Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Vacation Rental

Featured Vacation Rentals

Fripp Island/Multi Family Friendly/ Dog ...

* Golf Cart supplied in rental*Amenity cards are available for purchase with this rental* Pet friendly       $25/day fee for first pet (Max of $150)       Each additional pet is an additional $25 flat fee. Come savor a cavernous...

  • Fripp Island
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 14
Romantic Getaway for 2

This elegantly decorated bungalow was completely remodeled June 2022 and is in heart of the National Historic District of Beaufort and only a 10 min. walk to downtown stores and eateries. The bungalow is also close to Paris Island Marine Corps...

  • Beaufort
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 2
King Suite in Historic B&B w. Waterview ...

Summary:Unwind in this charmingly appointed and cavernous King Suite, located within a beautiful boutique hotel set inside a historic Beaufort home. The suite features a opulent granite en-suite bath with a enormous walk-in shower, and handsome...

  • Beaufort
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 2
34 Davis Love Drive

Summary:34 Davis Appreciate - Great Golf Course Vistas! Golfers Welcome! Resort Access Included!The Space:Charming Coastal Retreat on Fripp Island – 3BR/3BA with Golf Course Vistas - Welcome to 34 Davis Appreciate, a handsomely appointed...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
214 Tennis Villa

Summary:214 Tennis Villa - New to Airbnb! Resort Access Included!The Space:214 Tennis Club Villa is located in the heart of Fripp Island. Just a short walk to the Beach Club, Sandbar, Tennis Courts, Exercise Center, and Guest Services. This 2...

  • Fripp Island
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Frog Cottage

Welcome to Frog Cottage! Located in the heart of the Lowcountry, this striking 1910 bungalow blends historic character with modern amenities. Located in Beaufort’s Historic District, you're just an simple walk from the waterfront park, local...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4

Beaufort Tours & Activities

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...

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. ...

Low Country Passport

High Tide Aviation - Beaufort

Book online
$200.00

description: About Do you want to see the entire Lowcountry from above? This is the tour for you. You will get to see many sites including. Morgan Island, Harbor Island, Hunting Island State Park & Lighthouse, Fripp Island, Pritchard’s Island...

Sharks Teeth Hunting & Eco Tour (2 Hrs)

Beaufort Dolphin Adventures

Book online
$372.64

duration: 2 Hours cancellation_summary: Customers will receive a full refund with 24 hours notice of cancellation. Customers will also receive a full refund or credit in case of operator cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances...

Big Fripper Morgan Island Cruise

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$20.00 - $75.00

duration: 3 Hours meeting_point: 875 Bonito Dr, Fripp Island, SC 29920 description: Approximately 3-Hour Tour to see Monkey Island. Morgan Island, better known locally as "Monkey Island" is home to approximately 3,500 free ranging monkeys. Morgan...

South Carolina Marine Turtle Conservation Program Talk

duration: 60-90 minutes meeting_point: Ocean View Lounge - 201 Tarpon Blvd, Fripp Island max_age: 99 group_size: 50 description: Kelly Lambert is a Wildlife Biologist with the SCDNR Marine Turtle Conservation Program, which is responsible for...

Wait List for Shibumi©

Edisto Bike and Golf Cart Rental

description: Wait list for 3 Day or Week Long Electric Cart Rentals

Sunset Cruise

Edisto Watersports and Tackle

Book online
$30.00 - $50.00

description: Join us for a Leisurely Sunset Boat Ride! ________________________________ ⚠️**Cancellation Policy** Customer cancellations made more than 7 days in advance will receive a full refund/waiver of fees. Customer cancellations made...

Columbia's Shrimp & Grits Fest

Columbia's Shrimp and Grits Fest

Book online
$25.00 - $75.00

meeting_point: Seawell's, 1125 Rosewood Drive, Columbia, SC 29201 description: Columbia's Shrimp & Grits Fest >On Saturday, June 20th, 2026 area restaurants will compete in Columbia's 11th Shrimp & Grits Fest. One restaurant will be named...

Gift Cards

Carolina Hydrofly

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

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...

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...

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