“`html Charleston Old Town Trolley Tour: The Top Review

Charleston Old Town Trolley Tour: The Top Review

Okay, so you’re thinking about checking out Charleston, right? And someone, like your well-meaning friend, mentioned the Old Town Trolley Tour as a way to see the sights? I mean, makes sense. After all, Charleston is just packed with history, charm, and, yeah, some seriously yummy food smells wafting from everywhere. The Old Town Trolley seems to be an appealing way to cover a lot of ground. I wanted to see if it holds up to the hype, that’s pretty much why I’m here to spill the tea. Is the Old Town Trolley Tour the ticket to getting the most from this old-world South destination, or will you be better off looking at other choices?

What the Old Town Trolley Tour Actually Is

So, basically, the Old Town Trolley Tour in Charleston is this hop-on, hop-off guided tour. The idea is that, more or less, it gives you this overview of the city with a healthy dose of its history. I mean, your “conduc-TOUR” is telling stories, cracking jokes, and generally pointing out all the things you should totally be seeing. They often talk about the old houses, churches, and the way important stuff happened, and just how they are linked to Charleston. You can, that is if you choose, hop off at any of their stops to get a bit closer to things like Rainbow Row or the City Market and look a bit more carefully, and then get back on when you’re good and ready. Sounds kinda nice, right?

My Day on the Trolley: Storytime!

Well, okay, so I got there early, right? Just to be sure I got a good seat. The trolley, arguably, looked pretty cute—all bright and shiny, which, as a matter of fact, is promising! Now, the driver… the guide, rather… was actually super cheerful and seemed ready to roll. He greeted each and everyone like you might be expected to, giving out those little tour booklets and flashing that Southern smile. I was in the mood. Ready to learn a thing or two about Charleston!

The first part was amazing. I mean, seriously, we trundled down these tiny roads, and the guide was actually bringing all sorts of stories of the places back to life. The old homes! Okay, I almost can’t describe, so full of charm and you can just picture, almost, families laughing in there centuries back. We scooted by all sorts of locations, that happened, where all sorts of important things happened. The guide really laid out the important points so you’re right there, imagining it like it was. But, right after, things… uh… well, changed a little. So, the traffic actually got really bad, very bad indeed, and that really slowed everything down. Some of the ‘sights’ we drove by actually weren’t that exciting, just being honest. And, like your great aunt telling the same stories over and over, after a time, the jokes were getting kinda… stale.

I decided, really impulsively, to hop off at the City Market for a closer look. Did some buying, saw a number of really odd things, then queued for, like it seemed, forever to get back on a trolley. But here is when my luck kinda picked back up when I got a different driver, that’s something that occurred. And this fellow, you know, was bringing a whole new vibe to all the information. He actually had so many additional interesting facts, and he even took us down one more street that the first driver didn’t! In a way, that just made all the issues worth it. Still, after that experience, it wasn’t long before I started considering I would have, possibly, appreciated a walk through the city rather than going through the trolley, at the end of the day. That is really what happened.

The Good Stuff (Pros)

A Really Great Overview: First, if you don’t know much, like your mom before you watched a show, Charleston’s history, this trip gets you grounded. You hit every well-known area and get the gist of every attraction.
Easy Hop-On, Hop-Off: Seriously, for something really quick to check all the attractions and see if it gets your attention, the trolley is good. It lets you spend a little more time at those places that grab your attention.
Those Live Guides: It can be pretty interesting if you happen to, like, enjoy learning when folks share a bit of personality. Also, I really was getting a Southern historical storytelling feeling. I think this aspect totally makes the experience!

The Not-So-Good Stuff (Cons)

The Traffic Is Slow: Charleston is an old town, as you probably already know, right? Like so many colonial towns you happen to find on the eastern seaboard, so a large population crammed in tight little streets is actually an issue. Especially when there are things occurring around peak season, sitting can eat up your time quickly.
Tour Guide Roulette: Now, here is one I wasn’t quite planning. If you are unlucky enough, your guides are likely going to either be boring or give bad info. The quality fluctuates by a long shot, and it has a very big effect on the experience as a whole.
Crowds Happen: It gets super packed. Expect to likely squeeze onto the trolley in peak times. This really ruins what is, arguably, an appealing view and a comfortable experience.

Is It Actually Worth Your Money?

Okay, this actually really hinges on you. For first-time Charleston visitors, a fact is it provides a quick history lesson. And the ability to see different attractions in a single day? Makes it a great intro. Though… given the cost per ticket, that is a lot of money. I mean, arguably, there might even be other options depending on, like your specific wants. When your concern is traffic and overcrowding, perhaps a walking tour that really focuses on an area of your concern is just a little better. So, arguably, look very carefully and then pick.

Things you could consider before getting your tickets

Think about off-season: When the city actually is less crazy you might find a Trolley experience much better.
Make use of it for Orientation Purposes only: Don’t treat the Trolley as your tour of the whole town, that’s right, get on to have a preview of a couple spots. Then explore on foot.
Check for reviews: Seeing how the Trolley gets appreciated can give you an insight of what it offers to you, just like I did, really.

Tips to Have the Top Trolley Experience

Get there really early: This should net you the seat you really want to have, mostly in the shadow, arguably.
BYO everything: Water, absolutely, some bites and definitely wear what you are going to be comfortable walking with, as an example.
Engage Guides: It actually always help you if you have questions so do them. They will mostly enhance your Charleston-experience.

Okay, But What Are Some Alternatives?

Walking Tours: Check them in case that you wish an intensive, in person visit for just a little spot.
Bike Rentals: You might go everywhere alone, actually that will set the tone for some cool personal adventure around town.
Uber/Lyft: Really comfortable, particularly whenever you are fatigued and that allows you visit more zones minus overpaying a parking spot, as a matter of fact.