Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Featured Vacation Rentals

Private Pool, Walk to Beach, Ocean & Gol...

This handsome island home is located 2nd row from the beach and has Ocean Point golf vistas from the back of the home.  With 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, there is room for up to 14 guests and everybody will adore the new private pool and outdoor...

  • Fripp Island
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 14
863 Bonito Road - New to VRBO! Resort Ac...

Mariner's Rest: A Tranquil Two-Story Haven in the Marina Area of Fripp IslandFeel serenity at Mariner's Rest, a appealing two-story home attractively located in the Marina area of Fripp Island. Just a stone's throw from the Marina store and Bonito...

  • Fripp Island
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
186 Beach Club Villa - Pet Friendly, Bea...

Luna Sea Is a  1 bedroom, 1st floor beach club villa. Painless access, only a few steps up to the first floor. Savor the striking sunsets, the marsh and tidal creek. Watch dolphins swim by on your screened in porch. Appreciate the private crabbing...

  • Fripp Island
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
408 Capt John Fripp Villa II

Summary:408 Capt John Fripp Villa - Resort Access Included!The Space:408 Capt. John Fripp Villa is a elegantly refreshed first-floor condo located in the heart of Fripp Island—just a short walk to the Beach Club, Sandbar, Tennis Courts, Exercise...

  • Fripp Island
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Golf Cart Included, Ocean View, Newly Re...

Welcome to 788 Marlin, a roomy six-bedroom, three-bathroom beach getaway ideal for multi-generational family vacations, group getaways, or wedding accommodations. With seven beds and room to comfortably sleep 14 guests, this home offers plenty of...

  • Fripp Island
  • 6 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 14
174 Beach Club Villa

Summary:Stunning Marsh Vistas!The Space:174 Beach Club Villa | Fripp Island Retreat with Stunning Marsh VistasFeel Lowcountry living at its best in this attractively refreshed 2-bedroom, 2-bath villa on sought-after Fripp Island. This open-concept...

  • Fripp Island
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Painting the Beauty of our Trees

The Arts Port Royal

Book online
$75.00

duration: 2.5 hours meeting_point: The Arts Port Royal group_size: 8 description: Our trees inspire us in so many ways Celebrate our trees with beautiful creations in acrylic. They are especially beautiful when spring is alive with color. We...

Family Feud *Adult After Hours* at the Sandbar

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$10.00

duration: 1.5 hours 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...

Women on the Water Kayak Tour

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$75.00

duration: 2 min_age: 12 description: Women on the Water is a welcoming, ladies-only guided kayak experience at Fripp Island Resort designed to build both skill and confidence on the water. Led by knowledgeable guides, this outing offers a supportive...

Oyster Hatchery Kayak Paddle, Tour and Tasting
Book online
$75.00 - $90.00

description: Duration 4 Hours About Join Beaufort Kayak Tours as they paddle from Single Lady Oyster Hatchery on McCalley's Creek, return to the oyster hatchery for a tour and end with an Oyster tasting. One of the things that Jim and Teri...

Two Hour Axe Throwing

Wolverine Axe Throwing

Book online
$25.00 - $35.00

description: Enjoy your time at Wolverine Axe Throwing throwing axes! Duration 2 hours About Welcome to Wolverine Axe Throwing in Woodruff, SC. If you have never thrown an axe before, there is nothing to fear. When you arrive our axperts...

Abstract Expressionism  -  with Mixed Media

duration: 3 hours meeting_point: The Arts Port Royal group_size: 6 description: Explore mixed media techniques of the Expressionist Masters This Expressionism class will work with collage and molding paste. Lee Krasner famously used collage in...

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...

Guided Kayak Tour to Pine Island

Edisto Watersports and Tackle

Book online
$70.00 - $140.00

duration: 2.5 hours cancellation_summary: 7 days advanced cancellation for full refund. At least 48 hours for 50% refund meeting_point: Edisto Watersports & Tackle min_age: 12 group_size: 6 people description: Enjoy a Kayak tour across the sound to...

Beaufort Ecology Tour

Beaufort Kayak Tours

Book online
$40.00

description: *Discover nature around every corner! * Rates **Adult (Ages 13+):** $65 **Child (Ages 12-5):** $35 Duration 2 hours About On our Beaufort Ecology Tour, we explore the beauty and nature from an optimal vantage point, the...

Big Fripper Morgan Island Cruise

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$20.00 - $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...

Giant Beer Pong Tournament at Adult Pool

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$4.00 - $6.00

duration: 1 hour meeting_point: Adult Pool min_age: 21 description: Think you got what it takes to dominate in this oversized twist on a classic favorite? Join us for a giant beer pong tournament, where buckets and soccer balls replace cups and ping...

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...

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