Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Vacation Rental

Featured Vacation Rentals

Breezy Oak on Dolphin with Private Pool ...

Breezy Oak on Dolphin is a coastal home with a private pool - just steps from the beach. Appreciate the best of both worlds in this beautiful beach home located across the street from the ocean. Unwind by your own private pool after a day in the...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 9
23 Davis Love Drive

Summary:23 Davis Appreciate - Delightful 2-Story Clemson Golf Themed Home! Resort Access Supplied!The Space:23 Davis Adore is a pretty 2-story home located in the heart of Fripp Island. Just a short golf cart ride to the Ocean Marina, Bonito...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
504 Gray Mallard - NEW TO VRBO - Resort ...

504 Gray Mallard Court, Fripp IslandTucked away in the heart of Fripp Island, this inviting 3-bedroom, 3-bath home offers the ideal blend of comfort, style, and coastal appeal. Step inside to an open-concept living space featuring a cavernous dining...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
133 Captain John Fripp

Summary:Resort Access & Golf Cart Supplied! Ideal central Fripp Island location!The Space:Step into relaxation and luxury at this beautiful condo, where warm whites and soft sage hues create a relaxing ambiance. With handsome new floor and trim...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
171 Beach Club Villa - First Floor Condo...

**This property offers club cards for access to Fripp Island Resort amenities. A Resort fee (12.8% of the base rental rate) will be charged in addition to the cost of the individual club cards if you decide you would like to use the Resort...

  • Fripp Island
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Gordon’s - Private Coosaw Island Marsh...

New listing! Just added to Vacation Rental By Owner in January 2026!Welcome to Gordon’s on Coosaw Island, a private Lowcountry hideaway just 15 mins. from historic downtown Beaufort and close by beaches. This home is located off of a private road...

  • Beaufort
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Stuff-A-Plush at Creekhouse

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$25.00

duration: 1 hour meeting_point: Creekhouse min_age: 3 description: Create your own cuddly companion at our stuff-a-plush event! Choose from a variety of animals, then bring them to life by stuffing them with fluff and adding a special heart for...

Cast Net Fishing Class

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$75.00

duration: 1 Hour min_age: 10 description: Learn how to catch bait like the locals! This class will include demonstration and you will get to practice what you learn! what_is_included: Class and your very own cast net to take home.

Full-Day Kayak Trip OR Shuttle Service

Vintage View River Retreat

Book online
$15.00 - $55.00

meeting_point: 1545 Sunny Acres Rd, Pacolet SC 29372 description: Book a fun and relaxing date with nature that’s sure not to be forgotten! Duration 4-6 hours Location This event will start and end at: Upper Pacolet Shoals Take Out 1545...

Custom Adventure

Beaufort Boat Charters LLC

Book online
$160.00 - $960.00

description: Join us for a Lowcountry Adventure! Duration 1-6 Hours About Contact us about customizing your boating adventure to design a trip just for you! 828-279-3707 or [email protected] Options include, but are not...

Simple Figure Painting in Watercolor

duration: 3 hours min_age: 14 group_size: 8 accessibility: second floor description: Learn how simple lines, and little color can create the illusion of a human figure. No drawing required. You will also learn how to transfer images for faster and...

Family Master LEGO Building Competition at Beach Club

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$10.00

duration: 1 hour meeting_point: Beach Club min_age: 3 description: Get ready to unleash your creativity at our LEGO Building Competition! Whether you're a master builder or just love to build, this fun-filled challenge is perfect for anyone! Put...

Craft Hour Easter Wooden Egg Painting at The Creekhouse

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$24.00

duration: 1 hour meeting_point: Creekhouse min_age: 3 description: Unleash your creativity at Craft Hour! Whether you're a beginner or a crafting pro, this is the perfect activity to relax, create, and have fun! Walk-up or reservation

Beaufort River Tour from Downtown (90 Min)

Beaufort Dolphin Adventures

Book online
$325.47 - $533.02

duration: 90 Minute Private Boat Tour 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...

Kids Fishing Tournament

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

duration: 7 hours min_age: 5 max_age: 15 description: This is a sign up for the Kids Fishing Tournament on November 28th! Each child participating need to be signed up individually. You will have to attend the captains meeting on November 28th at...

Ghost Tour

Tales of the Lowcountry

Book online
$10.00 - $22.00

description: Rates **Adult (Ages 13+):** $22 **Child (Ages 5-12):** $10 ____ Duration 2 Hours ___ About We visit all the local "haunts" intertwining ghost tales with the history of Beaufort. Come hear tales of folks buried alive, ghost trains...

Essence Of The Lowcountry Sunrise

Beaufort Photography Tours

Book online
$249.00 - $499.00

description: A MORNING FILLED WITH CHARM, SOUTHERN STYLE! Options - **Semi-Private Tour**: Includes one non-shooting guest at no additional charge - **Private Tour**: (1 -4 Guests) About IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE OLD SOUTH, YOU'VE FOUND IT...

ACE Basin/Dolphin Boat Tour

Edisto Watersports and Tackle

Book online
$30.00 - $50.00

description: *Online booking encouraged!* ___________________________________ Rates **Adult (Ages 11+):** $50 **Child (Ages 10 & under):** $30 ___________________________________ Duration 1.5 Hours ___________________________________ ...

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