Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Featured Vacation Rentals

Pet friendly, 2 golf carts included - 85...

Located by the Marsh in Sawgrass Bluff.This is an Amazing 3 bedroom 2 bath bungalow with extraordinary marsh vistas.You can slip your kayak into the creek at high tide.  The humongous screened porch is a fun place to play cards, watch people riding...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
660 Newhaven

Summary:660 Newhaven-Resort Access and Golf Cart Supplied!The Space:Welcome to 660 Newhaven, a gorgeously appointed 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath condo located in the highly beautiful Ocean Point area of Fripp Island. Thoughtfully designed and comfortably...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Loft in the Heart of Habersham Marketpla...

Bright airy loft in the heart of Habersham Marketplace available for 30+ nighttime stays. 50% discount on nightly rate for 30+ nighttime stays. Come visit this Southern Living inspired community in Beaufort, SC. This impressive community is true...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
This lovely home is just half mile from ...

Your comfortable hideaway awaits in Port Royal at this exceptional home. With 3 bedrooms including a king bed, queen bed, and bunk bed, 2 full baths and 1 powder room this impressive property is ideal for families or groups of friends. Savor...

  • Port Royal
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
46 Davis Love Drive

Summary:Firefly Shack - Charming 2-Bedroom Cottage - Sleeps 8 - Golf Cart and Resort Access Supplied!The Space:Appreciate Firefly Shack! This striking, vibrant bungalow is really the ultimate beach/golf hideaway, located next to a fairway of the...

  • Fripp Island
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
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Unwind and relax at one of Mermaid Cottage's favorite spots - The Oyster Bay Cottage . This 2 Bedroom, 1 Bath Cottage sleeps 4. Rental includes amenities such as Bicycles (2) and use of Hunting Island State Park & Beach Pass. Located mins. away...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Fripp Fest 2025

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$45.00

duration: 4 Hours meeting_point: Beach Club Complex min_age: 21 description: Join us for our annual Fripp Fest! Enjoy live music from 77th Street Revue! Food, drinks, and fun! Reconnect with old Fripp friends or meet new ones while mixing and...

Good underpainting makes great compositions!

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: 8 accessibility: second floor description: A good...

Beautiful Beaufort Tours

Emma's Earth Shop Golf Cart Tours

Book online
$15.00 - $36.00

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 Beaufort and a...

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...

Family Feud at the Beach Club Stage

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$12.00

duration: 1 hour meeting_point: Beach Club min_age: 3 description: Get ready for a fun-filled game of Family Feud! Gather your team and go head-to-head in this exciting, fast-paced trivia challenge based on the classic game show. Answer survey-style...

Boneyard Beach Sunrise Adventure

Beaufort Photography Tours

Book online
$249.00 - $499.00

description: A SPECIAL ADVENTURE TO AN OTHERWORLDLY LOCATION! Options - **Semi-Private Tour**: Includes one non-shooting guest at no additional charge - **Private Tour**: (1 -4 Guests) About COME EXPLORE SOME OF THE MOST MYSTERIOUS AND...

Low Country Passport

High Tide Aviation - Beaufort

Book online
$200.00

description: About Do you want to see the entire Lowcountry from above? This is the tour for you. You will get to see many sites including. Morgan Island, Harbor Island, Hunting Island State Park & Lighthouse, Fripp Island, Pritchard’s Island...

Beaufort Lands End Paddling

Book online
$20.00 - $60.00

duration: 1.5-2 hours meeting_point: Safe Harbor Beaufort, 1006 Bay St, Beaufort, SC 29902 description: Discover downtown Beaufort like never before—from the water at high tide, where history and Southern charm come together for an unforgettable...

Oyster Hatchery Kayak Paddle, Tour and Tasting
Book online
$75.00 - $90.00

Duration 4 Hours About Join Beaufort Kayak Tours as they paddle from Single Lady Oyster Hatchery on McCalley's Creek, return to the oyster hatchery for a tour and end with an Oyster tasting. One of the things that Jim and Teri love most about...

Classic Tabletop Beer Pong Tournament at Adult Pool

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$2.00

duration: 1 hour meeting_point: Adult Pool min_age: 21 description: Gather your friends and get ready for some friendly competition in our classic tabletop beer pong tournament! Show off the college you, using precision and teamwork as you take...

West End Walking Tour

Greenville History Tours

Book online
$25.00

duration: 1 hour description: Take a fascinating walk through Greenville's historic West End and hear some amazing stories about the evolving of this neighborhood from working class neighborhoods to a dynamic new extension of Greenville's downtown...

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...

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