Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Vacation Rental

Featured Vacation Rentals

605 Newhaven

Summary:605 Newhaven - Resort Access Supplied! Golf Cart Supplied!The Space:605 Newhaven is a gorgeous two-story, second-floor condo located on the north end of Fripp Island. Right across the street from the famed Ocean Point Golf Course, this...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
 Private neighborhood pool,  4 person go...

Welcome to your home-away from home on handsome Fripp Island. A private gated community ideal for a calming family getaway or peaceful time alone.Savor three-and-one-half miles of pristine uncrowded beaches, wildlife sanctuaries, bicycle paths and...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
The Ocean Oasis: Newly Renovated Luxurio...

Like a rare and resplendent shell on the beach, the freshly re-imagined 'The Ocean Oasis' a two-story, direct Ocean front 3,800 square foot home located on esteemed Marlin Drive, stands out among the others on the exclusive Fripp Island with its...

  • Fripp Island
  • 6 Bedrooms
  • 5 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 18
709 Ocean Cottage

Summary:709 Ocean Cottage - Resort Access and Golf Cart Included!The Space:Unwind and Unwind at 709 Ocean Cottage Escape to Fripp Island with a stay at 709 Ocean Cottage, a striking ocean-view, two-story getaway located on the island’s serene...

  • Fripp Island
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
Perfect Getaway House with Pool! Great f...

Renovated Home with Private In Ground Pool and Rec. Room! PRIVATE POOL - On Golf Course, Renovated Home, Very Short Walk to Beach.Location:Our home is located on the 6th Tee Box on the Ocean Point Golf Course and a three min. walk to beach access #7...

  • Fripp Island
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 20
Renovated Historic Loft in the Heart of ...

**MONTHLY RENTALS WELCOME**The freshly Renovated Craven Street Loft was originally constructed in 1880. A complete restoration of the property was finished in December of 2016. Before undergoing renovations the property was featured on HGTV House...

  • Beaufort
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 2

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Rocky Land RC

Red Maple Event

Book online
$5.00

duration: 5 minutes meeting_point: Saluda Shoals Park min_age: 6 description: Customer will be able to drive a RC Crawler for 5 minutes on the Mobile Crawler Course what_is_included: Course Rules: -Stay in the course boundaries -No wreck less...

Gift Certificate

High Tide Aviation - Beaufort

meeting_point: Beaufort S.C. description: Purchase the perfect gift: a gift certificate with a value of your choosing. Valid for 1 year from time of purchase!

Ghost Tour

Tales of the Lowcountry

Book online
$10.00 - $22.00

description: Rates **Adult (Ages 13+):** $22 **Child (Ages 5-12):** $10 ____ Duration 2 Hours ___ About We visit all the local "haunts" intertwining ghost tales with the history of Beaufort. Come hear tales of folks buried alive, ghost trains...

Saluda River Snorkel Tour

Carolina Safari Co.

Book online
$80.00

duration: 4 Hours meeting_point: Saluda Riverwalk - 650 Candi Ln, Columbia SC 29210 min_age: 14 group_size: Maximum 4 people description: Who would've thought you'd see the day when you heard people go River Snorkeling, especially in the Saluda...

Deck the Porch

Brice Herndon Draft Horse and Carriage Company

Book online
$100.00

Ride in our Vis-a-vis Carriage A more intimate and private setting with your own personal horse and driver. Enjoy private time with your family or make it a couple's adventure strolling through the Front Porch of the Lowcountry! Seating Up to...

Big Fripper Monkey Island Cruise

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$60.00 - $75.00

duration: 3 Hours meeting_point: 875 Bonito Dr, Fripp Island, SC 29920 description: what_is_included:

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...

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...

Beautiful Beaufort Tours

Emma's Earth Shop Golf Cart Tours

Book online
$15.00 - $36.00

Duration One Hour About A fun and eco friendly golf cart tour full of information of the historical homes, movies, and folklore of Beaufort South Carolina. Each ticket includes coupons from restaurants and stores around downtown Beaufort and a...

Historic Carriage Tour

Sea Island Carriage Company

Book online
$14.00 - $36.00

Rates - Adults: $36 - Military: $34 - Child (Ages 4-12): $15 - Lap Child (Ages 0-3): $Free - Must sit on lap Duration 50-55 minutes About Experience Beaufort's rich history & unique charm on a 50-55 minute, fully-narrated, horse drawn...

Reiki I & II

The Arts Port Royal

Book online
$250.00

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: 14 group_size: 10 accessibility: Second Floor description: Reiki is a...

Guide's Choice Half Day Outing

Beaufort Photography Tours

Book online
$249.00 - $499.00

description: YOU PICK THE DAY, WE'LL PICK THE LOCATIONS! Options - **Semi-Private Tour**: Includes one non-shooting guest at no additional charge) - **Private Tour**: (1 -4 Guests) About READY FOR AN ADVENUTRE? THROW DOWN THE WILD CARD! If...

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