We always stay in the historic district, which is a little different from "downtown".... You can park your car and just walk everywhere. Just research the hotels online and find one that suits your needs....we like to stay where breakfast is included in the rate so we don't waste time finding food first thing in the morning!
. If this is your first visit to charleston, I would suggest taking the horse/buggy tour when you arrive....it's a great way to learn some local history and get a feel for the layout of the city- makes it easier to plan your days. Have fun! It's a gorgeous city, and lots of wonderful food! Oh, there are some quilt shops, but it don't remember any in historic charleston-I believe the town of Summer is nearby, and a cute little town to do some shopping for fabric...