Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Vacation Rental

Featured Vacation Rentals

Port Of The Royal - 2 Minutes from Parri...

Welcome to “Port Of The Royal” This Newley remodeled 4BR 2BA home is in the heart of Port Royal and is centrally located. Only 2 Miles to Parris Island. The home is walking distance to delicious eateries, retail stores, the Cypress...

  • Port Royal
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
620 Dolphin Road

Summary:Striking Fripp Island Home - Great location - Resort Access and Golf Cart Included!The Space:Welcome to 620 Dolphin Road, mere moments away from the closest beach access! This unique inverted floor plan is tailor-made for your family's...

  • Fripp Island
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12
Ground Floor Ocean Front 2 Bedroom Villa...

The ideal ocean front location!  413 Captain John Fripp Villa. And starting on April 1,2024 a gas powered golf cart supplied by Beaufort Carts is supplied with rental."Surfside Villa" is true oceanfront and just steps from the island's best beach...

  • Fripp Island
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 5
Waterfront Farm- 1.5 Miles from Downtown...

Tidal Creek Farm offers enchanting expansive and sunset vistas in sought after Pigeon Point. Our cavernous and freshly modernized 1930 farm home comes with brand new amenities in each room, original architectural pieces decorated throughout to...

  • Beaufort
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Full Game Room, Pet Friendly, Golf Cart ...

Escape to Heaven on Fripp Island: Discover the tranquility and natural beauty of Fripp Island in our impressive Song of the Sea vacation rental, a haven designed for relaxation and memorable family memories. Located in the beautiful Sawgrass Bluff...

  • Fripp Island
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 14
726 Seahorse Road

Summary:726 Seahorse Road - Charming 5 Bedroom 4.5 Bath with Beach View! Giant Deck and Resort Access Supplied!The Space:726 Seahorse is a second-row, ocean-view home with 5 bedrooms and 4.5 baths. This home has two master bedrooms, both with...

  • Fripp Island
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 14

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Private: Oldfield Ladies Only Clinic

Sporting Clay Xperiences

Book online
$225.00

description: Sporting Clays day for just you ladies! Duration 3 Hours About This clinic is designed specifically for lady shooters who love Sporting Clays or want to get into the sport. This is a private clinic for Oldfield residents only...

Beach Day Chair Rentals

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$15.00 - $65.00

duration: 6 hours cancellation_summary: 48- hour in advanced meeting_point: beach access 15 (Beach Club boardwalk) min_age: 18 description: The Beach Hut is located at the end of the Beach Access boardwalk at the Beach Club, between Access 15 and ...

Gaga Ball Tournament at Beach Club Walk-up ONLY

meeting_point: Beach Club min_age: 4 description: Step into the Gaga pit and get ready for an action-packed tournament full of fast-paced fun! Gaga ball is a high-energy, dodgeball style game that is perfect for players of all ages! It’s quick...

Learn to Sail Adventure

Otter Sailing Adventures LLC

Book online
$600.00

duration: 3.5 hours or more group_size: maximum of 6 description: Duration 3.5 hours About Experience the thrill of learning to sail on our Catalina 275 Sport, the perfect boat for learning keel boat sailing for the first time or honing your...

Wait List for Shibumi©

Edisto Bike and Golf Cart Rental

description: Wait list for 3 Day or Week Long Electric Cart Rentals

Group Farm Tour

Lady's Island Oyster Inc.

Book online
$50.00

duration: 1 to 1.5 Hours group_size: 4 to 20 people description: View the Hatchery (where the oysters are born) - learn the delicate process of how we spawn and grow our oysters from seed, and the first few weeks of an oysters life. View the...

4 Hour Private Charter

Tallboy Fishing Charters

Book online
$700.00

description: Hop aboard Tallboy Fishing Charters with a local Expert! ___________________________________ Rates **Private Charter:** $700 *Up to 6 Passengers* ___________________________________ About the Captain Make memories fishing with...

Private Marsh Kayak Tour

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$100.00

duration: 1-3 hours cancellation_summary: No refunds if cancelled within 24 hours of excursion meeting_point: Paddle Shack min_age: 8 max_age: 99 group_size: Maximum 8 people description: Share a tandem kayak with a buddy or paddle yourself in a...

Shibumi© Shade Rental

Edisto Bike and Golf Cart Rental

Book online
$25.00 - $125.00

description: The newest must have for the beach!! Super light weight and easy to set up! All you need is a calm ocean breeze to create 100sq ft of perfect shade!! Super light weight and easy to set up! All you need is a calm ocean breeze to...

Stepping Stones & Mosaic Coasters at Creekhouse

duration: 1 hour meeting_point: Creekhouse min_age: 3 description: Unleash your creativity in this hands-on workshop where you'll design and craft your own beautiful stepping stones and mosaic coasters! Whether you are looking to add a personal...

Color Beyond the Wheel - Advanced

The Arts Port Royal

Book online
$75.00

duration: 3 description: Color Beyond the Wheel Color is one of the most powerful tools in a painter's hands. This advanced class takes you far beyond the standard color wheel and into the rich, nuanced world of color as your unique language. ...

Bentley Switch

Santee Boat Rentals

Book online
$350.00 - $500.00

meeting_point: 401 Bass Dr. Santee, SC, 29142 description: Enjoy a day on the water on the Bentley Switchback! Duration Full Day - 8 Hours Half Day - 4 Hours About It’s a 22 foot Tritoon with a 140Hp Suzuki outboard on the back. This...

Beaufort, SC

Beaufort is a historic waterfront town in South Carolina's Lowcountry, known for its antebellum architecture, moss-draped oaks, and scenic coastal views.

Founded in 1711, Beaufort is the second-oldest city in South Carolina and offers a rich blend of Southern charm and history. Visitors can stroll the walkable downtown, explore art galleries and boutiques, or take a horse-drawn carriage tour through the historic district. The nearby Sea Islands - including Hunting Island, Fripp Island, and Harbor Island - offer beautiful beaches, nature trails, and wildlife viewing, while the town itself is a favorite for boating, kayaking, and enjoying fresh local seafood.

Beaufort features a variety of lodging options, including historic inns, charming bed and breakfasts, and vacation rentals with waterfront views. The area is ideal for those looking to relax and take in the culture, history, and natural beauty of the South Carolina coast. Whether you're exploring Gullah heritage, visiting the lighthouse at Hunting Island State Park, or simply enjoying a quiet evening along the river, Beaufort offers a peaceful and unforgettable Lowcountry getaway.

Beaufort is, at its heart, a small southern town with a big population, that's chock-full of historical sites, a thriving arts scene, and plentiful attractions, which are readily available for curious newcomers to explore. Smaller than its' northern South Carolina neighbor Charleston, Beaufort nonetheless has a far-reaching reputation as one of the most historically relevant and undeniably charming towns along the eastern coastline.

Beaufort SC Waterfront Park

Named by Southern Living Magazine as the "Best Small Southern Town," and featured by both American Style Magazine and the New York Times in recent praising articles, the secret about Beaufort's appeal is clearly out, but visitors can still enjoy miles of quiet waterfront, cool art scenes, or happening downtown streets at their leisure, during any time of the year. An easy day trip that combines the best of the legendary Coastal Carolinas and the modern southern scene, Beaufort, SC clearly deserves its glowing designation as one of the best big little towns in the Lowcountry.

Beaufort SC

The town of Beaufort was originally founded in 1711, as an integral part of the southernmost colony that originated with early English explorations and settlements. The initial growth of the town, (or rather the colony), was quite slow at first as the region was subject to a number of Native American attacks and threats by competing European settlers, (namely, the Spanish explorers.) After these initial growing pains, however, the city of Beaufort flourished as a shipbuilding center, die in no small part to its easy proximity to the Beaufort River, and later as an elite locale for local Lowcountry planters, who thrived in the booming Indigo and rice industries.

Beaufort SC

This affluent lifestyle would change significantly during the Civil War, when Beaufort was quickly seized and occupied after the Battle of Port Royal, one of the earliest battles of the war, which took place on November 7th, 1861. As a result of this early occupation, Beaufort attracted a large number of escaped slaves during the war, and a local Freedmen's Bureau worked with these new residents well into the Reconstruction period to provide an education and an overall preparation for full independence in the years to come.

Beaufort SC

After the war, the rich plantation era ended, but Beaufort slowly regained notoriety as a phosphate mining center. With the new mining industry, the town was slowly coming back to life until an 1893 hurricane brought the region to its knees, causing massive devastation that took Beaufort a full half-century to recover from. It wasn't until the second half of the 20th century, in fact, that visitors began to trickle into the area, and locals realized their town's inherent potential as a viable tourism destination. Today, the city is thriving with an eclectic mix of modern restaurants and galleries coupled with historic graveyards and historic sites, and visitors have ample room and centuries to explore. From the initial colonization to recent revitalization projects along key portions of the historic downtown, Beaufort, after a long recovery, is clearly a city on the rise.

Beaufort SC

The bulk of the city itself is situated on Port Royal Island, an interior island that features several local towns, (including the town of Port Royal), and which is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by St. Helena Island, Parris Island, and Hunting Island and the Hunting Island State Park. Despite these island borders, the city is essentially surrounded by water, primarily via the wide Beaufort River, which cuts through this mainland region and connects with the neighboring Atlantic Ocean. At a whopping 33.6 square miles in area, (including 6 square miles of water), the population of 12,300 residents or so in Beaufort almost seems somewhat small. In fact, the outlaying portions of the city are relatively quiet, while the downtown area has most of the action with plenty of sites and attractions for locals and visitors alike to enjoy.

Local outdoor attractions like the Beaufort National Cemetery, the Spanish Moss Trail and the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park will keep visitors smiling at the prospect of staying outdoors and enjoying the scene, while local historical attractions like the John Mark Verdier House Museum, the James Robert Verdier House, the Thomas Hepworth House, and the St. Helena's Episcopal Church add a touch of Beaufort's legacy and long history to the surroundings.

Beaufort SC

Cultural outposts, including a world of art galleries, local theater groups and the USCB Center for the Arts, keep visitors and locals alike thoroughly entertained with one of the most acclaimed arts scenes in the region, while shoppers will find plenty of classic boutiques and treasured antique stores to go around.

Beaufort SC

The dining scene in Beaufort is equally exquisite, with more than 130 restaurants to explore within this Lowcountry area. Local waterfront cafes, barbecue joints, and even southern-style gastro pubs can be found side-by-side on some of the more populated city blocks, and visitors are encouraged to sample the local seafood, (especially the shrimp and blue crabs), for an authentic taste of this coastal town.

For accommodations, the lodgings of choice for most visitors are local hotels, motels, and B&Bs, and there are approximately 20 of these accommodation options within the city limits. With chic loft hotels and antebellum mansions converted into beautiful inns, potential visitors will find a wide variety of lush accommodations that are close to the local attractions, and fit in effortlessly with the laid-back southern atmosphere. There are also a handful of vacation rentals available as well, namely small cottages and townhomes, and travelers heading to the area by sea will find an ample number of marinas to dock for a night or two and enjoy a little inland exploring.

Easily one of the most peaceful and surprisingly varied southern destinations, Beaufort is rising to fame as one of the most accommodating and interesting communities along the East Coast. A small southern city with a big personality, Beaufort is sure to keep visitors entertained and smiling with its coastal atmosphere, gorgeous landscapes, local sights, and general warm southern nature that makes out-of-town guests feel welcome and essentially right at home.

Beaufort Vacation Guides