On a recent visit to downtown Charleston, we stayed at the Governor’s House Inn  (www.governorshouse.com). Built in 1760, it was the home of John Rutledge—the youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence—until his death in 1800. Today this bed & breakfast inn is a National Historic Landmark and listed in the Select Registry of Classic Inns of the South. With an elegant, yet relaxed atmosphere, it’s the perfect blend of past and present Charleston.

If you have an opportunity to stay here, don’t miss afternoon tea (which conveniently merges with cocktail hour). Guests can pick up a glass of  not-too-sweet peach tea or wine, then move outside onto the piazza (veranda) to enjoy an evening breeze and watch the horse-drawn carriages clip-clop down Broad Street—the perfect way to unwind after a full day of exploring the Holy City.