As we’ve put new website together, its been a fun time to reflect on the evolution of Coastal Expeditions. Many things have changed: employees, the size of the company, the landscape of Charleston.  But our mission remains the same from the time that the founder, Anne Goold started Coastal Expeditions nearly 25 years ago.

I’ve been poring over old magazine articles, snippets from newspapers and other items from our “carefully organized” artifacts to glean more information about our company’s history.  When I saw the Elle cover, I pulled it from the stacks and look what could possibly be written about Coastal Expeditions in this glossy women’s magazine.  It was an article about choosing the right guide for your expedition.

As the writer Paul Schneider said, “Sometimes the best part of a fantastic adventure is the guide who takes you there.”

When Anne was at the helm of Coastal Expeditions, she was the best person to take you into the blackwater creeks of the ACE Basin and the salty estuaries where the rivers meet the sea.  She was (and is) a pioneer of the industry, and we continue to  try to apply her sensibilities and standards to every tour we offer.

Maybe our current generation of female guides, like Caroline or Olivia, will be featured in the pages of a magazine like Elle one day.  They certainly have the passion and dedication to their craft.  I guess I’ll have to wait and see…

-Kari

Guide Tip:  When you’re exploring an area for the first time, it’s helpful to hire a guide to show you the intricacies of the waterways.  In the Lowcountry, the saltwater estuaries are a tangled network of creeks that weave through fields of monoculture stands of Spartina.  A Coastal Expeditions guide can make you don’t miss a dolphin breaching or an Osprey fishing nearby. All the while, they’ll share stories about the local history  and give you paddling tips to make your experience unforgettable.