Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Vacation Rental

Featured Vacation Rentals

378 Blue Gill Road

Summary:Tranquil Luxury in the Heart of Fripp Island- 4-Bed/3.5-Bath Retreat for Families - Resort Access Included! Golf Cart Supplied!The Space:Tranquil Luxury in the Heart of Fripp: 378 Blue Gill - A 4-Bed/3.5-Bath Retreat for FamiliesFeel the...

  • Fripp Island
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 11
Oceanfront, Two golf carts included- Cal...

NEW FURNITURE-GORGEOUS NEWLY RENOVATED LIGHT BLUE WALL BEACHY INTERIOR DESIGN: 2 GOLF CARTS PROVIDED (1) 6 &(1)  4 seat  Welcome to your best BEACH FRONT Fripp Island vacation ever! Located on one of the best tons and by far the best location...

  • Fripp Island
  • 6 Bedrooms
  • 5 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 16
La Maison Rouge - Downtown Port Royal

Just 2 blocks from Paris Avenue, this bright and airy two-bedroom home blends whimsical design, handsome lighting, and soft, comfortable spaces ideal for unwinding. Whether you're visiting for a weekend hideaway or settling in for a longer stay...

  • Port Royal
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 5
112 Capt John Fripp Villa

Summary:112 Capt John Fripp VillaThe Space:Captivating Coastal Retreat: Feel Luxury Living at John Fripp VillaLocated within the beautiful landscape of Fripp Island, 112 John Fripp Villa stands as a beacon of coastal living. Offering a calming...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
3 High Dunes Duplex- Gorgeous Ocean View...

Summary:Enchanting duplex with ocean and golf course vistasThe Space:Welcome to 3 High Dunes, a 3-bedroom, 2-bath duplex located on spectacular Fripp Island. This gorgeous home offers the ideal blend of coastal relaxation and modern comfort, with...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
Mariners' Nautical Nest on Port Royal's ...

Wonderful Waterfront Vistas of the Battery Creek in Port Royal from this Top-floor (2nd) newly refreshed 1 bedroom / 1 bathroom condo in a gated community. Totally supplied kitchen, laundry room, comfortable King bed, balcony space & more! Close to...

  • Beaufort
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 2

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Essential Oyster Tour

Lowcountry Oyster Co.

Book online
$150.00

duration: 90 Minutes description: Let's Adventure! Boat, Science, and Culinary Tour packed into one! Learn about the lifecycle of an oyster from start to finish. See one million oysters growing in our nursery followed by a boat ride through the...

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...

Public Field Pass

Red Oak Airsoft & Paintball

Book online
$25.00 - $45.00

description: Book your battleground today! Duration 10 - 5 About All day field pass to our field. This does not include any rental equipment. Players must have an airsoft gun that is approved by Red Oak Airsoft and Paintball along with all...

Tandem Kayak Rental

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: - Sit-on-top style - 12 feet long - 35 inches wide - 80lbs - Usable weight capacity 400 lbs. what_is_included:

Group Farm Tour

Lady's Island Oyster Inc.

Book online
$50.00

duration: 1 to 1.5 Hours group_size: 4 to 20 people description: View the Hatchery (where the oysters are born) - learn the delicate process of how we spawn and grow our oysters from seed, and the first few weeks of an oysters life. View the...

Private Ashes Ceremony

Edisto Watersports and Tackle

Book online
$150.00

description: Rates **Private Group:** $150 *Up to 12 people* Duration 1 Hour About We offer a private one-hour boat cruise in the St. Helena Sound for families to spread the ashes of their loved ones. This trip can accommodate up to 12...

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...

Sunset River Cruise (2 Hrs)

Beaufort Dolphin Adventures

Book online
$325.47 - $533.02

duration: 2 Hour Private Boat Tour cancellation_summary: Customers will receive a full refund with 24 hours notice of cancellation or if we have to cancel due to weather meeting_point: 1 Port Royal Landing Dr, Port Royal, SC 29935 group_size: Up to...

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...

Reiki-4-Kids (no class fee)

duration: 90 min. cancellation_summary: Full refunds available up to 24 hours before the class. Within 24 hours, a gift cert. will be issued. No refunds for no-shows. min_age: 7 max_age: 16 group_size: 9 accessibility: Second Floor description: ...

Community Workshop- Bird Silhouettes

meeting_point: Mayfair Art Studios

Gift Cards

Lady's Island Oyster Inc.

description: Purchase the perfect gift: a gift card with a value of your choosing!

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