ekscrunchy

For the third time, I am planning to spend the winter in SE Florida. Two of us will drive from our home in New York City over a period of 3-5 days. We like to discover places new to us along the drive, and have had some great fun exploring parts of the South on our past four drives back and forth. We are especially focused on finding great places to eat, and usually prefer places with local flavor, such as the BBQ temples of Eastern North Carolina, or the seafood shacks of Coastal Georgia, and chef-driven places in any location.

This coming December, I think we will drive the Delmarva route again and spend the first night in Eastern NC (we like Hampton Inn in Edenton; planning for more BBQ) before heading for Charleston. I'm thinking 2 or 3 nights there. I have been to Charleston quite a few times, on work-related trips, but my most recent visit was about 25 years ago.

So: We will spend our time downtown and I have marked a few places to eat (FIG and THE ORDINARY are currently at the top of my list but would love to hear suggestions; I'm wavering on the Sean Brock restaurants and have little interest in his new Mexican venture). We want a hotel with parking, and elevators. I am not looking at B&Bs in historic houses because we have to unload lots of stuff from the car, need a refrigerator and would like a large room this time.

Please let me know if anyone has stayed at Charleston Place, which looks well located for us. Anyplace else you would recommend in the upscale bracket?

JanetKMR

Stay at Wentworth Mansion. Thank me later

http://www.wentworthmansion.com/

It is now the only place we want to stay downtown. Parking is convenient, elevators, large rooms and a refrigerator. And the hotel is wonderful.

We had a terrific Christmas dinner at Magnolia. We also like MacIntosh. And go to Rarebit for a cocktail.

DRJ

Go to luxurylink.com for real deals for Charleston Place.

And, IMO, there's no place in the city like McCrady's.

ekscrunchy

Thanks to you both! I looked very briefly at Wentworth Mansion but it seems much more pricey than Charleston Place. Also looked at Luxury Link for my dates, and did not see a large discount off rack, but will check again to see if prices drop.

DRJ: Can you tell me more about why you like McCrady's? There is very little choice on the set menus, but I imagine one can order a la carte, perhaps at the bar, or so it seems from what I've read....(??)

We will probably have only two dinners, so I need to choose well.

DRJ

I understand that Charleston Place is under new management. My former two night stays through Luxury Link were +/_ $600 with $100 dining/bar credit and free breakfasts. Considering the venue, IMO, that's a deal. When I looked yesterday the deals were way higher. Maybe the new guys are tighter. Who knows?

McCrady's again, IMO, is singular. Location, the interior ambiance, neat bar, and Sean Brock's food. I haven't been there since, I believe, its gone tasting menu only. You might check. Hope this helps.

DRJ

Just looked again at LL and found the "junior suite" deal is there. Unfortunately, I can't get the "reserve date" to function. If interested you might call LL.

suewoo

I'm eating Lexington bbq out of a tub as I write, lol.

Charleston Place is lovely, especially at Christmas. Another place to consider is Restoration on King.
http://www.restorationonking.com/

I went through there a while back-extremely nice. The Harborview is nice too. You have to ask for a harbor view though. Some of the rooms aren't on the water side.

McCrady's is lovely. The menu changes regularly. It was the first molecular gastronomy in Charleston. It's very nice. There's a fireplace, too.

The only hotel that has free parking is King Charles on Meeting. All others make you pay. Garages are close to both Charleston Place and R on K.

MacIntosh is great. It's the new favorite of my friends who are die hard FIG lovers.

JanetKMR

Just for clarification, Wentworth Mansion has free parking (and wifi, and wine and breakfast and soft drinks/water in your room). When we were shopping around for a visit the second week of July, WM seemed to be the least expensive of the luxury options and it was even better than we had anticipated.

Debbielynn

Was in charleston in the spring of this year. Had a delicious dinner at Magnolia's. Was very disappointed in Poogan's porch. I wouldn't recommend it.

ekscrunchy

Thanks, again, to all of you who responded! Food for thought here..will do more research, and also check with my Virtuoso agent about prices. If you book with Virtuoso, you usually get free breakfasts and sometimes a small price break.

DRJ: I wonder if what you mean by new management is the change from Orient Express to Belmond. As I understand it, this is only a name change, but I don't know specific details. We have stayed in a few Belmond properties in the last year (Inn at Perry Cabin, Mt. Nelson) and have been more than pleased with all.

Will check Wentworth Mansion again..sounds lovely. Thanks, Janet.

Sue: Eating Lexington BBQ out of a tub? If only we could have the pleasure up here....!! Last December after breakfast (!!) at Skylight Inn in Ayden, we bought another sandwich and took it with us in the car.
It was sublime, even with those bits of skin cold, and we shared the one sandwich huddled around the fire pit at Palmetto Bluff.

We plan to leave NYC around 7am.

I see a potential lunch place on the Virginia Eastern Shore, in Mappsville. Metompkin Seafood.

http://www.roadfood.com/Restaurant/O...ompkin-seafood


Then hope to spend the first night in Edenton, at the Hampton Inn (lovely people, free popcorn in the afternoon; frig in room) That puts us within striking distance, the next morning, of the BBQ spots: Bunn's, in Windsor opens at 9am.

After BBQ, we will drive to Charleston.

suewoo

Charleston Place has changed names several times. I don't think that has ever changed anything much.


I am a big Hampton fan. The beds are great, the coffee is good, the people are always nice.

If you are interseted in cutting off 95 and going in to Charleston the back way, there's barbecue there too. Let me know if you're interested.

Now I'm going to watch "Moscow on the Hudson" and look at New York.

JanetKMR

I am a big Hampton fan. The beds are great, the coffee is good, the people are always nice.
___
I am a big fan of Hampton Inns as well. Those and Marriott Courtyards have never let me down.

ekscrunchy

OOOH! MacIntosh looks great!

JanetKMR

It is!!