Palmetto Carriage’s hour long tours are narrated by experienced guides who have been in the industry for years. Tours are lively, educational, and historically accurate, allowing guests to see the highlights of Charleston’s past and to learn about areas not often seen by many tourists.
Tours run seven days a week, from 9 a.m. until the last run, which leaves between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. each day. All tours depart from the Big Red Barn just beside the City Market. Open to the public, the Big Red Barn also offers guests the opportunity to interact with the animals.
Palmetto Carriage Works is committed to maintaining a comprehensive carriage animal welfare program, in many cases offering a second career to “unwanted horses.” The company limits the number of hours each animal can work per day to eight, though most only average a five hour day. All are given at least a 15 minute break between tours, and their temperatures are taken after every tour, year-round. The company regularly rotates its stock, ensuring that all of its animals spend more than three months each year at its farm on Johns Island, located about 20 miles away.
Notably, Palmetto Carriage Works is the exclusive carriage provider for the Mills House Hotel and Charming Inns. The company has also been named by Southern Living Magazine for offering one of the “five best ways to explore historic downtown.” Private carriages are available by appointment.
