Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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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
12 Sea Mist Road

Summary:12 Sea Mist RoadThe Space:Oceanside Serenity: Your Ideal Escape at 12 Sea MistLocated within the impressive Veranda Beach area of Fripp Island, 12 Sea Mist beckons with its relaxing ambiance and striking coastal vistas. This gorgeous 2-story...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
Cozy, Coastal Retreat! Minutes from Parr...

Welcome to the “Nelson House” your low country, townhome, escape in a cozy neighborhood within walking distance of Port Royal’s eateries, shopping, and festivals and within 5 mins. of The Sand’s beach, boardwalk, and boat ramp. The home is...

  • Port Royal
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Windy Hill on Tarpon Beachfront

Summary:Escape to Windy Hill, a impressive beachfront home located on Fripp Island, providing beautiful ocean vistas and direct access to the beach. This architecturally designed home, which has been featured in Southern Living magazine, showcases a...

  • Fripp Island
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
Spectacular mid-island beachfront home -...

We are comfortably located mid-island in a private location off the main road ensuring tranquility and peaceful for your stay. Watch the sunset on one of the two-level decks before sinking into beds that envelope you in softness with spa-grade...

  • Fripp Island
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 9
871 Bonito - Marsh & Canal Views

**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

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Canvas & Cabernet 7/9/26 in Savannahs (above the Ocean Creek Pro Shop)
Book online
$30.00 - $35.00

min_age: 21 group_size: 20 description: Location Savannahs (upstairs Ocean Creek Driving Range Pro Shop) Duration 2 Hours (6pm - 8pm) About Join us for this seasonal Canvas & Cabernet! Our Recreation Intern Artist will guide you through...

Beach Day Chair Rentals

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$15.00 - $65.00

duration: 6 hours cancellation_summary: 48- hour in advanced meeting_point: beach access 15 (Beach Club boardwalk) min_age: 18 description: The Beach Hut is located at the end of the Beach Access boardwalk at the Beach Club, between Access 15 and ...

Custom Tour

High Tide Aviation - Beaufort

Book online
$220.00

duration: 1 Hour description: Decide what sights you see! An hour-long flight where you get to decide what sights you see and what landmarks you focus on. Whether you want a new perspective of the Harbor Town Lighthouse, or a bird's eye view of St...

Fripp Fest 2025

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$45.00

duration: 4 Hours meeting_point: Beach Club Complex min_age: 21 description: Join us for our annual Fripp Fest! Enjoy live music from 77th Street Revue! Food, drinks, and fun! Reconnect with old Fripp friends or meet new ones while mixing and...

Happy Hour

Lowco Tiki

Book online
$40.00 - $380.00

duration: 2 hours meeting_point: 1 Port Royal Landing Dr, Port Royal, SC 29935 group_size: 6 Passenger maximum description: Why sit at a landside bar when you can sip your own favorite beverages and socialize on the water? Our Happy Hour Cruise...

SC Pimento Cheese Festival - Tasting Ticket

meeting_point: Saluda Shoals- 6071 St Andrews Road, Columbia, SC 29212 description: A festival to showcase South Carolina's Favorite snack, Pimento Cheese Rates General Admission is Free and $5 Parking Fee per car at Gate Tasting Tickets are...

Family Archery Outing with Range Time

duration: 1 Hour Range Time group_size: Up to 2 Adults & 3 Children (under 16 Years old) description: Bring the whole family together for a fun and memorable activity everyone can enjoy. Our family package includes equipment rental and range time...

Pat Conroy's Beaufort by Golf Cart
Book online
$20.00 - $45.00

description: *“I’ve come home to the place I was always writing about…. I’ve tried to make Beaufort, South Carolina, my own.”—Pat Conroy, The Death of Santini* ____ Duration and Availability - 1Hr15Mn - Monday through Sunday (7 days a...

Family Feud *Adult After Hours* at the Sandbar

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$10.00

duration: 1 hour meeting_point: Sandbar min_age: 21 description: Join us on TUESDAYS to play the spin off of the hit game show Family Feud. Play against another family and go head-to-head with questions winning the grand prize!! **Gameshow...

Reiki I & II

The Arts Port Royal

Book online
$250.00

duration: 6 hours cancellation_summary: Full refund for cancellations 24 hours or more before class. Day of class, a gift certificate refund, and no shows, no refund. min_age: 14 group_size: 10 accessibility: Second Floor description: Reiki is a...

Public Rental Package

Red Oak Airsoft & Paintball

Book online
$45.00

description: All Equipment Included in Rental! Duration All Day About This package includes out all-day field pass AND the complete equipment rental! Includes an airsoft gun for rental, all the safety gear plus 1000 BB’s. More...

Canvas & Cabernet Wine Glass Edition in Savannah's(above Ocean Creek Pro Shop)

duration: 2 meeting_point: Oceanview Lounge (above Beach Club) min_age: 21 description: Wine Glass edition; includes 2 wine glasses to paint. Our Recreation Intern Artist will guide you through the painting basics. Choice of 2 designs for your wine...

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