Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Featured Vacation Rentals

Beautiful home in a great central locati...

Consider this home your home away from home while you visit Beaufort. With 3 comfortable bedrooms including a king, queen, and twin bed, guests will have a cozy stay. Appreciate the convenience of a bathroom with a bathtub and hair dryer. This nice...

  • Beaufort
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Beaufort in Bloom! Historic District art...

This property is literally mins. from downtown Beaufort! A short walk through the Historic District to eateries, galleries, stores,and the waterfront park and marina.It's also a fast drive to the beach and Paris Island..This townhouse is a 1400 sq...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 5
Lowcountry Retreat - Sleeps 6 - Close to...

This comfortable 3-bedroom, 1-bath home offers comfort and convenience for families or modest groups. Savor a entirely equipped kitchen, cavernous living room, and modern bathroom. With complimentary Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and all essentials...

  • Beaufort
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
517 Tarpon Blvd - The Sunset Fripp

Summary:Welcome to 517 Tarpon Blvd, The Sunset Fripp! -- Oceanfront Bliss 5 bed 5.5 bath Sleeps 12 - - Immaculate Sunset Vistas -- Resort Access and Golf Cart Included!The Space:Welcome to 517 Tarpon Blvd - The Sunset Fripp! (formerly known as...

  • Fripp Island
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 5 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12
175 Beach Club Villa

Summary:summaryThe Space:175 Beach Club Villa – Fripp IslandWelcome to 175 Beach Club Villa, a striking 2-bedroom, 2-bath villa ideally located in the heart of Fripp Island. This delightfully refreshed condo offers peaceful canal and marsh vistas...

  • Fripp Island
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
Pool + Ocean View + Walk to Beach - Vill...

Welcome to 326 Captain John Fripp Villa—a breezy ocean-view hideaway just steps from the sand and a pool. With fiber Wi-Fi, coastal appeal, and room for six, this villa combines comfort, convenience, and unbeatable island access.- Prime location ...

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

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Raw & Wet - Next Level

The Arts Port Royal

Book online
$159.00

duration: 3 hours meeting_point: The Arts Port Royal group_size: 6 description: Let the canvas breathe - and watch what happens when paint is allowed to flow This is a TWO afternoon class to allow drying between layers. Some of the most...

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...

Lowcountry Christmas

Tales of the Lowcountry

Book online
$18.00

duration: 1.5 cancellation_summary: 1 hour prior meeting_point: 1002 Baystreet Beaufort, South Carolina group_size: 20 accessibility: yes pricing: Prices 18 for adults 10 for children 5 and under are free description: Celebrate the season with a...

Fripp Island Milky Way Photography

Beaufort Photography Tours

Book online
$100.00

description: About Join us for an opportunity to photograph the Milky Way. We'll meet for a brief classroom session to discus settings and composition and then head to the beach for photography. This tour is highly weather dependent. We may...

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

SINGO!

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$5.00

duration: 1 hour cancellation_summary: 6- hour in advanced meeting_point: CreekHouse min_age: 5 description: Join Us for Singo! ($5 per card) at the Cabana Club Enjoy singing along to your favorite hits, all while competing for a chance to win...

Stunning Best of Beaufort Experience

Beaufort Photography Tours

Book online
$499.00 - $999.00

description: LOOKING FOR A FULL LOWCOUNTRY PHOTO EXPERIENCE? Options - **Semi-Private Tour**: Includes one non-shooting guest at no additional charge - **Private Tour**: (1 -4 Guests) About IF YOU LOVE BEAUFORT AS MUCH AS WE DO, THIS IS...

Saint Helena Day Sail

Otter Sailing Adventures LLC

Book online
$350.00

description: Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of Low Country waterways and the Saint Helena Sound Duration 2.5 hours About Private Sailing Charter - Price Per Group (up to 6) Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of Low Country waterways...

SC Pimento Cheese Sponsor

Red Maple Event

Book online
$500.00 - $3,000.00

duration: 5 hours meeting_point: 6071 St Andrews Rd, Columbia, SC 29212 description: Promote your business in front of the crowds at the SC Pimento Cheese Festival This free, family friendly event will draw crowds from all over the state. There...

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...

Wednesday Camp Fripp-Wild Water Wednesday

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$57.00 - $65.00

duration: 3 hours meeting_point: Creekhouse min_age: 3 max_age: 12 description: Cool off and make a splash during Water Works Day! Enjoy a variety of fun water games and activities, including exciting relay races, splash challenges, and pool fun...

7 Hour Private Charter

Tallboy Fishing Charters

Book online
$1,200.00

description: Hop aboard Tallboy Fishing Charters with a local Expert! ___________________________________ Rates **Private Charter:** $1,200 *Up to 4 Passengers* ___________________________________ Full Day Offshore Charter Full day fishing...

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