Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Featured Vacation Rentals

New! Modern apartment in Historic Distri...

Summary:Welcome to your dream hideaway in the heart of the historic Downtown Beaufort! Unveiling a freshly remodeled gem, this professionally designed modern home is an handsome blend of sophistication and comfort. Located just a short 6-block walk...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
 6 BR, 5 BA sleeps 12! Private dock on c...

We have a roomy home with 6 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms total in Treetops. The main level kitchen has newly been remodeled to optimize counter space and to include brand new appliances. The ground level of the home is accessed through outside stairs to...

  • Fripp Island
  • 6 Bedrooms
  • 5 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12
Landing | Modern 1BD, Gym

Welcome to Zephyr in Port Royal, SC! Ideal for monthly or extended stays, our completely-furnished apartments feature full kitchens, in-unit laundry, fast WiFi, classy furnishings, and a dedicated workspace. Please note: The community pool is...

  • Port Royal
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 2
620 Dolphin Road

Summary:Sensational Fripp Island Home - Great location - Resort Access and Golf Cart Supplied!The Space:Welcome to 620 Dolphin Road, mere moments away from the closest beach access! This unique inverted floor plan is tailor-made for your family's...

  • Fripp Island
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12
FRIPP ISLAND Premium Vacation Beach Rent...

TOTAL Renovation Completed in 2019! We have owned properties on Fripp Island since 2005. We are excited to share this FABULOUS Family-Friendly, 4 Bedroom/4 Bath property with you! Our home is on one of the biggest tons on the island & backs up to...

  • Fripp Island
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
TideWatch - A First Class Property.  Spe...

NEWLY RENOVATED PROPERTY - Please see our other 2 properties for Reviews of our Personal Quality and Character (Vacation Rental By Owner - 912215 & 1256916). Do NOT miss booking this adorable bungalow. Totally refreshed + additions! Formerly...

  • Port Royal
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Historic Carriage Tour

Sea Island Carriage Company

Book online
$14.00 - $36.00

description: 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...

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...

Reiki I & II

The Arts Port Royal

Book online
$250.00

duration: 6 hours cancellation_summary: Full refund for cancellations 24 hours or more before class. Day of class, a gift certificate refund, and no shows, no refund. min_age: 14 group_size: 10 accessibility: Second Floor description: Reiki is a...

7 Hour Private Charter

Tallboy Fishing Charters

Book online
$1,200.00

description: Hop aboard Tallboy Fishing Charters with a local Expert! ___________________________________ Rates **Private Charter:** $1,200 *Up to 4 Passengers* ___________________________________ Full Day Offshore Charter Full day fishing...

Full-Day Kayak Trip OR Shuttle Service

Vintage View River Retreat

Book online
$15.00 - $55.00

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 4-6 hours Location This event will start and end at: Upper Pacolet Shoals Take Out 1545...

Friday Camp Fripp: Nature Day

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$57.00 - $65.00

duration: 3 hours cancellation_summary: 48- hour in advanced meeting_point: Creekhouse (behind Nature Center) min_age: 5 max_age: 12 group_size: 25 description: Drop the kids off for a fun camp of all things Nature on Fripp! Camp Hours: 9am - 12...

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...

Adult Game Show Night

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$10.00

duration: 1hour meeting_point: Oceanview Lounge (above Beach Club) min_age: 21 description: Join us on FRIDAY to play either The Couples Game with teams of 2 (against other teams of 2) or Family Feud After Hours (against another family) and go...

Historical Tour

Tales of the Lowcountry

Book online
$7.00 - $20.00

description: Rates **Adult (Ages 13+):** $20 **Child (Ages 5-12):** $7 ____ Duration 1.5 Hours ___ About We offer a two hour walking tour jam packed with over 500 years of history, folk tales, and hollywood lore surrounding our beloved...

OUTPOST PHOTO ACADEMY

Guy Harvey Outpost

Book online
$75.00 - $350.00

meeting_point: Beaufort, SC description: Join us for a special Outpost Photo Academy hosted by professional photographers Mark Krancer. Capture the beauty of historic Beaufort, SC and all its southern charm all while becoming a better...

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...

SC Pimento Cheese Sponsor

Red Maple Event

Book online
$500.00 - $3,000.00

duration: 5 hours meeting_point: 6071 St Andrews Rd, Columbia, SC 29212 description: Promote your business in front of the crowds at the SC Pimento Cheese Festival This free, family friendly event will draw crowds from all over the state. There...

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