Charleston with children/hotel/food recommends

My husband and I are planning a trip with our 5%26amp;9 yr. old to Myrtle Beach in early April. After doing some research we are very inclined to cut out 2 days in M.B and spend 1 or 2 days in Charleston. After reading through these forums I%26#39;m wondering are we better in a downtown location or in Mount Pleasant (since we are travelling with children)? Any hotel recommendations or even a B%26amp;B that is child friendly would be much appreciated. We are planning on visiting Patriots point, doing a carrigae ride, visiting the market, and enjoying a child friendly good restaurant- Thanks :)

Charleston with children/hotel/food recommends

..I would also like to add could we do the above activities mentioned with just staying for 1 overnight or would it be better to book 2 nights? We are driving in from Canada and are on a bit of a time schedule.

Charleston with children/hotel/food recommends

Either Charleston or Mt. P would work for you - I guess it just depends on your budget. Check the travel sites for the best deals they%26#39;ve got - then see if you can do better by going to the individual hotel%26#39;s website. (I%26#39;ve found that they can be cheaper).

It looks like you have a great plan for ';things to do';. As I understand it...you%26#39;re leaving MB...so if you want to limit your Charleston visit to one night you can but you%26#39;ll be on the go the whole time. You can try this...

Leave MB by 8am - arrive Patriot%26#39;s Point; tour max. 2 hours

Lunch at Shem Creek -

around 2 pm - check into MtP hotel (the Shem Creek Inn is a great location)

around 5 pm - leave for a walk on the beach (hopefully it%26#39;ll be low tide)

around 7:30 pm- have dinner while enjoying the sunset at Vickery%26#39;s, for example, on Shem Creek

Catch a movie if you%26#39;re not too exhausted at the Palmetto Grande Theater at the Mt. Pleasant Towne Centre (big modern outdoor shopping center)

Next Day

Have breakfast at the Boulevard Diner (note: closed Sundays)

Check out of your hotel

Leave for Charleston around 9am; park in a garage

Take carriage ride

Walk through the city market

See the Pineapple Fountain (waterfront park)

Walk down East Bay St past Rainbow Row; walk back through the historic residential district (south of Broad)

Walk up King Street and have lunch at Jestine%26#39;s on Meeting Street (However, another kid-friendly place I%26#39;d rec is the Southend Brewery on East Bay)

Leave for MB around 2 to 3 pm

I didn%26#39;t know your dining budget but saying ';kid=friendly'; usually means it%26#39;s a deal.

If you stayed another day...you could add a plantation home/gardens (kids would like Magnolia the best probably) or the Charleston Tea Plantation and visit to the Angel Oak.

Now go make some memories! :)

An off-beat suggestion for something to do: Treat your kiddos to Cupcake, a bakery that only makes...cupcakes! My big kids love it. You%26#39;ve never seen such indecision;-)

Cupcake is located at 433 King St. It makes a great afternoon stop when your blood sugar is getting low.

Website: http://www.freshcupcakes.com

The Residence Inns have always been great with our children and have 2 bedrooms / 2 bath suits that are great for families.The River View location is the one we prefer in Charlestion.There is one at the airport location which is nice but not as good of an area for children.

Thanks culturehound for a great day plan! Another ? though- is there a beach near/in Mt. Pleasant??

There are two main beach areas near Mt. P - Sullivan%26#39;s Island (just a couple of minutes from Shem Creek) and Isle of Palms (a few more minutes from Sullivan%26#39;s). Both have public parking areas for beachgoers, with IOP being more visitor-friendly as they have showers and bathrooms in a couple of places near the beach. I just figured since you were coming from MB you%26#39;d be beached out and wanted to come to Charleston for the history, architecture and restaurants, all of which are very different from what you%26#39;d find in MB. Our beaches are infinitely less crowded and therefore much well known as we don%26#39;t have highrises at the beach like in MB.

We stayed at the Palms Hotel in the Isle of Palms, SC

It was a good price, and right on the beach. Our kids loved it. It was only about 20minutes from downtown charleston. I believe there website is:

www.thepalmshotel.us

The rooms were good and clean. My only complaint were the fact you could hear alot of stairwell noise if you had a room next to the stairwell.

They had a free breakfest that was good, and they mixed it up. Also cookies in the afternoon, which was a nice bonus, especially for the kids.