From the front porch lined with rocking chairs, an easygoing spirit emanates from The Beach Club at Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina in Mount Pleasant. With the sunshine, sailboats, frozen drinks, and swimsuits, this could be the Caribbean, except getting here takes only minutes from downtown. 

At twin guest service desks, friendly staff are ready to help, from scheduling facials and body treatments in the candlelit calm of the Estuary Spa to arranging shuttle service to and from downtown or Sullivan’s Island, or simply offering glasses of sweet tea. Paintings of harbor scenes and marlins soaring from the water decorate walls of the living room-style lobby, with several plush seating areas—cozy spots for rainy-day card games or reading. 

But on sunny days, you’ll want to reserve  a cabana on the expansive harborside deck, where lounge chairs and sun umbrellas surround two pools. Get settled and order a frosé from the roving Tiki Bar servers, then pass the time by counting pelicans gliding the maritime wind currents overhead. Just beyond the swath of low-tide sandbar and green marsh grass is the sparkling chop of the harbor, Castle Pinckney, Fort Sumter, a full span of Charleston’s waterfront, and James Island in the distance. 

After a refreshing dip, there’s much to explore, including nature trails through the woods and along the marsh and the Mariner’s Walk Pier jutting into the harbor. The linear system of marina docks connect directly to the Charleston Water Taxi stops, the College of Charleston Sailing Center, and an entrance to the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum that’s practically under the USS Yorktown bow. 

Continue vacation mode with drinks at the resort’s rooftop Bridge Bar and then dinner at Fish House restaurant, where local seafood is the specialty, including dinners of whole fried flounder over purloo and Bull’s Bay bouillabaisse with shrimp and fennel. Throughout the property, charming Southern nods continue, right down to the seersucker bathrobes in guest rooms and the parting gift of a handmade palmetto rose on check-out day. 

Destination: The Beach Club at Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina has 92 guest rooms and suites, most with harbor views, plus two pools, a full-service spa, Charleston Harbor Fish House restaurant, three bars, marina berths, and a movie theater. Rates from $277 per night. 20 Patriots Point Rd., Mount Pleasant

In the neighborhood: Tours of the USS Yorktown ; golfing at Patriots Point Links ; the bike/pedestrian pathway of the Ravenel Bridge; Shem Creek Park, plus dining spots within 1.5 miles. Also, the resort offers shuttle van service to the Charleston peninsula and the beach at Sullivan’s Island.

Afternoon: Arrive by car or cross the harbor from downtown Charleston via boat on the Charleston Water Taxi. Chill out in the calm rooms of the Estuary Spa, or slip into one of the two pools. Shop in the “nautical chic” Marina Store for a summery dress, sandals, or sunscreen.

Evening: Sundown cocktails and live music at the rooftop Bridge Bar above the Fish House with harbor and USS Yorktown views; or try the deck or beach chairs in the sand just outside the Reel Bar at Harborside. Dine on fresh seafood and hot biscuits inside at the Fish House or on the screened porch.

Morning: Grab a coffee in the lobby and sit awhile in the parlor or on a porch rocking chair. Borrow bicycles from the front desk at Harborside and explore the resort and Patriots Point on two wheels by following the roadways, docks, and marsh-front paths. Finish with breakfast at the Fish House.

The tony new downtown hotel has French flair, sparkling chandeliers, and exceptional views across Marion Square and King Street that weren’t possible until now. Opened in January on the former site of the Charleston County Library, the grand Hotel Bennett is flush with design details and tucked-away spaces.

Soft colors lead the palette, with splashes of springtime green and turquoise. Velvet couches, glass and crystal chandeliers, coffered ceilings, patterned marble tiles, and original paintings and murals create interest and a timelessness that’s rare to find in new buildings. This level of posh and polish takes time, and Charleston hotelier and restaurateur Michael Bennett spent more than two decades (and a dollar total not shared) to purchase the site, plan, and develop the luxury downtown lodging.

The high-styled surroundings offer a happy excuse to dress up. Pop in for bubbles or a pot of tea at Camellias, the oval-shaped, jewel box of a champagne bar (its design is a nod to a Fabergé egg). The ninth-floor Fiat Lux bar, with its open-air poolside patios, serves up cocktails with elevated views across East Side rooftops toward the Ravenel Bridge. And don’t miss the lovely Gabrielle restaurant, with banquettes inside and terrace seating that spills into the park like a Parisian café.

Now in the full swing of welcoming guests, the hotel has added “King’s Club” stays, a top-tier experience that includes personal concierge service and access to an exclusive sixth-floor lounge with a help-yourself bar, various tasting platters from morning until night, and veranda views that are eye-level with the sky-piercing steeple of St. Matthew’s just down King Street.

Each guest room is its own retreat, with tall windows (some suites open to private terraces), built-in bookshelves with local authors’ titles (a nod to the site’s library history), and bedding fit for royalty. In the morning, follow the aroma of croissants baking to the white-tiled La Pâtisserie, the in-house café where Lyon-born pastry chef Remy Funfrock and his team create artisanal breads, macarons in more than 10 flavors, and the signature strawberry-lemon Camellias Cake.

Destination: Hotel Bennett has 179 guest rooms and suites, many with King Street and Marion Square views; rooftop pool, a full-service spa, four restaurants; upgrades to King’s Club access available. Rates from $320 per night. 404 King St.

In the neighborhood: The green expanse of Marion Square is steps away, as is the Charleston Museum (360 Meeting St.), Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston (161 Calhoun St.), and Aiken-Rhett House Museum (48 Elizabeth St.). Follow King Street sidewalks to the many shops, restaurants, and bars that line the busy district.

Afternoon: Check-in early and start relaxing with a massage, body treatment, aromatherapy, or pedicure at The Spa at Hotel Bennett. Or reserve a table for afternoon tea at Camellias.

Evening: Sundown cocktails at Fiat Lux on the ninth floor. Dinner inside or on the terrace at Gabrielle, led by chef Michael Sichel, formerly of Galatoire’s in New Orleans. And if it’s a Thursday, galleries at the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art are open late during exhibits.

Morning: Take an early walk to the Cistern Yard at the College of Charleston (66 George St.) or to the garden paths of Wragg Square (342 Meeting St.). La Pâtisserie is open with fresh croissants and coffee by 7 a.m. And on Saturdays in season, the vegetables, flowers, and artisanal goods at the Charleston Farmers Market are just beyond the hotel terrace at Marion Square.

Middleton Place has its seasonal draws: spring’s burst of azaleas, summer picnics beneath live oaks, autumn’s baying foxhounds and horse-mounted pageantry, and winter’s heady show of camellias. But most of us forget that Middleton is ready to host any time of year. A discrete walking path leads from the famous terraced “Butterfly Lakes” to a secluded enclave of luxury accommodations lining the Ashley River. Although technically just 15 miles northwest of Charleston, in spirit you’ll feel worlds away.

Architect W. G. Clark designed the Inn at Middleton Place more than 30 years ago with the intent of letting nature engulf the modern, minimalist structures—and nature obliged. Lush vines enshroud each entry. River-facing rooms boast floor-to-ceiling windows. You can draw the custom cypress shutters closed for privacy, or fling them open for a tree-house effect, particularly if you’ve reserved a second-floor room elevated among the piney heights.

Rooms are spacious, some absurdly so, but that’s part of the charm. In colder weather, huddle on your couch in front of a blazing wood fire, then retreat into your marble-tiled bathroom to slip into an immense tub that’s three times as wide as it is tall. In warmer weather, you’ll want to lounge by the pool on the river. But no matter the season, you’ve got access to river kayaks, hammocks strung tree to tree, bikes, stable yards and horse trails, croquet lawns, and a rustic lodge with beverages as well as cozy nooks for chess.

A stay at the inn grants you unfettered access to Middleton’s historic garden grounds, a perk which feels particularly magical before and after the daily tourist fray. For example, prior to indulging in your ample buffet breakfast at the on-site Lakehouse, you might take a stroll to spy sheep grazing on the Great Lawn or alligators ambling to their favorite early morning sunning spots. Perhaps you’ll time your visit with Middleton’s Wednesday evening wine tastings, with multiple sipping stations scattered strategically among the gardens. Whenever you come, one thing’s for certain: a plush and downy bed will promise you one of the finest sleeps of your life.

Destination: Inn at Middleton Place has 55 guest rooms and suites with wood-burning fireplaces, plus an outdoor pool; kayak and bicycle rentals; horseback riding; breakfast in The Lakehouse, Riverfront Lodge with drinks, movies, lawn and board games; and admission to Middleton Place Gardens, House Museum, and Stableyards. Rates from $219/night. 4290 Ashley River Rd., West Ashley

History Lessons: Though now a garden and getaway destination, Middleton Place was once a working plantation with seven generations of enslaved African Americans. Learn about the site’s essential past, which is carefully preserved in the “Beyond the Fields” beyond-the-fields/ program and tour.

Continuing Education: Visit the neighboring plantations, Drayton Hall and Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, where historians are constantly at work to interpret this chapter of Charleston’s past.

Dine In: Don’t miss dinner at the esteemed Restaurant at Middleton Place overlooking Mill Pond, or have them deliver to your room. This is Lowcountry dining at its finest (nothing touristy about it), with supreme renditions of classics like she-crab soup, fried quail, shrimp and grits, and so much more, sourcing locally and from Middleton’s on-site organic garden.

Dog Days: Bring your pet, if you like (up to 75 pounds). With miles and miles of walking trails, this is doggie bliss. Keep your eye on the water’s edge, though (ahem, alligators).