Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Vacation Rental

Featured Vacation Rentals

Landing | Incredible 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, modren furnishings, and a dedicated workspace. Please note: The community pool is...

  • Port Royal
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
42 Davis Love Drive

Summary:42 Davis Appreciate Drive - Resort Access Supplied! Stunning Golf Course Vistas!The Space:Charming Golf Cottage with Stunning Golf Course Vistas – Sleeps 10Welcome to 42 Davis Appreciate Drive, a impressive two-story golf bungalow located...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
Lowcountry Home - Near Downtown and Easy...

Welcome to your Lowcountry home away from home. This bright, inviting 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath Beaufort getaway offers the ideal blend of comfort, convenience, and Southern appeal. Located just over a mile from historic downtown, the home is an...

  • Beaufort
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Charming 2-bedroom house in enjoyable Be...

Unwind in Beaufort at this marvelous home. With 2 comfortable bedrooms featuring a queen bed and a full bed, along with 2 bathrooms, this place is ideal for a calming hideaway. Savor the amenities of heating and AC during your stay. It's painless to...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
862 Bonito Road

Summary:862 Bonito - Resort Access Supplied!The Space:Stunning Sunset Vistas & Modern Comfort on Fripp IslandWelcome to your ideal hideaway in the sought-after Bonito neighborhood on Fripp Island! This gorgeously refreshed 2-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom...

  • Fripp Island
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Spectacular Ocean Front Bedroom Views - ...

626 Newhaven is a first-floor, unit with expansive ocean vistas. Savor the gorgeous view of Hunting Island from the back deck. Lay in bed and watch the sunrises. The condo is located about 15 feet from the water at high tide. This one-bedroom...

  • Fripp Island
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Gift Cards

Lady's Island Oyster Inc.

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

Oyster Hatchery Tour and Tasting

Beaufort Kayak Tours

Book online
$35.00

description: Duration 1 Hour About

Beautiful Beaufort Tours

Emma's Earth Shop Golf Cart Tours

Book online
$15.00 - $36.00

description: Duration One Hour About A fun and eco friendly golf cart tour full of information of the historical homes, movies, and folklore of Beaufort South Carolina. Each ticket includes coupons from restaurants and stores around downtown...

Family Feud *Adult After Hours* at the Sandbar

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$10.00

duration: 1 hour meeting_point: Sandbar min_age: 21 description: Join us on TUESDAYS to play the spin off of the hit game show Family Feud. Play against another family and go head-to-head with questions winning the grand prize!! **Gameshow...

Cornhole Tournament at Peg Legs

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$12.00

duration: 1 hour meeting_point: Adult Pool description: Ready, set, toss! Grab a partner and test your tossing skills in a fun and friendly game of cornhole! Whether you are a seasoned pro or a first-timer, this classic game is prefect for anyone...

Guided Kayak Incoming Tidal Tour

Edisto Watersports and Tackle

Book online
$50.00 - $100.00

duration: 2 hours meeting_point: Edisto Watersports & Tackle min_age: 4 description: Enjoy a lovely Kayak tour guided by one of our experts! Rates **Single Kayak:** $50 **Tandem Kayak (Seats 2):** $100 *Ages 4+ Welcome!...

Start Your Day Right
Book online
$40.00 - $325.00

duration: 1.5 hours meeting_point: 1 Port Royal Landing Dr, Port Royal, SC 29935 group_size: 6 Passenger maximum description: There’s no better way to greet the day as the sun warms the water and sparkles in the morning light. This relaxing cruise...

Gaga Ball Tournament at Beach Club Walk-up ONLY

meeting_point: Beach Club min_age: 4 description: Step into the Gaga pit and get ready for an action-packed tournament full of fast-paced fun! Gaga ball is a high-energy, dodgeball style game that is perfect for players of all ages! It’s quick...

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...

Day Camps

Camelot Farms Equestrian Center

Book online
$100.00

description: 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...

Club 15.5 - Beach Rentals

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$15.00 - $350.00

duration: 9:00 - 5:00 meeting_point: Beach Hut description: Enjoy the luxury and relaxation of Fripp Island beaches without having to bring or set up anything on the beach! Walk right off the boardwalk and into the perfect beach day. No need to run...

Simple Figure Painting in Watercolor

duration: 3 hours min_age: 14 group_size: 8 accessibility: second floor description: Learn how simple lines, and little color can create the illusion of a human figure. No drawing required. You will also learn how to transfer images for faster and...

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