Charleston, SC

Charleston is beautiful in the summer, but it is hot hot hot! I would suggest staying in Charleston and using that as your "home base". Definitely make sure you take the "carriage" tour of the city's architecture and history. It is a really interesting and pretty way to spend a morning! Lots of great seafood and it's a pretty easy drive to other locations.

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I took my then 5 year old Daughter in Sept of 2009, we stayed in Kiawah. it is gorgeous, many things to do. you could take a day trip to Charleston to do your shopping and sightseeing.
We had a villa right on the water it was fabulous, plus a swimming pool, we are planning to go again this sept only later in the month because it was soo hot when we went. I can only imagine how hot it will be in august, good luck with the heat and humidity.
V.

You are going to be really hot and sweaty -usually 95-100% humidity in August! Stay near the water in Charleston, and if you want to visit any other areas, take a day or 1/2 day trip out to them. Have fun!

Go on a harbor boat ride (I think they technically call them cruises, I can ask my best friend if you PM me on some info)... Go to pineapple park (I think it is actually named Wannamaker or something?, you can see sumter from there and the cooper river bridge) It has a big pineapple that is a water fountain, has rows and rows of those porch bench swings and a big grass area. I'd go to Fort Sumter... go to the slave market (I think it's called the swap meet now b/c of some offended tourists), if you go to the beach I would go to Isle of Palms.. it's nicer than Folly Beach. I grew up in Charleston and loved it. As a child I liked to climb all over the cannons downtown, great photo ops. There are some cute stores down there too. It is hot but if your not outside ALL day or have A/C in the car you should be good... or play in the water or go eat or something... but maybe I was used to it, growing up there lol. I would stay in Charleston, just research different places to stay... night time can get sketchy in some parts. Sullivan Island is a cute place to stay or you can look for a place in West Ashley... it's not that far away. Anywhere you stay I'd research reviews and such because anywhere around Charleston is hit and miss... just be careful not to wander around real late at night. There's a big hotel (I want to say holiday inn) that comes right off 26 that looked really nice every time I passed by or maybe you can find a historic bed and breakfast downtown. I would definitely go on a horse ride, just to do it :)

If you've never been to Sticky Fingers, GOOOOO! They have awesome ribs... I like their Bbq myself, not so much dry rub or whiskey one. I went to the one in North Charleston by Northwoods Mall and it was awesome (it's about 30 minutes away from downtown Charleston).

Kiwah Island is gorgeous! I would stay there and then do a day trip or two into Charleston. Kiawah has great beaches, spas restaurants. I'm not sure how much you want to spend but when we were there last summer we went to the spa here and had dinner one night http://www.kiawahresort.com/accommodations/the-sanctuary/

You could also look at vrbo and look into renting a condo. The only thing I will say is things get pretty booked up in the summer so you probably want book something soon.

Have fun!