Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Vacation Rental

Featured Vacation Rentals

Sweet Emocean - Dog Friendly, Oceanfront...

Stunning oceanfront vistas and ultimate privacy define this pup friendly classic Fripp bungalow. Sweet Emocean has been lovingly restored and delightfully furnished. This property sleeps 8 and is located adjacent to beach access, on a peaceful cul...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
Historic Old Point Charmer: Walk to Wate...

Tucked away in Beaufort's cherished Old Point district, this newly refreshed 3-bedroom, 2-bath home embodies Southern appeal. It features brand new appliances and refreshed landscaping, offering a comfortable and gorgeous stay. Bask in timeless...

  • Beaufort
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Precious Island Cottage

5 min. ride to the beach and pools. Great mid-island location. Whimsically decorated, open floor plan handsome screened porch for calming. The kitchen is well equipped with everything you will need! Very clean and roomy home. TV's in every room...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
Bring your boat and bask on your own doc...

Minutes to downtown Beaufort, Paris Island and Port Royal. Come appreciate all that Beaufort has to offer or just stay home and savor the handsome vistas of dolphins passing by from your private dock. There is plenty of room inside and out to relax...

  • Beaufort
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
Downtown Beaufort Getaway - 0.3 mi walk ...

Feel Beaufort's downtown from this refreshed 2nd floor 2 bedroom / 2.5 bathroom upstairs condo located downtown in Beaufort, SC. Entirely supplied kitchen, laundry room, comfortable King & full bed, patio space & more! Close to Downtown Port Royal...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
Fairway to Heaven | Luxurious 6-BR Fripp...

Professionally managed by iTrip, Fairway to Heaven is located on striking Fripp Island and is the ideal family beach home. This handsome 6 bedroom home will become your new favorite vacation spot. With refreshed furnishings and pretty artwork...

  • Fripp Island
  • 6 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 13

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Group Tour

Lowcountry Oyster Co.

Book online
$100.00 - $125.00

Have a larger group that is interested in enjoying a tour of our operation? We can accommodate! Bring up to 20 guests out to the farm for the full experience, complete with a fun and informative tour of the farm facilities, a boat ride out into...

PTP: Special Dolphin Cruises

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$20.00

duration: 1 Hour meeting_point: 875 Bonito Dr, Fripp Island, SC 29920 description: Pledge The Pink Week Special 1-Hour Dolphin Cruise on The Big Fripper what_is_included: Join us for a fun cruise with your fellow PTP friends! Drinks will be...

Pine Island Excursion Boat Ride

Edisto Watersports and Tackle

Book online
$30.00 - $50.00

duration: 3 hours meeting_point: Edisto Watersports & Tackle description: Explore Pine Islands beach, sandbars and tidal pools at low tide. You'll find ample marine life and shorebirds feeding and resting on this deserted ACE Basin...

Paddleboard Rental

Edisto Watersports and Tackle

Book online
$40.00

*Book Online Now!* ___________________________ Rates **SUP: **$40 *Must be 18+ to Rent* *Ages 10 and over to ride* ___________________________ Duration 3 Hours ___________________________ About Ready to explore on your own? Enjoy the creeks...

Sunset Cruise

Beaufort Boat Charters LLC

Book online
$320.00

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! This trip...

Shallow Water Fishing Charter

Seas So Shallow Fishing Guide Service

Book online
$500.00 - $700.00

duration: 4 Hours meeting_point: 17 Meridian Road Beaufort, SC 29907 group_size: Maximum 4 people description: Enjoy a day at sea with Captain Steve, whose been guiding charters since 2007. Shallow waters species specialty. Let's explore...

Do It All

The Mad Smash Rage Room

Book online
$80.00

Duration 1 hour About Want to do it all? With this package you will get to do some splatter painting, glass smashing, and have 5 minutes to go full blast on the car! Splatter painting includes an 8x10 canvas and 20 minutes to get messy. Glass...

Beaufort Lands End Paddling

Book online
$20.00 - $60.00

duration: 1.5-2 hours meeting_point: White Hall Boat Landing - Factory Creek, Sea Island Pkwy & Meridian Rd, Beaufort SC 29907 description: Experience the heart of the Lowcountry from the water on our guided paddle through Downtown Beaufort that...

Kids Fishing Tournament

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

duration: 7 hours min_age: 5 max_age: 15 description: This is a sign up for the Kids Fishing Tournament on November 28th! Each child participating need to be signed up individually. You will have to attend the captains meeting on November 28th at...

Abstract Expressionism  -  with Mixed Media

duration: 3 hours meeting_point: The Arts Port Royal group_size: 6 description: Explore mixed media techniques of the Expressionist Masters This Expressionism class will work with collage and molding paste. Lee Krasner famously used collage in...

Day Camps

Camelot Farms Equestrian Center

Book online
$100.00

Join us! Duration 4 Hours About Our day camps at Camelot farms give children the opportunity to learn about horses, ride, and meet new friends. Each camp can vary slightly, but they all offer riding and learning opportunities as well as a...

Paddle Board Rentals

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$45.00 - $360.00

duration: 1–8 Hour Rentals meeting_point: 875 Bonito Dr, Fripp Island, SC 29920 description: The Paddle Shack is your go-to for an unforgettable day on the water! Hop on a paddleboard for an adventure, for up to 8 hours! what_is_included:

Find your perfect Beaufort

Fishing Charter

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