Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Featured Vacation Rentals

The Trail Retreat - 5 mi from Paris Isla...

The Trail Retreat can sleep 8 and is a little slice of heaven less than 5 miles from Parris Island. You will have the chance to sit by the fire pit or take a one block walk to the Spanish Moss Trail. The Spanish Moss Trail, is a ten-mile paved path...

  • Beaufort
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
New Listing - Centrally located Beaufort...

Welcome to your home away from home in elegant Beaufort, SC! This gorgeous vacation rental features 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, making it the ideal spot for families and groups of friends looking to experience all that this striking southern town...

  • Beaufort
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
Deep water paradise!

IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR PARADISE, YOU'VE FOUND IT! This property has been described by some as the most elegant location in all of Beaufort! With water on 3 sides at high tide, you're never without a view! This home was completely remodeled in 2017...

  • Beaufort
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
7 Fiddlers Point

Summary:7 Fiddlers Point-Fantastic Marsh VistasThe Space:Stunning marsh and water vistas greet you as you enter this completely modernized 3-bedroom home with 3 full baths at 7 Fiddlers Point. This very private neighborhood, set among the...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
Cool Coastal Cottage - 2 miles from Parr...

CALLING ALL GRADS: 10% discount offered for families attending Marine bootcamp graduation! Welcome to Port Royal, your home away from home. This welcoming, gorgeously appointed 2 bedroom 1-1/2 bath duplex bungalow is centrally located in the Old...

  • Port Royal
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
Golf Cart included - 21 Davis Love

Welcome to Starfish Cottage!The open-concept living space is ideal for gatherings of family and friends. The supplied kitchen has a variety of cookware to help you prepare your seafood feast, celebrate a birthday, or just savor some Southern...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 7

Beaufort Tours & Activities

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...

Family Archery Outing with Range Time

duration: 1 Hour Range Time group_size: Up to 2 Adults & 3 Children (under 16 Years old) description: Bring the whole family together for a fun and memorable activity everyone can enjoy. Our family package includes equipment rental and range time...

Day Camps

Camelot Farms Equestrian Center

Book online
$100.00

description: Join us! Duration 4 Hours About Our day camps at Camelot farms give children the opportunity to learn about horses, ride, and meet new friends. Each camp can vary slightly, but they all offer riding and learning opportunities as...

Gift Cards

Emma's Earth Shop Golf Cart Tours

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

Valentine's Day Carriage Rides

Brice Herndon Draft Horse and Carriage Company

Book online
$100.00

description: 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...

Beaufort Walking History/Movie Tour
Book online
$15.00 - $36.00

description: *Over 300 years of history plus stories about Hollywood movies and actors.* _________ Duration 2 Hours ________ About Walking tour of Beaufort’s historic district gives you a chance to learn more about our beautiful town and ask...

Private Farm Tour

Lowcountry Oyster Co.

Book online
$300.00 - $450.00

meeting_point: 15823 Bennetts Point Rd, Green Pond, SC, United States description: Reserve a farm & boat tour all to yourself with this exclusive option! Enjoy a private and personalized tour of our farm facilities followed by a boat ride out into...

Beaufort Lands End Paddling

Book online
$20.00 - $60.00

duration: 1.5-2 hours meeting_point: Safe Harbor Beaufort, 1006 Bay St, Beaufort, SC 29902 description: Discover downtown Beaufort like never before—from the water at high tide, where history and Southern charm come together for an unforgettable...

Fishing Rod

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$20.00 - $75.00

Friday Camp Fripp: Nature Day

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$57.00 - $65.00

duration: 3 hours cancellation_summary: 48- hour in advanced meeting_point: Creekhouse (behind Nature Center) min_age: 5 max_age: 12 group_size: 20 description: Drop the kids off for a fun camp of all things Nature on Fripp! Camp Hours: 9am - 12...

8 Hour Private Charter

Tallboy Fishing Charters

Book online
$1,500.00

description: Hop aboard Tallboy Fishing Charters with a local Expert! ___________________________________ Rates **Private Charter:** $1,500 *Up to 4 Passengers* __________________________________ Full day fishing charters offer the chance to...

Art Mentoring Community - Monthly THIRD Monday
Book online
$29.50 - $65.00

duration: 2.5 hours description: Join this artist gathering and take your practice to the next level Monday made better. Each session, we explore different aspects of abstract painting and techniques to take our creations to the next level. ...

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