Gibbes visitors dialed in to tour

TOURISM

Go ahead, make that phone call as the tourists around you quietly ponder the meaning of the "Veiled Lady" sculpture or the significance of West Fraser's brushstrokes.

New cell phone signs inside the Gibbes Museum of Art aren't asking visitors to power off but instead are encouraging them to dial in — to a free audio tour.

"People have always had good cell phone reception here, for better or worse," said Marla Loftus, director of communications for the Meeting Street culture center.

The cell tour kicked off Friday. It opens with a welcome message from Charleston Mayor Joe Riley and then lets guests hear from museum staff and some of the artists themselves. The tour encompasses the "Charleston Story" exhibit and the "Hands On!" exhibit for the visually impaired, both part of the museum's permanent collection.

With more than 100 snippets on the cell tour, the only possible drawback is an unaccommodating minutes plan.

Economic drivers

Though it's probably no shock, a new survey found that golf tourists spend more than the average Joe with a fanny pack.

The recently completed College of Charleston inquiry found that a golfer spent $289 per day on average, whereas other tourists spent $235 per day in 2006.

Nearly 600 golfers who requested information from the Charleston Golf Inc. Web site in 2007 participated in the survey. Most respondents were older, relatively wealthy men from neighboring states, the Midwest and the Northeast.

Among those who opted for another golf destination over Charleston, the top picks were Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head Island and Pinehurst, N.C.

Fewer than half of the respondents said the quality of Charleston's golf courses surpasses others. But those who did come here stayed a while — nearly five nights on average, compared with only 3.5 for the average tourist.

Plantation shuttle

Distance is no longer a dilemma for tourists who want to see the three Ashley River Road plantations but don't want to make the 13-mile trek from downtown.

Beginning today, the Charleston Chauffeur Co. will run a $15-per-person shuttle from the Bus Shed at the Charleston Visitor Center out to the sites. The 14-passenger van loads at 9 a.m. and promises to have visitors out to Drayton Hall by 9:30 a.m. and on to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens and Middleton Place from there.

The van will loop between the plantations throughout the morning, with a return shuttle beginning at 2 p.m.

Reach Allyson Bird at abird@postandcourier.com or 937-5594.