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Featured Vacation Rentals

Stargazing Getaway  , Pet Friendly - 730...

Welcome to Stargazing Getaway!  This midcentury modern home is designed for comfort and provides plenty of room for up to 24 guests.  The enormous property, which is located on the 5th hole of Ocean Point golf course, accepts for great golf and...

  • Fripp Island
  • 6 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 24
The Blue Green Heron \n5 miles to Parris...

Your comfortable hideaway awaits in Port Royal at this phenomenal bungalow. With 2 bedrooms featuring a queen bed and a full bed, a bathroom equipped with a shower and hair dryer, and essential amenities like AC and heating, this handsome getaway is...

  • Port Royal
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
Beachy Home in Heart of Beaufort w/ Pool...

Walk to Neighborhood Conveniences | SC State Park Pass Included | Near Shopping & EateriesWelcome to ‘The Coastal Sea Island Getaway!’ This beach-themed 4-bed, 2-bath vacation rental sits in the heart of impressive Beaufort by the sea. Savor the...

  • Beaufort
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 9
Beaufort Charm showcased in this elegant...

Unwind in Sensational Beaufort, SC. This home is walking distance to downtown, Beaufort's swing lined Waterfront and Bay Street lined with beautiful stores, art galleries and eateries. Close driving distance to multiple golf courses. Adore the...

  • Beaufort
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
Charming Coastal Casa on Beaufort's Batt...

Feel Coastal Lowcountry Living with Spanish Moss and Live Oaks from this Waterfront 1st-floor 1 bedroom / 1 bathroom enchanting condo in a gated community in Spectacular Beaufort South Carolina. Entirely outfitted kitchen, laundry room, comfortable...

  • Beaufort
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
Downtown Charm. Walk to Everything. Pet ...

Feel the appeal of Beaufort in this award-winning 1874 historic home, proudly veteran-owned and recognized by the Beaufort Historic Foundation. Located in the heart of downtown, you're just a 5-min. walk from enchanting eateries, boutique stores...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4

Beaufort Tours & Activities

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...

Oak Avenues & Island Marsh Sunset

Beaufort Photography Tours

Book online
$249.00 - $499.00

description: THE LOCATIONS YOU'VE BEEN DREAMING ABOUT! Options - **Semi-Private Tour**: Includes one non-shooting guest at no additional charge - **Private Tour**: (1 -4 Guests) About THERE'S NOTHING MORE SOUTHERN THAN LIVE OAKS AND...

Private Farm Tour

Lowcountry Oyster Co.

Book online
$300.00 - $450.00

Reserve a farm & boat tour all to yourself with this exclusive option! Enjoy a private and personalized tour of our farm facilities followed by a boat ride out into beautiful ACE Basin to see the plots where we grow and cultivate our delicious...

Sunset Cruise

Beaufort Boat Charters LLC

Book online
$320.00

description: Please note, we may need to slightly adjust the trip departure time to ensure we are in the right time window to catch the Sunset for the day you choose :) Duration 2 Hours About Come enjoy a beautiful Lowcountry Sunset with us...

Cast Net Fishing Class

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$75.00

duration: 1 Hour min_age: 10 description: Learn how to catch bait like the locals! This class will include demonstration and you will get to practice what you learn! what_is_included: Class and your very own cast net to take home.

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...

Screen 2

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...

Fish Printing

Port Royal Sound Foundation

Book online
$15.00

description: Great for all ages! Duration 1 Hour About Come to the Maritime Center to decorate your own reusable bag using fish stamps!

Beaufort River Tour from Downtown (90 Min)

Beaufort Dolphin Adventures

Book online
$325.47 - $533.02

duration: 90 Minute Private Boat Tour cancellation_summary: Customers will receive a full refund with 24 hours notice of cancellation or if we have to cancel due to weather meeting_point: 1 Port Royal Landing Dr, Port Royal, SC 29935 group_size: Up...

Valentine's Day Carriage Rides

Brice Herndon Draft Horse and Carriage Company

Book online
$100.00

A Fairytale Valentine's Day: Take Your Sweetheart on a Magical Carriage Ride. We will start from the north side of Union Point Park . Each ride is approximately 18 to 20 minutes long. The carriage will comfortably hold 4 adults and 2 small...

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...

Drawing 101-Perspective

The Arts Port Royal

Book online
$75.00

If your drawings look wonky, it's probably a problem with your perspective. In this class you will learn to scale your drawings and create perspective. Creating the illusion of distance is the fundamental reason to create convincing...

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