I’ve been to Charleston more times than I can count. Almost four decades of exploring the unique
city. I’ve stayed downtown in the historic district, but that was over twenty
years ago. This year it was time to give
the downtown another go. Charleston has
changed and for the better. Better
restaurants. Better shopping. More restorations. Walking tours. Carriage tours. Instead of one
of the big hotels, I chose a Bed & Breakfast.
Staying in the historic district sets the stage for
Charleston’s whole velvet touch, salty smell, and colonial charm. Also, truth be known, I have a little more
jingle in my pockets. The historic
district ain’t cheap.
There are lots of choice Inns in The Holy City offering
four-poster beds, a history dating back to when the United States was a
youngster, and the convenient closeness of prime eating and drinking. None of the Bed & Breakfasts cater to the
poverty stricken. Figure over two
hundred bucks a night for a place to lay your head.
My choice was The Meeting Street Inn. Why pick that one? Opportunity.
The rest of the downtown burst with tourists. Bed & Breakfasts overflowed. In the end, I took what I could get. But, right up front I’ll tell you, it was a great
choice. Comfortably elegant, and in a
town not noted for an abundance of parking, there were parking spots only steps
away.
The bedroom at Meeting Street was all I’d dreamed of. Tall, four-poster bed, and antique furniture.
But, remember, this is an historic building.
The floors creak, the porch slants, the elevator is tiny, and the
bathroom is small. Look, either you want
historic or you want a modern glass
and concrete, cookie-cutter motel. Can’t
have both. The room also featured a flat
screen TV, polished wood floors, and a spotless bathroom.
My window overlooked a delightfully shaded, brick patio, with
wrought-iron tables and chairs. Across the street, greenery played against the buildings.
After an easy check-in, it was time to explore. Charleston is
layered in history. Everyone pictures
The Civil War, with Ft Sumter sitting in the middle of Charleston Harbor as a
reminder. People forget Charleston was
one of England’s earliest New World cities, the heart of colonial America in the South. The Meeting Street Inn peels that onion
nicely. Here’s a link that gives you the
details. http://www.meetingstreetinn.com/about-us/history.htm
To really see old Charleston, a central location is a must. From this Inn you can walk everywhere in the
historic district. Right down the street
is the nationally known City Market, which I’ll tell you more about another
time. A block in any direction offers
first class restaurants and notable watering holes. Antiques shops. Even a walk to Marion Square for the Saturday
farmers’ market is literally no sweat.
Stroll in the other direction and you can be in front of the
Old Exchange, where George Washington entertained and where the Declaration of
Independence was first read to South Carolinians. The basement was once used as a British
prison. The building, now a museum
offering tours, is a National Historic Landmark.
A few blocks up the street is the famous Four Corners of Law,
with solid stone buildings representing local, state, federal, and God.
Each morning’s breakfast at the Inn was a treat, served
buffet style, in a living room that looks every bit like an early 20th
Century parlor. Lounge on a plush sofa
with your coffee, or take your feast outside to the patio. The place looks as if Gatsby could stroll in
any minute, old boy.
The breakfast selection was both diverse and beautifully
presented. The eyes are ever the
pathways to the taste buds. Fruits. Yogurt. Pastries. Eggs. Meats. Lots more. This was not a packaged
breakfast from Motel X; this was scrumptious fare that made you jump out of bed
with a smile. On a sideboard, coffee and
iced tea and ice water stood ready, day or night.
Another nice thing about The Meeting Street Inn: people.
The Inn’s parlor is a cluster of chairs and sofas here and there, so you
end up meeting other early risers. Got
into all sorts of conversations about politics and taxes, education, travel,
and favorite books. One fellow from New
Jersey gave me a lot of insight into The Garden State. He’s moving out and based on what he said, I’m
not moving in anytime soon.
Conversation is just one more thing a B & B has over a
motel. When I’m on vacation, I enjoy
meeting people. Everyone’s got a
story. Visitors come to Charleston from
all over the world. And, in the end,
people are what make travel, and life in general, so interesting. Picture a city with no one there but you. I rest my case.
To take it one step farther, what is history really, but what
people have done, where they have lived, and what they said? Ah, but history discussions are for another
day.
So, what’s the bottom line?
The Meeting Street Inn is a delightful place to spend a few days and wander
the historic district of one of America’s oldest and most well preserved
cities. Tap into the highlights of this
country’s earliest years. Stroll down the street for some seafood, or a visit
to the famous market. Go to the
waterfront and sniff the salty air. Stop
into a nightspot for an after dinner drink.
When evening begins to turn back into day, curl up in your four-poster
bed.
In the morning, jump up for a feast of a breakfast and scintillating
conversation. This is what I call a
vacation. Don’t forget the name: The Meeting Street Inn. And, oh yes, there is a swimming pool.
If only more businesses would take this to heart. |
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