Summerville or Charleston
 

Where to stay in the Charleston area for a beach vacation.
We've never been to SC but enjoy history and the beach. We will be there late April for 4 nights.

If you want the beach, then look at Kiawah Island. If you want history, stay in downtown Charleston. Summerville is a suburb outside of Charleston. If it were me, I'd stay downtown, then venture over to Beachwalker State Park for a day at the beach (probably cheaper than staying at Kiawah).

Why would you stay in Summerville except to maybe stay at The Woodlands?

If you want beach and history, stay a couple nights at Wild Dunes or Kiawah and stay a couple nights downtown.

If you want Charleston and the beach you absolutely don't want Summerville, as mentioned, an exurb about 20 miles from downtown and further to the beaches.

It sure is a picturesque little town though!

I just finished the book Summerville and I thought when they went to the beach house it was in Summerville. Misleading or I missed it.
Funny me

We are flying into Jacksonville Fl. beacause this is the cheapest way. Should we go to SC or stay in Florida and go the South. Never been to either states or GA.

If you decide on Charleston area beaches, you might want to make a trip to Summerville for lunch at the Woodlands. It's an old tea plantation, now a resort. It's been years since we visited so maybe recent advice would be better. We had a very elegant lunch although my husband was reluctant to hand the rental car over for valet parking.
But ... maybe you should check the mileage between your airport and possible places.