Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Vacation Rental

Featured Vacation Rentals

579 Remora Drive - New to VRBO! Resort A...

Located along the Ocean Point Golf Course with an ocean view, 579 Remora is ideal for huge families or groups looking to take advantage of all the amenities Fripp Island Resort offers. This roomy home with an open floor plan has room for everybody...

  • Fripp Island
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 17
159 Ocean Creek Blvd, \

Marsh Mellow is a gorgeous one-story home located at the southern end of Fripp Island. Just a short walk to the Cabana Club, this four-bedroom, three-bath home is ideal for guests looking to savor Fripp’s many amenities.The home features a...

  • Fripp Island
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
601 New Haven - Main Level Condo Next to...

**This property offers club cards for access to Fripp Island Resort amenities. A Resort fee (12.8% of the base rental rate) will be charged in addition to the cost of the individual club cards if you decide you would like to use the Resort...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 5
141 Capt John Fripp Villa - Resort Acces...

141 Capt. John Fripp Villa is a first-floor unit located in the heart of Fripp Island. Just a short walk to the Beach Club, Sandbar, Tennis Courts, Exercise Center, and Guest Services. This freshly remodeled, 3-bedroom, 2-bath home is pretty and...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12
New Listing - Marshview, Pet Friendly, G...

Located privately on the calming Marshland in the heart of Fripp Island, Live Oak Cottage is a appealing southern home, offering simple access to everything Fripp Island has to offer.This property has marvelous vistas of the marsh; a full width...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
The Cypress House Cozy 2-bedroom townhom...

This Port Royal townhome features 2 inviting bedrooms, featuring 2 king beds, a bunk bed, and a twin bed. Guests find 2 bathrooms, one with a calming bathtub and a handy hair dryer. The enchanting space stays comfortable year-round with heating and...

  • Port Royal
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 7

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Flyboard 40 Minute

Carolina Hydrofly

Book online
$139.00

40 Minute Flyboard Pro Series Experience About Each guest will have 30 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 selecting the...

Ghost Tour

Tales of the Lowcountry

Book online
$10.00 - $22.00

Rates **Adult (Ages 13+):** $22 **Child (Ages 5-12):** $10 ____ Duration 2 Hours ___ About We visit all the local "haunts" intertwining ghost tales with the history of Beaufort. Come hear tales of folks buried alive, ghost trains, Pirates...

Bentley Switch

Santee Boat Rentals

Book online
$400.00 - $500.00

Enjoy a day on the water on the Bentley Switchback! Duration Full Day - 8 Hours Half Day - 4 Hours About It’s a 22 foot Tritoon with a 140Hp Suzuki outboard on the back. This boat is the ultimate lounger and the “switchback” is...

Ayurveda-Self-Care For Your Energy Type

duration: 2.5 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: 15 group_size: 10 accessibility: Second Floor description: Are you...

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...

Beaufort River Tour (90 Min)

Beaufort Dolphin Adventures

Book online
$268.87 - $471.70

duration: 90 Minutes 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 14...

duration: 2.5 hours meeting_point: The Arts Port Royal group_size: 8 description: A unique approach to setting and KEEPING New Year Resolutions! In fact, forget resolutions and substitute what you want to create for the upcoming year. We will...

Flyboard 20 Minute

Carolina Hydrofly

Book online
$99.00

20 Minute Flyboard Pro Series Experience What's Included? 15 Min Flight Time. Includes 10 minutes of instruction time, fuel, life jacket, wetsuit, and helmet We advise everyone to arrive at least 30 minutes before your start time. If...

One Hour Axe Throwing

Wolverine Axe Throwing

Book online
$20.00

Enjoy your time at Wolverine Axe Throwing throwing axes! Duration 1 hour About Welcome to Wolverine Axe Throwing in Woodruff, SC. If you have never thrown an axe before, there is nothing to fear. When you arrive our axperts will show you...

Historic Carriage Tour

Sea Island Carriages

Book online
$15.00 - $36.00

duration: 50 - 55 Minutes description: Experience Beaufort‘s rich history and unique charm on a 50-55 minute, fully narrated, horse drawn carriage tour. You’ll slip back into Beaufort’s elegant past as your carriage meanders under the moss...

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...

Find your perfect Beaufort

Fishing Charter

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