To Cruise Or Not To Cruise-Carnival's Fantasy And Charleston Unite

Would you go on a cruise ship that holds over 6,000 passengers? Wow, that is alot of people in a confined space of 1184 feet and sixteen decks. Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas is a cruise ship of gargantuan proportions featuring seven distinct nieghborhoods and departs out of Fort Lauderdale. Yes, you heard it right, neighborhoods. Sounds like living in the burbs. The Allure of the Sea, its sister ship, will debut in 2010 with a capacity of over 5,000.

Disney will be releasing into service in 2011 its third ship called The Dream that will accommodate over 4,000 passengers departing out of Port Canaveral. It will feature the first water coaster at sea, called "The Aquaduck" and will have a 9 hole mini-golf course. The adult-only Quiet Cove Pool will include a swim up bar and a series of connecting pools with hot tubs for adults & families. Has your interest peaked with those little or should I say huge tidbits of information?

I have been on cruises with over 2,000 passengers and crowds have never been a problem until the last day when you are departing the ship, but over 6,000 passengers? Although, considering I have been to some sporting events with 60,000 to 70,000 spectators, 6,000 or 4,000 doesn't sound like alot and again the crowds were no problem until exiting at the end.

However you may answer the proposed question at the beginning of this article many will say yes or cruise lines would not be building bigger ships. The fact of the matter is cruising has become very popular and Charleston is on the list of cruise ports.

Carnival's Fantasy has made Charleston its home and is now sailing year-round from our beautiful port offering a variety of 5 to 7 night Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean cruises. Fantasy has been fully refurbished and ships capacity is over 2,000. Quite modest in comparison to 6,000, but emphasis is still on non-stop fun and excitement. Check out Fantasy's itineraries with destinations including Freeport, Nassau, Grand Turk, and Carnival Cruise Lines' own private island paradise, Half Moon Cay. Take a 360 degree virtual tour of the ship.

The Old City Market-Important To The Charleston Experience

To market, to market, to buy a fat pig, home again, home again, jiggety jig. To market, to market, to buy a fat hog, home again, home again, jiggety jog. To market, to market, to buy a plum bun, home again, home again, market is done. This nursery rhyme came to mind when I thought of writing about the Old City Market. Now I don't know about buying fat pigs, fat hogs, and plum bun, but the Old City Market originally sold foodstuffs, including meat, fish and fresh produce grown locally.

Today, the City Market is definitely the center of attention and on any given day, especially the warmer months with cruises in port and tourists in abundance, quite crowded. Many of the carriage rides begin their tours here and on both sides of the Old Market numerous specialty shops and restaurants cater to the many visitors needs and wants. Locally crafted sweetgrass baskets, clothing, artwork, jewelry, local souvenirs, perfumes, food, T-shirts, and other gift items are displayed by numerous vendors.

Coming down Meeting Street from the interstate there is no mistaking you have arrived at Old City Market because Market Hall stands out rather distintively compared to the surrounding structures. It was built in 1841 from a design by Edward Brickwell White and is a copy of the Temple of the Wingless Victory in Athens, Greece. Charles Cotsworth Pinckney ceded the land to the City of Charleston in 1788. So far his wishes that a public market be built on the site and remain in use as a public market into perpetuity has been honored. The low buildings that stretch from Market Hall to the waterfront have survived fires, tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes and bombardment.

Even now, as a resident, when taking new visitors or relatives to Charleston I invariably end up at the Old City Market like it is "Go" on the Monopoly Board. All my favorite restaurants and sites are a short walking distance. Bubba Gump Shrimp Co is there with their "Bucket of Boat Trash" and at one time offered you a chance to embarass yourself or show off your hula hoop skills at its entrance. Around the corner on East Bay Street is Southend Brewery where I stop for a sidewalk lunch and sample their great microbrews. Charleston Place, one of Charleston's finest hotel venues graces this area and also the Market Pavillion Hotel with its rooftop bar overlooking the Market where on a hot, humid evening you can catch the slight breeze coming off the bay while leisurely consuming a cool alchoholic concockshun.

The Old City Market is an intricate piece of the Charleston experience. Parking can be a challenge and patience is a must if you are looking to park on one of the streets, but there are lots and parking garages in the area as an alternative. By the way, if you see a man hosing down the street creating a sudsy, foamy looking substance, don't ask him what he is doing. Looking forward to seeing you hobnobbing around beautiful Charleston.-Vacation Rick Travel Charleston

Charleston And Carriage Rides-Like Pie And Ice Cream Southern Style

More than a few years ago, before I became a resident of the Charleston area, I vacationed here on several occasions. One year I rented a beach house on the Isle of Palms in the spring with the family and had a fantastic time. Since then the IOP has been my favorite beach in Charleston and frequent it often on hot days, especially around Coconut Joes, but I am jumping alittle ahead in my story and its objective.

A visit before that I was walking around The Market area for the first time taking in the sights and making arrangements for one of the historic carriage rides offered in Charleston. While waiting for the carriage I saw a man hosing down the street creating a kind of foamy-sudsy appearance on the pavement like you would see while topping off a beer. I jokingly remarked, "What are you brewing?" The man turned to me with a look of disdain that nearly shattered my newly developed concept of Southern hospitality and retorted, "Horse piss. What else do you think it is?" I excused his less than cordial demeanor as being either a bad day or he just didn't appreciate my humor. Well, on the carriage ride I found out what his assigned task was when the guide threw a marker into the street where the horse urinated.

Which now brings me to the intent of this article. If you want to get a quick history lesson of the historic district of Charleston and pinpoint areas to return for a more intimate look-see, the carriage rides are one way to achieve it. They are both entertaining and informative. Old South Carriage Co, Olde Towne Carriage Co, Carolina Polo & Carriage Co, and Classic Carriage Tours are four you can choose between.

Old South Carriage Co is billed as the City's only licensed guides in Confederate uniforms. Old South Carriage Company offers a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee or your money back. Tours depart every 20 minutes from their barn at 14 Anson St.

Olde Towne Carriage Rides is also located on Anson Street. Their carriage lights are now solar-powered. On their website they pose the question-What happens when a horse gets too old to work? Want the answer, book a tour.

Carolina Polo & Carriage Co says it is the only carriage company in the city owned and operated by Charlestonians whose families have been here since the 1600's. Carriage capacity is up to 16 people comfortably. Located at 181 Church Street and 16 Hayne Street.

Classic Carriage Tours promises you a horse drawn carriage tour experience with an eye on the traditions of the past. They feature award winning Percheron Draft Horses that are South Carolina and Georgia State Grand Champions, and also the city's best-trained horses. They are located at 10 Guignard Street off of East Bay Street.-Vacation Rick Travel Charleston for map.

Two of Charleston's Finest Hotels And Inns-Call It A Holiday

I just saw the movie "Holiday" again for the umpteenth time. There is something about the movie I like that keeps me interested time after time. It has everything to do with the idea of being rejuvinated by rediscovering life and the possibility of achieving happiness despite life's setbacks, particuliarly in relationships. Holidays can do exactly that, rejuvinate and reinvigorate.

Holiday is an Europian term. In the U.S., we call it a vacation. We vacate our everyday lives to experience a change of scenery and for a brief time immerse ourselves into a world of self gratification, reconnect with those we love, or experience something new and exciting. Some refer to it as "recharging their batteries". It could be a weekend respite or span an amount of time usually involving a week or two.

Charleston abounds with places to do just that, recharge the batteries. In this article I will highlight two of Charleston's more prestigious inns, Wentworth Mansion and John Rutledge House Inn. Wentworth Mansion is a AAA Five Diamond Award hotel and John Rutledge House a AAA Four Diamond Award inn.

Wentworth Mansion was built in 1886 by wealthy cotton merchant Francis Silas Rodgers. It was a private residence turned into one of the world's finest and most unique hotels. The hotel features 21 luxurious rooms and suites, all with whirlpool tubs and most have working fireplaces. It also has a spa. The original carriage house in the gardens behind the mansion is home to the Circa 1886 restaurant. The hotel offers a variety of packages through the year, many of which cater to couples looking for a romantic interlude.

John Rutledge was one of the fifty-five signers of the U.S. Constitution and built his home in 1763. George Washington made a visit to the home as a guest in 1791. The restored home was turned into an inn offering nineteen guest rooms within a complex of three buildings, the main house and two carriage houses. Some of the rooms have working fireplaces and jetted-tubs. It too offers a variety of packages that cater to couples.

They are not cheap, but why not indulge and immerse yourself into the Charleston of the past. John Rutledge House Inn is located at 116 Broad Street and Wentworth Mansion is located at 149 Wentworth Street.-Vacation Rick Travel

Ladles Homemade Soups In The Charleston Area-Soup Around Town

One of my favorite Seinfeld episodes was the "Soup Nazi". "No Soup for you!" When I recall that I think of Ladles and not because of the catch phrase, but because their soup is so good it makes you knees go weak, or maybe just a little bit weak. Anyways, if you haven't visited Ladles and sampled the soups as of yet, give it a try. I have been a regular customer since I discovered them and Ladles wedding soup has been a personal favorite.

Ladles Homemade Soups is a locally owned and operated restaurant filling a special niche in the areas market. Stop in at one of several locations throughout the Charleston area. The Summerville location is convenient for me, at the corner of Main and West Richardson, next to Town Hall. The restaurant is small and unpretentious. The menus are simple and uncluddered. You can sit down or take it with you. You can order combination soup/salad or soup/sandwich. You can order whole sandwiches and salads.

An informal setting ideal for meeting up with someone for a chat and a quick lunch. Afterwards, do a little shopping or just take a relaxing stroll around downtown Summerville. The old Summerville Theater on the Square is right across the street. The historic plantations on 61 are about twenty-five minutes away. Woodlands Resort and Inn is only five minutes away.

Other Ladles locations around Charleston include West Ashley: 3125 Bees Ferry Road located at the corner of Bees Ferry Road and Highway 61, John's Island: 190 Gardeners Circle in Freshfields Village at the crossroads of Kiawah & Seabrook, and soon to open in Mt Pleasant. If you are interested they are offering franchises. "Yes, there is soup for you."-Vacation Rick Travel