Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Vacation Rental

Featured Vacation Rentals

Sea Moore Fripp, 427 Wahoo Drive

Welcome to Sea Moore Fripp, a cavernous and comfortable 6-bedroom, 5 1/2 bath Wahoo townhome designed for memorable family vacations, golf getaways, and multi-family gatherings on elegant Fripp Island.One of the home's best features is its central...

  • Fripp Island
  • 6 Bedrooms
  • 5 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 15
ArtLoft Historic Loft Apartment located ...

ArtLoft is a striking and roomy historic loft apartment located in the vibrant heart of Downtown Beaufort. This handsomely 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
Perfect Vacation on Fripp

Bedroom 1: king bed upstairs with attached master bathroom 1 (shower, double vanity, makeup station ). This bedroom has private balcony with 2 outdoor lounge chairs. 65” TV. Bedroom 2: king bed downstairs. 55” TV Bedroom 3 (ideal for kids): 6...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
Historic Bonny Cottage in downtown Beauf...

Bonny Cottage is located on the property of Ellen and Mike Tomy, one block from the Beaufort River, in the gorgeous historic district of Beaufort, South Carolina. It was constructed in the late 1800s after the recent "unpleasantness". This bungalow...

  • Beaufort
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 2
Mojito Studio- Walk to everything Beaufo...

Five blocks from the vibrant downtown waterfront, this unique studio offers a one-of-a-kind Beaufort experience. Its whimsical design, set in an industrial-style loft-like space, provides the ideal blend of social and comfortable areas for calming...

  • Beaufort
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 2
Close to Parris Island! Beaufort SC,  Ne...

This 2 Bedroom/ 2 Bathroom mobile home with pullout sleeper couch has been entirely remodeled with new floor, tile and paint throughout. It is centrally located and is located just a short 5 mins. drive to Beaufort s historic waterfront downtown and...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Habersham for the Holidays (NOT LOCATED DOWNTOWN)
Book online
$15.00 - $25.00

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...

History and Movie Tour by Golf Cart
Book online
$15.00 - $38.00

duration: 1 Hour meeting_point: Downtown Marina at 1006 Bay Street, Beaufort, SC (29902) description: *See stunning live oaks draped with Spanish Moss, and pre-Civil War houses.* This one hour tour by golf cart covers Beaufort’s historic...

Tuesday Camp Fripp-Game On

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$57.00 - $65.00

duration: 3 hours meeting_point: Creekhouse min_age: 3 max_age: 12 group_size: 20 description: Join us for an exciting Game Camp filled with fast-paced games, friendly competition, and plenty of outdoor fun! Campers will try a variety of games...

Day Camps

Camelot Farms Equestrian Center

Book online
$100.00

description: Join us! Duration 4 Hours About Our day camps at Camelot farms give children the opportunity to learn about horses, ride, and meet new friends. Each camp can vary slightly, but they all offer riding and learning opportunities as...

Community Workshop- Bird Silhouettes

meeting_point: Mayfair Art Studios

Summer Art Camp for Kids-MORNINGS

The Arts Port Royal

Book online
$250.00

duration: 2 hours min_age: 8 max_age: 11 group_size: 8 accessibility: second floor description: Miss Cheryl has all kinds of arts and crafts in store for the kids this summer! We will have collage, painting, pottery, sculpture, and various...

Group Tour

Lowcountry Oyster Co.

Book online
$100.00 - $125.00

meeting_point: 15823 Bennetts Point Rd, Green Pond, SC, United States description: Have a larger group that is interested in enjoying a tour of our operation? We can accommodate! Bring up to 20 guests out to the farm for the full experience...

Pritchards Island Excursion

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$15.00 - $80.00

duration: 2-4 hours cancellation_summary: No refunds if cancelled within 24 hours of excursion meeting_point: Nature Center group_size: Maximum 8 people description: Pritchard's Island is a pristine undeveloped natural barrier island just south of...

Annual Membership

Red Oak Airsoft & Paintball

Book online
$250.00

description: Field Pass for 1 year 10% off all purchases About Join our annual membership pass and save! Players must have an airsoft gun that is approved by Red Oak Airsoft and Paintball along with all of the required safety equipment. No...

SC Pimento Cheese Festival- Pimento Cheese Competition

meeting_point: 2nd Annual Amateur Pimento Cheese Competition description: Does your pimento cheese have what it takes to win "South Carolina's Best Pimento Cheese" title? Registration **$25 per entry** - This fee includes entry into the...

Fripp Island Sunset

Beaufort Photography Tours

Book online
$75.00

description: About Join us for a sunrise photography session. We'll provide some tips and tricks and give constructive input to improve your shot. Duration 1.5 Hours

Big Fripper Monkey Island Cruise

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$60.00 - $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...

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