Go on a guided tour of a local historic site.

“My husband and I reached this place by using the public bus from near the cruise port. We could have wandered about the grounds and Great House on our own. We chose to take the guided tour. We were glad we did. There was only one other person in the group, so that was very nice. Our guide Tracy Eden Hurlston is a descendent of the original plantation owner's family. He had great stories to tell about the island, about the family, about the house itself, life on the plantation for both the family and slaves (who became free), the man who took on the restoration of the house, and much more. Tracy made a tremendous difference. The tour included a photo history gallery, a multi-media presentation, brief tour of the grounds, and of course an extended tour of the house. After the tour, office staff called the public bus for us to continue to our next destination. Very much recommend, if you are interested in people and history.”

“My group, on The Key to the West: Pioneers, Explorers, & Traders…Oh My! tour, was handed old-school viewfinders to use when prompted by the tour guide along a five-block route. The guide talked as we walked from historic building to building, telling stories about the people who chose to live and work in St. Charles’ early days. [...] The most interesting aspect of the tour was listening to our enthusiastic tour guide talk about the historical artifacts inside the restored Peck brothers’ general store and residence. The 1820s furnishings served as visual reminders or the hardship of early 19th Century life.”