I wrote about it extensively for Trip101.com in an article you can see here, but I want to continue enticing you to stay at John Rutledge House Inn the next time you visit Charleston.  It is quite possibly the most luxurious place we’ve ever stayed.  It at least ranks in the Top Five.  The rooms are large with wonderful, sleep-inducing beds and modern bathrooms. So, don’t worry about that when you hear that this was originally the home of John Rutledge who was a signer of the Constitution and one of the first five Supreme Court Justices appointed by George Washington.  Yes, Rutledge’s former home has been standing for over two centuries, but the present owners have spared no expense to provide exquisite accommodations for their guests.  Read more about the inn’s history here.

Front exterior of John Rutledge House Inn.

Large guest room inside the mansion.

The completely modern bathroom.

Breakfast is full of options, as you will read in my article.  Time, place and menu can all be selected before sliding into bed and turning off the light the night before.  Both the second floor ballroom and the outdoor courtyard are extra-special places to start your day, in my opinion.

Courtyard for breakfast when the weather is nice.

The ballroom where afternoon tea takes place, and it is a location choice for breakfast.

A few of the breakfast choices available every morning.

A lovely afternoon tea is laid out in the ballroom everyday and can be enjoyed right after you check in.  Since Charleston is often warm and sultry, iced tea and lemonade is served most of the time, rather than hot tea.  And both sweets and savories are available.  These are gourmet treats.  Not cookies and crackers out of a box, I assure you.  The added pampering of a nightly turn-down service with a delicious chocolate on your bed is great way to end the day.

The inn sits on Broad Street, and its parking lot backs up to King Street — THE premier location in Charleston for blocks and blocks of great shops and restaurants. Charleston City Market and other significant historic buildings are within easy walking distance.  The neighborhood, with its ornate homes and churches, begs to be explored during a morning or afternoon stroll.

View of St. John the Baptist Cathedral from our guest room window.

Home in the neighborhood near John Rutledge House.

Home in the neighborhood of John Rutledge House.

Home near John Rutledge House.

There are a couple of handicapped-accessible rooms in the Ashley Carriage House between the courtyard and the parking lot, but there are no elevators in any of the buildings, so be aware of that before you arrive. That truly is the only thing that might be considered lacking, but when you remember the inn’s historical significance, it is completely understandable and forgivable.  Try this inn.  It’s wonderful.