Disney's Timeless Tale Of Beauty And The Beast-Don't Miss It

It's a story that has been around since the 1700's. It has been told and retold countless times since its inception and has never lost it's enchantment. Several varying versions of the tale over the years have been produced in the form of prose, stage, and in the twentieth century, screen and television. Its most notable rebirth came in 1991 when Walt Disney Feature Animation produced a musical animated film based on an abridgement of the original work published in 1756 by Jeanne-Marie Le Prince de Beaumont. It was entitled "Beauty and the Beast".

"Beauty and the Beast", the musical animated film, won Academy Awards for Best Song and Best Original Score, in addition to becoming the first animated film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture and and also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy. Adding to its success was the musical version produced in 1994, which ran on Broadway for 5,464 performances between 1994 and 2007, becoming one of Broadway's longest running productions in history. It has been topped only by the likes of "Cats", "Les Misérables", "A Chorus Line", "Chicago", "Oh! Calcutta!", and another Disney production, "The Lion King". The longest running musical ever is "The Phantom of the Opera".

I have had the opportunity to see five of those Broadway shows at the historic Cleveland Playhouse Square, including the Phantom of the Opera at the famous Plantages Theater in Toronto, Ontario. They are all worth the money you pay for the tickets and then some. Residents in the Lowcountry of Charleston will have the opportunity to be enchanted and mystified by this timeless tale of "Beauty and the Beast" at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center. Two performances are scheduled for April 26 and 27 at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $62.00, $52.00, & $32.00 plus applicable fees. You can buy tickets now.

So, take the family, take the wife, or just take a friend and be enchanted by "the most beautiful love story ever told". This eye-popping spectacle has won the hearts of over 35 million people worldwide and will win your heart too. Coutesy of Vacation Rick Travel.

Charleston's April Events Continue-A Full Line Of Family Fun

There was a festival scheduled this past week that was dedicated to the lowly yet very common "grits". Yes, the gritty stuff, when added to water or milk, that turns into a sticky, clumpy pile of goop and dries like cement if the remains are left in the bowl to long. It was called The World Grit Festival and held in St. George. It seems people will come up with anything for an excuse to party. If by chance you missed out on the fun, not to worry, there are more scheduled events in the Charleston area. Plus, things are beginning to warm up nicely and the numerous beaches are now an option.

The Festival of Houses and Gardens will be coming to a conclusion this week. The final Glorious Gardens Tour has sold out as well as the South Battery Tour for Wednsday, but there is still availability for the final South Battery Tour on Saturday the 16th. Fun for the whole family is the Festival Oyster Roast and Picnic at Drayton Hall on Sunday April 15, 4:30 - 7 p.m. This event will introduce guests to the culinary pleasures of the Lowcountry with steamed oysters as appetizers, along with other Southern cuisine. Admission includes a guided tour of the historic house and grounds. Drayton Hall was built when George Washington was only six years old. How's that for an introduction.

It's spring. Time to spruce up the house and landscaping. Thank goodness a government shutdown was avoided because that would have meant tax refunds being delayed and all that extra money you could use for that very purpose. To help you out with some good ideas and suggestions the Home and Outdoor Living Show will take place at the Charleston Area Convention Center April 15-17. Friday is free admission for everybody. Saturday and Sunday admission will be $5.00 for adults. There is also a Home Sweet Home Improvement Giveaway.

If the theater is your cup of tea then check out the Dockstreet Theater. The Original Peter Pan will begin showing April 15. The production will feature Flying by Foy, who flew Peter Pan on Broadway, five full sets, including a pirate ship. The story of Peter Pan is timeless and entertaining for the whole family.

That's it. Well, not entirely. There are plenty of things to do in Charleston, plenty of excellent places to eat. Beaches, tours, museums, harbor cruises, golf, and shopping. Get your mojo on and get moving.-Vacation Rick Travel

Charleston Place-Inspired The Holy City To New Heights

It's hard to imagine some thirty years ago an Atlanta magazine wrote this unflattering sentence about The Holy City, "Downtown Charleston, in many ways, epitomizes the decaying American city." Joe Riley, the mayor at the time, likened the downtown area to a poisoned ecosystem. The Historic District was anything but historic and King Street was a realestate of empty storefronts. Pedestrian traffic was scarce. Tourists were rare.

Something needed to happen to rekindle the historical flame that once burned in Charleston. It would be one single initiative that set in motion the beginning of a revival and Charleston was on her way to being restored to her former glory. The brainstorm was the envisionment of what would become Charleston Place. It was said, "I hate to use the cliche that the hotel put Charleston on the map, but it's certainly accurate." Charleston Place rose from a huge, sandy lot where a JCPenney once stood.

Charleston Place, known for its traditional southern hospitality, sits on Market Street where the entrance to the property is marked by a fountain. The Hotel has 320 deluxe rooms, 80 Club level, which occupies the top two floors and offers a private concierge service along with a wide array of enhanced services, amenities and cuisine. There are 40 suites.

The Spa at Charleston Place, located on the 4th floor, is available by appointment to local visitors and guests. Amenities are a health club, a beautiful indoor/outdoor salt water pool, sauna, Jacuzzi, steam room and children's splash pool. Charleston Grill is South Carolina’s most notable Mobil Four-Star restaurant and has received the AAA Four-Diamond award and Distinguished Restaurants of North America Award. On the lighter side is The Thoroughbread Club and Palmetto Cafe.

Top to bottom, the hotel complex has it all. The Shops at Charleston Place are an exclusive collection of world-famous stores located on the ground floor and a pool graces the rooftop. Adjacent to the Old City Market and the renowned King Street, it is situated at the heart of a local economy that considers tourism as its No. 1 industry. All within walking distance of the historic center of the city and major attractions.

Charleston continues to grow and change. In the six years I have been here, I have seen two old icons come down and the Author Ravenel Jr Bridge take their place. It has a vibrant theater scene and an endless list of fine dining establishments. It is well-known across the United States and beyond for its unique culture, which blends traditional southern American, English, French, and West African elements. So, let Charleston Place be your host and guide to all of this and more.-Vacation Rick Ttravel

Run For The Fun Of It-The Cooper River Bridge Run

Run, Charleston, run. That's exactly what it will be doing April 2. Something it has been doing since 1977. The 34th annual Cooper River Bridge Run registration has reached 40,000 participants, where it was be cut off. So if you haven't and you want to, it is now too late to register. But don't let that minor setback prevent you from joining in the fun.

The first run took place on, and this is a fitting piece of information, April 2 1977. At that time there were two bridges crossing the Cooper, one called the Silas Pearman Bridge and the other the John P. Grace Memorial Bridge. The Silas Pearman Bridge hosted that first run, but later it was switched over to the John P. Grace Memorial Bridge. Over the course of time the starting locations and ending locations changed as well as the distance. The two bridges eventually met their demise, but the race continued to grow. The run is now a 10K(6.2 mile) race on the new Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge.

People from all over the States and other countries will participate. Action will begin on Coleman Blvd near Simmons Street and end on Meeting Street near George Street. The race for the first time will have a wave start, which will include 12 unique starts categorized by color, alpha and numeric. Runners with the best times are set in the front. The cost is $40 dollars.

It no doubt was an experience running across the old bridges, which were substantially narrower and old. I remember the first time I came to Charleston crossing those bridges and wondering if at any moment they would collapse into the Cooper. The Author Ravenel Jr Bridge offers a beautiful panarama of Charleston Bay and surrounding areas. When the gun goes off a wave of humanity will be set in motion and will continue for some time. When the race is over the fun will not end there. Music, drinks, food, and celebration continue long after the race is over.

So, for those who registered, make preparations and get ready to strap on those running shoes. The weather has been quite warm. Be prepared to sweat out all that sweet tea and bottled water. If you do not plan to run, go for the festivities and fun times. Charleston will be at her glorious best with other events planned for that busy April weekend, no fooling.-Vacation Rick Travel

Spring Is In The Air-Summerville's Flowertown Festival

It's spring in Charleston and it's surrounding areas. Winter has come to an abrupt end. The warmer weather has brought residents out of hibernation and energized the flower buds in a big way. Not even the higher gas prices can put a damper on the festivities. Stiff upper lip and all that there such stuff. Oh well, can't do anything about it, so you might as well just go out and enjoy the activities.

Spring in Summerville brings something else in an abundance. Has all the green haze coating your cars and lawn furniture got you sneezing and wheezing? If it hasn't, you are one of the fortunate. Still, you are faced with the daunting task of combating the green wave and washing your car has become a daily ritual. The culprit is the numerous pine trees. It was all those pine trees growing in Summerville that made it world famous at the beginning to the 20th century. The International Congress of Physicians in 1899 proclaimed Summerville one of the two best places in the world for people suffering from lung disorders. The turpentine scent emitted by the pine trees was considered to be the cure for a variety of respiratory ailments.

Since, Summerville's popularity has grown and is now host to a nationally acclaimed festival called South Carolina's largest Arts & Crafts festival and named one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society. The event has become known as the Flowertown Festival and is scheduled for April 1-3. The family-oriented 3-day event is staged in Azalea Park. More than 200 craft artisans and vendors will display their creative wares throughout Azalea Park. Food vendors, live entertainment, a children's carnival, a tennis classic, and a tour of historic homes and gardens will ensure that everyone has something to do, see, or eat. Bring your cameras to record the fun. The azalea bloom should make for some colorful pictures.-Vacation Rick Travel

Other events in the area include:
Rockfest 2011-Apr 3, 1:00 pm, Exchange Park Fairground. Tickets
Cooper River Bridge Run-04/02/2011. To register for the Bridge Run, go to bridgerun.com.
Family Circle Cup-April 2-10, 2011
Festival of Houses and Gardens-March 17 - April 16

A Night Of Tennis And Music-Family Circle Cup Week April 2-10

He was known for his tantrums and recently did a commercial that tried to capitalize on that deserved reputation. Most everyone thought he lacked sportsmanship and was super obnoxious. If you had the chance to watch him play, you would have seen him on several occassions slamming his racket to the ground and hurling four letter words at the official while his opponents dreaded the break in the action. Sometimes you wondered if it was a deliberate act to throw his opponents out of sync. One of his more well known quotes stated he let his racket do the talking and in most cases it did. He won 17 Grand Slam titles - seven in singles (3 Wimbledon, 4 U.S. Open) and 10 in doubles (5 Wimbledon, 4 U.S. Open, 1 French Open). He finished the year as No. 1 player in the world 1981-84. His name is John McEnroe and he is returning to the Family Circle Cup, which is scheduled April 2-10, 2011.

The Family Circle Cup is a WTA Tour affiliated professional tennis tournament for women, held every year since 1973. The tennis event has been played on the green clay courts at the Daniel Island Tennis Center Facility since 2001. Other previous notable venues include the Sea Pines Plantation on Hilton Head Island and Amelia Island off the coast of Florida. Last year Samantha Stosur was the Singles Champion. Liezel Huber and Nadia Petrova were the Doubles Champions. Top prize money this year is set at $721,000. Over ninety players will be competing for a piece of that purse. Samantha Stosur, Jelena Jankovic, Maria Sharapova and American Melanie Oudin are among the top players scheduled to appear along with No. 1 ranked Caroline Wozniacki.

John McEnroe will defend his Game, Set, Rock! singles title on a special night of entertainment Saturday, April 9, 2011. Festivities for Game, Set, Rock! Tennis. Amplified begin at 7:30pm. It will be an evening of music and tennis entertainment. McEnroe will be playing Todd Martin, who was ranked No. 4 at one time. Joining them will be tennis greats Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. Tickets for this one night event can now be purchased. Box Level seating will be available for $50, Terrace Level for $35, and Grandstand for $20.

A Family Circle Tennis Center highlight: Hootie & the Blowfish on August 8, 2006 released an album featuring such hits as "Hold My Hand", "Only Wanna Be with You", "Old Man & Me", and "One Love" filmed in Charleston, South Carolina's Family Circle Magazine Stadium on August 12, 2005.-Vacation Rick Travel

Renaissance Charleston Historic District Hotel-Charm And Sophistication

Charleston is renowned as a walking city. After spending the day passing through the iron gates of its most famous estates you will be looking to cool your heels and just plain chill out for the rest of the day. There is no shortage of hotels and inns to choose from when it comes to accommodations in The Holy City's Historic District. Some are former residences of Charleston's elite of yesteryear and others are renovations of old structures that once graced its cobbled streets, some with not so graceful of a past. Each establishment is ready and willing to pamper your self indulgent side and cater to your most basic traveling needs. The Renaissance Charleston Historic District Hotel provides the ultimate experience in comfort and hospitality combining traditional southern charm with modern sophistication.

This AAA Four-Diamond award winning hotel was built in 2001 and went through a massive renovation that was completed in 2008. The Renaissance Charleston has marked themselves as the hotel known for "Unlocking the Gates of History." The beautiful iron gates found throughout the city was incorporated into the decor from the carpets to small details found throughout the building. Every room has new furnishings and fully equipped with a new 32-inch, flat screen HD Television, as well as a connectivity panel, allowing users to charge and integrate all their electronic devices.

The lobby area has also been redesigned and furnished to create a central meeting place in the heart of the hotel where you can relax with a drink while making plans or talk over the days activities. The Wentworth Grill serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Lounge at Wentworth Grill offers both local and specialty cocktails with patio seating. The Hotel also has a roof top swimming pool.

It is ideally located right next to the King Street Shopping District. Three blocks away is the Old City Market. South Carolina Aquarium, Charleston City Marina, and Fort Sumter Tours are also nearby. From the Old City Market you can catch a historic carriage ride to get a quick overall exposure to the city and its history, picking out sights to come back to for a more intimate look-see. The hotel staff will be glad to help you with information pertaining to tours and places of special interest. Rates start at $238 per night on hotels.com, $219 on priceline.-Vacation Rick Travel