Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Vacation Rental

Featured Vacation Rentals

New listing! Beautiful Habersham Home

Welcome to your ideal hideaway in the heart of Habersham, one of Beaufort's most sought-after neighborhoods! This inviting first-floor apartment features an open-concept design, seamlessly blending the cavernous eat-in kitchen, dining area, and...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
Ocean views, Steps to Best Beach on Isla...

Welcome to SerenFrippity, a comfortable island getaway located just one home from the beach access boardwalk leading to one of Fripp Island's most handsome stretches of shoreline.Leave the car parked and appreciate the convenience of being able to...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 9
221 Tennis Villa

Summary:221 Tennis Villa - New to Airbnb! Resort Access Included!The Space:Tennis Villa Condo, 1 Bedroom + Convertible bed, 2 Baths, (Sleeps 2-4)Our Tennis Villa is located just across the street from the beach!221 Tennis Villa is an end unit...

  • Fripp Island
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
The White Brick Escape

Welcome to your private modern getaway — a freshly refreshed 1-bedroom suite designed for comfort, convenience, and relaxation.Bright, spotless, and stylishly furnished, this space includes a kitchenette, a cavernous living room, a extravagant...

  • Beaufort
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 2
Landing | Modern 2BD, Gym

Welcome to Zephyr in Port Royal, SC! Ideal for monthly or extended stays, our entirely-furnished apartments feature full kitchens, in-unit laundry, fast WiFi, fresh furnishings, and a dedicated workspace. Please note: The community pool is currently...

  • Port Royal
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
Spacious 4-bedroom home in Historical Be...

This refreshed 4-bedroom home was constructed in 1944 and is ideal for your escape to Beaufort. With 2 king beds, a full size couch bed, and 2 twin beds, guests have plenty of space to relax comfortably. The 3 bathrooms include a bathtub and shower...

  • Beaufort
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Family Feud at the Beach Club Greene (by the food trucks)

duration: 1 hour meeting_point: Beach Club min_age: 6 description: Get ready for a fun-filled game of Family Feud! Gather your team and go head-to-head in this exciting, fast-paced trivia challenge based on the classic game show. Answer survey-style...

Shibumi© Shade Rental

Edisto Bike and Golf Cart Rental

Book online
$25.00 - $125.00

description: The newest must have for the beach!! Super light weight and easy to set up! All you need is a calm ocean breeze to create 100sq ft of perfect shade!! Super light weight and easy to set up! All you need is a calm ocean breeze to...

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 Sunrise

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

Beachcombing & Eco Tour (2 Hrs)

Beaufort Dolphin Adventures

Book online
$372.64

duration: 2 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...

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...

Summer Art Camp for Tweens & Teens-11 and up-Afternoons

duration: 2.5 hours min_age: 11 max_age: 18 group_size: 8 accessibility: Second Floor description: Cheryl Johnson has some great projects in store for this summer There will be sculpture, jewelry, collage, painting projects, and more!

Variety Craft Hour at Creekhouse *Walk-Up ONLY

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$35.00

duration: 1 hour meeting_point: Creekhouse min_age: 3 description: Unleash your creativity at Variety Craft Hour! Each session features a fun, hands-on project, from painting, seasonal decorations, to DIY keepsakes. Whether you're a beginner or a...

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...

Maritime Center Eco Tour

Beaufort Dolphin Adventures

Book online
$20.00 - $40.00

duration: 90 Minutes cancellation_summary: Customers will receive a full refund with 24 hours notice of cancellation. Customers will also receive a full refund in case of operator cancellation due to weather. meeting_point: Port Royal Sound...

Texture Art  - 2.0 Next level

The Arts Port Royal

Book online
$179.00

duration: 6 hours class and a lunch break accessibility: 8 description: Modeling Paste, fabric, gels and the power of surface This is a full-day class to learn and experiment with techniques that add texture to your art. It can be taken as a...

Kids Night Out 5pm-8pm

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$50.00 - $55.00

duration: 3 meeting_point: Drop-off/Pick-up at The Creekhouse min_age: 3 max_age: 12 group_size: 8 description: About Drop the kids off for a fun Kids Night Out! Expect your kids to engage in fun games, physical activities, crafts starting in...

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