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On average, Charleston has 230 sunny days a year, which is 63%. The yearly average temperature is a perfect 65 degrees, making us a temperate tropical climate. Over 6 million people visit Charleston each year, which is 60x its year-round population of 100,000. (Note: the entire tri-county area is about 550,000 people.) Visitors typically spend 4 nights and spend an average of $217 per adult per day. Our Passenger Terminal for cruise ships has between 80-90 scheduled round-trip cruise departures each year. The average capacity of these large cruise ships is 3,000, which means nearly 250,000 people come through! In 2015, the Charleston Port handled nearly $76 billion dollars of goods. Yep, we said billion with a ‘B’! 15,000 people pass through the gates at the Charleston International Airport every day. The majority of our tourists hail from North Carolina, Florida,…

Founded in 1670, Charleston (or “Charleston Towne,” as it was named for King Charles II of England) is one of the most historic cities in the United States. In fact, within just ten years of its founding, it became the fifth biggest city in the country. Today, millions of people (yes, millions!) flock to Charleston each year to take in its Lowcountry charm and learn about its tumultuous history. Palmetto Carriage Works takes roughly 200,000 tourists and locals alike for rides of our beautiful city each year. Understandably, we have different routes that are approved by the city, so not everyone will see the same things. However, each path has a historic majesty all its own. From the open air markets to the Instagram-famous pineapple fountain, here are 5 historic sites in Charleston you’ll see on a Palmetto Carriage tour:…

Here at Palmetto Carriage Works, we are avid advocates for our main attraction and cutest employees, our animals. Our animals are essential to our daily routes and rides throughout historic Charleston, so we love to share the work and care that goes into having them in our barn. Most often, our visitors have questions about where we get our animals from, how many years they spend with us, what their stories are and how we train them. Keep on reading to get those answers!   Palmetto Carriage Works: Do the Palmetto Carriage Works animals go through any kind of training to get them used to the routes? What does that all entail? Angie Arcangeli: The animals go through an extensive training program. They start at the farm where they work a minimum of five hours, but can increase as necessary….

At Palmetto Carriage Works we know that hot, humid and sticky days are a thing of the South. And as the temperatures creep up, you can bet that we are making sure our animals are staying cool. To ensure that our animals are never out in heat that they can’t handle, we use tools we can trust to measure the temperature. More specifically, we rely on our in-barn thermometers and the city’s thermometer to get the most accurate readings on temperature. We use our in-barn thermometers to track the temperatures of our animals after each tour and we use the city-monitored thermometer to tell how hot it is on the Charleston streets. (To keep our animals extra cool, we always make sure that not one animal comes through the barn without a cool down with our hose and some added…

Bud, a 7-year old horse at Palmetto Carriage Works, decided to lay down during one of the last tours of the day on Labor Day. Bud was able to rise on his own once unhooked from the carriage and easily walked back to the barn. He was immediately examined by a veterinarian from Edisto Equine Clinic where he was given a clean bill of health. “His physical exam was within normal limits and there is only a small superficial abrasion on the outside of the left knee,” said Dr. Deidre Huff, a veterinarian and owner of Edisto Equine Clinic. Bud is fine and has been cleared by the veterinarian for full work with no restrictions. “We’re pleased to hear that Bud has been given a clean bill of health by the veterinarian after he decided to lay down during yesterday’s…

With well over 300 years worth of history, Charleston is jam packed with stories, architecture and people that make it America’s favorite city. And while there are definitely more than just a handful of places to explore, here at Palmetto Carriage Works, we’ve hand-picked a few favorites to show you on each of our tours. So regardless if you’re a tourist or a local living like one, Palmetto Carriage Works has something for everyone. Take a ride through Historic Downtown Charleston with a friendly tour guide to indulge in the vast history of the Holy City. During the one hour tour of Charleston, you will see not only the highlights of Charleston’s past, but you will also delve further into the city’s history, learning about the areas not normally seen by a typical tourist. Our tour guides have many different…

Here at Palmetto Carriage Works, the care and wellbeing of our animals is our top priority, which is why we insist on giving them so much time at the Doyle Family Farm. The Doyle Family Farm, located just twenty miles away from downtown Charleston, is where all of our animals can be found when they’re not working. Though most people in the Charleston area only see our animals hard at work, they spend an average of 19 week of rest time out on the Doyle Family Farm. (That’s three times more rest time than the City of Charleston requires!) Our morning routine at the farm consists of a 6:00 a.m. wake-up call and feeding time. At this time, we administer any medication that our animals may need and check up on them to make sure they are all feeling great….

In a recent round-up, Travel Mag included Palmetto Carriage Works as one of the best things to do when visiting Charleston with kids. Not only can children meet our lovable, four-legged teammates, but they also get to learn about the rich history of one of the South’s most charming cities. You’ll get to learn all about our historic landmarks, old folktales and fun facts about the Holy City with your favorite little ones. To make the carriage-riding experience even better, we also offer “Meet the Animal” and “Kids Ride Free” days throughout the year, giving both visitors and locals plenty of opportunities to spend a day exploring with their children. Tours at Palmetto Carriage Works always provide both entertainment and education to our customers – no matter their age or size – so be sure to stop by the Big…

Becoming a certified tour guide in Charleston is not quite as easy as some may think. To become certified, you have to take tests, memorize facts and have an upbeat, engaging personality. When looking to become a tour guide, you will have to take a written exam. The exam is based on a 492-page guide that details everything from Charleston’s historic battles to its architecture to the rich African-American history here. This 200-question, written exam takes about two hours to complete, and test-takers must receive 70% or higher to pass. The exam is given out every two weeks and can cover any part of the Historic District, which ranges from the Citadel’s campus to the Battery. Additionally, potential tour guides need a great personality to keep the customers engaged and the tours fun. At Palmetto Carriage Works, we think we…

Think our carriages are too heavy? Our employees filled in for our horses to see just how hard it was to pull our carriages – and you might be surprised at the outcome. Watch our video below to check it out!

The care and well-being of the animals at Palmetto Carriage Works is something we take very seriously. So it only makes sense that the people who take care of our animals are chosen just as carefully as we choose our animals. Down at the Big Red Barn, we have 20 barnhands. They are a team of well trained, knowledgeable and dedicated people. We took the time to sit down with one of our barnhands, Richard, to ask him a few questions about his daily routine at the Big Red Barn. PCW: What are your daily responsibilities as a barnhand? Richard: Feeding, grooming, harnessing and hitching 25 or more horses and mules… and that’s all before 10AM! PCW: Is there one aspect of the job that you enjoy more than others? Why? Richard: The animal interaction. I’m not really a people…

Lucy tripped and fell during a tour earlier today, but is doing fine. May 5, 2018 (Charleston, SC) –  Palmetto Carriage Works horse, Lucy, tripped and fell during a carriage tour around 4:20pm this afternoon. “Sometimes horses and mules can trip just like you or I,” said Tommy Doyle, General Manager at Palmetto Carriage Works. “We are taking all proper precautions and making sure Lucy is thoroughly looked over by a licensed vet. We expect that she will receive a clean bill of health.” After the trip, Lucy remained on the ground for about ten minutes until her driver could make sure her harness was untangled so that she would not be injured. “Our professionals acted quickly to make sure Lucy was not injured and our guest were okay” says Doyle. “We are committed to the safety and care of our animals,…