Hidden in downtown Charleston is a hotel that feels like home. The boutique inn Zero George surrounds a central courtyard where guests can sit and enjoy their morning coffee or sip champagne while checking in. Each evening, the hotel has a complimentary wine and cheese happy hour and, in the mornings, a continental European breakfast for guests. Blue bicycles line the outside walls of the restored 19th Century building, and traditional furnishings give the interior a comfortable, yet sophisticated feel.

The best part, though, is Zero George’s cooking school, led by the restaurant’s Executive Chef, Vinson Petrillo, with guest appearances from local and celebrity chefs. Held in the 1804 Kitchen Carriage House, the intimate class demonstrates the making of a multi-course meal and wine pairings for the ultimate culinary (and Charleston) experience.