Hotel: The Mills House, Charleston, S.C.

Address: 115 Meeting Street

Website: www.millshouse.com

TraveLife Ranking: 4 Stars

Rooms: 214

Room Rates: $150+

Awards: Conde Nast Traveler “Gold List of the World’s Best Hotels”; Frommer’s Charleston Guide “Best Historic Hotel.”

Highlights: Walking into the Mills House’s ancient lobby is like walking back in time - to when ladies in long, hoop skirts would expect men to bow at the waist when they entered a room. This is the Ole South preserved with love and appreciation for what the original owner set out to do – give Charleston a hotel it could be proud of. The Mills House – and yes, it feels more like a grand old house than a hotel – is located in the heart of Charleston’s historic district and allows guests to wander the city’s handsome streets without ever losing sight of the property. The parlors and public rooms look like they are frozen in time and in some hallways, the original oil lanterns still flicker in the darkness of night. This is one of the most charming and remarkable hotels Travelife has ever been invited to stay.

History: Otis Mills, the Astor of Charleston, built the Mills House in 1853 for the astronomical price of $200,000. Over the years the hotel has welcomed many important guests, none more so than Robert E. Lee, the Confederate General who stayed in the Mills House the night before Civil War between the states was declared. Lee later would play an important role in saving the hotel when Charleston came under attack by Union Forces, who tried to burn the city in 1860. The Mills House is also the first property in Charleston to feature electric lights. There’s a painting of Lee hanging in the entrance to the hotel.

Interior Highlights: In the 1960s, the interior of the Mills House was gutted and brought up to modern standards but its old southern charm was not lost in the reconstruction. The public areas are well appointed and offer many quiet nooks where you can romanticize about the past. The antic-laden parlours and hallways never fail the impress first-time visitors. The 17th and 18th century crystal chandeliers and some rare oil paintings are surrounded by lovely fresh flower arrangements scattered about the hotel. The handsome Signer’s ballroom is dedicated to Thomas Lynch, Thomas Heyward and Edward Rutledge, three of South Carolina’s signers of the Declaration of Independence.

In The Next Room: Besides the ghost of Robert E. Lee, there are a few other famous people who have called the Mills House their home while in Charleston, including former U.S. president Theodore Roosevelt. In recent times, celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward have stayed there as well as another former president, George Bush.

The Rooms: The antique theme flows into the bedrooms with demi-canopy beds, armoires, period furniture and custom fabrics and wall coverings adding to the rooms’ a distinct antebellum-era appearance. Turn down service and top quality bathroom amenities make this hotel a cut above others in the city but one drawback here is the cramped bathrooms – properties of this era did not put a premium on bathroom space.

Amenities: Being the old hotel it is, the Mills House does not have all those modern conveniences that others offer but then again, the newer properties can’t boast the wonderful history this hotel has. It does have an outdoor pool and Internet access, though.

Restaurants: The hotel’s Barbadoes Room Restaurant is a culinary wonderland where the highest expectations of diners are satisfied with regional dishes whose recipes date back to when the hotel first opened. The name Barbadoes Room harkens back to the time when ships docked in Charleston and unloaded cargo from Barbados. Note, the restaurant is spelt differently than the country. Breakfast and lunch are also served in the Barbadoes Room and the handsome courtyard outside is a favorite gathering spot in the cooler months. A pre-dinner drink can be enjoyed in the First Shot Bar, named for the “first shot” fired from nearby Fort Sumter that started the American Civil War. There’s also the Best Friend Bar where, you guessed it, best friends like to gather for a drink after work or before a theatrical performance.

Shopping: A few blocks from the hotel you’ll come across the city’s famed market and on street behind the Mills House is where designer shops from Europe and New York have opened up. Charleston’s renowned artist galleries surround the hotel and its fun just to browse these shops while on a visit here.

Close By All the historical wonders this most beautiful of American cities has to offer is within easy walking distance of the Mills House as is the trendy nightclubs and restaurants that have helped revitalize the city’s downtown core. The historic Hibernian Hall is located right next to the Mills House. Some of the best golf courses in the U.S., including the renowned Ocean Course on Kiawah Island, are also a short drive from the Mills House.

Tips: Make the Mills House a must stop when in Charleston – this is a hotel that makes you park your car for a few days and just wander one of the most fascinating cities in the world. A few blocks from the hotel you’ll come across elderly African American women weaving straw baskets on street corners – something the city’s women have been doing for decades. The baskets are relics from the past and make great gifts – but they don’t come cheap. Handmade items of this quality rarely do. For something different, eat at the Tsunami Japanese restaurant, right next to the old market. This is a favourite spot for young residents of Charleston to gather.