Storied Charleston Walking Tours
Explore the Historic Lowcountry with Southern Storyteller, Paul Attaway
When you tour Charleston today, you will walk the same streets traversed by the earliest settlers from Europe—streets roamed by pirates such as Blackbeard and Stead Bonnet, British soldiers and Patriot militia during the American Revolutionary War, the wealthiest rice planters and merchants in the colonies in the 18th century and the enslaved upon whom much of their wealth was built, and Union and Confederate soldiers during the Civil War.
Did you know that South Carolina seceded from the Union before Abraham Lincoln was even sworn in as our 16th President? Take a walking tour of Charleston and hear stories of the families that lived through these events and others.
Charleston is blessed with a number of wonderful touring companies, all of us enjoying what the Holy City offers up. Many tours, however, are booked to capacity and can be as large as twenty people. A private tour allows you to move along at your pace, more easily ask questions and engage in a conversation.
Paul is an accomplished author and history buff who believes that it’s through the telling of stories that people across generations and cultures can best understand the past.
Barton & Gray has partnered with Paul to be their tour guide for Member Exclusive sailing trips in Charleston Harbor and along the Ashley and Cooper Rivers.
Tour Details
Length of Tour:
Count on two hours—but it’s your time, so we can tailor it to your needs.
Tour Times:
Monday – Saturday
Morning tour: 9:30am - 11:30am
Afternoon tour: 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Please feel free to
contact me by email
if you would like to discuss different times.
Pricing
Group Sizes of 1-8 people: $320
Group Sizes of 9-12 people: $420
The group you tour with is your group alone. I will not combine bookings.
Please
contact me via email
if you wish to discuss multiple tours for larger groups visiting Charleston—wedding parties, alumni organizations, corporate outings, etc.
What can you expect to visit and hear about?
Charleston is over 350 years old and played a central role in Europe’s colonization of the New World, the American Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and the Civil Rights era of the 1950s and 1960s. So, it is impossible to cover every topic in two hours. Paul will discuss these topics as well as what life is like today in Charleston as he leads you by some or all of the following popular sites:
- Rainbow Row
- The Four Corners of Law
- The Exchange Building
- The Battery and White Point Gardens
- The historic neighborhoods South of Broad Street
- The Churches: St. Philips, St. Michaels, The French Huguenot Church, the Circular Church
Book a Historic Walking Tour with Paul Attaway
The "Book Now" button below will take you to the scheduling platform. If you would like to discuss a particular tour or multiple tours for a corporate outing, for instance, please use the Contact link to reach out.
What people have to say about Paul’s Tours
We are very happy that we took the tour with Paul. Not only did he have a vast knowledge about the
history of historic Charleston, he guided the tour with enthusiasm and passion that was greatly enjoyed
by our group. Highly recommend.
—Rob and Ellen L.
Paul provided an enjoyable well prepared Charleston walking tour. My wife and I recommend highly.
—Erin and Jim
Paul's tour was incredibly fun, informative, and well-paced. When it was finished, I wanted to experience it all over again. A natural storyteller with a profound grasp of Charleston's history, Paul exceeded my expectations for a tour guide.
—Patty N.
The charm and beauty of Charleston come alive under the guidance of Paul Attaway, whose entertaining walking tours pair perfectly with his knowledge of the South’s history. Paul is native to the South, giving him a mental roadmap that adds color and flair to the stories he shares. You sense his passion for history, his love for the Southern lifestyle, and you know the magic of the city is calling you, too.
—Jeff and Cheryl A.
Paul is a gifted storyteller. His tour was informative and entertaining. His grasp of the history of Charleston is vast and he weaves the story of Charleston through its founding, the American Revolution, the Civil War and through to the present day. His tour was a relaxing and enjoyable stroll through Charleston and its history. My wife and I enjoyed our tour very much.
—Bill & Nicole
Meet Paul Attaway
Born and raised in the Atlanta, Georgia area, Paul is a Southerner—but one that wandered off for a spell. Paul and his wife Lyn raised their three children in Phoenix, Arizona. When one of their children decided to attend the College of Charleston in 2010, his love for the South was rekindled upon their many visits to check in on her. Their daughter graduated and moved back West, but Paul and Lyn stayed and now call Charleston their adopted hometown.
Paul had a full career as a small business entrepreneur in Phoenix, but upon moving to Charleston he picked up a pen and began life as a writer. His novels are family drama/murder mystery/suspense thrillers set in Charleston.
When Paul isn’t spending time with Lyn enjoying all that Charleston has to offer, he enjoys studying history, giving tours, or working on his next book.