Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Featured Vacation Rentals

778 Marlin Drive

Summary:778 Marlin Drive - Resort Access and Golf Cart Supplied! Stunning Renovation Complete!The Space:778 Marlin is a striking beachside getaway that effortlessly combines ocean vistas with beautiful golf course vistas. This delightful...

  • Fripp Island
  • 6 Bedrooms
  • 6 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 18
501 Sunsuite - Resort Access is included...

Welcome to Fripp Island and this Freshly Updated Sunsuite! You will not only be a few steps from the pretty pools, new exercise center, tennis & pickleball courts, Island Bites, and adult pool, but our fantastic beach is only steps away! This unit...

  • Fripp Island
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
Historic home centrally located on The P...

1890's historic home completely remodeled includes 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, huge private deck and off street parking. Master suite includes enormous walk in closet, bath with separate shower and soaking tub, adjacent sunny office with...

  • Beaufort
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Landing | Chic 2BD, 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
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
380 Tarpon Blvd

Summary:380 Tarpon Blvd - Resort Access and Golf Cart Included!The Space:This handsome five-bedroom, three-bath home is located in the heart of Fripp Island. It is a third-row location to the beach, but only steps away from the beach access. This...

  • Fripp Island
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 16
Beaufort in Bloom! Historic District art...

This property is literally mins. from downtown Beaufort! A short walk through the Historic District to eateries, galleries, stores,and the waterfront park and marina.It's also a fast drive to the beach and Paris Island..This townhouse is a 1400 sq...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 5

Beaufort Tours & Activities

SINGO!

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$5.00

duration: 1 hour cancellation_summary: 6- hour in advanced meeting_point: CreekHouse min_age: 5 description: Join Us for Singo! ($5 per card) at the Cabana Club Enjoy singing along to your favorite hits, all while competing for a chance to win...

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: 20 description: Drop the kids off for a fun camp of all things Nature on Fripp! Camp Hours: 9am - 12...

Painting FUN-damentals - Color &  Composition

duration: 3 hours min_age: 14 description: All the basics you need to start or expand your art practice at home. Learn everything you need to start or expand your art practice at home including; supplies to buy without breaking the bank, how to...

Abstraction Unbound - Painting in the language of today

description: Painting in the Language of Today Abstract Expressionism didn't end with the New York School - like Jackson Pollock. It has mutated, absorbed new influences and kept going. In this class we turn our attention to the painters...

Saint Helena Day Sail

Otter Sailing Adventures LLC

Book online
$350.00

description: Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of Low Country waterways and the Saint Helena Sound Duration 2.5 hours About Private Sailing Charter - Price Per Group (up to 6) Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of Low Country waterways...

3 Hour Hilton Head Island Lunch Trip

Tallboy Fishing Charters

Book online
$600.00

meeting_point: Beaufort, SC description: Travel by boat to beautiful Hilton Head Island for lunch at one of three excellent restaurants. See the Town of Port Royal, Paris Island, and Port Royal Sound along the way as well as Dolphins, Sea Turtles...

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...

Salt Marsh Ecology Tour

Beaufort Kayak Tours

Book online
$40.00

description: *Explore the salt marsh wilderness without leaving town!* Rates **Adult (Ages 13+):** $65 **Child (Ages 5-12):** $35 Duration 2 hours and 30 minutes About The Salt Marsh Ecology Tour is an educational trip through the salt...

Sky & Water Study in Acrylic

The Arts Port Royal

Book online
$85.00

duration: 3 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: 8 accessibility: Second Floor description: Learn what you can...

Sandy Bottom Boards - Grazing Box

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$34.00

duration: 2.5 hours meeting_point: 300 Tarpon Blvd. group_size: 1 description: Tides & Tunes Grazing Boxes Are Here! We’ve partnered with our friends at Sandy Bottom Boards to bring you the ultimate concert companion—beautifully curated...

Learn to Sail Adventure

Otter Sailing Adventures LLC

Book online
$600.00

duration: 3.5 hours or more group_size: maximum of 6 description: Duration 3.5 hours About Experience the thrill of learning to sail on our Catalina 275 Sport, the perfect boat for learning keel boat sailing for the first time or honing your...

3 Hour Private Spring Jocassee Boat Tour

description: Private 3hr Spring Tour on Beautiful Lake Jocassee! Rates - Private Charter (includes up to 6 people): $350 ***$50 for each additional person (up to 10 total passengers)*** About Boat Tour includes all major waterfalls...

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