Charleston and her surrounding areas have always had sights to be seen and scads of history to be studied and relived. Her mild weather has made her a destination spot for people of means to winter since the times of the Revolution, her oceanfront location allows her to boast one of the busiest seaports on the east coast, renown for her pristine beaches, Charleston has more to offer now than ever before. Newly put on the map for luxury cruise lines and fast becoming a hotspot for both up and coming and established artists, South Carolina and Charleston, in particular has arrived as one of the hottest destination and relocation spots in America.
Charleston Hotels & Reviews Whether you come and investigate the area in anticipation of a move or to come and enjoy the beaches, sites, weather and hospitality, the hotels in Charleston are plenty enough to suit every budget, style and taste. From the quaint, historical inn or bed and breakfast to the most luxurious, full service hotel, Charleston offers an expansive variety of accommodations. No matter what your plans, from the oceanfront to the rolling fields of the plantation grandeur you will find the perfect lodging to suit your needs and interests. Stay in a hotel that was used as field headquarters for General Lee in the Civil War, or an actual Fort structure designed to protect the city. Test your bravery and choose an inn with a ghostly reputation, stay where Edgar Allen Poe wrote the short story, The Gold Bug or choose from a number of inn, hotels or bed & breakfast establishments, each with individual history and personality to make a stay in Charleston most enjoyable. See the hotel descriptions and reviews to determine hotel offerings, location and value in order to make the best selection for your trip to historic Charleston.
Events There is always something happening in Charleston. Friday evenings can mean monthly art walks as galleries open up and offer hospitality and viewings of new or famed talent. Spring brings the Piccolo Speleto, which combines local and national efforts to support and display all aspects of the arts in a festival atmosphere lasting for weeks. Parades, sidewalk performers, fireworks, concerts, theatre, there is a year-round cavalcade of events from which to choose, just go to the Events Calendar to list or find an event and information on how to participate in or purchase tickets for the event. See the Tall Ships, go to a RiverDog's baseball game, go to a wine tasting or take in a tennis match. visit our calendar of events
Around Town One is never at a loss for something fun and interesting to do while in Charleston, unless they want to be. For relaxation Charleston's beaches are a wonderful place to recharge go for a run or just listen to the ocean and feel the sun and salty breeze on your skin. And for those who have a more active itinerary in mind, there is an aquarium, vineyards, galleries and museums a plenty. For the history buff, there are sites like the famous Hunley, or Fort Sumter where the Civil War began, and countless plantations to explore. Tours of every kind can be experienced in Charleston: architecture, harbor boat tours, historical buildings, and points of interest, informative art tours and so much more. Either by horse-drawn carriage or on foot one can experience and learn about the richness of Charleston's culture and history. Depending on the time of year, there are also house tours to visit Charleston homes of interest, decorated for the Christmas holiday for example, or those that have been featured in design magazines or movies and there are kitchen tours where foods may be sampled for charity benefits. One couldn't imagine such a regal old girl as Charleston without her ghostly secrets, so there are ghost and pirate tours galore for the adventurous vacationer. And what would a vacation be without a bit of shopping? Charleston has much to offer in the way of shopping, from King Street's design and antique district to the high-end shops at Charleston Place Hotel to the open air, Charleston City Market offering hundreds of storefront and vendor booths presenting everything from handcrafted leather goods to beautiful photography for sidewalk prices. Charleston is the perfect place to find the sought after antique, piece of art, little black dress or piece of heirloom jewelry. No matter what your interests, you are sure to find exactly what you hoped to find in a tour, art, shopping or restaurants while you are Around Town in Charleston.
Restaurants Uptown or downtown, high on a rooftop or cruising the City Market, Charleston can satisfy every craving with a restaurant to serve all appetites. From the family fare on the fly to the four-course, five star dining, Charleston has a suitable restaurant and menu. French Quarter, Urban Chic, Ethnic, Southern fried to gourmet, bourbon burger to well-aged beef, freshwater and ocean fish, sustainable, organic and locally grown, if it's one thing Charleston knows how to do and do right, it is to keep her guests happily tasting and pleasantly full with new flavors and old favorites and some old favorites with a new twist. Boutique café style to full service china and linen might be found standing side-by-side, equally successful and equally tempting. Whatever the mood or budget, no matter the number in a party, the city is at one's feet. One might try a famed hotel restaurant one night and find a tucked away, secluded eatery the next to enjoy with matching gusto. Refer to the Dining Guide to read restaurant reviews and values to find the right restaurant to suit today's appetite.
After Hours Once you've found your choice of restaurants on Charleston's Dining Guide, and sated your dinner appetite you will be ready to take in what Charleston offers in the way of nightlife. Widely known as a college town, Charleston offers plenty of bars, pubs, and nightclubs with new and cutting edge music, and edgy new bands with infectious sounds. But Charleston is also an established society, driven by the innovation of the baby-boomers and a burgeoning artist's community, so a head-bobbing Chicago sound with plenty of brass or an acoustic guitarist might be just the thing to cool off a steamy night. Or true to her southern pride, sultry riffs of New Orleans blues can be caught drifting on the dewy moisture of a honeysuckle-scented breeze. Perhaps a lone saxophonist will ignite a passionate evening while you sip rooftop cocktails and take in a skyline view of city lights but no matter what your pleasure, Charleston, After Hours will guide your choices for the perfect nightlife experience. |
