Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Fall Tour of Homes and Gardens – Charleston, SC

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The 33rd Annual Fall Tours of Homes & Gardens in Charleston, SC, feature beautiful gardens and architecturally significant homes, churches and public buildings. The tours highlights the very best of American architecture from the early Georgian Period up to and including the 21st century. Each tour features a unique neighborhood representing Charleston’s culture from the Colonial era to the present. The tours take place from September 24- October 25, 2009.

Most of the properties are privately owned and are open to the public exclusively for the Annual Fall Tours of Homes and Gardens. Volunteer guides will interpret the history, architecture and decorative arts of each property.

The tours take place on Thursday and Friday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. All tours are self-paced walking tours held on the peninsula of Charleston within the city’s various historic neighborhoods.

The Fall Tours of Homes and Gardens is the Preservation Society’s annual fund raising event. Tickets are $45.00 per person, per tour and may be purchased only through the Preservation Society of Charleston online at www.preservationsociety.org or by calling (843)722-4630.

Fall Tour of Homes & Gardens Charleston

Oktoberfest in Savannah, GA

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Dust off the Tyrolean hat and lederhosen – it’s time for the party of the season in Savannah. We visited last year, and we can assure you that River Street in Savannah knows how to celebrate Oktoberfest. This festival takes place on October 2-4, 2009.

There will live performances, clogging, games, fireworks, arts and crafts and Bratwurst tasting. Speaking of sausage, our all-time favorite event is back – Wiener Dog Racing. Oktoberfest would not be complete without.

beerI don’t know how anyone can resist such a magnificent celebration of German heritage. This festival has it all; oompah band, bratwurst, wiener dogs and to top it all off – they even promise that you get to participate in the chicken dance.

New for this year is the River Street Beer Garden, it’s the perfect spot to show off your Oktoberfest fashion.

Judging from what the action-packed program has to offer, plan to come early and stay late.

The 10th Annual Wiener Dog Races will take place at Morrell Park (near the Waving Girl) again this year. Registration begins at 8am and the races begin at 10am!

For more information about the festival, visit http://www.riverstreetsavannah.com

Old City Farmers Market at St. Augustine Amphitheatre

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In St Augustine you can visit the Old City Farmers Market on Saturday mornings for a variety of fresh vegetables, fruits, and more. The market offers locally grown vegetables, organic food, fruits, artesian breads, pastries, flowers and plants, herbs, roasted peanuts, bonsai, and even the famous datil sauces the area is known for.
Datil is a locally grown hot pepper.
There’s also a great assortment of soups, burritos and other delicious foods so come hungry and plan to have lunch!

This market is held every Saturday, rain or shine, at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

St. Augustine Amphitheatre, is located 1340 A1A south, about 2 miles south of the Bridge of Lions and 1 mile north of SR 312 on A1A

Click here for the events calendar post for Old City Farmers Market, St Augustine

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Wine Stroll at Middleton Place All Summer – Charleston, SC

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How about spending a relaxing Wednesday evening at one of Charleston’s most beautiful gardens? Now you can enjoy a leisurely walk through America’s oldest landscaped gardens while sampling a variety of summer wines at Middleton Place. Each Wednesday, Middleton Place will host the wine tasting in a different garden location.

Wine tasting in the Gardens of Middleton Place takes place on Wednesdays from from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Cost is $10.00 per person.
Summer Wine Strolls every Wednesday through September.
Wine strollers can also make a complete evening by including a dinner at the Middleton Place Restaurant. Just call (843) 266-7477.

Visit our events calendar for additional information about the Wine Stroll

Wine Stroll at Middleton Place, Charleston, SC

St Johns Town Center Farmers Market in Jacksonville

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Visit St Johns Town Center Farmers Market for fresh vegetables, plants, organic food and much more. This is one of Jacksonville’s newest farmers market. It takes place on Fridays from 3 pm to 8 pm.

Our friends Martin and Purity from Grower’s Alliance Coffee are usually there selling their coffee. Make sure to taste the Kenyan coffee – it’s absolutely wonderful. It’s fair trade and shade grown and part of the proceeds goes back to the farmers in Kenya, they can tell you all about it. Make sure to let them know that Joe sent you!

Click here for the calendar entry for St Johns Town Center Farmers Market

St Johns Town Center Farmers Market