Charleston: Boone Hall Plantation All-Access Ticket & Live Gullah Show

Summary

Walk the Avenue of Oaks, hear Gullah voices, touch Charleston’s past

You’ll walk beneath ancient oaks at Boone Hall Plantation near Charleston, join a live Gullah presentation that lingers in your mind, explore original slave cabins with powerful exhibits, and tour both gardens and mansion—all included with your ticket. Expect warmth from guides and moments that make you pause longer than you planned.

What’s the experience like?

First thing that happened was a woman at the entrance smiled and said, “You made it just in time for the Gullah show.” I’d barely shaken off the car ride from downtown Charleston. The oaks here—honestly, they look like something out of a movie, all tangled moss and sunlight. I could smell earth and something faintly sweet, maybe from the gardens. There were families, couples, even a group of older folks who looked like they’d been coming for years. Everyone seemed to slow down as soon as we started walking that long drive under the trees.

The live Gullah culture talk was… different than I expected. The guide—Miss Sharon—sang parts of her story. She had this way of making everyone laugh but also listen hard. She explained words I’d never heard before (Li laughed when I tried to say one back). There was this moment where she described her grandmother’s hands making sweetgrass baskets—I could almost see them. Afterward I wandered through the old brick slave cabins; you can still feel how cold those walls get inside. The Black History in America exhibit is right there, not hidden away or softened up.

I joined the tractor tour next (it’s bumpy—hold your hat), and our driver pointed out spots where movies had filmed but mostly talked about what really grew here over 300 years. You see fields stretching out forever and sometimes catch a whiff of salt air from the marshes. Inside the main house, our guide let us sit if we needed—she kept things honest about what life was actually like for people here, not just pretty stories for tourists. By then my shoes were dusty and my head was full. Funny how you come for history and end up thinking about what people carried with them every day—stories, songs, even just their names.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Visit Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens

• Enter via Avenue of Oaks
• Tour plantation home
• Explore Black History exhibit
• Watch Exploring The Gullah Culture presentation
• Ride guided tractor tour
• Walk through colorful gardens

Top questions

What does the Boone Hall Plantation all-access ticket include?

Your ticket covers all tours: mansion first floor tour, tractor ride across 738 acres (weather permitting), garden walk, Gin House Museum visit, stable tour, live Gullah presentation, Black History exhibit in original slave cabins, plus free parking.

Is Boone Hall Plantation wheelchair accessible?

The grounds are grass or compacted sand; electric wheelchairs work best. Mansion has steps but staff can assist with chairs inside rooms if needed. Slave cabins have 2-3 steps; exhibits are close by once inside.

How long should I plan to spend at Boone Hall Plantation?

Most visitors spend 2-4 hours exploring all included tours and exhibits at Boone Hall Plantation.

Are guided tours available at Boone Hall?

Yes—a local guide leads mansion tours and tractor rides; there’s also a live Gullah culture presentation included with admission.

Is lunch or food available on site?

The reference doesn’t mention food options; it’s best to check directly with Boone Hall for current offerings or bring snacks.

Can children or strollers be accommodated?

Yes—infants and small children can use prams or strollers throughout most of the property.

Are pets allowed at Boone Hall Plantation?

Service animals are allowed on site; other pets aren’t mentioned in the provided info.

What days is Boone Hall open?

Open Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm; Sunday 12pm-5pm; closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

What’s included

Your day includes all-access admission to Boone Hall Plantation: guided tours of the mansion’s first floor, a tractor ride across 738 acres (weather permitting), entry to nine original slave cabins housing Black History exhibits, a live Gullah culture presentation unique to Charleston’s Lowcountry, garden walks bursting with color when in season, visits to the Gin House Museum spanning three centuries of history, a new stable tour—and free parking too.