With Charleston’s beautiful downtown and harborside views, trendy food scene and enticing history, this city embodies the perfect getaway for all visitors. Located on the corner of King and Calhoun Street, our historic hotel is in the heart of downtown Charleston and is the prime location for Charleston fun. We’ve created the perfect itinerary outlining the ideal tourist trip when staying at the Francis Marion Hotel.

Wake Up with a View

The Francis Marion Hotel offers amazing views of all of Charleston. We have a selection of different suites to choose from: the Francis Marion Suite, Harbor View Suite, Mark Clark Presidential Suite, Bridgeview Suite, Uptown View Suites, and Downtown View Suites. Although these suites all offer different views, you can’t go wrong with any one of them.

Book a stay in one of our luxury suites and wake up with a gorgeous view of the harbor, the river or downtown Charleston!

Breakfast at the Swamp Fox

No need to search for a brunch spot in Charleston, the Swamp Fox offers a spectacular Lowcountry menu that can make everyone happy! From award-winning shrimp and grits, fluffy pancakes, and juicy breakfast sandwiches- we’ve got it all. Start your day at the Swamp Fox for the perfect way to fuel up for the fun day ahead!

Time to Explore

While staying in Downtown Charleston, there are endless sites and attractions we recommend. The Francis Marion is a proud member of the Historic Hotels of America, so we love to honor the history of Charleston and what it was before it became the bustling city it is today. Therefore, we highly recommend exploring the city and learning about its historical significance. Below outlines a few popular sites and attractions to visit:

---

Dinner & Cocktail Hour

After a long day the best feeling is sitting down and enjoying quality food with great company. The Swamp Fox offers a delicious dinner and drink menu, so if you stumble back to the hotel after your day of adventures we’ve got you covered. However, there are many wonderful restaurants within walking distance of the Francis Marion Hotel. Check them out here!

Rest & Relaxation time

Finally time to kick back and enjoy some R&R after a fun day out and about. Head down to the Swamp Fox lounge and bar area for some night-time cocktails, or stay in the comfort of your cozy room and order a midnight snack with room service!

No matter how you envision your wedding day, there are so many ways to include sentimental nuances of your wedding day. To mark the occasion, a wedding favor is a fun way to make your guests feel special. Charleston-inspired favors are the perfect way to highlight your destination wedding or your beloved hometown. We’ve helped compile a few of our favorite Charleston Wedding Favors to consider or draw inspiration from.

1. Personalized Grit Bags
   Who doesn’t love a favor that includes food? Personalized grit bags, filled with locally sourced grits (we suggest Adluh Mills or Marsh Hen Mill) gives your guests the gift of creating their own dish at home! As a staple in a lot of Charleston dishes, these adorable grit bags are a great way to let guests travel back home and recreate Shrimp & Grits they may have while at you’re wedding (view our catering menu & food menu options here!)

2. Local Spirit Mini Bottles
Having a signature cocktail at your reception? Have a memorable date at a Charleston distillery? Just love Sweet Tea? There are so many reasons as to why you could incorporate a Charleston made Mini-Bottle. We love having Firefly Distillery call Charleston home and they make an iconic Sweet Tea Vodka that is a must try by visitors and locals a like. If you are a couple who wants to share spirits for your wedding favor, including these cute mini-bottles with a recipe card is a great & local way to highlight Charleston!

3. Local Honey
You two are meant to ‘bee’! A cute way to incorporate Charleston is with some local honey. There are quite a few local honey brands to purchase this golden treat within the area. Petite mason jars with a personalized sticker on it is a simple and cute way to include a Charleston wedding favor. You could even include local tea from Charleston Tea Garden as the perfect pair. Here are a few local honey retailers to chose from:
Bella Bee Honey
The Bee Cause – sold at Savannah Bee Company
Check out Lowcountry Olive Oil to purchase local honey too!

4. Flower Seed Packets
Let your love to continue to grow! Charleston is home to so many beautiful blooms. Personalized seed packets are a great way to nod at Charleston’s beauty, especially if you’re having a spring wedding. Your guests will love having flowers to plant and you can even create the packets pretty easily on your own if you’re feeling crafty.

5. Oyster Knives
A staple in Charleston cuisine are oysters. Whether they’re raw, steamed or fried they’re always accompanied by hot sauce, cocktail sauce or lemon (don’t forget some saltines too!); oysters are truly loved in the area. The perfect favor to incorporate is with engraved oyster shucking knives! An ode to the bounty of the Lowcountry and a special way to commemorate you date. You can have the knives engraved with your date, name, initials- or whatever you find fitting!

Spring time is in the air here in the Lowcountry and soon we will be welcoming beach days, longer nights and some of the most cherished time- where its not too hot or too cold but just right. Visiting Charleston in March is an absolutely gem; you’ll beat the summer crowds and the summer heat. Since you’ll be booking a stay in the heart of Charleston, you’ll be within walking distance of so many places to dine, drink and shop. Sometimes it can be overwhelming on where to start planning your activities. We’ve compiled a list of must see and do things while you’re in Charleston this March.

1. Magnolia Gardens
   America’s last large-scale Romantic-style Garden, Magnolia Gardens is unlike many other gardens and has been welcoming guests since the 1870s. The Gardens interact with nature in a way that are not as formal as most gardens but instead Magnolia cooperates with nature to create a tranquil landscape. “Today there are various varieties of flowers from camellias, daffodils, to azaleas and countless other species in bloom year round, with the climax of incredible beauty building towards the spring bloom.”
   Fore more information: Magnolia Gardens.
   
   
2. Angel Oak Tree
   This beautiful & historic living angel oak tree is loved by both tourists and locals alike. Thought to be at least 500 years old, this majestic tree is located on Johns Island which makes for a scenic 20 minute drive from the hotel. While you’re on the island, visit Tattooed Moose for lunch or drinks, stop in Low Tide Brewery for a local draft, take a walk at Caw Caw Interpretive Center.
   
   
   
3. Walk Across the Ravenel Bridge
   Officially opening in 2005, the iconic Ravenel Bridge is a beloved part of the Charleston skyline. Spanning two and a half miles, the bridge offers a pedestrian and bike way that can be accessed from either downtown Charleston or from the opposite side in Mount Pleasant. It’s a great way to get some exercise in and see the harbor from a birds eye point of view. You’ll catch some ships coming into the port, be able to view the U.S.S. Yorktown and enjoy the Charleston breeze.
   
   
4. Shop along King Street
   King street offers a vast variety of shops. From clothing, jewelry, soaps, candles, luxury stores, shoes, rugs… the list goes on. If you can’t find it on King Street, you probably can’t find it anywhere else. Home to a lot of locally owned & operate stores, its the perfect spot to find something unique and one of a kind. Don’t feel overwhelmed by the options, here is a complete guide to what shops King Street houses. Plan out which ones you have to stop at before you’re even in town!
   
5. Dine Outside at Locally Loved Restaurants
   We don’t need to tell you for the millionth time that Charleston’s dining scene is the best- that’s part of he reason why you’re visiting us! Here is a quick list of restaurants that offer wonderful food, drinks & outdoor dining:
   Café Framboise
   Brown Dog Deli
   Cru Café
   39 Rue de Jean
   82 Queen
   Leon’s
   The Park Café
   Rodney Scott’s BBQ
   The Royal American
   Bling Tiger
   
   
6. Explore the Charleston Brewery District
   The craft beer scene in Charleston has truly taken off. Home to some of the best, award winning beers & breweries, there’s a newly dubbed Brewery District that gives the latest up to date information and locations of the newest spots to check out. Book a brewery tour and take the worry out of driving yourself. If you opt to forego the tour route, download the Uber or Lyft app.
   
   
7. Check out Folly Beach
   Plan to take another quick 20 minute drive or Uber to bask in the sunshine, Folly Beach’s eclectic & family friendly vibe is the perfect pace to sit back and relax. Famous for finding shark teeth and offering activities like renting a jet ski or learning how to surf, or for the more chill person- rent some beach chairs- there’s a little bit of everything at Folly Beach.
   
   
8. Visit Firefly Distillery & Explore all of Park Circle
   Home to Sweet Tea Vodka, Firefly Distillery offers 25 different spirits and the opportunity to taste a variety when you visit the North Charleston location. Offering a giant lawn perfect to spread out with your four-legged furry pal while sipping one of their cocktails, Firefly is the perfect spot to enjoy that perfect Spring Day at. Sitting just right outside the Park Circle neighborhood, its worth making the few second drive to check out this adorable neighborhood. With other bars, restaurants & shops, you can spend an entire dat hanging out and relaxing in Park Circle.
   
   
9. Festival of House and Gardens
   Beginning March 11th, the Festival of House and Gardens features virtual and in-person events this year to insure all safety measures are taken and still be able to offer one of Charleston’s favorite festivals. With tours of magnificent gardens, find yourself mesmerized by the spring blooms, historic charms and much more when on one of the guided tours or virtual tours.
   
   
   
10. Explore one of the many Charleston County Parks
    Charleston County offers over 30 parks throughout the area. Each offering different reasons to visit, you cannot make a mistake when you choose any of them to visit when you are staying in Charleston. A few favorites include: James Island County Park
    Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve
    Stono River County Park
    View a complete list of parks here.

The month of love is upon us! There is no doubt that Charleston is best enjoyed hand in hand with the one you love most. Visiting the area in February means you’ll be welcomed with abundant sunshine, places that offer outdoor dining (complete with heaters- if necessary!) and a myriad of ways to enjoy the city. We compiled a guide of what to do if you’re staying with us this month. From restaurants with spectacular cuisine in intimate settings, activities indoors for that rainy day (just in case!), places to catch that quintessential Charleston sunset and so much more.
Make sure to mark in time for a meal with us in our very own Swamp Fox Restaurant. If you’re visiting us for Valentine’s Day Weekend, join us for a very special dinner menu complete with live piano, wine and views of Marion Square!