Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Featured Vacation Rentals

Fripp Island Luxury Home: Private Pool, ...

Summary:Feel refined coastal living at Fallback Position, a luxury vacation rental located at 515 Tarpon Boulevard on Fripp Island, South Carolina. Located in the highly sought-after South Tarpon neighborhood, this professionally managed home offers...

  • Fripp Island
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12
108 Davis Love Drive - New to VRBO! Reso...

Feel Coastal Luxury at 108 Davis Adore Drive, a Captivating Four-Bedroom Home on Fripp IslandLocated in the heart of Fripp Island, this enchanting two-story getaway, 108 Davis Appreciate Drive, captures the essence of island living with its...

  • Fripp Island
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 14
Luxury King Suite w. Marble Bath at Hist...

Summary:Savor your stay in this delightfully appointed and roomy King Suite, located within a striking boutique hotel inside a historic Beaufort home. The suite features opulent furnishings and a extravagant granite en-suite bath complete with a...

  • Beaufort
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 2
The Bird's Nest

Though the Bird's Nest is designed for two people in one bed we know that sometimes families or groups need an additional bed... we can be flexible. Extra guest (up to two) are no charge. Please keep in mind that check-out is 11AM unless allowances...

  • Beaufort
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
756 Bonito Road - Resort Access and Golf...

Welcome to 756 Bonito, a beautiful two-story coastal getaway located on the charming south end of Fripp Island. Just a short walk to the Ocean Marina and the Bonito Boathouse Restaurant, this handsomely appointed 3-bedroom, 3-bath home comfortably...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
The Coral Pelican - 1 Block to Sand and ...

Charming refreshed home. Roomy extravagant king bedroom, sweet inviting queen bedroom, and fun twin bedroom with two trundles located under them for additional sleepers.Wagon, cooler on wheels and beach chairs for use.Golf cart rental available for...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Custom Charter and Private Celebrations

duration: 3 hours + meeting_point: 1 Port Royal Landing Dr, Port Royal, SC 29935 group_size: 6 Passenger maximum for the cruise or 12 while docked at the marina or your private residence description: Life’s milestones deserve more than a table at...

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...

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...

Sunset River Cruise (2 Hrs)

Beaufort Dolphin Adventures

Book online
$344.34 - $551.89

duration: 2 Hour 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 to...

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!

Tie Dye at Creekhouse

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

duration: 1 hours meeting_point: Creekhouse min_age: 3 description: Get ready to mix, swirl, and create in our tie dye activity! This hands-on experience is perfect for anyone! Choose from a variety of colors and patterns to create a one-of-a-kind...

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 Walking History/Movie Tour
Book online
$15.00 - $36.00

*Over 300 years of history plus stories about Hollywood movies and actors.* _________ Duration 2 Hours ________ About Walking tour of Beaufort’s historic district gives you a chance to learn more about our beautiful town and ask questions as...

Indigo Dye Workshop

Port Royal Sound Foundation

Book online
$15.00

duration: 1.5 Hour meeting_point: Maritime Center 310 Okatie Highway, Okatie, SC 29909 min_age: 10 group_size: 20 description: Learn about the history of indigo usage and how to dye fabrics using "Shibori" techniques. All participants will be...

Pluff Mudder Summer Camp

Port Royal Sound Foundation

Book online
$445.00

duration: Monday-Friday cancellation_summary: Due to limited space and high demand for our Pluff Mudder Summer Camps, all payments are non-refundable. Please let us know as soon as possible if you have to cancel your reservation so we can fill your...

Abstract Expressionism  - Landscapes

duration: 3 hours meeting_point: The Arts Port Royal group_size: 4 description: Explore creating landscapes in abstract expressionism style Expressionists paint not just what they see but what they feel. they described the style as emotional...

Pritchards Island Excursion

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$15.00 - $80.00

duration: 2-4 hours cancellation_summary: No refunds if cancelled within 24 hours of excursion meeting_point: Nature Center group_size: Maximum 8 people description: Pritchard's Island is a pristine undeveloped natural barrier island just south of...

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