Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Featured Vacation Rentals

Stunning Oceanfront Home with Private Be...

Get away to an striking oceanfront vacation.  This island home is right on the Atlantic and offers sizable living spaces with striking beach vistas.  It is designed and refreshed with comfortable coastal vibes for a calming stay.The huge living...

  • Fripp Island
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 15
The Manhattan Suite (Apartment 2), at Ma...

A ground floor apartment. The living room includes a couch, and two upholstered chairs, coffee table and end tables, and TV. This is joined to the open kitchen by a breakfast bar with granite counter top. There is also a table with two stools...

  • Beaufort
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 2
Once Upon A Tide: Cozy 3b/2b Villa on Da...

Welcome to Once Upon A Tide! True to its name with gorgeous palm tree vistas overlooking the tidal marsh and 18th green of the Cotton Dike Golf Course. Once Upon a Tide is your ideal Low Country hideaway. Located in the Bluff Villas area on Dataw...

  • Dataw Island
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
617 Newhaven - Three Bedroom Villa, Slee...

3 Bedrooms, 3 1/2 Baths Overlooking the Ocean! Recently Renovated, New Golf Cart Included!When you walk through the front door, your eyes immediately see a view of the ocean.Villa has undergone a complete remodel. This is a handsome oceanfront/ocean...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
Luxury Home Minutes to Base & Downtown -...

Your hideaway awaits in our freshly refreshed home 5 mins. from Downtown Bay St and 10 mins. to Parris Island! This is one of the few 4 bedroom 3 bath Airbnb’s available in Beaufort proper. Retreat to one of the 4 bedrooms including TWO masters...

  • Beaufort
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
no longer available

Savor a beautiful and calming experience at this centrally-located studio in Shell Point, Beaufort SC, on the marsh. In a few short miles you can be in Port Royal, appreciating the cozy coffeehouses, water-front eateries and brewhouse or digging up...

  • Beaufort
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 3

Beaufort Tours & Activities

SC Pimento Cheese Festival Merch
Book online
$2.00 - $18.00

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...

Sunset Cruise

Edisto Watersports and Tackle

Book online
$30.00 - $50.00

description: Join us for a Leisurely Sunset Boat Ride! ________________________________ ⚠️**Cancellation Policy** Customer cancellations made more than 7 days in advance will receive a full refund/waiver of fees. Customer cancellations made...

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...

Beaufort City Tour

Beaufort Gray Line

Book online
$12.00 - $35.00

description: Book Online Now! Duration 75-105 minutes About Experience over three hundred years of history in Beaufort, South Carolina’s second oldest city. This charming city boasts a fascinating history of exploration by the Spanish...

Saluda River Snorkel Tour

Carolina Safari Co.

Book online
$80.00

duration: 4 Hours meeting_point: Saluda Riverwalk - 650 Candi Ln, Columbia SC 29210 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 River! The Lower...

Kayak Rental

Edisto Watersports and Tackle

Book online
$40.00 - $80.00

meeting_point: Edisto Beach, SC description: *Book Online Now!* ___________________________________ Rates **Single Kayak:** $40 **Tandem Kayak (Seats 2):** $80 **Tandem Kayak + Child(under 10):** $60 *Must be 18+ to Rent* *Ages 4 & over...

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...

Habersham for the Holidays (NOT LOCATED DOWNTOWN)
Book online
$15.00 - $325.00

Duration Approx 20 Mins Rates Adult ( 13 yrs & over ): $25.00 Child ( For ages 4 to 12 ) : $15.00 Lap Child : Free Full Carriage ( Up to 12 people ) : $325.00 About EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON ON A HORSE & CARRIAGE RIDE...

Junior Pluff Mudder Summer Camp

Port Royal Sound Foundation

Book online
$345.00

duration: Monday-Friday cancellation_summary: Due to limited space and high demand for our Junior Pluff Mudder Summer Camps, all payments are non-refundable. Please let us know as soon as possible if you have to cancel your reservation so we can...

Maritime Center Eco Tour

Beaufort Dolphin Adventures

Book online
$20.00 - $40.00

duration: 90 Minutes cancellation_summary: Customers will receive a full refund with 24 hours notice of cancellation. Customers will also receive a full refund in case of operator cancellation due to weather. meeting_point: Port Royal Sound...

Reptile Meet & Greet

Port Royal Sound Foundation

Book online
$10.00

description: Meet and greet the reptiles in the Maritime Center. Duration 1 Hour About Join our Naturalists for an educational program about the reptiles of the Lowcountry. This program will teach you what makes a reptile a reptile along...

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