu that features some of the restaurants most popular evening offerings, sized appropriately for a midday repast. Call 843-534-2155.

The Magnolia Slave Cabin Project: From Slavery to Freedom and Beyond
Magnolia Plantation and its Gardens is beginning a year-long project to restore four 1850s slave houses and one turn-of-the-century building that African-Americans once occupied. These structures, located side-by-side, are unique in that they were almost continually occupied from the 1850s through the late 20th century by African-American families working on the property. The project is expected to be completed and open by February 1, 2007. Call 843-571-1266 or visit www.magnoliaplantation.com.

Charleston County Parks Gets a New Look on the Web
Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission launched a new and improved website, www.ccprc.com. While www.ccprc.com has always been the commission�s web address, the recent face lift revitalized the website with user-friendly updates and behind-the-scenes information. Visitors to the new site can register for programs, purchase gift certificates and advance tickets to special events, and can access all facets of county park information � parks, facilities, activities and commission news.

Wild Dunes Resort
Wild Dunes Resort now features their spring vacation planner online. It lists all 
of the spring events, resort happenings, etc. To view the new website, visit: www.wilddunes.com/pdf/spring_planner_06.pdf.

Margaret Petterson Gallery Launches New Website
The Margaret Petterson Gallery has redesigned their website. On the new website you will find: a gallery of all of Margaret�s current available oil paintings and monotypes, news and events page, new Bio page, monotyping �how-to�, located within the monotype gallery, and gallery of the work of Jo Jeffers, our fantastic potter. Visit www.margaretpetterson.com or call 843-722-8094 for more details.
|
To learn more about the Charleston area, please contact the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 843�853�8000 / 800�868�8118, or visit www.charlestoncvb.com.
|