Stay at beach or in town?

My husband and I are heading to Charleston for out 10th anniversary in late October/early November. We both enjoy a relaxing beach vacation, but also want to explore Charleston (sightseeing, shopping, plantations, etc.).

We can%26#39;t decide if we should stay on one of the islands for our entire trip, or spend part of the time in Charleston and part on one of the islands. Any suggestions or recommendations would be appreciated!

Stay at beach or in town?

Stay at the beach (it will be relatively inexpensive in October/November, but still wonderful) and just drive into Charleston during the day, that%26#39;s what we do every time we are down there.

We have a place on Kiawah, but end up in town several times throughout each stay, sometimes just to wander for the day, sometimes to meet friends for an evening out. No matter what, we always have a good time. Depending on time of day and traffic, it%26#39;s only a 30-45 minute scenic drive.

Have fun!

Stay at beach or in town?

We have a home on the Isle of Palms and the island is still quite active that time of year. Remember, lots of us walk around in shorts for Christmas so the temps vary alot. Even staying on the IOP, downtown is just a short drive. Nothing is better than the beach! Please let me know if you need any help finding a nice location at the beach to stay.

Depending upon how long you will be in the area ...

You might spend a night or two in a beautiful downtown hotel or B%26amp;B for the actual anniversary, and then spend the rest of the time at a nearby beach.

The weather in late October and early November should be excellent for outdoor activities; but it might, or might not, be hot enough to enjoy lying out and swimming at the beach. Usually the sun will be strong enough to enjoy sunbathing, especially in a protected area. Some years we swim in the ocean at Kiawah right through Thanksgiving. There is no way to know.

I might add ..

From Kiawah island or Seabrook Island, you can easily make day trips to the historic Ashley River plantations without driving through city traffic. You can also visit the 1400-year-old Angel Oak, on Johns Island, as well as the Charleston Tea Plantation and the Irvin House Vineyards, on Wadmalaw Island.

If you stay at either Kiawah or Seabrook, I recommend that you spend your time in Charleston concentrating on the downtown historic district. Save the plantation trips and other lowcountry sights for your time at the beach.

Definitely stay at the beach. IOP is much closer to the city than the other resorts.

Thanks for all of the information! I think we%26#39;re going to spend a few days (the actual anniversary) in Charleston, then head to the beach for the rest of the time.

We%26#39;re considering the Harborview Inn for our Charleston stay, then heading to the Isle of Palms (haven%26#39;t picked where to stay there). Any suggestions? Is Harborview Inn nice (and convenient)?

I%26#39;m so excited about this trip - Charleston sounds like a beautiful city with so much to do!

Harborview is a very nice hotel and is in a great location. Many of the rooms have a waterview.

Any suggestions on which island to stay on - or even where to stay? We%26#39;ve been leaning towards IOP, but aren%26#39;t sure about accommodations.

Wild Dunes might have some deals and it%26#39;s a lovely place to stay as well as being convenient to the city, shopping, Shem Creek, restaurants, etc.

If you%26#39;re game, try www.vrbo.com There are some LOVELY places - and some might be offering gas credits if you look carefully. (or you can ask) Welcome to Charleston!

I%26#39;d look into staying in Kiawah Island. You could stay at the Sanctuary Hotel (if you sign up for their e-mails, they offer specials; I believe they are offering a fall special - not inexpensive, but a definite savings off regular prices). We%26#39;ve usually rented a 1-BR condo. If you love the beach %26amp; love nature, you%26#39;ll really enjoy Kiawah, lots of bike paths, the ocean on one side, sunset views over the marsh on the other side. Isle of Palms is really very nice, but Kiawah is our favorite; we just find that there is so much to do right there!