Our First Cruise departed from the Port of Charleston in February of 2017. About 10 hours travel by car, we arrived at the Francis Marion Hotel on King Street near the historic district. We used Expedia to book something close to the port and totally got lucky. We are not travel experts by any stretch of the imagination, but very little research landed us a great room in a perfect location. Steps away from nightlife and shopping, and just a short stroll from the French Quarter the location really was the perfect spot for our night in Charleston. We might do a full review of the hotel at a later date, so stay tuned.
After breakfast we had a few hours before we could arrive at port so we decided to take a short walking tour of the city. Admittedly, we had no idea where we were headed, but it turned into a great trek thru historic streets, beautiful graveyards, hidden gardens and scenic parks. A word of caution, wear comfortable shoes because you won’t want to stop wandering. Just down King Street from the hotel you will find all the shopping you could ask for. From the well known to the obscure, there are several boutiques and shops to visit. The French Quarter is amazing and as quaint and quiet as anyplace you would want to be. Enjoy a variety of different architecture, some of which have survived since the Revolutionary War. Be sure to find Rainbow Row, a collection of colorful Georgia Row Houses awash in a hue of pastels. At the edge of Charleston Harbor, the views from Battery and White Point Gardens are amazing and full of history. We only had a couple of hours to spare, but we loved our tour.
Check out the video. We hope you enjoy our day