Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Vacation Rental

Featured Vacation Rentals

Oceanfront 3BR/3.5 BA Reno, 6 Seat Golf ...

Head to the coast and savor an oceanfront hideaway. Located in the Village of Newhaven, this 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath condo offers spectacular vistas of the Atlantic from nearly every room. Appreciate calming on the private balcony as the waves roll in...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
Oceanfront Villa - Del Boca Frippsta, 64...

Del Boca Frippsta is a splendid villa offering impressive ocean vistas.  On the north end of the island, this property is located across the street from the championship golf course Ocean Point, ideal for a golf vacation.The refreshed villa offers...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
374 Perch Drive

Summary:374 Perch Drive includes a Golf Cart and Resort Access!The Space:Fripp Island Retreat – Cavernous Family Getaway with Resort Conveniences, Guest Cards, and Golf Cart Included!Escape to Fripp Island Resort and appreciate a calming...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
411 Capt John Fripp Villa

Summary:411 Capt John Fripp Villa - Resort Access Supplied!The Space:411 Capt. John Fripp Villa is a refreshed three-bedroom, three-bath villa located in the heart of Fripp Island. Just a short walk to the Beach Club, Sandbar, Tennis Courts...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
458 Tarpon Blvd

Summary:458 Tarpon Boulevard - BREATHTAKING 180 DEGREE OCEAN VIEWS! Resort Access and Golf Cart Supplied!The Space:When you think of a beach home, you think of 458 Tarpon! This gorgeous home is oceanfront, with huge windows to capture the handsome...

  • Fripp Island
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 14
Watch the Sunset over the Marina from th...

Welcome to Fripp Island! Watch the sunset over the Fripp Island Marina with broad marsh vistas from the living area, kitchen, some bedrooms and the huge deck. This home has four bedrooms and three full baths. Three bedrooms have king beds in...

  • Fripp Island
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12

Beaufort Tours & Activities

One Hour Axe Throwing

Wolverine Axe Throwing

Book online
$20.00

description: 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...

Canvas & Cabernet Wine Glass Edition in Savannah's(above Ocean Creek Pro Shop)

duration: 2 meeting_point: Oceanview Lounge (above Beach Club) min_age: 21 description: Wine Glass edition; includes 2 wine glasses to paint. Our Recreation Intern Artist will guide you through the painting basics. Choice of 2 designs for your wine...

Tie Dye at Creekhouse

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

duration: 1 hours meeting_point: Creekhouse min_age: 3 description: Get ready to mix, swirl, and create in our tie dye activity! This hands-on experience is perfect for anyone! Choose from a variety of colors and patterns to create a one-of-a-kind...

Beaufort City Tour

Beaufort Gray Line

Book online
$12.00 - $35.00

description: Book Online Now! Duration 75-105 minutes About Experience over three hundred years of history in Beaufort, South Carolina’s second oldest city. This charming city boasts a fascinating history of exploration by the Spanish...

OPEN STUDIO

The Arts Port Royal

Book online
$39.00

duration: 4 cancellation_summary: Full refunds available up to 24 hours before the class. Within 24 hours, a gift cert. will be issued. No refunds for no-shows. meeting_point: The Arts Port Royal 1404 Paris Ave, Port Royal min_age: 15 group_size...

8 Hour Private Charter

Tallboy Fishing Charters

Book online
$1,500.00

description: Hop aboard Tallboy Fishing Charters with a local Expert! ___________________________________ Rates **Private Charter:** $1,500 *Up to 4 Passengers* __________________________________ Full day fishing charters offer the chance to...

Family Feud at the Beach Club Greene (by the food trucks)

duration: 1 hour meeting_point: Beach Club min_age: 6 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...

Single Kayak Rental

Fripp Island Paddle Shack

Book online
$30.00 - $240.00

duration: 1–8 Hour Rentals meeting_point: 875 Bonito Dr, Fripp Island, SC 29920 description: - Sit-on-top style - Length: 8 feet 10 inches - Width: 32.75 inches - Height: 14.25 inches - Dry weight: 44 pounds - Weight capacity: 300 pounds - Seating...

South Carolina Marine Turtle Conservation Program Talk

duration: 60-90 minutes meeting_point: Ocean View Lounge - 201 Tarpon Blvd, Fripp Island max_age: 99 group_size: 50 description: Kelly Lambert is a Wildlife Biologist with the SCDNR Marine Turtle Conservation Program, which is responsible for...

Stuff-A-Plush Holiday Craft at Beach Club complex

duration: 1 hour meeting_point: Creekhouse min_age: 3 description: Create your own cuddly companion at our stuff-a-plush event! Choose from a variety of animals, then bring them to life by stuffing them with fluff and adding a special heart for...

OUTPOST PHOTO ACADEMY

Guy Harvey Outpost

Book online
$75.00 - $350.00

meeting_point: Beaufort, SC description: Join us for a special Outpost Photo Academy hosted by professional photographers Mark Krancer. Capture the beauty of historic Beaufort, SC and all its southern charm all while becoming a better...

Half-Day Kayak Trip OR Shuttle Service

Vintage View River Retreat

Book online
$15.00 - $40.00

meeting_point: 1545 Sunny Acres Rd, Pacolet SC 29372 description: Book a fun and relaxing date with nature that’s sure not to be forgotten! Duration 2-3 hours Location This event will start and end at: Upper Pacolet Shoals Take Out 1545...

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