Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Featured Vacation Rentals

Beaufort Old Point Artist Suite

Appreciate a stay in Beaufort's esteemed historic Old Point neighborhood in a striking antebellum home. This guest suite is being hosted by the sons of two artists who founded an art gallery at this location in 1992. All of the artwork in the...

  • Beaufort
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 2
458 Tarpon Blvd

Summary:458 Tarpon Blvd -Resort Access and Golf Cart Supplied!The Space:When you think of a beach home, you think of 458 Tarpon! This beauty is oceanfront, with enormous windows to capture the charming sun dancing off the ocean as it hits the...

  • Fripp Island
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 14
Walk to Bay Street and Historic Downtown...

Handsome downtown bungalow within walking distance to Historic Downtown Beaufort, Bay St, waterfront and marina. This comfortable bungalow has just undergone a full and complete remodel! Absolutely striking in every regard, you will adore that this...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Rustic Beaufort Home w/ Stunning Marsh V...

Take in expansive vistas of South Carolina's beautiful marsh from the comfort of your own private patio when you stay at this 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom vacation rental. Centrally located just 6 miles from downtown Beaufort, this appealing bungalow is...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
Landing | Beautiful 2BD, Gym

Welcome to Zephyr in Port Royal, SC! Ideal for monthly or extended stays, our completely-furnished apartments feature full kitchens, in-unit laundry, fast WiFi, classy furnishings, and a dedicated workspace. Please note: The community pool is...

  • Port Royal
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
Private 3 Bedroom Condo Beaufort South C...

Top floor Condo overlooking a calming and natural marsh. Such beauty and privacy for in town living. Minutes and Simple Access to Everything Beaufort! Great Parking, Elevator. Appreciate the Low Country!!

  • Beaufort
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 5

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Summer Camps

Camelot Farms Equestrian Center

Book online
$650.00

duration: 6 Hour Camp Days meeting_point: 101 Tom and Mike Road Saint Helena Island, SC 29920 min_age: 5 group_size: 8 participants description: Have your young rider join us at Camelot Farms for a 4-day camp experience! Our camps are available to...

Habersham for the Holidays (NOT LOCATED DOWNTOWN)
Book online
$15.00 - $325.00

meeting_point: Habersham, SC description: Duration Approx 20 Mins Rates Adult ( 13 yrs & over ): $25.00 Child ( For ages 4 to 12 ) : $15.00 Lap Child : Free Full Carriage ( Up to 12 people ) : $325.00 About EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF THE...

Tuesday Camp Fripp-Game On

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$57.00 - $65.00

duration: 3 hours meeting_point: Creekhouse min_age: 3 max_age: 12 description: Join us for an exciting Sports Camp filled with fast-paced games, friendly competition, and plenty of outdoor fun! Campers will try a variety of sports, learn new...

Start Your Day Right
Book online
$40.00 - $325.00

duration: 1.5 hours meeting_point: 1 Port Royal Landing Dr, Port Royal, SC 29935 group_size: 6 Passenger maximum description: There’s no better way to greet the day as the sun warms the water and sparkles in the morning light. This relaxing cruise...

Family Feud at the Beach Club Stage

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$12.00

duration: 1 hour meeting_point: Beach Club min_age: 3 description: Get ready for a fun-filled game of Family Feud! Gather your team and go head-to-head in this exciting, fast-paced trivia challenge based on the classic game show. Answer survey-style...

Expressionism - The Neutrals

The Arts Port Royal

Book online
$85.00

duration: 3 hours description: Expressionism - Using Neutrals for Powerful Creations Many great expressionists used limited palettes in neutral colors often shades of black and white. It helped putting the focus on composition and values to...

Otter Island Sailing Adventure

Otter Sailing Adventures LLC

Book online
$700.00

description: An all day private sailing adventure! Duration 8 hours About An all day private sailing adventure with an incredible destination, the remote and uninhabited Otter Island with miles of beach that you often have all to...

OUTPOST PHOTO ACADEMY

Guy Harvey Outpost

Book online
$75.00 - $350.00

meeting_point: Beaufort, SC description: Join us for a special Outpost Photo Academy hosted by professional photographers Mark Krancer. Capture the beauty of historic Beaufort, SC and all its southern charm all while becoming a better...

Guide's Choice Half Day Outing

Beaufort Photography Tours

Book online
$249.00 - $499.00

description: YOU PICK THE DAY, WE'LL PICK THE LOCATIONS! Options - **Semi-Private Tour**: Includes one non-shooting guest at no additional charge) - **Private Tour**: (1 -4 Guests) About READY FOR AN ADVENUTRE? THROW DOWN THE WILD CARD! If...

Cornhole Tournament at Adult Pool

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$12.00

duration: 1 hour meeting_point: Adult Pool min_age: 21 description: Ready, set, toss! Grab a partner and test your tossing skills in a fun and friendly game of cornhole! Whether you are a seasoned pro or a first-timer, this classic game is prefect...

3 Hour Hilton Head Island Lunch Trip

Tallboy Fishing Charters

Book online
$600.00

meeting_point: Beaufort, SC description: Travel by boat to beautiful Hilton Head Island for lunch at one of three excellent restaurants. See the Town of Port Royal, Paris Island, and Port Royal Sound along the way as well as Dolphins, Sea Turtles...

Birds of the Low Country-Watercolor Class

duration: 3 hours cancellation_summary: Full refund for cancellations 24 hours or more before class. Day of class, a gift certificate refund, and no shows, no refund. min_age: 14 group_size: 9 accessibility: Second Floor description: Low Country...

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