We are thinking about a trip this July to Charleston/Beaufort/Savannah and wondering just how hot is it? Is it too hot to poke around the cities/towns? South Carolina is clearly a beach destination; but if we are interested in primarily in the cities, will the heat zap us of all of our energy? Would you suggest we stay in one of the beach communities and then travel into Charleston, etc. for our sightseeing? Honestly, I think I'd prefer to stay in one of the inns and get more of the historic feel. As it is the low season, will all the restaurants, etc. be open? Thanks for your help.

I think anytime is a great time to go to the three cities you've mentioned. Yes, it's hot and humid in the summer, but unless the heat just really causes you problems, you should be able to deal with it. My favorite city is Savannah. I would recommend staying in a historical inns, in the historical district. If you prefer a hotel, I recommend the Hilton that is in the historic district. The rooms are very nice and there is lots to see within walking distance. The same goes for Charleston, although you pay more for the inns, there's just something about walking out the door of your hotel/inn and being in the middle of all that history and the beautiful architecture. You should find that all of the restaurants are open and the tours are full force. If you are worried about the heat, plan to get out in the morning and the evening and spend a couple of hours in the middle of the day shopping or at the pool.

Thanks for your help! Do you have a favorite inn in Savannah? I was considering the Gastonian Inn. I am assuming that the inns do not have pools; would that be correct? (As much as I'd like a pool, I'd rather have the "inn" experience as opposed to a hotel for this trip.) Thanks again!

Check out the Rhett House in Beaufort. it will be hot and humid, but that is one wonderful little town. Eat at the brand new Barbara Jean's for the best crabcake in the world.

Check out the Ballastone Inn in Savannah, too. Its very nice and the innkeepers are very friendly.

We've stayed at the Gastonian but not the Ballastone. We had a great experience at the Gastonian, but I'm sure the Ballastone is very nice also. We plan to stay there on our next trip. You might check some of the B & B Guides and find one that has a pool if you're really interested. We've also stayed at the Mulberry Inn, which is nice and does have a pool. It is a historical building, used to be owned by the Holiday Inn Corp and was touted as one of their few "Historical Inns". Someone else bought it a few years ago, I don't remember who, but I believe it may still be called the Mulberry Inn. It's across the street from the Riverwalk and does have a pool. It's very nice, with more of a historical "hotel" feel than a smaller inn. I highly recommend that you buy the book Romantic Days and Nights in Savannah. We use this wonderful book each time we go to Savannah and it has wonderful tips about places to go in the city and suggestions for day trips in the area. We've discovered several places that are now favorites as a result of the book.

Rhett House is definitely on my list for Beaufort. (Thanks for the confirmation!!) I appreciate your input and inn, restaurant and book suggestions. Thank you to you all for you help. (I'll be heading to the bookstore tomorrow!)

An early September perspective on the heat. I was wandering around Savannah historic district one afternoon. Headed back to hotel around 4 PM. In elevator, one of housekeeping staff said "Oh, did it start raining again?" I was so soaked with sweat that it looked as if I had been caught in a rain shower.

gail, I can picture it so well!

Yes it will be very hot, jgs121. We lived in Savannah...moved there from Dallas, not exactly known for cool temperatures, but the heat took some getting used to. Savannah and Beaufort did not feel as hot to me as Charleston though, only because Charleston (historic district) has more concrete and fewer trees than the other two. The difference was remarkable. Still, I would stay in town...the beach is hot too and at least you won't be driving back and forth in traffic and heat!

Charleston and Savannah in the summer are very hot, humid, and sticky.

The humidity is very heavy and the heat can be umbearable in the middle of the day.

Very steamy. If you aren't used to it, you may want to consider visiting another time of year.

I'll be honest with you. I live in SC and do as little as possible outdoors in the summer months. July is the worst; the combination of heat and humidity is oppressive. You asked if the heat would zap you of your energy ... in one word, YES.

We're doing a similar trip, Atlanta, Charleston, Savannah, Beaufort, Jekyll Island. We decided on April, concerned May might be too hot. Personally we avoid much of the South after Memorial Day just as we do places like Arizona and Las Vegas. Can't really enjoy sightseeing at that time of year. Now Alaska or Ireland that's another story.

Ok - I'm not an expert since I've only been to Charleston once -- this past July.

I am from inland California where summer temps regularly go well over 100F -- BUT the 3 days I was in Charleston were the hottest, most uncomfortable I have ever been in my life. It was only between 85F and 90F, but the humidity was almost unbearable. I LOVED the city, but would never go back there in the summer.

One of our traveling party lives in NC and even she was just floored by the heat/humidity.

I honestly don't know how you folks in the mid Atlantic and SE do it -- in CA when we have 100F we usually have between 19% and 25% humidity (and 25% feels really sticky). You have 80F to maybe 95F but have 80%, 90% or even higher humidity. That type of weather just drains me . . . . . .

It drains us too janis!

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlot...d/10137750.htm

Here is a terrific article on Charleston dining that was in our paper this morning.
Charleston has a lot more going for it than Savannah--a day or so for the latter is plenty.
And the humidity will zap you--but it is a great city.

If you cross over from Beaufort to St. Helena in July, the bugs will literally pick you up and drop you off in North Carolina. That is a marshy little island.

Thank you all for your input. I'm having second thoughts about this trip as a summer destination. Would you say that the heat and humidity is worse than Florida in the summer?

I have been to Florida in the summer (West Palm Beach area) when visiting family. Somehoe heat there did not seem quite as bad - but I think that may have something to do with activity level on both trips.

The trip you propose involves some walking, sightseeing, etc. Inevitable that you will be outside. When visiting family in Florida our time was largely spent in air conditioned modern buildings - house, mall, restaurant or at the beach. No one actually goes outside in the summer in Florida!

Our son goes to college in Savannah and they are instructed to keep A/C on 9 months/year to keep humidity from damaging dorm and furnishings.

No...we live in FL now. I thought things couldn't get much worse than Savannah in the summer. I was wrong!

Breezes at the beach, heat downtown. Life's better by the shore. Surfs up, dude.