fort sumter

Going to Charleston next week for a week. Do we really want to tour Fort Sumter as per the Grayline tour or would we be just as happy to see it in passing.An hour and a half seems like a long stop if the place is empty..but then I havent been there so I do not know.

Also...driving to the city from IOP...is the traffic horrendous or just heavy at the predictable times.

Any differences in the visiotr centres..if we can get the same things in Mt Pleasant we will not go to the main one.

thanks for any help...this is a great site!!

fort sumter

the boat ride over is about as good as it gets. the fort is well maintained. clean and the staff id informative. but having said that i don%26#39;t think i%26#39;d do it again. the view from the battery of the fort is enough, and it%26#39;s a lovely area in and of itself with rainbow row and the opportunity to walk about the seawall there. charlestonis is full of history a small dose if fort sumpter for us was plenty. enjoy your visit!

fort sumter

I took my younger daughter this summer at her request. She loved it as she had just studied about Ft. Sumter in school.

The boat ride is approximately 30 minutes each way and you get less than an hour at the fort.

If you have the time and are a history buff, do it; If you think you%26#39;ll be back to Chs. one day, you can wait.

Fort Sumter is only accessible by boat. You can see it from the Battery. The best view is from the piazza of the Edmonston-Alston House. Whether to go/not go depends on your interest in Civil War history.

The traffic is heavy during rush hour drive times and if there is a wreck or construction in the area - otherwise it is fine. Coming from IOP through Mt. Pleasant should not be a problem if you go through Sullivan%26#39;s Island then Mt. P. Johnnie Dodds Blvd., backs up some at off times.

I have not been to the M. P visitors center but the one in Charleston is GREAT! Someone else may be able to address that for you.

We did the Ft. Sumter tour the last time we were in Charleston, and were a little disappointed. I think hubby had built it up in his mind, and was upset that it was not more restored than it was - it the ferry that tours Charleston harbour goes by Ft. Sumter, you would probably get just as much info from that. I enjoyed seeing the outside of the fort more than the inside!

I would absolutely recommend the Yorktown tour at Patriot%26#39;s Point however - we spent an entire afternoon touring it, and loved every minute!! I know we didn%26#39;t see everything it has to offer, either!

Love the boat ride to the fort and the guides there are quite knowledgeable. It%26#39;s a good trip to combine with the Yorktown. Best wishes.

We took the boat ride and toured the fort. It was a hot August day and the time at the fort was about right. The boat ride out and back is also part of the experience. Great views. I say go for it. It%26#39;s one of those places you always here about and this is the chance. I guess it depends on how much you like history and forts though.

Also,

Don%26#39;t know if it%26#39;s possible but we loved Ft. Moultrie. Great visitor center, walking tour all over the fort and you can walk down to the water. Lots of history there!

Have fun.

Tom