Last year ... 1st Sunday in May ... my cruise ship, the Maasdam arrived in Charleston, SC. We weren't in port long. Like 8 AM to 4PM. Which is really 7 hours since they don't let you off until at least a 1/2 hour after you arrive and want you back a 1/2 hour before they depart.

I did their tour of Fort Sumter. Mistake. Would have been better just to take a cab there and then explore on my own.

The tour is really run by the national park service. I did have the advantage of a plethora of Staten Island Ferry rides, so I positioned myself perfectly at the bow to get the best view/pics.

There were even a couple of playful dolphins who approached the boat before the return trip.

Enjoyed the fort. Didn't enjoy the bus ride after the fort. Things we were supposed to visit we just drove by quickly ... like the pastel colored houses along the shore.

I wanted a picture or two of the painted ladies. the Old Slave Mart. Instead we stopped to see the outside of some museum and a couple of alleged haunting houses.

My mom had a far better experience. She felt seeing the fort from the shore was good enough. So she ani her walker went out on her own. She found a bus that was free. And some random people were more than happy to help her on and off. The bus filled quickly and a little kid whined about not having a seat. So my mom unfolded her walker and invited him to sit. After a short hesitation, the boy accepted. My mom was delighted when he wanted to stay on the fold out chair of her walker near her when seats opened up rather than in the back with his family.

So the lesson is: INDEPENDENT ADVENTURE ROCKS.