Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Featured Vacation Rentals

The Happy Place - Renovated + Walkable i...

FULLY Renovated - Light, Bright, Serene & Roomy!3 Bedrooms + Loft: Sleeps 8 (3 queen + 2 twin beds)Gorgeously furnished and decorated with a cozy shabby chic feel!Forget your worries & savor ALL Port Royal has to offer! Located on a peaceful street...

  • Port Royal
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
Marsh Haven - Beautiful marsh view, cent...

Welcome to "Marsh Haven" located center island and convenient to the best beach accesses on the island.  Savor the impressive marsh vistas teeming with wildlife.  All type of birds and deer are on display for your viewing enjoyment.  From your...

  • Fripp Island
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
500 Remora Dr - 2 Ensuite, Scr Porch/Dec...

## Your Island Home AwaitsPicture this: Your entire family gathering on a screened porch at sunset, watching deer wander through the backyard while the island breeze rolls in. That's a Fripp Island vacation at **Shipwrecked Again** (500 Remora...

  • Fripp Island
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 14
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1 Bedroom, 1 Bath with a view! This bespoke constructed Carriage House boast some of the most glorious sunsets in Beaufort. Located along Battery Creek and mins. away from Historic Downtown Beaufort and Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island...

  • Beaufort
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 2
Brand New, Golf Cart Included - 546 Remo...

Appreciate an exceptional island hideaway in this sizable 3,000 sq ft Lowcountry home.  A brand new build just finished last year, the owners have been meticulous with all details to provide a outstanding vacation experience!  Located on the 12th...

  • Fripp Island
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 5 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12
Marina cottage with unbelievable views o...

Marina bungalow with unbelievable vistas on Fripp Island. Sunrise view from back bedroom, living room and back deck, sunset view from front bedroom and marina vistas from kitchen, living room and front deck. 10 min. walk to the beach. Tidal creek...

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

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Half-Day Kayak Trip OR Shuttle Service

Vintage View River Retreat

Book online
$15.00 - $70.00

meeting_point: 1545 Sunny Acres Rd, Pacolet SC 29372 description: Book a fun and relaxing date with nature that’s sure not to be forgotten! Duration 2-3 hours Location This event will start and end at: Upper Pacolet Shoals Take Out 1545...

Beaufort Ecology Tour

Beaufort Kayak Tours

Book online
$40.00

*Discover nature around every corner! * Rates **Adult (Ages 13+):** $65 **Child (Ages 12-5):** $35 Duration 2 hours About On our Beaufort Ecology Tour, we explore the beauty and nature from an optimal vantage point, the seat of a...

Simple Figure Painting in Watercolor

duration: 3 hours min_age: 14 group_size: 8 accessibility: second floor description: Learn how simple lines, and little color can create the illusion of a human figure. No drawing required. You will also learn how to transfer images for faster and...

Tandem Kayak Rental

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$45.00 - $360.00

duration: 1–8 Hour Rentals meeting_point: 875 Bonito Dr, Fripp Island, SC 29920 description: - Sit-on-top style - 12 feet long - 35 inches wide - 80lbs - Usable weight capacity 400 lbs. what_is_included:

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.

History and Movie Tour by Golf Cart
Book online
$15.00 - $38.00

duration: 1 Hour meeting_point: Downtown Marina at 1006 Bay Street, Beaufort, SC (29902) description: *See stunning live oaks draped with Spanish Moss, and pre-Civil War houses.* This one hour tour by golf cart covers Beaufort’s historic...

3 Hour Hilton Head Island Lunch Trip

Tallboy Fishing Charters

Book online
$600.00

meeting_point: Beaufort, SC description: Travel by boat to beautiful Hilton Head Island for lunch at one of three excellent restaurants. See the Town of Port Royal, Paris Island, and Port Royal Sound along the way as well as Dolphins, Sea Turtles...

CFT Merchandise

Columbia Food Tours

Book online
$2.00 - $30.00

We have products we'd love to share with you to help you remember the great time you had on our Columbia Food Tour.

Wildlife Refuge Birding & Nature Tour

Beaufort Photography Tours

Book online
$249.00 - $499.00

description: 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...

Hunting Island and the Holidays

Hilton Head Island Recreation Association

Book online
$25.00

duration: 2hrs meeting_point: Hunting Island State Park group_size: Up to 20ppl description: A wonderful Moore to Life Holiday tradition filled with nature, food, shopping and fun with friends! We'll begin our day at the Hunting Island Nature...

Sweet Surprise Treat Tour- Feb 18 - March 4

Ticket is valid: Saturday, February 18 - March 4 Receive 7 treats within 14 days Exchange your coupons (PDF will be sent via email and will need to be printed out) for a treat at each sweet shop. The Midlands has some delicious dessert shops...

Flyboard 30 Minute

Carolina Hydrofly

Book online
$149.00

description: 30 Minute Flyboard Pro Series Experience About Each guest will have 20 minutes of flight time and 10 minutes of instruction time. If you would like to book for more than one person, then please process one booking per person by...

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