For the curious traveler! As seen in Travel + Leisure, Boston Globe, Cosmopolitan & More!
Join our History and Historic Gossip tours to explore Charleston’s character and characters.
touR OFFERINGS
Classic Charleston History and Historic Gossip Tour
Meet the Lid Lady at the Hat Man for a two hour storytelling walking tour of Charleston. The tour’s focus is on the City’s character and characters. History and historic gossip unfold as we dive into the stories of Charleston’s past and present inhabitants and the architectural fabric of the historic district.
We are also a proud partner of The Charleston Place and offer this tour that starting in their lobby at 205 Meeting Street on Fridays and Saturdays at 10am.
Walk & Talk Charleston x International African American Museum (IAAM)
Join us on a journey to the IAAM through Charleston history and landmarks. This tour offers a sense of place through storytelling to enhance your IAAM experience. Discussions follow the legacy of Black liberation from chattel slavery, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, Civil Rights, Black Lives Matter movement, and living history. This framework will center the experiences of Charleston's African American community & the diaspora throughout several generations, setting guests up to better comprehend the museum's focus on the intersectionality of Black liberation and Black joy. This tour is offered by request. Please note that this does not include admission to the IAAM nor interpretation inside the museum; we encourage you to visit the museum after your tour. Tickets can be reserved and purchased here.
The Real Rainbow Row Tour: Charleston’s LGBTQ+ History
This tour chronicles the LGBTQ+ history of Charleston. Proceeds support the SC LGBTQ archive at the College of Charleston. Our shared goal is to combat invisibility of this community in the historic landscape and to provide a more complete historic interpretation of Charleston. Learn more about the archive here. This tour is offered every Second Sunday of the month and by request.
Walk on the Wild Side: Charleston’s Parks, Gardens, & Naturalists
Explore the lush parks and gardens of Charleston while looking for local wildlife on a tour with naturalist Layton Register. Stroll through the historic district and admire the city’s famous private gardens, and enjoy historic gossip about the gardeners, naturalists, and scientists who helped shape Charleston’s landscape. Learn about pioneers such as Alexander Garden, Elizabeth Lamboll, John Bartram, and Loutrel Briggs, while looking for local bird species at Washington Square, White Point Gardens, Waterfront Park, and the former site of the city’s orange garden.
Ironwork of Charleston
Marvel at the detailed ironwork of the Holy City. Wander streets lined with masterworks of the medium, admiring the delicate filigree patterns, ornate twists, and rich details that characterize pieces dating to the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. Learn about the skilled artisans who crafted these timeless pieces, and discover how they fit into the architectural and cultural fabric of the city. This tour celebrates the craftsmanship, history, and enduring beauty of Charleston’s ironwork.
Churches, Steeples, and Graveyards
Delve into the stories behind Charleston's historic churches, steeples and graveyards with Walk & Talk Charleston. On this walking tour, visit iconic churches such as St. Philip's, St. Michael's and the French Huguenot Church to learn about their roles in Charleston’s architectural and social history. We’ll also explore historic graveyards and cemeteries where ornate grave markers tell tales of the past residents who shaped the city we love today.
The Long 18th Century
Travel back in time on this walking tour through “the long 18th century,” exploring the era of explosive growth and rapid change in Charleston’s rich history. Explore the evolution of architectural styles throughout the city’s history, and examine the stylistic and practical influences from other countries, eras, and cultures that flourished during the period from the end of the 1600s to the dawn of the 19th century.
Skeletons in the Closet: Charleston’s Ghosts
Join Walk & Talk Charleston on a nighttime stroll and gain a new perspective of the holy city’s haunting history. We’ll explore why some houses seem so much creepier than others, share gossip about Charleston’s best-known ghosts, and discuss why certain spooky elements just can’t stay buried.
The French Quarter Gallery Walk
Join us for an exploration of the thriving arts scene in the beautiful French Quarter with Walk & Talk Charleston! Meet us at the Hat Man to visit a series of Charleston's fine art galleries and our favorite shops to pique your creative passions. Learn about the architectural and social history of the district and listen to stories of the buildings inhabited by studios, galleries, and shops. Enjoy creative company and light refreshments as you visit these unique local businesses.
Shop Local King Street x Walk & Talk Charleston
Walk, Talk and Shop Local on King Street with the Lid Lady! This tour covers the history of the beloved Charleston shopping district. We’ll share the stories of the buildings and the historic context of these legendary local businesses and a no-pressure browsing experience. This tour is offered quarterly and available by request.
Zen Charleston Walking Tour with Still Soul Studio
Join Still Soul Studio and Walk and Talk Charleston for an outdoor experience of calm as we explore the zen side of Charleston. The Lid Lady will guide us through some of the most peaceful spots and hidden gems in the historic district- both on and off the well known paths through downtown and along the Battery. Journey with us on this relaxing and tranquil walking adventure in contemplative community. This tour is offered quarterly or by request. Contact us for upcoming dates!
Horse Without a Carriage: An Equine History Tour of Charleston
Join naturalist Layton Register on this walking tour exploring the role of horses throughout Charleston’s history. Learn about these animals’ role in trade, transportation, activism, social status, and more. Discuss key figures such as John McPherson, Wade Hampton, George Washington, King Charles II, William Alston, and the many others who made Charleston the original “Horse Capital of the World.” With a family background in thoroughbred racehorse breeding and training, Layton’s passion and insight brings new understanding to this aspect of Charleston history. This tour is offered by request.
Private Walking Tour: Let Us Create A Custom, Premier Experience
Experience Charleston in a totally unique way with a private walking tour led by the guide of your choice, on your own schedule. Tell us what you’re interested in walking and talking about or allow us to create an amazing, memorable, and delightfully interesting journey through one of the most beautiful and historic cities on earth. Perfect for bachelor/bachelorette trips, corporate retreats, exclusive group vacations, or any other occasion where you want a truly unique experience at the day and time that best fits your visit. Contact us to coordinate your private tour today!
Most of our daily tours start on the Southeast corner of Broad and Church Streets at the painted Hat Man. The Hat Man Mural is painted on the Church Street side of 43 Broad Street. The exact location is designated on the map below.
Please wear comfortable walking shoes as the tour covers approximately two miles around the peninsula and note that few public restrooms are available on route. Starting points for other tours will be included in your confirmation email upon booking.
Meet your guideS
TYLER PAGE WRIGHT FRIEDMAN
Founder of Walk & Talk Charleston, Tyler Page Wright Friedman, graduated from the University of Virginia with a BA in History and a secondary focus in Art History. She is a certified guide and a proud member of the Palmetto Guild and Charleston Tour Association. A born New Yorker with deep southern roots and island ties, Tyler was drawn to Charleston for its people, its beauty, its history, and its hospitality. We think that may be why you’re here too! Let her show you around the town!
JIM GREGORY
Originally from the Smokey Mountains, Jim Attended Georgia Tech and moved to Charleston with his wife over 40 years ago. After serving in the Navy, he settled in Mt. Pleasant with his family. He loves to Photograph Charleston's historic details in his spare time. Jim is a certified Tour Guide for Walk & Talk Charleston.
SOMMER PENDERGRAFT
Sommer is a born and raised Okie from Tulsa with ancestral roots in the Carolinas. She lived in both New Orleans, LA and Portland, OR in the early 2000s before settling in our beautiful city in 2010 to attend the College of Charleston for historic preservation. She worked for the Preservation Society of Charleston for four years and became a certified guide in 2019. Sommer loves so many things about Charleston, from the history and the architecture, to the beaches and the lowcountry lifestyle. Walk & Talk is thrilled to have Sommer as one of our tour leaders.
LAYTON REGISTER
Layton grew up on a farm near Paris, Kentucky that he and his family have owned & operated breeding and raising Thoroughbred racehorses for many decades. In his career, Layton has worked in all facets of the racing business. Apart from Thoroughbred breeding and racing, he has also worked in banking, tennis instruction, and property management. Since growing up on a farm he has developed a lifelong interest in the outdoors, plants, and animals, and he has been involved with nature and conservation organizations in Kentucky and South Carolina. Layton currently serves as a docent for the Charleston Horticultural Society and is an award winning Park Angel volunteer for the Charleston Parks Conservancy. John James Audubon is of special interest to Layton, which is a main focus of his tour. Please check out his blog posts and ongoing projects on this topic.
GIA STEWART
Gia was born and raised in downtown Charleston. She went to Ashley Hall and graduated cum laude from the College of Charleston with a BA in English and a love of studying history in her spare time. She’s a certified tour guide and a member of both the Charleston Tour Association and the Palmetto Guild.
Tour calendar & purchase tickets
Inclement Weather & Cancellation Policy
Tours operate rain or shine but we reserve the right to cancel tours in potentially dangerous weather conditions. If we must cancel your tour due to weather, we will notify you by email, by phone or both prior to the start time and we will find a new date or you will be refunded in full. If you would like to reschedule your tour, please reach out so we can find a mutually agreed upon date. Unfortunately, we do not offer refunds for cancellations other than described above. If you decide to cancel a tour then your payment will be applied to a future tour or a gift card.
reviews
Still in awe of our amazing tour with the Lid Lady. An absolute MUST for your next Charleston visit. Thank you Walk & Talk Charleston for the hilarious stories and fascinating history/ architectural history lessons. I can't wait for my next one!
- Eaddy (New York, NY)
“The best tour I’ve ever had! So much to learn and explore with Tyler!”
“Loved my tour with Walk & Talk Charleston!!!!! Highly recommend for great history and architecture of Charleston and fun historical gossip to boot!”
“Thanks for the tour! It was so great! My parents loved it too and we all learned so much.”
“10/10 tour! I think I said “I had no idea” 100 times”
