Holy City Tours: Charleston, SC

Getting to Know Charleston

Do you know why Charleston is known as the Holy City?

Did you know that the city is actually below sea level?

What about Charleston�s turbulent past?

Or who exactly makes up the Charleston elite?

Holy City Tours, a new tour group in Charleston, is ready to bring the city's intriguing and turbulent history alive.

"I like to look people straight in the eye and tell them a story," said Dan Murray, who, along with Summar Thompson, is co-owner of Holy City Tours. "We live here and enjoy sharing our city with the people who visit Charleston."

Visitors can choose from four different Charleston tours that range from a mild, 45-minute walk to a two-hour trek. The Battery Walk Tour focuses on the Battery and Rainbow Row.

"Since only one in five carriage tours actually makes it to the Battery, this tour fills the niche many visitors are looking for," Dan explained.

Another interesting experience is the Sunset Tour, which begins each evening as the sun goes down at the fountain in Waterfront Park. What better way to experience Charleston than by candlelight and without the heat and humidity of Charleston's summertime days?

An historic Charleston tour, The Walk Through History Tour is a comprehensive overview that will introduce Charleston as the early colonists saw it, complete with stately mansions and concentrating on the city's captivating and sometimes controversial past. It is a wonderful way to experience the Old South.

Last but certainly not least, Holy City Tours offers The Best Ghost Tour in Charleston, which begins on the third level of one of America's most haunted buildings, the Southend Brewery. Learning about Charleston folklore and legend will have you looking over your shoulder as you walk through dark alleys and hear ghastly tales of the city's ghostly past.

"We are committed to providing the most enthusiastic and knowledgeable tour guides our city has to offer," Dan explained. "Our tours are consistent because we have five guides who wish to share the rich and vibrant history of the place we call home."

Open seven days a week, 365 days a year, Holy City Tours is committed to making visitors feel welcome.

"If you're here for a short stay or a long visit, we have a tour for you," Dan said.

Of course, visitors to Charleston should be aware that Charleston has its share of sultry summer days. In addition to clothing that will keep you cool, Dan recommends good walking shoes and warns that since some of Charleston's streets are made of cobblestone, they tend to be wobbly. You should bring a hat, sunglasses, sunblock and lots of water, and, of course, your camera.

"It's a pleasure teaching people who want to learn about our city," Dan commented. "We have a lot of competition, but we have over a decade of experience."

By Stacy Domingo