Sophisticated independent inns

Set on King Street in downtown Charleston, the Francis Marion is a full-service hotel with a polished, old-city sensibility — Google's own editors call it "sophisticated." A spa and exercise room handle the restorative side of a trip, while the in-house restaurant keeps dinner close with Southern cooking. With a 4.3 rating across more than 2,500 reviews, it's a well-traveled address rather than a hidden one.