First time to Charleston, SC
 

My daughter and I will be visiting for 4 days in Charleston March 2025 for the first time. I can’t seem to locate the best place to stay (B&B preferably) and exactly where the ‘old town’ area is. Although we will have a car, we would like to walk to nearby things.

I am just beginning to look at things to see and do so any suggestions there would be helpful too :)

We have varied interests so all ideas are welcome!

TIA

I have only visited Charleston once and stayed at the Kings Courtyard Inn which was OK but not particularly memorable. However, we found the location was great and walkable to many of the sights we wished to see. We were very close to the historic City Market and many worthwhile sights. If you find a B&B near that area, I think you'll be pleased.

Hopefully someone with more knowledge of Charleston will chime in.

I've visited Charleston several times but first on business trips and more recently on a stop while driving to Florida for two nights. We stayed at what was then the newly opened Hyatt Place but before we checked in to the hotel we drove around and then parked in a municipal lot which allowed us to walk around and see the historic mansions, churches and so on. As the main shopping street King St, I believe was expanding northward the Hyatt Place was a good location but as it was the end of January, we did actually drive to dinner and had no problem parking on the street. Our hotel provided breakfast so no need for us to go and look. March should be very pleasant time to stroll around unless of course it is is rainy. We lucked out with sunny days but in the thirties so we did have a few coffee stops while out and about. Want to go back to go see the new museum, which I understand requires pre-booking time slots.

Sorry, only have been to Savannah. Charleston is the number one destination for Southerners. I compiled this:

Take a walk or a drive in a horse-drawn carriage through the Historic District, with its veranda-fronted mansions and slender church towers. Check out Charles Landing State Historical site and Colonial Dorchester SHS. Explore the 18,000-acre Francis Beidler Forest, an old growth Cypress swamp with alligators and river otters (20 miles west). Take the ferry to Fort Sumter National Monument. View the 1681 Boone Hall Plantation set on 783 acres. Eat Lowcountry cuisine such as Shrimp and Grits, Chicken Bog, Collard greens, and Skillet Cornbread. Walk along the famous Charleston Battery. Reflect in the 1761 St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, the oldest church in the city or check out the lovely 1845 French Huguenot Church. Wander around the 1804 Charleston City Market.

IF you click on my user name, you will find my trip report for Charleston---we had a great time!

Help please with trip repor
 

Sorry, but I only see a Savannah trip report :(

Found it!
 

Thanks….found the trip report!

Hi cheezz

It’s been quite a few years but I stayed at the Vendue Inn, which was great and centrally located near Rainbow Row. You’ll notice Charleston is a peninsula, south of Calhoun (street) is a good idea even if there are interesting things outside of this historic heart of the downtown peninsula. I had no car, used the trolley to get to the Aiken-Rhett House, which along with the Nathaniel Russell House was a fascinating glimpse into the 19th century Charleston. Going out to Fort Sumter by boat was a highlight of my visit. Fort Moultrie was interesting also.

Best wishes. Daniel

Piggybacking on this - can anyone speak to the availability of Lyfts/Ubers? All the hotels in the historic center are SO expensive, and I have an opportunity to use points to stay in Mount Pleasant at the Hyatt House - but I won't have a a car, and I'm wondering how easy/hard it will be to get a Lyft or Uber from there?

Thanks in advance for the help!

Does anyone know if it's easy/difficult to get an uber or lyft in the city or just outside of it? The inns/hotels near the French Quarter and downtown are SO expensive, and I can stay using points at the Hyatt House in Mount Pleasant - but I'm concerned about whether I'll be able to get a rideshare car from there easily. Anyone have any advice? I won't have my own car.

Thanks so much (and sorry to piggyback on the thread, OP - for what it's worth, I've heard great things about Indigo Inn near the historic district. It's out of my price range but might work for you! Also the downtown Hyatt, which is closer to everything than where I'll be staying - but also more expensive.)

Also for the OP - in my own research I've heard great things about Indigo Inn. It's outside of my price range, but might be perfect for you!

PS sorry for my multiple postings - I thought the first post hadn't gone through, so I rewrote to resubmit!

Thank you all for so much help in this planning! We have decided to spend a week in Nashville then drive down through the great smoky mountains to Charleston. Does anyone have a favorite route to take? And a good place to stay about halfway? I read that Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are not the best places to stay.

Would you spend 4 or 5 days in Charleston? Since we are tight on time, we are wondering just how much time we need. 5 days in Nashville, driving halfway to Charleston and spending 2 nights seeing the GSMNP, then on to Charleston.

We hope to see:
Charleston City Market
Colleton Museum
South Carolina Artisans Center
Middleton Plantation OR Boone Hall Plantation OR Magnolia Plantation?
Harbor dinner cruise
Tour to Fort Sumpter
Horse drawn carriage ride

No real agenda, just wanting to stroll and take in the atmosphere of the south and eat some good food :)