A Young Couple Goes to Charleston

Best of IgoUgo

A travel journal to Charleston by wsmith727

A room with a view Photo - Mills House Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina

Quote: My wife and I recently explored the rich history and natural beauty of Charleston, SC, and we were able to stay within our budget with some savvy research, planning, and uncovering some hidden treasures.

13 Photos

Executive Level at Mills House

Story/Tip

St. Philip's Church as seen from Mills House Photo - Charleston, South Carolina

Quote:

An Executive-level room at the Mills House hotel is a little more expensive than the standard rate, but it includes some excellent amenities.
Guests receive...
- two glasses of wine or an appetizer free each evening
- breakfast for two in the Barbadoes Room restaurant
- free soft drinks in the vending area on the 7th floor
- spectacular views of Charleston
I've included several photos from our corner room at Mills House, including views of the Ravenel Bridge, St. Philip's Church, and Fort Sumter.

Cheer!
Flag

Fort Sumter National Monument

Best Of IgoUgo

Attraction | "A disappointing visit to a national treasure"

Six Flags over Fort Sumter Photo - Fort Sumter National Monument, Charleston, South Carolina

Quote:

We've visited several old military forts, and we were excited to visit one of the most famous historic forts on the east coast -- Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. Unfortunately, ferocious fighting and postwar updates have stripped it of its original grandeur.First, I was disappointed by the information available. If you read the brochure during the ferry ride to the fort itself, you will learn far more than the tour guides ever tell you.Second, I was disappointed by the mere size of the fort. Of course, devastating artillery barrages during the Civil War, later renovations, and time have taken a severe toll on the brick exterior. It's not the fort's fault tha...Read More

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on January 19, 2011

Fort Sumter National Monument
1214 Middle St
Sullivan's Island, South Carolina 29482
+1 843 883 3123

Cheer!
Flag

Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge

Story/Tip

It's cable ready Photo - Charleston, South Carolina

Quote:

The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, at just over 1,500 feet, is the longest cable-stay bridge and the Western Hemisphere, and yet it's easy to overlook (literally and figuratively) when you visit Charleston.
The bridge spans the Cooper River to the east of Charleston, which empties into Charleston Harbor and the adjacent Atlantic Ocean.
For our trip, we used the bridge to go to visit Patriots Point, home of the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier and the launching point for dinner cruises or the boat to Fort Sumter.
If you're visiting Charleston to enjoy its historic architecture, be sure to check out this architectural marvel, either from along the Cooper River or drive upon it yourself!

Cheer!
Flag

Poogan's Porch

Best Of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Doggone good!"

Poogan's balcony Photo - Poogan's Porch, Charleston, South Carolina

Quote:

Poogan's Porch is named for a friendly dog who passed away in 1979...but his ghost still haunts the restaurant. (Un)fortunately, we didn't have any ghost sightings. Nevertheless, we really enjoyed eating breakfast at Poogan's Porch. In fact, we visited twice during our brief stay in Charleston!Each visit, we sat on the upper balcony outside. It was really quiet and peaceful, and we enjoyed watching the horse-drawn carriages passing by every few minutes.I ordered the banana-and-pecan pancakes on both days. They were sweet and gooey and an excellent way to start my day.The entryway features a small souvenir stand and is covered with celebrity photographs and endorsements. My only gripe...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on January 19, 2011

Poogan's Porch
72 Queen Street
Charleston 29401
(843) 577-2337

Cheer!
Flag

Jestine's Kitchen

Restaurant | "Delightful lunch spot"

Quote:

When we visited Jestine's Kitchen, there was a line out the door and around the corner to get in. We were disappointed by the wait, but we figured it was a good sign.I ordered the blue plate special: sweet chicken with lima beans over white rice. It was tasty Southern comfort food. My wife ordered fried green tomatoes -- another classic Southern dish. Although we both enjoyed our meals, they were not by any means spectacular. We simply enjoyed the ambiance and beauty in its simplicity.We finished our meal with the highly recommended Coca Cola cake. It was gooey and delicious!If you're looking for haute cuisine, look elsewhere. If you'd like a leisurely, homemade meal while on vacatio...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on January 19, 2011

Jestine's Kitchen
251 Meeting Street
Charleston, South Carolina 29401
(843) 722-7224

Cheer!
Flag

Drayton Hall

Best Of IgoUgo

Attraction | "A peek into history"

Drayton Hall Photo - Drayton Hall, Charleston, South Carolina

Quote:

Charleston has several old homes to visit, and we chose Drayton Hall based on the price, its proximity to downtown, and the pictures on their website.The house tour itself is $18, which is a little steep for the experience, but we both enjoyed it. The tour guide was very informative and helpful, and he was more than willing to answer our group's questions. At the end of the tour, unfortunately, was an uncomfortable mini sales pitch to become a "member," pay extra money, and receive a spoon in return. That's right -- a spoon!The Hall's grounds were expansive and impressive. From the upstairs balcony, the view of the driveway and enormous trees is outstanding!One final tip: skip the "C...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on January 19, 2011

Drayton Hall
3380 Ashley River Road
Charleston, South Carolina 29414
(843) 769-2600

Cheer!
Flag

Mills House Hotel

Hotel | "Holiday Inn with Class"

Quote:

The Holiday Inn Mills House is a lovely -- and pink! -- hotel centrally located within Charleston's Historic District. The location is excellent, though we didn't find it to be within "walking distance" of many of Charleston's attractions.The decor and amenities are far superior to most Holiday Inns; the company apparently purchased the hotel long after its establishment. The lobby, the restaurant, the rooms -- all nice. However, we thought the service was somewhat lacking. The bellboy was friendly, but otherwise we found ourselves waiting unnecessarily at times and eventually figuring out some information that could've easily been shared with us by the staff.Our room on the Executive Leve...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on September 20, 2009

Mills House Hotel
115 Meeting Street
Charleston, South Carolina 29401
843-577-2400