Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Vacation Rental

Featured Vacation Rentals

SPRING MADNESS MAY\/JUNE DISCOUNTS!!!!!!

THE HOMEAppreciate this pristinely cared for 3 bedroom & 3 bath with all the bells and whistles you would expect from a vacation rental. The home is owned by a professional chef, so the kitchen rocks. The style is clean, crisp & chic and styled for...

  • Port Royal
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
114 Sandpiper Run comes with a Golf Cart...

Welcome to 114 Sandpiper Run! This marsh-front home with ocean vistas is located on the north end of Fripp Island in the Quail Cove neighborhood. With five bedrooms and four bathrooms, this home comfortably accommodates up to 12 people - ideal for...

  • Fripp Island
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12
Historic Beaufort, South Carolina Near H...

This freshly remodeled mobile home is centrally located in Beaufort, South Carolina and is close to the Handsome Beaches of Hunting Island State National Park and Hilton Head Island and is less than 5 mins. drive to Spectacular Historic Downtown...

  • Beaufort
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
355 Ocean Point Drive - New to VRBO! Res...

355 Ocean Point is a gorgeous two-story residence located at the northern tip of Fripp Island. Its prime location offers simple access to the Ocean Point Grille, Ocean Point Golf Course, the beach, and the pool, making it an ideal choice for guests...

  • Fripp Island
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
936 Stone Crab Cove - New to VRBO! Resor...

Peaceful Marsh-Side Retreat on Fripp IslandLocated in the serene woods on Fripp Island's marsh side, this relaxing new-to-program hideaway offers the ideal escape from the everyday hustle. Surrounded by the gentle rustle of trees and the melodies of...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12
Spectacular Views of Ocean & Pool includ...

BEAUTIFUL FULLY RENOVATED CONDO! Checkout the photos of the new kitchen, we raised the ceiling and took down wall for an Open ConceptLuxurious bathrooms are also brand new. New wood plank floors and High Top table and chairs on the deck to...

  • Fripp Island
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Carolina HydroFly Parties

Carolina Hydrofly

Book online
$800.00 - $1,600.00

Private Party About Enjoy a 4 or 8 Hour Group Lesson. Can have up to 8 people (Half day) & 16 people (Full day) in your party. - Includes 10 minutes of instruction time, fuel, life jacket, and helmet **What's Included** - Helmet - Life...

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...

Orange Moke Rental At Beaufort Inn
Book online
$250.00 - $1,400.00

The best way to travel around Hilton Head! Duration Daily & Multi-Day Rentals About Leave your family car behind and rent a Moke for the day, weekend, or your entire vacation! Experience the open air while shopping, visiting friends or just...

Custom Tour

High Tide Aviation - Beaufort

Book online
$220.00

Decide what sights you see! Duration 1 hour About An hour-long flight where you get to decide what sights you see and what landmarks you focus on. Whether you want a new perspective of the Harbor Town Lighthouse, or a bird's eye view of...

Gift Certificate

High Tide Aviation - Beaufort

Purchase the perfect gift: a gift certificate with a value of your choosing. Valid for 1 year from time of purchase!

Shibumi© Shade 24 hr Rental

Edisto Bike and Golf Cart Rental

Book online
$25.00

The newest must have for the beach!! Super light weight and easy to set up! All you need is a calm ocean breeze to create 100sq ft of perfect shade!! Super light weight and easy to set up! All you need is a calm ocean breeze to create 100sq ft...

Essence Of The Lowcountry Sunrise

Beaufort Photography Tours

Book online
$249.00 - $499.00

A MORNING FILLED WITH CHARM, SOUTHERN STYLE! Options - **Semi-Private Tour**: Includes one non-shooting guest at no additional charge - **Private Tour**: (1 -4 Guests) About IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE OLD SOUTH, YOU'VE FOUND IT! Church ruins...

Taste of Charleston

Unwritten Charters LLC

Book online
$600.00 - $900.00

Beat the heat and enjoy a Beautiful Morning Cruise, We can explore the waterways and Islands around Charleston in the cool of the day! Duration 2 or 3 Hours About A great time to see the harbor. See USS Yorktown, Ravenel Bridge, Battery Park...

A.C.E. Basin & Monkey Island Tour

Beaufort Dolphin Adventures

Book online
$353.77

duration: 2 Hours cancellation_summary: Customers will receive a full refund with 24 hours notice of cancellation. Customers will also receive a full refund or credit in case of operator cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances...

Salt Marsh Ecology Tour

Beaufort Kayak Tours

Book online
$40.00

*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 marsh at low...

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...

All Day Float Pass

Edisto River Adventures

Book online
$50.00

Are you here to Float - this is the option for YOU! Duration Float all day! Weekends only, starting at 9 am and the last float goes out at 230 pm. Arrival to last check in at our checkin kiosk/Givhans Ferry State Park must be by 220 pm. ...

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