• 1. Where to Stay
• 2. Where to Eat
• 3. What to Do
• 4. Insider’s Tip
• 5. An Oddball Day

Restoration on King offers apartment-size suites with outdoor patios.   (Photo: Courtesy of Restoration on King)

Sleep inside a meticulously-restored historic building at The Wentworth Mansion (from $380), originally a four-floor home built for a wealthy cotton producer in 1885. Prop your surfboard up under twelve-foot ceilings in one of the 21 spacious rooms and suites, many of which are outfitted with chandeliers and original gas fireplaces. In the evening, grab a bourbon from the honor bar and sip it on the rooftop cupola or enjoy complimentary wine and canapés in the sunroom.

Skip the hassle of planning for a beach day at Restoration on King (from $299), where chairs and towels are available to borrow and the staff will pack you a lunch from nearby gourmet provisions shop Caviar & Bananas (prices vary). Spread throughout four connected buildings on historic King Street, the hotel consists of sixteen sprawling suites with exposed-brick walls and modern, fully-equipped kitchens. In the morning, enjoy complimentary breakfast featuring pastries from Saffron Bakery delivered to your door in a picnic basket.

Soak up rays on the roof deck of the Charleston Place Hotel (from $245), the grand dame of the city with 444 rooms and suites in the heart of downtown. Take advantage of the summer promotion that provides guests a $75 voucher for use at the in-house spa and the Charleston Grill, where chef Michelle Weaver serves highbrow takes on traditional Lowcountry cuisine.

Published on Jun 1, 2012 as a web exclusive.