Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Featured Vacation Rentals

66 DAVIS LOVE , FRIPP Island on Marsh, S...

As soon as you open the front door you know you are in for a special time with memories that will last a lifetime. The marsh view alone is breath taking with the ever changing tides and then add the most striking sunsets you will find any where, you...

  • Fripp Island
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12
Cozy Studio Retreat. Pets are allowed

GREAT LOCATION! Located in the heart of Beaufort. Simple access to our ever-developing Shopping District w/ full access to various Eateries & Shopping Centers; Cross Creek (3 min), Walmart (3 min), Beaufort Plaza (7 min), Midtown Village (7 min), ...

  • Beaufort
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 2
Rose Suite, Apartment 2, at Magnolia Cou...

A ground floor apartment. The living room includes a couch, and two upholstered chairs, coffee table and end tables, and TV. This is joined to the open kitchen by a breakfast bar with granite counter top. There is also a table with two stools...

  • Beaufort
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 2
Marsh View Treehouse Retreat on Fripp Is...

Escape to this relaxing treehouse getaway on handsome Fripp Island, where relaxation comes naturally. Located among the trees with striking marsh vistas, this comfortable hideaway offers the ideal setting to relax and recharge. Spend your days...

  • Fripp Island
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
Three Bedrooms - Zoggy's Retreat!

Zoggy's Retreat…Make this three (3) bedroom/two and a half bath (2.5) home your home away from home on handsome Fripp Island. Take in vistas of the golf course and the Atlantic Ocean from the front porch. Sleeps 10.This home is located on...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
Resort Access Included! Pet Friendly wit...

507 Sunsuite sits in the heart of Fripp Island Resort. Located on the first floor, this unit is steps out upon the Olympic Pool. Island Bites, The Beach Club, and Racquet Club are a short walk away and so is the beach. This unit offers a comfortable...

  • Fripp Island
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4

Beaufort Tours & Activities

SC Pimento Cheese Festival - Tasting Ticket

meeting_point: Saluda Shoals- 6071 St Andrews Road, Columbia, SC 29212 description: A festival to showcase South Carolina's Favorite snack, Pimento Cheese Rates General Admission is Free and $5 Parking Fee per car at Gate Tasting Tickets are...

Archery Tag

Jeffery Archery

Book online
$225.00 - $375.00

duration: 1 or 2 Hour Parties description: Experience the thrill of dodgeball combined with archery in our action-packed Archery Tag events. Using lightweight bows, foam-tipped arrows, and inflatable bunkers, players compete in fast-paced team games...

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...

Beaufort River Tour (90 Min)

Beaufort Dolphin Adventures

Book online
$268.87 - $471.70

duration: 90 Minutes cancellation_summary: Customers will receive a full refund with 24 hours notice of cancellation or if we have to cancel due to weather meeting_point: 1 Port Royal Landing Dr, Port Royal, SC 29935 group_size: Up to 14...

Beaufort Tipsy Tour

Beaufort Gray Line

Book online
$55.00

description: Duration 2.5 hours Beaufort’s tour scene is about to get a whole lot better with Kelly Tours new Tipsy Tour! Beaufort’s “Tipsy Tour” is a brand-new tour specifically designed for adults! Enter this exciting experience...

Turtle Week: Beach Clean-Up

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

duration: 9am-7pm meeting_point: Nature Center max_age: 99 description: Join us for a Turtle Week Beach Cleanup on June 14th, 9am–5pm! Free for everyone—donations welcome. Meet at the Fripp Nature Center to pick up materials and return collected...

Beaufort Lands End Paddling

Book online
$20.00 - $60.00

duration: 1.5-2 hours meeting_point: White Hall Boat Landing - Factory Creek, Sea Island Pkwy & Meridian Rd, Beaufort SC 29907 description: Experience the heart of the Lowcountry from the water on our guided paddle through Downtown Beaufort that...

Paddle Board Lesson

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$75.00

min_age: 12 description: Learn to paddle board out on our salt marsh, this fun sport lets you explore the marsh from a new vantage point, and get a bit of exercise while you are at it. Your guide will help you learn balance confidence, reading water...

Fishing Rod

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$20.00 - $75.00

5 Hour Private Charter

Tallboy Fishing Charters

Book online
$850.00

description: Hop aboard Tallboy Fishing Charters with a local Expert! ___________________________________ Rates **Private Charter:** $850 *Up to 6 Passengers* ___________________________________ About the Captain Make memories fishing with...

Wildlife Refuge Birding & Nature Tour

Beaufort Photography Tours

Book online
$249.00 - $499.00

description: LET'S GET WILD WITH A BIRDING AND NATURE TOUR! Options - **Semi-Private Tour**: Includes one non-shooting guest at no additional charge - **Private Tour**: (1 -4 Guests) About COME AND EXPLORE THE WILD SIDE OF BEAUFORT...

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...

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