Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Vacation Rental

Featured Vacation Rentals

49 Nautical Watch Way

New Listing | Harbor Vistas – Harbor Island, SC Find your calm at Harbor Vistas, a serene Lowcountry getaway tucked inside the gated community of Harbor Island. Surrounded by marsh vistas, coastal wildlife, and gentle ocean breezes, this...

  • Fripp Island
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
Feeling FrippSea - Marsh Views - 4 Bedro...

Feelin FrippSea is located on a peaceful section of the island and has broad vistas of the calming marsh and ever-changing tidal creek. Three of the bedrooms and living room in this 4 bed/3.5 bath home have marsh vistas, and with multiple decks, you...

  • Fripp Island
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
Peaceful Beaufort Single Story Ranch w/ ...

NO SMOKING ON PREMISESThe whole group will appreciate simple access to everything from this centrally located home. Giant fenced in backyard for outdoor entertainment, entirely outfitted kitchen, gas grille available! At 1,666 square feet, this...

  • Beaufort
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
FRIPPNOUT'RAGEOUS Fripp Island Condo wit...

Rejuvenate in the sea air at a completely refreshed 2 bedroom, 2 bath, 3rd floor Beach Club condo overlooking the relaxing salt marsh in the heart of Fripp Island. With beautiful expansive marsh and canal vistas from nearly every window and it's mid...

  • Fripp Island
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 5
18 Fiddlers Cove - Resort Acess and Golf...

18 Fiddlers Cove is a enchanting five-bedroom, four-bathroom home located just over the bridge in the impressive Fiddlers Cove area. Located in a secluded cul-de-sac and surrounded by tall trees, this home is the ideal destination for a Fripp Island...

  • Fripp Island
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 14
Couples Retreat with Breathtaking Oceanf...

Ideal Couples Retreat with Oceanfront Vistas!  Wake up to gorgeous, 180-degree ocean vistas in this impressive 1-bedroom, 1.5-bath villa at North Hampton on Fripp Island. Perched on the third floor with elevator access, this villa offers a really...

  • Fripp Island
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 2

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Nature Hike

Port Royal Sound Foundation

Book online
$10.00

Join us for a 1.5 mile exploration hike! Duration 1.5 Hours About Meet at the Maritime Center and enjoy a nice morning hike! This Naturalist-led hike is roughly 1.5 miles through maritime forest and salt marsh. Ages 3 & up What to...

Canvas & Cabernet Dough Bowl Edition

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$45.00 - $50.00

duration: 2 meeting_point: Oceanview Lounge (above Beach Club) min_age: 21 description: Dough bowl edition. Includes one free glass of wine or beer with class! what_is_included: None

Bonaire SCUBA Immersion

Dessau International, Inc.

Book online
$4,940.00

Award-Winning Diving Destination! Duration 7 Days About Bonaire is an award-winning diving destination that accommodates every skill level, from beginner to advanced diver. This immersion is designed to add value to a travel experience...

Orange Moke Rental At Beaufort Inn
Book online
$250.00 - $1,400.00

The best way to travel around Hilton Head! Duration Daily & Multi-Day Rentals About Leave your family car behind and rent a Moke for the day, weekend, or your entire vacation! Experience the open air while shopping, visiting friends or just...

Custom Trips

Beaufort Dolphin Adventures

duration: Event Dependent 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 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...

Kayak Tour

Port Royal Sound Foundation

Book online
$40.00 - $55.00

duration: 2 Hours description: Join a PRSF Naturalist for a 2-hour guided kayak tour of the Chechessee River departing from the Maritime Center. Children ages 5-12 must be on a tandem kayak with an adult (18+). Designed for all experience...

SC Pimento Cheese Sponsor

Red Maple Event

Book online
$500.00 - $3,000.00

duration: 5 hours meeting_point: 6071 St Andrews Rd, Columbia, SC 29212 description: Promote your business in front of the crowds at the SC Pimento Cheese Festival This free, family friendly event will draw crowds from all over the state. There...

Learn to Sail Adventure

Otter Sailing Adventures LLC

Book online
$600.00

Duration 5 hours About Experience the thrill of learning to sail all by yourself on one of our 8 or 10 ft Bauer Sailing Dinghies and then end the day off by learning the "ropes" as we sail the Liahona, our 38' Catalina Sailboat. A private...

Valentine's Day Carriage Rides

Brice Herndon Draft Horse and Carriage Company

Book online
$100.00

A Fairytale Valentine's Day: Take Your Sweetheart on a Magical Carriage Ride. We will start from the north side of Union Point Park . Each ride is approximately 18 to 20 minutes long. The carriage will comfortably hold 4 adults and 2 small...

Fripp Island Sunset

Beaufort Photography Tours

Book online
$75.00

About Join us for a sunrise photography session. We'll provide some tips and tricks and give constructive input to improve your shot. Duration 1.5 Hours

Guided Kayak Sunrise Tour

Edisto Watersports and Tackle

Book online
$50.00 - $100.00

Sunrise Tour to Scott Creek - One and half-hour guided tour leaving early morning and paddling to Scott Creek to enjoy an early morning sunrise on the water - Beginners welcome on this trip - $50 per adult/$25 age 10 and under

Find your perfect Beaufort

Fishing Charter

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