Honeymoon: Charleston, S.C., at its Finest

It was cold when we arrived in North Charleston, S.C., the first night on our honeymoon. But the Holiday Inn Charleston Airport & Convention Center was a welcome respite after the long drive from Orlando. If you have a perception of what a Holiday Inn is like, get those old ideas out of your head. This is the new era. 

I noticed the more upscale appearance of the hotel as soon as we walked into the lobby and noticed modern contemporary furniture and lighting. The theme continued into our hotel room, which was a spacious suite with living room, large flat screen TV, upscale bathroom (with Bath & Body Works soap and lotion), and comfy bed. 

It was too late to eat dinner at the hotel, but they had a full-service restaurant and lounge, that I was anxious to try. 

The next morning, we checked out the historic downtown area of Charleston. I definitely recommend visiting this area, mainly to see the historic French homes of the Charleston Quarter. We loved walking around Downtown, which has stores with all the major name brands represented. This area has the feel of New Orleans but is a lot cleaner.

*Note: This is the first in a series of blogs about the hotels, food, and experiences we had during our recent honeymoon to Charleston, Asheville,Gatlinburg, Tenn., and the Smoky Mountains. Stay tuned for more!