THE SANCTUARY HOTEL

Where • Kiawah Island, S.C.

More info • 1-800-576-1570 or kiawahresort.com

I can see how Kiawah Island would be heaven for tennis players and golfers — it's slated to host the 2012 PGA Championship in August — but anyone who likes the outdoors will love this Forbes five-star hotel. Along with 255 rooms and suites, the Sanctuary has four restaurants, a spa and two outdoor pools. The hotel, which resembles an enormous Southern mansion, is on seven miles of beach, and the island is crisscrossed with paths for walkers, runners and bicyclists. Free Wi-Fi is available, and free coffee is served each morning just off the lobby.

The setup • If you fly into Charleston, rent a car at the airport. The hotel is a 40-minute trip from town, making the price of a taxi or shuttle prohibitive. Along the way you'll drive through a stand of massive live oaks, their branches forming a canopy over the road. I started my visit to Charleston with two nights at the Sanctuary. Activities offered during my stay included a naturalist-led gator walk ($12 for 90 minutes), a family kayaking excursion through the island's tidal creeks ($50 for two hours) and an adult twilight kayak paddle ($50 for two hours). I hopped on a rental bike one morning and rode 8 miles on the beach in search of dolphins, which usually gather in an inlet to feed at high tide. The dolphins had gone elsewhere that day or I had somehow missed them, but the ride still was a great way to start the day.

The room • My room had a king-size bed with sumptuous white feather comforter, a sitting area, a small balcony overlooking the swimming pools and the beach and a small bar area with a sink. The spacious bathroom had a deep tub, a separate shower with an overhead shower head and hand-held sprayer, twin sinks and a full range of Elemis bath products, including a terry bath mitt.

How much • Prices for a weekend in early December start at $290 a night.

MILLS HOUSE HOTEL

Where • 115 Meeting Street, Charleston

More info • 1-843-577-2400 or millshouse.com

Charlestonians watched the shelling of Fort Sumter from the Mills House's roof at the start of the Civil War. The roof is now off-limits to visitors, but the view from our seventh-floor window was fabulous. We could see the Cooper River, the spire of one of the city's oldest churches and an array of roofs of many styles and colors. The location is excellent, in the middle of the peninsula and within walking distance of the city's attractions.

The setup • This historic hotel was built in 1853 and restored in 2008. It is owned by Holiday Inn, although we noticed no sign of the corporate ownership during our visit. The lobby and public areas are lovely, especially the garden, where we enjoyed a glass of wine one night. The restaurant and bar are open throughout the day. An outdoor pool beckons in nice weather. Free Wi-Fi is provided, although the signal in the lobby and business center was unreliable.

The room • Our room had two full-size beds, a desk and armoire, coffee machine and a tiny bathroom with a hook on the door but no towel racks. Toiletries were from Bath and Body Shop. The room was just this side of shabby, with an obvious repair job in the middle of the carpet. The pipe connected to the bathroom sink crashed to the floor the morning we checked out, unleashing a cascade of dirty water. Fortunately, our bags were already packed and out of harm's way.

How much • Prices for a weekend in early December start at $161 a night.

DOUBLETREE BY HILTON

Where • 181 Church Street, Charleston

More info • 1-843-577-2644 or doubletree.hilton.com

I stayed here while attending a conference and enjoyed the spacious suite and location next to the Old Market. Good restaurants are nearby, and the peninsula's tourist attraction are within walking distance.

The setup • Many rooms and suites face an interior courtyard with tables where people socialize into the night — if you're a light sleeper, try to avoid the ground floor. Free Wi-Fi is provided, and free coffee is served in the lobby each morning. A restaurant just off the lobby did a booming business at breakfast and also served lunch. In the evening, a bartender serves up a limited menu of drinks.

The room • My suite included a spacious sitting room with a desk, plenty of seating, a flat-screen TV and a bar area with a small refrigerator, sink and coffee maker, along with a small dressing area, nice-size bedroom and tiny bathroom stocked with Crabtree and Evelyn toiletries.

How much • Prices for a weekend in early December start at $169 a night for a room, $179 for a suite.