Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Featured Vacation Rentals

Spanish Moss dream, Port Royal Landing M...

Awaken all your senses in this luxuriously remodeled 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath home in the handsome historic Port Royal Landing surrounded by magical Spanish Moss draped oaks. Walk to the Marina restaurant. Luxurious interior design gives you a very...

  • Port Royal
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Cozy And Centrally•Pet Friendly

Close to shopping and eateries. Savor the convenience of being just mins. away from fashionable attractions and local amenities. Unwind in the comfort of a cavernous and well-appointed home, complete with a entirely equipped kitchen, comfortable...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
New to VRBO-One Particular Marsh-Sunrise...

NEW TO Vacation Rental By Owner – One Particular Marsh-Sunrise Marsh Vistas • Marina Living • INCREDIBLE Location- Free GOLF CART 2 Bedrooms • 2.5 Baths • Sleeps 6 • Marsh & Marina Vistas- No reviews yet? No worries!Check out our other...

  • Fripp Island
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
756 Bonito Road - Resort Access and Golf...

Welcome to 756 Bonito, a striking 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
Harrington House- Short Walk to Downtown

Unwind and relax 803 Harrington, a appealing historic low country bungalow located in the heart of downtown Beaufort, SC. Constructed in 1890, this bungalow combines classic Southern touches with modern amenities, featuring 2 bedrooms and 1 bath...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
520 Sunsuite -  Resort Access Included!

Located on the second floor, this impressive rental has just undergone a complete remodel in 2024, ensuring that every aspect of your stay is nothing short of exceptional.Welcome to 520 Sunsuite, your premier destination for a Fripp Island hideaway...

  • Fripp Island
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 3

Beaufort Tours & Activities

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...

One Hour Axe Throwing

Wolverine Axe Throwing

Book online
$20.00

Enjoy your time at Wolverine Axe Throwing throwing axes! Duration 1 hour About Welcome to Wolverine Axe Throwing in Woodruff, SC. If you have never thrown an axe before, there is nothing to fear. When you arrive our axperts will show you...

Huntington Beach Bird Safari

Carolina Safari Co.

Book online
$85.00

duration: 4 Hours meeting_point: Huntington Beach State Park group_size: Maximum 8 people description: Are you ready to visit number one birdwatching destination in South Carolina? Huntington Beach State Park has had 338 species of birds documented...

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...

Stuff-A-Plush Holiday Craft at Beach Club complex

duration: 1 hour meeting_point: Creekhouse min_age: 3 description: Create your own cuddly companion at our stuff-a-plush event! Choose from a variety of animals, then bring them to life by stuffing them with fluff and adding a special heart for...

Custom Tour

High Tide Aviation - Beaufort

Book online
$220.00

duration: 1 Hour description: Decide what sights you see! An hour-long flight where you get to decide what sights you see and what landmarks you focus on. Whether you want a new perspective of the Harbor Town Lighthouse, or a bird's eye view of St...

Private: Oldfield Season Tune Up Clinic

Sporting Clay Xperiences

Book online
$225.00

description: Need a Sporting Clays tune up! Duration 3 Hours About Prepare for the upcoming Sporting Clays season. Shake off cob webs or address nagging habits that are holding you back. Learn how to consistently break quartering and crossing...

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...

Seas The Day Cruise

Beaufort Boat Charters LLC

Book online
$480.00

description: Join us for a Lowcountry Adventure! Duration 3 Hours About Our 3 hour cruise allows time to get in even more during your time on the water! Some options may include visiting a local sandbar (tide dependent), a trip to...

Bear Island Bird Safari

Carolina Safari Co.

Book online
$60.00

duration: 4 Hours meeting_point: Bear Island Game Management Area Main Gate - 12294 Bennetts Point Rd, Green Pond SC 29446 group_size: Maximum 8 people description: Are you ready to visit one of the best birdwatching spots in South Carolina? Bear...

Canvas & Cabernet Wine Glass Edition

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$35.00 - $40.00

duration: 2 meeting_point: Oceanview Lounge (above Beach Club) min_age: 21 description: Wine Glass edition. Includes one free glass of wine or beer with class! what_is_included: None

SC Pimento Cheese Festival- Vendor
Book online
$30.00 - $125.00

duration: 8 hours meeting_point: 6071 St Andrews Rd, Columbia, SC 29212 description: With over 2,500 in attendance in our 1st SC Pimento Cheese Fest last year, we believe this year will be bigger and better! Promote your business in front of the...

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