Experience America’s most beautifully preserved and architecturally historic treasure from the cockpit of a kayak and the streets of the city. We’ll begin our week with a three night stay at the Middleton Inn located on the grounds of the Middleton Plantation, a carefully preserved 18th century plantation that encompasses America’s oldest landscaped gardens, as well as the Middleton Place House, and the Plantation Stableyards. Our first couple of days will find us exploring the Edisto River, one of the Low Country’s blackwater rivers, and the waters around Deveaux Banks,one of the largest Brown Pelican rookeries on the East Coast. Of course, we’ll leave time to explore the scenic Ashley River which flows along the plantation’s property and affords us the opportunity to see a diversity of waterfowl and perhaps a sun-bathing gator or two. To maximize your experience here we’ll be sure to leave you enough time to wander through the myriad of gardens and stroll along the many footpaths and trails that meander through the plantation. The second half of the week will bring us to the Maison Du Pre, an Inn of historic elegance, conveniently located near Charleston’s downtown district. Our days will be spent paddling the waters that surround Charleston as we see first hand the beauty that this city has to offer - homes with open piazzas, lush courtyard gardens and the soft pastel shades of its many historic residences.

Delicious and delectable food is always a priority at H2Outfitters so you can be sure that we have this covered. Charleston hosts some of the finest dining establishments in the south offering southern-style to five-star French cuisine. Throughout your stay we will be sampling a variety of these restaurants to give you the full culinary flavor of the city.

PROPOSED ITINERARY
Although we do our best to be as accurate as possible with the itinerary, please be aware that the itinerary is subject to change based on a number of factors such as the weather, group’s desires, and skill level. Our number one goal is to provide you with a safe and enjoyable experience during your stay with us in the south. Thank you for your flexibility and trust in us to make this trip all that you could hope for and more.

Sunday
Arrive at the Middleton Inn. After everyone is checked in, we’ll do a brief orientation and then enjoy our evening meal on the plantation premises. After dinner, take a stroll through the gardens and enjoy the serenity of this magnificent plantation.

Monday
Once we have satisfied our appetites on a hearty breakfast at the Inn, we’ll drive to the Edisto River where after some basic instruction on paddling skills and safety, we’ll set off to explore this popular blackwater river that meanders through the low country on its journey to the sea. These nutrient-rich waters provide prime food sources for a variety of life, from those that live in the water to those that fly overhead. So keep your cameras ready as we leisurely paddle a section of this slow-moving river full of life and beauty. Upon our return to the Inn, we’ll have time for a hot shower, a little relaxation, and then a short trip to one of Charleston’s well-known culinary stops for a well-deserved dinner.

Tuesday
Today we will head to Deveaux Banks, a long narrow island that lies at the mouth of the Edisto River. This island has beautiful sand beaches, interesting shells, and is one of the few brown pelican rookeries along the Eastern seaboard. Make sure you keep your camera on deck as we paddle to and from this island because we are bound to see dolphin leisurely swimming along the shore feeding as they go. Of course, we’ll see plenty of pelican too and a variety of other seabirds thriving in this area. We’ll have lunch on the island and kick back a while to enjoy the fresh salt air, and the scenic views afforded us by this island’s central location. Once back at the Inn, take time to shower, enjoy a cool drink in the comfort of the Ashley River room or stretch your legs with a short walk to the Rice Mill Pond where you’re sure to enjoy the light of the late day sun. A drive to James Island we’ll bring us to a quaint restaurant frequented often by the locals and known for its unique and diverse menu of culinary delights.

Wednesday
This is our changeover day and we have planned to paddle in the morning , have lunch on the grounds of the plantation and then move to our next Inn, the Maison du Pre, located in the historic section of Charleston. We’ll begin with a hot breakfast served in the Lake House Dining room, and then we’ll meet our local guide by the river’s edge who will lead us on a 2-3 hour tour of the Ashley River. During the course of our paddle will meander through the maze of marsh grasses that provide refuge and nutrients to a diversity of aquatic life, most noticeably a wide variety of birds. Of course, from the vantage point of your kayak you’ll get a view few others get to see of the Middleton Plantation and its manicured grounds shaded by tremendous live oaks draped in Spanish moss and framed by the subtle colors of the autumn season. A quick shower and a hearty lunch prepared on the premises will charge you up for an afternoon in the city exploring some of its many shops and enjoying a carriage ride highlighting some of Charleston’s unique architectural structures, its earlier settlers, and its rich history. After freshening up at the Inn we’ll venture into town to do some more exploring and of course, indulge ourselves in another of Charleston’s fine eating establishments for a delicious southern meal .

Thursday
A short drive to Folly Island puts us at our starting point for today’s paddle on the Folly River with the possibility of spending some time on Folly Beach playing in the waves. The Folly River flows on the backside of Folly Island, one of the barrier islands lying just to the southeast of Charleston Harbor, providing us great opportunities to paddle and explore the many creeks and canals that flow into the Folly as they empty to the sea. This area is rich in nutrients providing an ecosystem that supports a variety of waterfowl and other marine life like the dolphin who frequently can be seen feeding along the river banks. If mother nature is good to us we may even be able to spend a bit of time learning how to ride the waves o the ocean side of Folly island. Later in the day, we’ll pack up, head back to the Inn, wash the sand and salt off and go satisfy the hunger pains that are making themselves known at the end of a long day.

Friday
For our final day we have planned a trip to explore Charleston harbor, nestled peacefully inside the natural barriers of Sullivans and James Islands. Gain a perspective of Charleston that the early seafarers must have seen – a protected finger of land located at the confluence of two major rivers and conveniently close to the Atlantic Ocean. We’ll begin our journey at Fort Moultrie located strategically on the shores of Sullivan’s Island guarding the entrance to Charleston harbor. As we paddle into the harbor toward our lunch destination on a small uninhabited island, we’ll most likely see pods of porpoise, a host of seabirds plucking their food from the sand beaches and marsh grass and boats of all shapes and sizes enjoying themselves. After lunch, we’ll take a short paddle up Shem creek to get a close-up view of many of the Shrimp boats that work these waters daily. Once back off the water and freshened up at the Inn we’ll enjoy our final night of dining in town at yet another of Charleston’s best eating establishments. After a delightful dinner, we’ll stroll through some of the courtyard gardens that are so abundant in this antebellum city or walk down to the waterfront park and absorb the warm salt air before heading back to the inn for a good night’s sleep in preparation for the journey home.

Cost:
•	$1695 per person, double occupancy (All rooms have either full or queen beds and private baths) $2195 per person, single supplement (Please let us know if you are willing to share a room)
What's included:
•	6 nights lodging: 3 nights in the Historic District and and 3 nights at one of the original plantations in the south
•	All meals beginning with Sunday dinner through Saturday breakfast – a sampling of low-country fare and gourmet cuisine
•	All kayak equipment and instruction
•	Transportation to and from paddling sites
•	A classic carriage tour of historic downtown
What's Not included:
•	Transportation to and from Charleston
•	Alcoholic beverages
•	Fees for other activities that you may choose to do
To Register:
•	A $400 deposit is required at the time of registering with the balance due 45 days prior to trip start. To use a Mastercard or Visa, please call us at 1- 800-205-2925. To mail in your payment, make check payable to H2Outfitters, PO Box 72, Orr’s Island, Maine 04066.
Cancellation Policy:
•	30 day notification is required to receive a full refund. With 14-29 days notification, you will receive 75% refund. With less than 14 days notice there is no refund unless we can fill your spot.
Helpful Information:
•	For more information on the Maison Du Pre and the Middleton Inn, log onto the following websites: www.maisondupre.com and http://www.charleston.the-hotels.com/middleton-inn.htm

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H2Outfitters
P.O. Box 72
Orr's Island, ME 04066
Toll-Free: 1-800-20-KAYAK or
207-833-5257
Fax: 207-833-6606
Call (1-800-20-KAYAK) or email us for more information.