Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Featured Vacation Rentals

New Construction, Close to Beach, 6 Seat...

Escape to heaven with a memorable beach vacation in our brand-new island home! This striking getaway features 4 roomy bedrooms, 3 modern bathrooms, and comfortable accommodations for up to 10 guests, making it the ideal destination for families and...

  • Fripp Island
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
Waterfront Getaway in Port Royal's Histo...

Stunning vistas on a very roomy lot. Very close to Parris Island for graduations. Just a short walk to the Cypress Wetlands sanctuary and the stores and eateries of the historic "old village" of Port Royal.

  • Port Royal
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Ocean Front, Pet Friendly, Neighborhood ...

This 2-bedroom, 1.5-bath condo has one of the best ocean vistas on Fripp Island. Located on the second floor of the building, accessible from the elevator, you and your guests can savor marvelous vistas from your private patio. The primary bedroom...

  • Fripp Island
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
3-bedroom 2.5 bathroom in tranquil Port ...

Your comfortable hideaway awaits in Port Royal at this tremendous home. With three bedrooms featuring two king beds and two twin beds, plus a living room with a queen couch bed, guests have plenty of space to relax. The three bathrooms include both...

  • Port Royal
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
Downtown Charm. Walk to Everything. Pet ...

Feel the appeal of Beaufort in this award-winning 1874 historic home, proudly veteran-owned and recognized by the Beaufort Historic Foundation. Located in the heart of downtown, you're just a 5-min. walk from enchanting eateries, boutique stores...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
Newly Renovated 3 Bed/2.5 Bath 15 mins t...

Feel the best the Low Country has to offer in our historic 2,300 sq ft home. Located just a short walk from Beaufort’s thriving waterfront and lively downtown, our newly refreshed and thoughtfully appointed home is filled with natural light and is...

  • Beaufort
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6

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...

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...

Private Farm Tour

Lowcountry Oyster Co.

Book online
$300.00 - $450.00

Reserve a farm & boat tour all to yourself with this exclusive option! Enjoy a private and personalized tour of our farm facilities followed by a boat ride out into beautiful ACE Basin to see the plots where we grow and cultivate our delicious...

Beaufort Walking History/Movie Tour
Book online
$15.00 - $36.00

*Over 300 years of history plus stories about Hollywood movies and actors.* _________ Duration 2 Hours ________ About Walking tour of Beaufort’s historic district gives you a chance to learn more about our beautiful town and ask questions as...

Indigo Dye Workshop

Port Royal Sound Foundation

Book online
$15.00

duration: 1.5 Hour meeting_point: Maritime Center 310 Okatie Highway, Okatie, SC 29909 min_age: 10 group_size: 20 description: Learn about the history of indigo usage and how to dye fabrics using "Shibori" techniques. All participants will be...

Seas The Day Cruise

Beaufort Boat Charters LLC

Book online
$480.00

description: Join us for a Lowcountry Adventure! Duration 3 Hours About Our 3 hour cruise allows time to get in even more during your time on the water! Some options may include visiting a local sandbar (tide dependent), a trip to...

Full Day - Texture Art Expressionism Class

duration: 6 accessibility: 8 description: How to Add Texture to your Art This is a full-day class to learn and experiment with techniques that add texture to your art. We will work on two separate projects. In the morning, we will use paste...

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...

Birds of the Low Country-Watercolor Class

duration: 3 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: 9 accessibility: Second Floor description: Low Country...

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...

Daydream Cruise

Beaufort Boat Charters LLC

Book online
$320.00

description: Join us for a Lowcountry Adventure! Duration 2 Hours About This trip offers a bit more time to settle in on the water. Some options include dolphin and bird watching, stopping at a local waterside restaurant for a drink...

Abstract Expressionism  -  In the RAW

duration: 3 hours meeting_point: The Arts Port Royal group_size: 6 description: Explore techniques and tools of abstract expressionism This Expressionism class will work with raw canvas and fluid acrylics. Helen Frankenthaler was one of the...

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