GoTravel

foodislove, thank you very much for correcting my information about the owners of The Market Pavillion Hotel.

I should have prefaced the remarks about the owner saying that my source for this information was the front desk person at The Church Street Inn.

It is a wonderful, impressive hotel.

kcapuani

I'm hoping to visit Charleston in late August and this is a great planning tool! Thanks for taking the time to share...

GoTravel

After Mr.GoTravel and I stuffed ourselves at Jestine's Kitchen, we decided to walk down Meeting Street towards Calhoun Street to head to the SC Aquarium. We decided to take the back streets and cut down Society Street towards East Bay. Wonderful beautiful houses. I'm sure the locals hate having people look in their windows but you just can't help to do this. One of the houses was an old church sans the steeple. Very cool.

Finally got to the SC Aquarium which is perched out on Charleston Harbor. Even though this is one of the best aquariums I've ever experienced, it also walked you through the three distinctive areas of the state of South Carolina; The Mountains, The Piedmont, and The Coast. I really learned a lot. I also figured out what a few kinds of birds that are in my backyard are called namely the Ibis.

The two story aquarium was filled with eels, shark, tuna, and other large fish as well as smaller one. This part really thrilled Mr. GoTravel as he is a dive master or master diver or whatever. He's going to start volunteering.

They also had a cool exhibit going on, "Secrets of the Amazon". Was this ever interesting! Poison Dart Frogs, Anaconda, parrots, pirahnas all brought out the 8 year old boy in my husband.

The Aquarium is nest door to the Ft. Sumter Museum.

We tried to figure out where the Hunley was located but never got around to this.

Walked back to the hotel a different route but went the sidestreets. I can't tell you how charming this is.

Finally around 6PM we headed out of Charleston exhausted. We were in bed by 7PM and asleep by 7:10. Missed the Grammys.

GoTravel

Some random observations.

-There is an Applebees on Wentworth I never knew exhisted. The only way you would know it was there is by a discreet brass sign with their logo on a stone/brick wall. No other thing says Applebees.

-Andolinis Pizza on Wentworth. A true dive but great pizza and beer cheap.

-Kress & Co building on King Steet. This building is a testament to Charleston's dedication to preserve. This beautiful deco buiding houses a William Sonoma, a rug store, and some other things but the Kress & Company signs are still up as well as signs announcing the soda fountain.

-Charleston's sidewalks are all either flagstone/slate/limestone, brick, or a combination of the two. Don't wear shoes with heels or you'll bust your butt. I never saw a concrete sidewalk.

-Mr.GoTravel and I both wore (except when I went out at night) these walking shoes from Cole Haan and Nike. The soles are by Nike Air and the tops are by Cole Haan.

-You'll never own one of the beautiful pieces of architecture in Charleston even if you purchase the building. You have the privilege of caring for during a period of time but it belongs to history. Everything in Charleston is 200-300 years old.

-The weather was balmy all weekend even though they called for cold weather. Ocean temps kept us warm.

-Go to the Charleston Fire Station on the corner of Meeting Street and Wentworth. They have the old firetrucks on display. The horse drawn pump from 1898 is too cool as well as a ladder truck from 1944 and another truck.

-Walk the side streets and get off the main thoroughfares. This was such a treat.

-Charleston IS the most beautiful city in the United States. No contest. Street after street after building after building after cobblestone street after church after cemetary.

-See it from the water if at all possible. We used to sail out of Cannonsport Marina, Patriots Point Marina and City Marina all the time and you never tire of Charleston by water.

-Grannies Goodies is now a bar.

Thank you my fellow fodorites for forcing me to get out of my comfort zone and letting me experience Charleston as it should be.

neworleanslady

What a great post! Thanks!
I am headed to New Orleans this weekend and was thinking the same thing as you - I need to go to a new restaurant, see new things, etc. I have learned of lots of restaurants just by reading from visitors that I can't wait to try! Of course, it is a bachelorette party, so most of my time will be spent on Bourbon Street! An oldie, but goodie!

blh

Thanks so much, GoTravel, for all the great information on Charleston. We are going there for the first time in April. We were looking forward to the trip, but now we are excited!!! You said that you live close to Charleston - so do you have good information on Savannah also? We are planning to spend a couple of days in Savannah as well and need hotel and restaurant suggestions if you have some. Thanks for your great post!

laurelee

GoTravel--- reading this was so much fun. I am taking my mother to Charleston in April and now I am so excited. Thank you for writing this...I feel like I could ask a million questions and get great answers. We are either staying at the French Quarter Inn or Harborview Inn...sounds like I can't go wrong there. Any tips on helping me to decide?
Also, the Rutledge Avenue tour--what are the homes and gardens like? Should we do some kind of boat trip? Anything else???

Tandoori_Girl

Now, that's an adventure! I can't wait to sit down with a glass of wine and read it.

I can't imagine your comfort zone, GT, as you seem quite comfortable wherever you roam.

beach_dweller

GoTravel,

thanks for such an informative, personal, and entertaining trip report. This will be a great resource for everyone (us included, as we're a mere 2 hours away).

GoTravel

Thank you all for your very kind remarks. We did have a very lovely time and I'm going to take more day trips by myself.

Scarlett, you must do Charleston at least once. While I love Miami, Charleston has my heart.

OO, I can't think of what is across the street from Bob Ellis. I'm always to blindsided by being there I can't look anywhere but inside the store!

icee, his team didn't play but we watched the UVA/Miami game. Wahoowaa! The 'canes aren't doing too bad stepping up to ACC round ball!

Foodislove, I hope I haven't offended you or your family, I do feel bad. The Market Pavillion is a spectacular hotel. I also love Pete Banis and have shopped there for years.

You wrote: "The very best part of Charleston, is that it is so amazingly cosmopolitan, and hip, but still very small-townish and charming"

You could not have summed my feelings up any better.

Tandoori, I never realized that I do have a high comfort level wherever I go. Very interesting observation that has never before occured to me. Thank you for pointing this out.

Lauralee, contact this tour guide: [email protected]. She is the very best tourguide in Charleston.

BuffaloGirl

Oh, GoTravel.........the hubby and I were going to try and sneak away for a long weekend in Florida or maybe New Orleans in March or April, but now I am SERIOUSLY thinking of Charleston.

It sounds fabulous. (I'm not sure, though.....should I use one of your hotel suggestions? WINK WINK - inside joke between me and GT).

bamakelly

GoTravel, as usual you are full of good information!

My husband has not been outside the city limits in over a year due to the nature of his job. Other than a business trip in March (his first in 14 months), he won't be able to leave town for a few more months, and even when he does leave we can't go far. We've been trying to think of fun places to go for a long weekend for when the time comes. We'd been considering Charleston, but after reading this, we're sold on it! I am thrilled, as I have never been there before!

Thanks for giving us something to look forward to!

LoveItaly

GoTravel, what a beautiful and informative travel report.

I need to do what you did in Charleston in SF. It is true we tend to take out local cities for granted and not look at them as a tourist might.

I really enjoyed reading about Charleston, thank you for sharing your weekend.

emd

Great report, makes me want to go to Charleston-- and your thread made it onto the banner page listing the interesting current threads.

Pat_in_Mich

Thanks so much for your comments on the Harbourview Inn! We're taking our first trip to Charleston next week and are staying there. I've been second guessing myself a bit on my hotel choice, but now I feel reassured.

nkd

GoTravel, what a fascinating report. Thank you for posting.

We can only spend one night there in March. Arriving Thursday around noon and leaving Friday at noon. Would you recommend such short visit to this lovely town?
If you were visiting again, what hotel you would HAVE to stay in?

GoTravel

Pat, you'll love the Harborview! Try and get a room with a view. If not, spend an hour or so in the front window of the lobby. The window is floor to ceiling and has deeply cushioned chairs placed right in front of it facing the harbor for this very reason.

On second thought, you may never get out!

laurelee, toss a coin. Honestly, that is the only way I would be able to decide between the French Quarter Inn and the Harborview.

BuffaloGirl, do I ever have a motel for you.....LOL!

ethel, when are you going to Hilton Head? There are certain time periods that Charleston hotels are expensive. Namely now through mid June. The Wildlife Expo is this weekend and then one thing after another until Spoleto.

Gretchen

Between Charleston and Savannah, weight toward Charleston. One day in Savannah is plenty.
We went to Charleston this week-end to go to the aquarium. It is really a great exhibit.

ethel

GoTravel,
The dates we are going to Hilton Head are 5/7-9 and then we have the rest of the week. I did a lot of looking around at the rates yesterday of the hotels you mentioned and some other hotels I got off Expedia and TripAdvisor, but they are kind of high for that week. Looks like we'll have to stick with Myrtle Beach and maybe put Charleston on my list of honeymoon destinations. It definitely sounds like a place that you wouldn't enjoy on a budget. I want to be able to enjoy all that the beautiful city has to offer without worrying about money.

Thanks again, GoTravel, for such an inspiring post. I wish I could do the same in my town (Lake Placid, NY) but it's kind of hard when you know at least 1 or 2 people every where you go. I think I might try it though, as I love to play tourist. Perhaps I can get a wig...

seetheworld

GoTravel, I really enjoyed reading your detailed report! My husband has stayed in Charleston on several occasions (at the Renaissance) for business. He keeps telling me that I should plan to go along on his next trip...I hope it works out, because it sound like a lovely city.