Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Featured Vacation Rentals

Turning Tide Cottage - Sleeps 4!

Welcome to Turning Tide, a peaceful 2-bedroom, 1-bath bungalow with impressive waterfront vistas. Sleeps 4 and appreciate fishing from the backyard at high tide or calming as the sun sets over the water. Located just 8 mins. from downtown Beaufort...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
Beaufort's Blue Heron Hideaway on Batter...

Feel Beaufort's Battery Creek from this freshly-modernized Waterfront 1st-floor 1 bedroom / 1 bathroom end-unit condo in a gated community in Stunning Beaufort South Carolina. Totally supplied kitchen, laundry room, comfortable Queen bed, pull-out...

  • Beaufort
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
Fripper Upper: 1st Floor, Just for TWO, ...

Often imitated; never duplicated - We're modest but mighty!  Stay with us and see why our guests literally brag that "Fripper Upper" is the best one-bedroom on the island!   "Fripper Upper" is a COMPLETELY and TASTEFULLY RENOVATED (end of 2021...

  • Fripp Island
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 2
Flamingo Cove - Beautiful deep water vie...

Welcome to Flamingo Cove! We are located on handsome Ladys Island, right on the Spring Knob Creek. Bringing your boat? Boat Landing is close by. There are sand bars at low tide and great fishing at every bend in the river, this is the place to play...

  • Beaufort
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
171 Beach Club Villa - First Floor Condo...

**This property offers club cards for access to Fripp Island Resort amenities. A Resort fee (12.8% of the base rental rate) will be charged in addition to the cost of the individual club cards if you decide you would like to use the Resort...

  • Fripp Island
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Tucked Away Renovated 4 Bedroom/ 2 Bath,...

This freshly modernized home is centrally located in Beaufort, is close to handsome beaches, and is less than 5 miles drive to Parris Island, MCAS Air Station and beautiful Historic Downtown Beaufort. This home has newly been completely refreshed...

  • Beaufort
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Gift Cards

Carolina Hydrofly

description: Purchase the perfect gift: a gift card with a value of your choosing!

4 Hour Private Charter

Tallboy Fishing Charters

Book online
$700.00

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

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...

Saint Helena Sunset Sail

Otter Sailing Adventures LLC

Book online
$375.00

description: There's nothing like experiencing the magic of a sunset under sail in the beauty of the St Helena sound Duration 2 hours About Private Sailing Charter - Price Per Group (up to 6) There's nothing like experiencing the...

5 Hour Rental

Pedego Electric Bikes Greenville

Book online
$25.00 - $94.00

Ride out our front door onto the Swamp Rabbit Trail! ???? Experience the Thrill of Greenville's Iconic Swamp Rabbit Trail with Pedego Electric Bikes! ????‍♂️ Ready for an adventure like no other? ???? Step right up and immerse yourself...

Thursday SINGO!

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$5.00

duration: 1 hour cancellation_summary: 6- hour in advanced meeting_point: CreekHouse min_age: 5 description: Join Us for Singo! ($5 per card) Thursday, March 5th & 19th 3-4pm at the Creekhouse (behind the Nature Center). Enjoy singing along to...

Family Feud at the Beach Club Stage

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$12.00

duration: 1 hour meeting_point: Beach Club min_age: 3 description: Get ready for a fun-filled game of Family Feud! Gather your team and go head-to-head in this exciting, fast-paced trivia challenge based on the classic game show. Answer survey-style...

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...

Guided Kayak Outgoing Tidal Tour

Edisto Watersports and Tackle

Book online
$50.00 - $100.00

duration: 2 hours meeting_point: Edisto Watersports & Tackle description: Enjoy a lovely Kayak tour guided by one of our experts! Rates **Single Kayak:** $50 **Tandem Kayak (Seats 2):** $100 *Ages 4+ Welcome!...

A.C.E. Basin & Monkey Island Tour

Beaufort Dolphin Adventures

Book online
$372.64

duration: 2 Hours cancellation_summary: Customers will receive a full refund with 24 hours notice of cancellation. Customers will also receive a full refund or credit in case of operator cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances...

Sunset Cruise

Beaufort Boat Charters LLC

Book online
$320.00

description: Please note, we may need to slightly adjust the trip departure time to ensure we are in the right time window to catch the Sunset for the day you choose :) Duration 2 Hours About Come enjoy a beautiful Lowcountry Sunset with us...

Sandy Bottom Boards - Grazing Box

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$34.00

duration: 2.5 hours meeting_point: 300 Tarpon Blvd. group_size: 1 description: Tides & Tunes Grazing Boxes Are Here! We’ve partnered with our friends at Sandy Bottom Boards to bring you the ultimate concert companion—beautifully curated...

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