Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Featured Vacation Rentals

Couples Retreat, Walk to waterfront, sho...

Located in the heart of Downtown Beaufort - One bedroom suite with private entrance and complimentary off-street parking! Private one bedroom suite with kitchenette, full bath, private entrance and off-street parking for one car located in beautiful...

  • Beaufort
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 2
Brand New Charming Cottage :2-bedroom ho...

Your Beaufort adventure begins at this phenomenal 2-bedroom home. With 2 queen beds and 3 bathrooms equipped with a bathtub and shower, guests will feel right at home. The living room even has a comfortable couch bed for additional sleeping space...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
2nd Row Oceanview Home, Brand New!

Discover this gorgeous 5-bedroom, 4 Bath gem on Fripp Island! Oceanviews from the Kitchen, Living Space, Sunroom and Front Bedrooms. This Home features 1 King Bed, 1 California King Bed, 2 Queen Beds, and A Bunk Room with 2 Twin Beds, ensuring a...

  • Fripp Island
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
YOUR SOCIAL DISTANCING  AND INTIMATE GET...

Deep-cleaned and private. We use an electrostatic disinfecting sprayer in our bungalow and clean each touch point and surface with disinfecting products. All laundry is washed in hot water using sensitive skin products. Entirely fenced-in...

  • Beaufort
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 2
New to VRBO. Renovated Home on Fripp wit...

Oceanfront Cottage on Fripp Island – Recently Renovated with Private Balconies with each bedroom. (This is a single family home-not a condo or villa.)Welcome to your ideal coastal escape on Fripp Island, where the Atlantic Ocean is your backyard...

  • Fripp Island
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Luxury Oceanfront with Panoramic Views, ...

Step into this luxury beachfront home and savor the expansive vistas of the Atlantic.  This impressive 4 bedroom, 4 ½ bath island escape has handsome finishes throughout and offers more than enough room for up to 8 guests. Unwind in the huge open...

  • Fripp Island
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Gift Cards

Lady's Island Oyster Inc.

description: Purchase the perfect gift: a gift card with a value of your choosing!

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...

Pritchards Island Excursion

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$15.00 - $80.00

duration: 2-4 hours cancellation_summary: No refunds if cancelled within 24 hours of excursion meeting_point: Nature Center group_size: Maximum 8 people description: Pritchard's Island is a pristine undeveloped natural barrier island just south of...

Beaufort City Tour

Beaufort Gray Line

Book online
$12.00 - $35.00

description: Book Online Now! Duration 75-105 minutes About Experience over three hundred years of history in Beaufort, South Carolina’s second oldest city. This charming city boasts a fascinating history of exploration by the Spanish...

Guided Kayak Sunrise Tour

Edisto Watersports and Tackle

Book online
$50.00 - $100.00

description: 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

Big Fripper Shelling Cruise

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$45.00 - $65.00

duration: 3 Hours meeting_point: 875 Bonito Dr, Fripp Island, SC 29920 description: Cruise on the Big Fripper that will take you and your group to Bull Point (a beach right across from St. Phillips Island). It takes about 1 hour to get there, 30-40...

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...

Boneyard Beach Sunrise Adventure

Beaufort Photography Tours

Book online
$249.00 - $499.00

description: A SPECIAL ADVENTURE TO AN OTHERWORLDLY LOCATION! Options - **Semi-Private Tour**: Includes one non-shooting guest at no additional charge - **Private Tour**: (1 -4 Guests) About COME EXPLORE SOME OF THE MOST MYSTERIOUS AND...

TWO DAY-Reiki 3/Master Class

The Arts Port Royal

Book online
$700.00

duration: 7 hours min_age: 15 group_size: 8 accessibility: Second Floor description: Day 1, Intuitive Healing...Day 2, Learn to Teach Reiki. On Day 1, we will go further into the process of Intuitive Healing and deep listening. We will do practical...

Special Tours

Tales of the Lowcountry

Book online
$7.00 - $20.00

description: Rates **Adult (Ages 13+):** $20 **Child (Ages 5-12):** $7 ___ About Our specialized tours focus more on specific areas of history. **Gullah Tour** Our Gullah tour goes into great detail of the contributions of African Americans to...

Saint Helena Sunset Sail

Otter Sailing Adventures LLC

Book online
$375.00

description: There's nothing like experiencing the magic of a sunset under sail in the beauty of the St Helena sound Duration 2 hours About Private Sailing Charter - Price Per Group (up to 6) There's nothing like experiencing the...

Crabbing and Seining

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$13.00

description: No one ever feels crabby during our Crabbing and Seining Program! Duration 1 Hour About Curious about how to set a crab pot? Ever wanted an up close look at a blue crab or the small fish in the waves at the beach? Our Crabbing...

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