Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Featured Vacation Rentals

The Palmetto Blue Cottage. 5 min to Parr...

The Palmetto Blue Cottage. 5 min to Parris Island Full DescriptionWelcome to your calming Lowcountry getaway in Port Royal, South Carolina—a relaxing coastal escape just 5 mins. from Parris Island and some of the most handsome spots on the South...

  • Port Royal
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
Landing | Chic 1BD, Gym

Welcome to Zephyr in Port Royal, SC! Ideal for monthly or extended stays, our completely-furnished apartments feature full kitchens, in-unit laundry, fast WiFi, beautiful furnishings, and a dedicated workspace. Please note: The community pool is...

  • Port Royal
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 2
Promotions! Stylish Historic District Re...

We are having glorious weather for you to savor the private gated courtyard! Take advantage of new Vacation Rental By Owner-applied promotions for this striking hideaway in the heart of the Historic District! Professionally designed as the host’s...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
707 Silverside

Summary:707 Silverside, Oceanview with Guest Cards Supplied!The Space:Welcome to 707 Silverside - Your Ideal Summer Retreat on Fripp Island. Just steps from the sand and across from beach access #16, this attractively designed 4-bedroom, 4.5-bath...

  • Fripp Island
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 11
622 Newhaven

Summary:622 Newhaven - Resort Access and Golf Cart Supplied!The Space:Welcome to 622 Newhaven Court, a striking 1-bedroom condo that can sleep up to 4. This newly listed end unit offers a comfortable, fresh living space with additional windows and a...

  • Fripp Island
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
This villa is located on the back waters...

Located 20 miles from Beaufort, South Carolina, Fripp Island is a gated, private island, comprised of about six and a half square miles of serene Carolina low country. The vistas from Fripp Island are unlike others in the Sea Islands, as Fripp is...

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

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Community Workshop- Bird Silhouettes

meeting_point: Mayfair Art Studios

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...

Flyboard 30 Minute

Carolina Hydrofly

Book online
$149.00

description: 30 Minute Flyboard Pro Series Experience About Each guest will have 20 minutes of flight time and 10 minutes of instruction time. If you would like to book for more than one person, then please process one booking per person by...

Beaufort Lands End Paddling

Book online
$40.00 - $60.00

duration: 1.5-2 hours meeting_point: Port Royal Boat Landing, Sands Beach Rd description: Paddle from Sands Beach in Port Royal over to Parris Island and back. Crossing Battery Creek, we will keep a keen eye out for dolphin friends! Along the way...

Kayak Rental

Edisto Watersports and Tackle

Book online
$40.00 - $80.00

meeting_point: Edisto Beach, SC description: *Book Online Now!* ___________________________________ Rates **Single Kayak:** $40 **Tandem Kayak (Seats 2):** $80 **Tandem Kayak + Child(under 10):** $60 *Must be 18+ to Rent* *Ages 4 & over...

Seas The Day Cruise

Beaufort Boat Charters LLC

Book online
$480.00

description: Join us for a Lowcountry Adventure! Duration 3 Hours About Our 3 hour cruise allows time to get in even more during your time on the water! Some options may include visiting a local sandbar (tide dependent), a trip to...

Private: Oldfield Ladies Only Clinic

Sporting Clay Xperiences

Book online
$225.00

description: Sporting Clays day for just you ladies! Duration 3 Hours About This clinic is designed specifically for lady shooters who love Sporting Clays or want to get into the sport. This is a private clinic for Oldfield residents only...

Kids Night Out 5pm-8pm

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$50.00 - $55.00

duration: 3 meeting_point: Drop-off/Pick-up at The Creekhouse min_age: 3 max_age: 12 group_size: 10 description: About Drop the kids off for a fun Kids Night Out! Expect your kids to engage in fun games, physical activities, crafts starting in...

Beaufort Ecology Tour

Beaufort Kayak Tours

Book online
$40.00

description: *Discover nature around every corner! * Rates **Adult (Ages 13+):** $65 **Child (Ages 12-5):** $35 Duration 2 hours About On our Beaufort Ecology Tour, we explore the beauty and nature from an optimal vantage point, the...

Beaufort Sandbar Concert
Book online
$40.00 - $1,400.00

duration: 5 hours meeting_point: 1 Port Royal Landing Dr, Port Royal, SC 29935 group_size: 6 Passenger maximum description: Experience the Beaufort Sandbar Concert from the best vantage point on the water. We’re taking the LowCo Tiki straight to...

Fripp Island Milky Way Photography

Beaufort Photography Tours

Book online
$100.00

description: About Join us for an opportunity to photograph the Milky Way. We'll meet for a brief classroom session to discus settings and composition and then head to the beach for photography. This tour is highly weather dependent. We may...

Beachcombing & 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...

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