Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Featured Vacation Rentals

Charming Lowcountry Cottage in the Heart...

Discover the ideal blend of Southern appeal and modern comfort in this enchanting 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom home located in the heart of Beaufort, South Carolina. Whether you're looking for a comfortable primary residence, a weekend hideaway, this home...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
ArtLoft Historic Loft Apartment located ...

ArtLoft is a striking and roomy historic loft apartment located in the vibrant heart of Downtown Beaufort. This delightfully restored space blends timeless appeal with modern comfort, offering guests a unique and memorable stay. Ideally located just...

  • Beaufort
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 7
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Welcome to Palm Heaven!Accessibility Lift, 7 person Jacuzzi, golf cart, bicycles and more! Additional Come on in and appreciate a calming beach hideaway where nature abounds at our roomy 1-story, 3-bedroom, 2-bath home accommodating up to 6 people...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Quality Home Port Royal. Pets are allowe...

Appreciate a 5-min. walk to our local farmers market & Naval Heritage Park on Saturday Mornings! Centrally located in the heart of Port Royal. Painless access to the Sands Beach (4 min), Shopping Centers, Eateries, & everything in between. This 3...

  • Port Royal
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
658 New Haven - New to VRBO! Resort Acce...

Oceanfront Heaven: Summer-Shine Villa - A Freshly Renovated 3-Bed/2.5-Bath HavenFeel the epitome of oceanfront luxury at Summer-Shine Villa, a freshly remodeled sanctuary offering 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. Revel in the beautiful ocean vistas from...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
Oceanfront Villa - Del Boca Frippsta, 64...

Del Boca Frippsta is a gorgeous villa offering striking ocean vistas.  On the north end of the island, this property is located across the street from the championship golf course Ocean Point, ideal for a golf vacation.The refreshed villa offers...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Carolina HydroFly Parties

Carolina Hydrofly

Book online
$800.00 - $1,600.00

Private Party About Enjoy a 4 or 8 Hour Group Lesson. Can have up to 8 people (Half day) & 16 people (Full day) in your party. - Includes 10 minutes of instruction time, fuel, life jacket, and helmet **What's Included** - Helmet - Life...

Guided Kayak Full Moon Paddle

Edisto Watersports and Tackle

Book online
$60.00 - $120.00

Enjoy a guided kayak tour at night during a full moon! Tours will head out with the tide and enjoy paddling the creek by full moon.

Custom Tour

High Tide Aviation - Beaufort

Book online
$220.00

Decide what sights you see! Duration 1 hour About An hour-long flight where you get to decide what sights you see and what landmarks you focus on. Whether you want a new perspective of the Harbor Town Lighthouse, or a bird's eye view of...

Adult Game Show Night

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$10.00

duration: 1hour meeting_point: Oceanview Lounge (above Beach Club) min_age: 21 description: Join us on FRIDAY to play either The Couples Game with teams of 2 (against other teams of 2) or Family Feud After Hours (against another family) and go...

Oyster Hatchery Tour and Tasting

Beaufort Kayak Tours

Book online
$35.00

Duration 1 Hour About

Haints and Haunts of the Sea Islands
Book online
$9.00 - $20.00

Come with us on a macabre journey through time in the seaside town of Beaufort. Witness the grim and twisted lore of the city’s past on a guided experience through the historic city streets. This two-hour waking tour will cover the historic Point...

Six Hour Inshore Fishing

Happy Dog Charters

Book online
$700.00

Come aboard and let's go fishing! Duration 6 Hours About This is a trip where we will cover it all, from catching bait to several different spots. We will be moving and finding fish several times unless the bite is absolute...

Beaufort City Walking Tour

Beaufort Gray Line

Book online
$12.00 - $29.00

Travel on foot to see Beaufort! Duration 2 hours About Join us for the Historic District Walking Tour and learn about the history of Beaufort, SC! Beaufort's National Historic Landmark District, the second oldest city in South Carolina...

Big Fripper Dolphin Cruise

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$30.00 - $40.00

duration: 2 Hours meeting_point: 875 Bonito Dr, Fripp Island, SC 29920 description: Cruise on our 42 foot Pontoon Boat. This cruise will take you into the backwaters of Fripp Island looking for dolphins. The Captain will talk about the area's...

Private Marsh Kayak Tour

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$100.00

duration: 1-3 hours cancellation_summary: No refunds if cancelled within 24 hours of excursion meeting_point: Paddle Shack min_age: 8 max_age: 99 group_size: Maximum 8 people description: Share a tandem kayak with a buddy or paddle yourself in a...

Shibumi© Shade Three Day Rental

Edisto Bike and Golf Cart Rental

Book online
$75.00

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!! Please make arrangements to pick up your Shibumi and return at the end of your rental during...

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