Compare Charleston’s Plantations and Stately Homes by Road Scholar vs Paris and Versailles by Eskapas

Day 1
4 p.m. Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Isle of Palms, Charleston County, SC D Coastal Retreat Center
Activity note: Fresh sheets and towels will be in your room. Make up your beds and relax in your home away from home for the week! Hopefully there will be time for a brief beach walk on the beautiful Isle of Palms beach, located just across the street from Coastal Retreat.

Dinner: A delicious dinner welcomes you to your new home away from home in the charming South Carolina Lowcountry.

Evening: Introductions and Orientation will start at 7 p.m. in our main gathering room, moving to the upstairs classroom for a Visitors Center video introducing Charleston. This session will give you an overview of your week ahead and a chance to meet your fellow explorers! After orientation and the optional hour long video about Charleston and the Lowcountry, come mingle with fellow scholars at a welcome reception.

Day 2
Historic Charleston Bus Tour, Plantation, Architecture Intro
Isle of Palms, Charleston County, SC B,L,D Coastal Retreat Center
Activity note: Today's schedule takes us via bus on an overview of the historic Charleston Peninsula, a comprehensive tour of Magnolia Plantation, and an introduction to Architecture with an emphasis upon the Charleston area. This evening, the talented Dr. Gail Goudy shares her knowledge and expertise regarding Architecture and the international influence visible in the structure and style our historical buildings.

Breakfast: Breakfast is served EARLIER today at 8:00 a.m. (8:15 Tues. - Fri.). Self serve coffee will be available by 7 a.m. daily for early risers!

Morning: 8:40 We leave Coastal Retreat and enjoy the beautiful 25 minute drive across the incredible Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge over the Cooper River. Adventures Sightseeing will provide guests a comprehensive overview of historic Charleston by a licensed guide. During this narrated bus trip, you'll learn about the history behind the CITADEL our Military College of the South, several stately homes, and other sights found on the downtown peninsula. This excursion will whet your appetite for our week ahead of Charleston history and architecture.

Lunch: 11:15 Enjoy lunch with a magnificent view of the Charleston Marina from the Holiday Inn Riverview top floor restaurant.

Afternoon: Our afternoon excursion takes us to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. Founded in 1676 by the Drayton family, Magnolia Plantation has survived the centuries and witnessed the history of our nation unfold before it from the American Revolution through the Civil War and beyond. It is the oldest public tourist site in the Low-country, and the oldest public gardens in America, opening its doors to visitors in 1870 to view the thousands of beautiful flowers and plants in its famous gardens. You'll experience the beauty of its gardens along with its rich history with a guided plantation house tour, guided tour of the gardens, slave cabins, and other outlying areas. If time permits, we will venture next door to the historical Drayton Hall, a stark contrast architecturally and a living example of restoration to original form and style of the period.

Dinner: Enjoy a delicious dinner when you return to the retreat center. Toni Scott with Parish House Catering will delight your palate with Lowcountry favorites throughout the week!

Evening: Dr. Gayle Goudy from the College of Charleston joins us at 7 p.m. in the upstairs classroom. Come learn about the diversity of architecture we will encounter as we visit the plantations and stately homes of Charleston, and how the area's rich history influences the style of buildings and renovations even today.

Day 3
Historic downtown homes, Walking Tour, Gullah Program
Isle of Palms, Charleston County, SC B,L,D Coastal Retreat Center
Activity note: Walking Tour will last about 2 hours over uneven cobblestone streets and sidewalks of Historic Charleston, and house tours have several stair cases to climb. Wear comfy shoes and be ready for exercise as we explore!

Breakfast: Early bird coffee is always ready by 7 a.m., and at 8:15 guests can choose hot or cold breakfast, along with fresh fruit, juices, hot coffee, tea.

Morning: This morning allows us the opportunity to walk where history was made as we embark on a comprehensive walking tour of downtown Charleston. Next, enjoy the stately Nathaniel Russell House which is being fully restored to its former beauty and grandeur.

Lunch: Enjoy a light lunch at T-Bonz Gil and Grille, featuring local fare and Carolina Red rice.

Afternoon: Enjoy the historic open air Market of Downtown Charleston on your own, before we all go to Aiken Rhett Home which features its authentic stables and slave quarters right in the heart of the City of Charleston. Begun circa 1818, this house reflects the changing tastes of the mid-nineteenth century through a series of spectacular remodeling. The home of one family from 1825 until the 1970's, it is kept in a state of static preservation with many of its original furnishings in place. With its dependencies, slave quarters and stables intact, the house offers a unique view of life in downtown Charleston. We will return to the Isle of Palms in time for an afternoon beach walk or a quick nap before supper.

Dinner: 6 p.m. Toni Scott and Parish House Catering will have another delicious meal prepared, featuring local cuisine to delight your palate!

Evening: Gullah Presentation with Ann Caldwell. Enjoy tales of growing up Gullah with renowned Jazz vocalist Ann Caldwell. The unique language is indigenous to the Coastal areas, having developed through slavery from a blend of African tongues combined with the English language.

Day 4
Angel Oak, Tea Plantation, Private Reception, Free Evening
Isle of Palms, Charleston County, SC B,L,D Coastal Retreat Center
Activity note: We will venture to the Angel Oak Tree plus the Charleston Tea Plantation. Not much walking , and instead enjoy the beautiful ride across the peninsula as we enjoy North Americas ONLY tea plantation! This evening, Scholars may choose stay downtown for supper on their own or to return to Coastal Retreat for another Parish House Catering supper. For those staying downtown, you are invited to a concert at the Circular Congregation Church called “The Sounds Of Charleston” at a reduced rate.

Breakfast: Start your day out right with a complete breakfast with a variety of offerings at 8:15, including fresh fruit, juices, hot coffee, tea. Early Bird Coffee is always ready by 7 a.m., and a Keurig is available at all hours.

Morning: Today, we will depart for a day full of adventure! At 9:15, our luxurious Coastal Coach allows us to comfortably enjoy the beauty of the Cooper and Ashley Rivers as we cross the Charleston Peninsula to behold the famous Angel Oak Tree, deemed the oldest living thing east of the Mississippi River. The Angel Oak is believed to be over 1,500 years old and stands 65 ft high with a canopy providing 17,000 sq feet of shade. Following the Angel Oak, we will head over to North Americas only Tea Plantation, located moments away on Wadamalaw Island.

Lunch: Enjoy a picnic lunch under the gorgeous oaks while overlooking a picturesque setting at the Charleston Tea Plantation.

Afternoon: Exploring, tasting, and learning at the Charleston Tea Plantation will be the early afternoon adventure! This modern day plantation is thriving in the low-country and is the only place tea is grown in North America. After a beautiful ride back into downtown, you are personally invited into the Single House of Dr. Biemann and Janelle Othersen as they share typical Charleston afternoon treats along with tales of working with the Board of Architectural Review of the City Charleston. Afterward is an OPTIONAL EVENING ON YOUR OWN: STAY DOWNTOWN FOR DINNER AND "SOUNDS OF CHARLESTON" CONCERT ON YOUR OWN. Uber or other affordable options will be made available to Scholars for returning to Coastal Retreat.

Dinner: Scholars who choose to return to Coastal Retreat will have your meal prepared by our in house chef.

Evening: After dinner, optional one hour Gullah video “COLORS… The journey from Africa to America”

Day 5
Boone Hall Plantation, Charles Pinkney Home, Social
Isle of Palms, Charleston County, SC B,L,D Coastal Retreat Center
Activity note: Boone Hall will feature a tractor tour of the plantation, Gullah Theater, Authentic Slave Cabins, plus a beautiful plantation home. We will picnic on the grounds of the Charles Pinkney Home and take a peak at what used to be historic Snee Farms.

Breakfast: Breakfast is served at 8:15 am to get you ready for your day of adventure!

Morning: Our morning outing takes us nearby to the working plantation of Boone Hall, right in Mount Pleasant, SC. The Authentic Slave Cabins and beautiful gardens along with the Gullah Theater add to the splendor of the plantation home and a tractor tour of the fields reveals where produce is actively cultivated and the community comes together for multiple events hosted at the plantation.

Lunch: Experience a picnic lunch together at the Historic Charles Pinkney Home. An 1828 historic Low-country cottage house serves as the park's visitor center. Visitors can enjoy museum exhibits, film options, Jr. Ranger program, and obtain park and local area information.

Afternoon: After the busy morning and a brief stop at the Boone Hall Country Store, enjoy some free time on your own. You may relax, walk the beach, or venture on your own to local sites. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES: Make your own sweetgrass basket with Vera Manigault - $35 per person or Harbor Boat Tour - $20 per person.

Dinner: Once again, our final evening meal together will feature local fare served with lowcountry style and hospitality, a highlight of the week! Tea, Coffee and infused water will be available and guests are welcome to bring alternate beverages of their choice.

Evening: At 7:30 our Closing Celebration brings us together for fun and fellowship with a local folk musician and delicious ice cream!

Day 6
Turtle Team Volunteer Presentation, 11 a.m. Check Out
Isle of Palms, Charleston County, SC B
Activity note: As we bid farewell today, take with you the memories of the week together, new friendships, and the plight of the loggerhead turtles who utilize the coastal region to overcome near extinction, thanks to the efforts of expert volunteers we celebrate as “The Turtle Team”.

Breakfast: A full breakfast bar offered up with lots of variety. Coffee, Hot Tea, juice and infused water available.

Morning: A visit from a volunteer with the South Carolina Turtle Teams shares with you the efforts to preserve the nesting habitats of the Loggerhead Turtle. Next, you will have an hour to pack up your rooms, remove used linens, and gather your belongings for departure.

Lunch: Program concludes after the presentation by the Island Turtle Rescue Team. Check Out at Coastal Retreat is at 11 a.m. Please leave your sheets and towels just outside of your door and your door propped open so that Housekeeping knows it is okay to begin cleaning your room for the next guests. We hope our Coastal Retreat has surpassed your experiences at other retreat centers! Safe Travels everyone!

Day 1: Arrive in Paris, France

Arrival to Paris, “Bienvenue a Paris”, meet and greet and transfer to your city centered hotel in Paris.

Overnight: Paris Meals: N/A

Day 2: Paris Highlights

Spend a day exploring Paris in a very unusual way. This excursion on foot and riverboat will show you the highlights of Paris: visit the Louvre Museum and the Eiffel Tower with our professional guide.

After breakfast, meet with our guide in the center of Paris at 08:15 am. (Arc de Triumph of the Carrousel facing the Louvre pyramid)

He/she will take you straight to the famous Louvre Museum, through this must-see museum and tell you about the main artworks: the Venus of Milo statue representing the goddess Aphrodite, the impressive painting of The Wedding at Cana the Coronation of Napoleon illustrating the emperor’s crowning in the Notre-Dame Cathedral, and Leonardo da Vinci’s famous Mona Lisa which is the most visited work in the Museum.

After your tour of the Louvre Museum which takes about 2.30 hours, your guide will take you to the riverbank, before the Pont du Carrousel, to board a Batobus boat. This short cruise will show you Paris from a different angle. You will see some of the superb bridges over the Seine and Paris monuments along the banks. The boat moors at the Quai de la Bourdonnais at the foot of the Trocadéro, right opposite the Iron Lady

You will have time then for lunch on your own before going up to the Eiffel Tower

Your guide will let you disembark to go to the iconic monument of Paris. He/she will lead you up to the second floor where the secrets of the Eiffel Tower will be revealed. After hearing remarkable commentaries, you can enjoy the beautiful panorama of Paris and see the top Parisian landmarks. Keep on visiting the Tower on the second level and get down to the first one to experience the incredible glass floor.

The services of our professional guide will end on the second level of the Eiffel Tower and you will have free time at leisure (End approx 04:30 pm)

Day 3: Paris – Versailles

After breakfast, randez-vous at 08:15 am.

Departure from the center of Paris to the Palace of Versailles. Make the most of the 45-minute journey by luxury air-conditioned coach and listen to your guide’s introduction to the history of the palace.

The Palace of Versailles covers an area of over 721,000 square feet and has more than 700 rooms.

Follow your guide straight to the front of the line to see the palaces most beautiful rooms: the Kings Grand Apartments, with seven rooms each dedicated to a different god (Apollo, Mars, Mercy, Venus, etc.) and the Queens Grand Apartments, mirroring those of the king, including the Coronation Room and the Queens Bedroom, once occupied by Marie Antoinette, among others. Also, admire the spectacular Hall of Mirrors, a unique room in which guests were received and impressed, designed by the famous architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart. Almost 240 feet-long, it was created to dazzle visitors to the Sun King, Louis XIV; it is lit by 17 windows and some 350 mirrors, and overlooks the palace’s breath-taking gardens, the second part of your visit.</span></div>

Return to Paris at 12:30 pm

After noon free time at leisure

Overnight: Paris Meals: Breakfast</span></div>

Please note:

We strongly advise against high-heeled shoes (parquet flooring in the rooms and cobblestones in the courtyard)

Strollers are not permitted inside the palace

Access to the palace is challenging for those with reduced mobility

Photography without flash is permitted inside the palace

The skip-the-line access is subject to the Versailles Palace procedures: The Vigipirate plan, the security control or an unforeseen crowd can slow down the entrance.

Day 4: Paris

Breakfast and free day at leisure. Overnight: Paris Meals: Breakfast

Optional Tours:

Disneyland® Paris: 1 Day 2 Parks with round trip transport:

1 entrance ticket 1 day / 2 Parks

We begin our day by crossing Paris as far as the Porte de Bercy to join the A4 motorway leading to Disneyland ® Paris. (average journey : 1 hour). Our driver will leave you at the group parking area close to the park entrances. Take advantage of a nice day with your family at Disneyland ® Paris. Both adults and children will enjoy discovering the magic world of Disneyland Paris. You will be able to enter both parks:

Disneyland ® Park: Magic world where you will meet all the Disney characters who live in an endless fairy tale.

Walt Disney Studios ® Park: Go behind the scenes of the movies, cartoons and tv shows.

The group will re-join the coach at the same spot at the end of the day at 7.15 PM

Come back to Paris around 08.00 PM. Departure at 7.00 PM in winter 200€ per person Children Mont Saint-Michel Tour with lunch: (Only Friday &#8211; 14 Hour Experience) An exceptional day at Mont-Saint-Michel in the company of a professional guide. Discover the history and the riches of this Wonder of the West; through the enthusiastic commentary of our guide. 250€ per person

Loire Valley Castles: (Only Mondays - 13 Hours) Come and live an exceptional day in the heart of the Loire Valley in France. You will visit the Chateau de Chenonceau and the Chateau de Chambord with our guide, two of the greatest castles of the Loire Valley. This dive into French history will be completed by a visit to the Clos Lucé castle, the emblematic place of the famous Leonardo da Vinci. Take a seat in an air-conditioned vehicle, departure from the center of Paris at 7:15 am! 250€ per person

Normandy D-Day Beaches: (Only Saturdays - 13 Hours) Enjoy a full day excursion from Paris to the D-Day Beaches in Normandy in the company of an official guide, who will bring these historic sites to life. 250€ per person.

Day 5: Paris Departure

After breakfast, free time until your flight time. Transfer to the airport and end of ou services.

Au Revoir!