Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Vacation Rental

Featured Vacation Rentals

The Mariners House- Fully renovated kitc...

The Mariners home is located in the beautiful and impressive neighborhood of Port Royal Landing. You will be steps from a local Marina operated by Safe Harbor which has access to boat units, docking, excursions, marina shop, and the Freedom Boat...

  • Port Royal
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
Private pool, putting green, kayaks, bea...

Welcome to the Fallback Position located at 515 Tarpon Boulevard! This gorgeous two-story home offers a prime location with beautiful vistas of the marsh and ocean. Located in the coveted south end of the Tarpon neighborhood, this property is the...

  • Fripp Island
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 5 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12
Newly Renovated Coastal Cottage - Downto...

Welcome to your appealing hideaway located in the heart of downtown Beaufort, SC! This delightfully refreshed 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom home offers modern comfort in this historic neighborhood. Located less than a mile from Bay street where you'll find...

  • Beaufort
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 2
663 Newhaven - Three Little Birds on Fri...

Summary:Embrace Fripp Island fun in Three Little Birds on Fripp! This ground-floor 3-bedroom, 2-bath condo is located in the Village of Newhaven on Fripp Island. With over 1700 sq. ft. all on one level, this unit offers a seamless blend of comfort...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
Secluded retreat with private dock and f...

Welcome to Sea Glass on Fripp Island Welcome back to our returning guests—and a warm welcome to those discovering Sea Glass for the first time! We are thrilled to share the home we fell in appreciate with in April 2020 and continue to enhance with...

  • Fripp Island
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 16
350 Ocean Point Drive

Summary:350 Ocean Point - Striking Ocean and Golf Vistas - Resort Access & Golf Cart Always Supplied!The Space:Welcome to 350 Ocean Point, Gone With the Wind – Your Ideal Vacation RetreatEscape to coastal luxury at 350 Ocean Point, a cavernous and...

  • Fripp Island
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Fish Printing

Port Royal Sound Foundation

Book online
$15.00

description: Great for all ages! Duration 1 Hour About Come to the Maritime Center to decorate your own reusable bag using fish stamps!

3 Hour Private Charter

Tallboy Fishing Charters

Book online
$550.00

description: Hop aboard Tallboy Fishing Charters with a local Expert! ___________________________________ Rates **Private Charter:** $550 *Up to 6 People* ___________________________________ Our 3 hour charters are offered between April and...

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: 25 description: Drop the kids off for a fun camp of all things Nature on Fripp! Camp Hours: 9am - 12...

Beaufort Land and Sea Combo

Beaufort Gray Line

Book online
$32.00 - $69.00

meeting_point: Beaufort Marina description: Combine our 90-minute Beaufort City Tour with Coastal Expedition's 90-minute Dolphin and History Boat Cruise Departing from the downtown Beaufort marina at the Waterfront Park, this land and sea...

Sacred Sundays...EVERY WEEK; 11AM-12:30...no registration required.

meeting_point: The Arts Port Royal description: FIRST SUNDAY Meditation. A different teacher/modality every month! SECOND SUNDAY The Path of the Mystic with Bob Guinn THIRD SUNDAY TRANQUILITY ZONE-Sound Bath with Eric & Kitty Kat FOURTH...

SC Pimento Cheese Festival- Vendor
Book online
$30.00 - $125.00

duration: 8 hours meeting_point: 6071 St Andrews Rd, Columbia, SC 29212 description: With over 2,500 in attendance in our 1st SC Pimento Cheese Fest last year, we believe this year will be bigger and better! Promote your business in front of the...

Screen 3

Highway 21 Drive-In Theater

Book online
$6.00 - $11.00

description: More Info - Ticket Window and Concessions Open at 6:00PM - The first show will start when the sun goes down - Please arrive early on Friday and Saturday nights - Double Features on Friday and Saturday nights only PLEASE OBSERVE...

Expressionism - The Neutrals

The Arts Port Royal

Book online
$85.00

duration: 3 hours description: Expressionism - Using Neutrals for Powerful Creations Many great expressionists used limited palettes in neutral colors often shades of black and white. It helped putting the focus on composition and values to...

Single Kayak Rental

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$30.00 - $240.00

duration: 1–8 Hour Rentals meeting_point: 875 Bonito Dr, Fripp Island, SC 29920 description: - Sit-on-top style - Length: 8 feet 10 inches - Width: 32.75 inches - Height: 14.25 inches - Dry weight: 44 pounds - Weight capacity: 300 pounds - Seating...

Yupo Paper Workshop

The Arts Port Royal

duration: 3 hours cancellation_summary: Full refunds available up to 24 hours before the class. Within 24 hours, a gift cert. will be issued. No refunds for no-shows. meeting_point: The Arts Port Royal 1404 Paris Ave, Port Royal min_age...

Habersham for the Holidays (NOT LOCATED DOWNTOWN)
Book online
$15.00 - $325.00

meeting_point: Habersham, SC description: Duration Approx 20 Mins Rates Adult ( 13 yrs & over ): $25.00 Child ( For ages 4 to 12 ) : $15.00 Lap Child : Free Full Carriage ( Up to 12 people ) : $325.00 About EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF THE...

Rum Runner Sunset Cruise

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$40.00 - $75.00

duration: 1.5 Hours meeting_point: 875 Bonito Dr, Fripp Island, SC 29920 description: Join us for a sunset cruise that takes you back in time to learn about the Golden Age of Piracy and local lore while enjoying a rum tasting that would make anyone...

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