Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Vacation Rental

Featured Vacation Rentals

Beautiful ocean views, golf cart include...

This 3 bedroom / 3 bath home has spectacular vistas & is just steps away from the Cabana Club.  Savor the 3 separate pools and delicious lunch and welcoming bar area.  Take the supplied 6 seat golf cart to one of the 31 beach accesses just a short...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
**The Caddy's Shack** Golf Cart Included...

The Caddy's Shack is ready for you, Golf Cart Supplied and option for Club CardsWe are happy to welcome your crew to our little piece of heaven at Fripp Island. Sleeping nine, our three bedroom, two bathroom home has a handsome view of the 13th hole...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 9
Oyster Rake Cottage. Peaceful, brand new...

Escape to this cool bungalow in photogenic Beaufort. This striking getaway features 2 king bedrooms, each equipped with a hair dryer for your convenience. With amenities like AC and heating, guests can relax in comfort. The 2 bathrooms, both...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
Newly Renovated 3 Bed/2.5 Bath 15 mins t...

Feel the best the Low Country has to offer in our historic 2,300 sq ft home. Located just a short walk from Beaufort’s thriving waterfront and lively downtown, our freshly remodeled and thoughtfully appointed home is filled with natural light and...

  • Beaufort
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
860 Sabal Ct - New to VRBO! Resort Acces...

Escape to Sabal Serenity, where tranquility and tranquility await you. This impressive modern vacation rental is located in a peaceful cul-de-sac and offers handsome marsh vistas from most rooms, including the huge, screened porch and deck. Feel the...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
325 Ocean Point. Golf Course and Ocean V...

325 Ocean PointLocated on the north end of Fripp Island, this gorgeously appointed 4-bedroom, 3-bath home offers beautiful golf course and ocean vistas. Just steps from the pool, golf course, and the freshly remodeled Ocean Point Grille, the setting...

  • Fripp Island
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Wildlife Refuge Birding & Nature Tour

Beaufort Photography Tours

Book online
$249.00 - $499.00

LET'S GET WILD WITH A BIRDING AND NATURE TOUR! Options - **Semi-Private Tour**: Includes one non-shooting guest at no additional charge - **Private Tour**: (1 -4 Guests) About COME AND EXPLORE THE WILD SIDE OF BEAUFORT! Home to a wide...

5 Hour Private Charter

Tallboy Fishing Charters

Book online
$850.00

Hop aboard Tallboy Fishing Charters with a local Expert! ___________________________________ Rates **Private Charter:** $850 *Up to 6 Passengers* ___________________________________ About the Captain Make memories fishing with me, Capt...

PTP: Special Sunset Cruises

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$45.00

duration: 1.5 Hours meeting_point: 875 Bonito Dr, Fripp Island, SC 29920 description: Pledge The Pink: Special Sunset Cruises on The Big Fripper

4 Hour Private Charter

Tallboy Fishing Charters

Book online
$700.00

Hop aboard Tallboy Fishing Charters with a local Expert! ___________________________________ Rates **Private Charter:** $700 *Up to 6 Passengers* ___________________________________ About the Captain Make memories fishing with me, Capt...

Gift Card

Edisto Bike and Golf Cart Rental

Purchase the perfect gift: a gift card with a value of your choosing and no expiration date!

Beaufort Land and Sea Combo

Beaufort Gray Line

Book online
$32.00 - $69.00

Combine our 75-minute Beaufort City Tour with Coastal Expedition's 90-minute Dolphin and History Boat Cruise Departing from the downtown Beaufort marina at the Waterfront Park, this land and sea combo is a fun and family-friendly escape...

Oyster Hatchery Tour and Tasting

Beaufort Kayak Tours

Book online
$35.00

Duration 1 Hour About

Lil Fripper

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$300.00 - $400.00

duration: 1.5 meeting_point: Fripp Island Paddle Shack group_size: 6 description: Let's cruise the island's waterways and watch the sunset on our new Lil' Fripper. This captained social boat comfortably accommodates six guests, ensuring lots of fun...

Learn to Sail Adventure

Otter Sailing Adventures LLC

Book online
$600.00

Duration 5 hours About Experience the thrill of learning to sail all by yourself on one of our 8 or 10 ft Bauer Sailing Dinghies and then end the day off by learning the "ropes" as we sail the Liahona, our 38' Catalina Sailboat. A private...

Pine Island Excursion Boat Ride

Edisto Watersports and Tackle

Book online
$30.00 - $50.00

duration: 3 hours meeting_point: Edisto Watersports & Tackle description: Explore Pine Islands beach, sandbars and tidal pools at low tide. You'll find ample marine life and shorebirds feeding and resting on this deserted ACE Basin...

Daytime General Admission with Festival of Lights nightime Ticket

Daytime General Admission with Festival of Lights This ticket allows you to enjoy our wonderful daytime zoo and the stay to make magical memories with us and enjoy the zoo at night with lights throughout the zoo! This ticket includes visiting with...

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.

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