Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Featured Vacation Rentals

Breezy Oak on Dolphin with Private Pool ...

Breezy Oak on Dolphin is a coastal home with a private pool - just steps from the beach. Savor the best of both worlds in this striking beach home located across the street from the ocean. Unwind by your own private pool after a day in the sun, or...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 9
405 Captain John Fripp Villa - Ocean Fro...

**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 4
NEW! The White House, w/ 2 King Ensuites...

NEW! The White House, w/ 2 King Ensuites close to Parris Island and DowntownTotally modernized in 2025, the White House features all new construction. This is not your typical rental, the home has been meticulously furnished and equipped to ensure...

  • Beaufort
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
34 Davis Love Drive

Summary:34 Davis Adore - Great Golf Course Vistas! Golfers Welcome! Resort Access Included!The Space:Charming Coastal Retreat on Fripp Island – 3BR/3BA with Golf Course Vistas - Welcome to 34 Davis Appreciate, a charmingly appointed 3-bedroom...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
Downtown Beaufort! - Walk to shops and d...

New listing! Only steps from Beaufort's Bay Street stores, eateries and striking waterfront Park. The Price Cottage is the ideal base from which to begin your low country adventure. Welcome to Down by the Bay, a beautiful Lowcountry getaway...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 5
River Retreat- Waterfront-  1 MI from Pa...

This river getaway can sleep 8 and is a little slice of heaven less than a mile from Parris Island. You will have the chance to hopefully see the dolphins feed while you are calming or you can sit on the porch and catch a beautiful sunrise over the...

  • Beaufort
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Surf Rod

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$35.00 - $100.00

Raw & Wet - Next Level

The Arts Port Royal

Book online
$159.00

duration: 3 hours meeting_point: The Arts Port Royal group_size: 6 description: Let the canvas breathe - and watch what happens when paint is allowed to flow This is a TWO afternoon class to allow drying between layers. Some of the most...

Lil Fripper

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$300.00 - $400.00

duration: 1.5 meeting_point: Fripp Island Paddle Shack group_size: 6 description: Let's cruise the island's waterways and watch the sunset on our new Lil' Fripper. This captained social boat comfortably accommodates six guests, ensuring lots of fun...

Shibumi© Shade Rental

Edisto Bike and Golf Cart Rental

Book online
$25.00 - $125.00

description: The newest must have for the beach!! Super light weight and easy to set up! All you need is a calm ocean breeze to create 100sq ft of perfect shade!! Super light weight and easy to set up! All you need is a calm ocean breeze to...

Hilton Head Tour

High Tide Aviation - Beaufort

Book online
$140.00

description: About Want to see more than the local area? This tour is for you! Get an overhead view of Bull Point Beach, Hilton Head Island, Daufuskie Island, Harbor Town Lighthouse, Parris Island, Fort Frederick! Duration 40 Minutes What...

Essence Of The Lowcountry Sunrise

Beaufort Photography Tours

Book online
$249.00 - $499.00

description: A MORNING FILLED WITH CHARM, SOUTHERN STYLE! Options - **Semi-Private Tour**: Includes one non-shooting guest at no additional charge - **Private Tour**: (1 -4 Guests) About IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE OLD SOUTH, YOU'VE FOUND IT...

All Day Float Pass

Edisto River Adventures

Book online
$55.00

description: Are you here to Float - this is the option for YOU! Duration Float all day! Weekends only, starting at 9 am and the last float goes out at 230 pm. Arrival to last check in at our checkin kiosk/Givhans Ferry State Park must be by...

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...

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...

Community Workshop- Bird Silhouettes

meeting_point: Mayfair Art Studios

South Carolina Marine Turtle Conservation Program Talk

duration: 60-90 minutes meeting_point: Ocean View Lounge - 201 Tarpon Blvd, Fripp Island max_age: 99 group_size: 50 description: Kelly Lambert is a Wildlife Biologist with the SCDNR Marine Turtle Conservation Program, which is responsible for...

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