If you’re like me, you have a few of what I call comfort travel spots—places where you can return again and again with relative ease, knowing that you’ll have a good time and that you have a sense of what you’re getting yourself into. 

For me, Charleston, South Carolina, is one of those spots: I can drive there, there are places within my budget to stay, there’s plenty to do, and I can walk into most restaurants knowing the food is going to be great. 

Considering a trip to Charleston is practically always looming somewhere in the distance of my calendar (whether planned months in advance or somewhat spontaneously), I figured it’d be a good time to put some new options for lodging, entertaining and eating on my radar—so I turned to Only In Your State’s award-winning Dashboard AI planner, which takes details about your trip (like when you’re going and what you like to do) to come up with a custom itinerary, chock-full of recommendations that Only In Your State writers love. Here’s what it came up with for Charleston. 

Location-wise, you can’t go wrong with any of the Dashboard’s three hotel recs. All located in the heart of downtown Charleston, any of them would be a great home base for exploring the city. On the slightly more budget-friendly end of the spectrum, there’s the historic Francis Marion Hotel, where, if you go at the right time, you can get a truly luxurious room for just over $200 a night. 

If you (and your wallet) are game for more of a splurge, the Dashboard recommends Hotel Bennett (one of our writers called their champagne bar “a girls’ night out dream”) or The Charleston Place Hotel (rooftop pool, anyone?).

Of all the Dashboard’s activity recommendations, I’m most excited about taking a sunset wine cruise aboard the Schooner Pride, which also offers lunch, brunch, and full moon sails, as well as one aimed at spotting dolphins. And while I’ve checked out Charleston City Market during the day before, the Dashboard suggests making a return trip to check out the Night Market, which happens Friday and Saturday nights, March through December. 

The Dashboard’s other idea would take me just outside of Charleston, to nearby Mount Pleasant, to walk along the marshes and maybe catch dinner at one of my favorite restaurants in the greater Charleston area, NICO. 

All of the Dashboard’s Charleston dining recommendations are places I’ve already been—which I take as a good sign, since I can’t recall ever having a bad (or even sub-par) meal in that city. For a nice dinner or brunch, it suggests the Darling Oyster Bar, one of Charleston’s most popular upscale spots, and for good reason. (Get their Bloody Mary—trust me.) 

Charleston is not lacking in fantastic breakfast options, and the Dashboard served up two of my favorites: Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit, where you can get what may be the best biscuit you’ve ever had, and Millers All Day, which, as the name implies, dishes out delicious breakfast food (and more) all day. 

I wouldn’t have minded getting a new-to-me restaurant recommendation from the Dashboard, but I can’t fault it for suggesting three food spots that I already love. And while an Airbnb option would have been nice for lodging, I’m not mad about the three excellent and primely located hotels it has me choosing between. Overall, I’ll give this itinerary a solid A-. 

Traveling somewhere new—or familiar—soon? Give the Dashboard a turn at planning your trip, and let us know how it goes.