Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Featured Vacation Rentals

Historic Home in the Heart of Downtown B...

Historic 4-Bedroom Home in Downtown Beaufort’s Old PointLocated in the heart of Beaufort’s esteemed Old Point neighborhood, this delightfully restored historic home offers a rare opportunity to experience the appeal and elegance of the...

  • Beaufort
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12
The Trail Retreat - 5 mi from Paris Isla...

The Trail Retreat can sleep 8 and is a little slice of heaven less than 5 miles from Parris Island. You will have the chance to sit by the fire pit or take a one block walk to the Spanish Moss Trail. The Spanish Moss Trail, is a ten-mile paved path...

  • Beaufort
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
Feeling FrippSea - Marsh Views - 4 Bedro...

Feelin FrippSea is located on a peaceful section of the island and has broad vistas of the calming marsh and ever-changing tidal creek. Three of the bedrooms and living room in this 4 bed/3.5 bath home have marsh vistas, and with multiple decks, you...

  • Fripp Island
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
Lowcountry Living for 12, 2 golf carts i...

Escape to the Lowcountry in this private island home. With Ocean Point fairway vistas, you and your group will appreciate calming evenings overlooking the canal and impressive wildlife. With 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, this home has plenty of room...

  • Fripp Island
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12
42 Davis Love Drive

Summary:42 Davis Adore Drive - Resort Access Supplied! Stunning Golf Course Vistas!The Space:Charming Golf Cottage with Stunning Golf Course Vistas – Sleeps 10Welcome to 42 Davis Appreciate Drive, a handsome two-story golf bungalow located in the...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
Charming 2-bedroom house in enjoyable Be...

Unwind in Beaufort at this marvelous home. With 2 comfortable bedrooms featuring a queen bed and a full bed, along with 2 bathrooms, this place is ideal for a calming hideaway. Appreciate the amenities of heating and AC during your stay. It's simple...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4

Beaufort Tours & Activities

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...

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...

Group Farm Tour

Lady's Island Oyster Inc.

Book online
$50.00

duration: 1 to 1.5 Hours group_size: 4 to 20 people description: View the Hatchery (where the oysters are born) - learn the delicate process of how we spawn and grow our oysters from seed, and the first few weeks of an oysters life. View the...

Sandy Bottom Boards - Grazing Box

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$34.00

duration: 2.5 hours meeting_point: 300 Tarpon Blvd. group_size: 1 description: Tides & Tunes Grazing Boxes Are Here! We’ve partnered with our friends at Sandy Bottom Boards to bring you the ultimate concert companion—beautifully curated...

Port Royal Cypress Wetland & River Sunset

Beaufort Photography Tours

Book online
$299.00 - $499.00

description: SURROUND YOURSELF WITH WATER, WILDLIFE AND A BEAUTIFUL SUNSET! Options - **Semi-Private Tour**: Includes one non-shooting guest at no additional charge - **Private Tour**: (1 -4 Guests) About BEAUFORT IS CALLED THE LOWCOUNTRY...

5 Hour Rental

Pedego Electric Bikes Greenville

Book online
$25.00 - $94.00

description: Ride out our front door onto the Swamp Rabbit Trail! ???? Experience the Thrill of Greenville's Iconic Swamp Rabbit Trail with Pedego Electric Bikes! ????‍♂️ Ready for an adventure like no other? ???? Step right up and...

Deck the Porch

Brice Herndon Draft Horse and Carriage Company

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$15.00

description: Group Carriage Rides Climb aboard and stroll through our beautiful town as we harness in some of our Christmas magic. Travel along historic Hampton Street in Walterboro, known as the Front Porch of the Lowcountry and enjoy the twinkle...

Screen 1

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...

Paddle Board Rentals

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$45.00 - $360.00

duration: 1–8 Hour Rentals meeting_point: 875 Bonito Dr, Fripp Island, SC 29920 description: The Paddle Shack is your go-to for an unforgettable day on the water! Hop on a paddleboard for an adventure, for up to 8 hours! what_is_included:

Daydream Cruise

Beaufort Boat Charters LLC

Book online
$320.00

description: Join us for a Lowcountry Adventure! Duration 2 Hours About This trip offers a bit more time to settle in on the water. Some options include dolphin and bird watching, stopping at a local waterside restaurant for a drink...

History, Marshlands & Live Oak Expedition

Beaufort Photography Tours

Book online
$499.00 - $999.00

description: TURN BACK THE CLOCK AND EXPERIENCE THE PAST! Options - **Semi-Private Tour**: Includes one non-shooting guest at no additional charge) - **Private Tour**: (1 -4 Guests) About MUCH OF THE SOUTH WAS DESTROYED, BUT IF YOU KNOW...

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

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