If you’re here in Charleston this month, there are a couple January deals that are definitely worth checking out. Now that the swirl of the holiday season is over, it’s a good time to relax a bit. Focus more on experiences rather than material things, gifts and returns. It’s traditionally a time when you can score some good January deals - on clearance items in the store, yes, but also on things to see and do. In fact, the Holy City has a tradition of it, including a couple well known ones.
January deals #1: Pay What You Can Weekend at Patriot’s Point
Patriot’s Point is a Lowcountry treasure. You can’t miss it - it’s “anchored” by the massive aircraft carrier, the USS Yorktown, which is permanently parked in Charleston Harbor. The Yorktown was one of only two dozen Essex-class aircraft carriers built during World War II. Also known as the “Fighting Lady,” she earned 11 battle stars while serving in the Pacific from 1943-45. She was later modernized and went on to earn five battle stars during the Vietnam War, then later served as the recovery craft for the space mission Apollo 8. She also made her debut on the silver screen in the famous Pearl Harbor movie, “Tora! Tora! Tora!” Patriot’s Point Naval & Maritime Museum encompasses much more than the Yorktown. There’s the Cold War submarine Clamagore, the WWII destroyer, Laffey, numerous aircraft, the National Medal of Honor Museum (currently on board the Yorktown), and the very realistic Vietnam Experience, the only Vietnam support base camp in the United States. When Patriot’s Point opened on January 3, 1976 to an excited crowd of 2,601 people, it was the very first time an aircraft carrier opened as a museum. It spawned a trend that’s spread to many other cities across the globe. Over the years, well over 10 million people have visited the Yorktown. If you are interested in visiting, this is a great weekend to do it. They’re hosting their annual “Pay What You Can Weekend,” something they only do once a year. It’s happening this Saturday and Sunday, January 4th and 5th. They’ll waive normal admission and parking fees ($24 per adult, $5 parking). Instead you enter for whatever amount you’d like to pay. Hours are 9:00 a.m. till 6:30 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday - and every day. Military in uniform and children under six are always free. Here’s their website with more information.
Deal #2: Museum Mile Month Pass
You’ve probably head of the Miracle Mile, and maybe even the Motor Mile. Well, the Holy City has the “Museum Mile” - a stretch of downtown chocked full of important historical and cultural sights. According to their official website, “Charleston’s Museum Mile features the richest concentration of cultural sites open to visitors in downtown Charleston. Stroll the one-mile section of Meeting Street and you will discover six museums, five nationally important historic houses, four scenic parks and a Revolutionary War powder magazine, as well as numerous historic houses of worship and public buildings including the Market and City Hall.” During the month of January only, they’ve banded together to offer a cool deal. It’s the Museum Mile Month pass. For only $25 (adults) or $10 (kids 12 and under), you may visit thirteen of the peninsula’s top draws. These include:
- The Aiken-Rhett House Museum
- The Charleston Museum
- The Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry
- The Joseph Manigault House
- The Confederate Museum
- The Powder Magazine
- The Gibbes Museum of Art
- The Old Slave Mart Museum
- South Carolina Historical Society Mueum
- The Heyward-Washington House
- The Nathaniel Russell House Museum
- The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon
- The Edmondston-Alston House
Here’s a link to buy tickets and information about where to pick them up. So check out these January deals, and explore some of what makes the historic Lowcountry so special. And when you are looking for the perfect beach house Charleston, be sure to give EP a call. We’re also running some super January deals! All best, Lowcountry Lisa your Isle of Palms vacation blogger