Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Vacation Rental

Featured Vacation Rentals

141 Capt John Fripp Villa

Summary:141 Capt John Fripp Villa- Resort Access Supplied!The Space:141 Capt. John Fripp Villa is a first-floor unit located in the heart of Fripp Island. Just a short walk to the Beach Club, Sandbar, Tennis Courts, Exercise Center, and Guest...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12
Oceanfront villa, Fripp Fripp Hooray!

Savor a calming at Fripp Fripp Hooray in North Hampton! Check out our Instagram page @frippfripphooray for additional photos and guest reviews. Fripp Fripp Hooray features sweeping ocean and pool vistas from the den, kitchen, deck and master...

  • Fripp Island
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Bladen Hideaway - Downtown Southern Char...

Welcome to your impressive home away from home in Beaufort SC's historic district: humongous open kitchen, dining, living room space.Constructed in 2023, designed in Beaufort's 1930's vintage period features additional peaceful rooms: 2/bed, 2/bath...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
360 Wahoo Drive

Summary:360 Wahoo Drive - Resort Access and Golf Cart Included!The Space:360 Wahoo Drive is just a short walk or golf cart ride to the Atlantic Ocean, Cabana Club, pools, and Ocean Marina. This three-bedroom, three-full-bath home is ideal for those...

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

Summary:52 Davis Adore Drive - Overlooks Golf Course! Resort Access Included!The Space:Golf Cottage Bliss: 52 Davis Appreciate Drive - A 3-Bed/3-Bath Haven in the Heart of FrippIndulge in the appeal of 52 Davis Appreciate Drive, a enchanting golf...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
Splash of Chic - Three Bedroom House, Sl...

Escape to Splash of Chic: A Marsh-Front Fripp Island RetreatWelcome to Splash of Chic, a handsomely appointed 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom marsh-front home in Fripp Island’s peaceful Sawgrass Bluff community. Set on a private half-acre lot, the home...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Surf Lessons

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$95.00

duration: 9am-12pm Monday - Friday meeting_point: Club 15.5 min_age: 10 max_age: 100 group_size: 8 description: Fripp Island Surf Lessons offers a fun, safe, and supportive introduction to surfing for ages 10 and up! Kids, teens, adults, and...

Family Master LEGO Building Competition at Beach Club Greene

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...

Beachcombing & Eco Tour (3 Hrs)

Beaufort Dolphin Adventures

Book online
$481.13

duration: 3 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...

Shamanism-A Deep Dive

The Arts Port Royal

Book online
$175.00

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: 15 group_size: 12 accessibility: Second Floor description: A deep dive...

Freestyle Fun

The Arts Port Royal

Book online
$85.00

description: Paint loose, big and bright.... Painting quickly and with freedom can bring out our most beautiful paintings. This class is designed to put the most fun in creating.

Big Fripper Sunset Cruise

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$30.00 - $50.00

duration: 1.5 Hours meeting_point: 875 Bonito Dr, Fripp Island, SC 29920 description: Scroll to November 29 date to book the Big Fripper Boat Parade Cruise! Sunset cruise on our 42 foot Pontoon Boat going in the backwaters behind Fripp Island...

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...

Tie Dye at Creekhouse

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

duration: 1 hours meeting_point: Creekhouse min_age: 3 description: Get ready to mix, swirl, and create in our tie dye activity! This hands-on experience is perfect for anyone! Choose from a variety of colors and patterns to create a one-of-a-kind...

Genesis Compound Rental & Range Time

duration: 1 Hour Range Time description: Curious about archery but don’t own equipment? Our Genesis Compound Tryout Experience includes everything you need — bow, arrows, and range time — with guidance from our knowledgeable staff. It’s the...

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...

Paddleboard Rental

Edisto Watersports and Tackle

Book online
$40.00

meeting_point: Edisto Beach, SC description: *Book Online Now!* ___________________________ Rates **SUP: **$40 *Must be 18+ to Rent* *Ages 10 and over to ride* ___________________________ Duration 3 Hours ___________________________ ...

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...

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