Your Guide to Beaufort, SC

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Featured Vacation Rentals

Charming town house in the historic cent...

Pretty townhouse a few blocks from Bay Street, located near Historic St. Helena’s Church and other historic landmarks. Safe, peaceful part of downtown puts you steps from charming antebellum mansions, Waterfront Park, Spanish Moss cycling/walking...

  • Beaufort
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 7
Jasmine Suite #3, at Magnolia Court Suit...

Stunning upstairs apartment with an open floor plan. The dining room-kitchen area has a vaulted ceiling with skylights and it lives enormous! This apartment has a roomy kitchen with breakfast bar and granite countertops, and a dining area. The...

  • Beaufort
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 2
139 Capt John Fripp Villa

Summary:139 Capt John Fripp Villa - Resort Access Supplied!The Space:Discover the epitome of island living at 139 Capt. John Fripp Villa, appealingly located in the vibrant heart of Fripp Island. With the Beach Club, Sandbar, Tennis Courts, Exercise...

  • Fripp Island
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
Oceanfront Villa with sunrise views.  Wa...

Ask about our Winter monthly specials, with great monthly prices!Welcome to Dolphin Point, where a relaxing & calming experience await you.This Villa Condo is really an Ocean Front property with unobstructed vistas of the sunrise and the ocean from...

  • Fripp Island
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Relax under the Shade of a Live Oak! MCR...

Located beneath majestic live oaks, this modernized brick home offers classic Lowcountry appeal with modern comfort. Savor mornings on the inviting front porch and evenings in the open-concept living area with a comfortable fireplace and designer...

  • Beaufort
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
332 Ocean Point

Summary:Spectacular Vistas - 5 Bed / 3.5 Bath - Golf Cart Supplied! Fripp Island Resort Access Included!The Space:GREAT FOR LARGE FAMILY GATHERINGS and GOLF GROUPS - This 5 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom home sleeps 14. Ascending the stairs and through the...

  • Fripp Island
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 16

Beaufort Tours & Activities

Wait List for Golf Carts

Edisto Bike and Golf Cart Rental

description: Wait lIst for 3 Day or Week Long Electric Cart Rentals

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!...

Full-Day Kayak Trip OR Shuttle Service

Vintage View River Retreat

Book online
$15.00 - $55.00

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 4-6 hours Location This event will start and end at: Upper Pacolet Shoals Take Out 1545...

¾ Day Excursion (5-6 Hours)

Beyond Beaufort Excursions

Book online
$45.00 - $85.00

duration: 5-6 Hours cancellation_summary: Cancellations must be made 48 hours in advance. meeting_point: 29 Robert Smalls Parkway Beaufort, SC 29906 min_age: 4 group_size: Maximum 13 people description: At Beyond Beaufort Excursions you will...

Maritime Center Eco Tour

Beaufort Dolphin Adventures

Book online
$20.00 - $40.00

duration: 90 Minutes cancellation_summary: Customers will receive a full refund with 24 hours notice of cancellation. Customers will also receive a full refund in case of operator cancellation due to weather. meeting_point: Port Royal Sound...

SINGO!

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$5.00

duration: 1 hour cancellation_summary: 6- hour in advanced meeting_point: CreekHouse min_age: 5 description: Join Us for Singo! ($5 per card) at the Cabana Club Enjoy singing along to your favorite hits, all while competing for a chance to win...

Surf Lessons

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$95.00

duration: 9am-12pm Monday - Friday meeting_point: Club 15.5 min_age: 10 max_age: 100 group_size: 8 description: Fripp Island Surf Lessons offers a fun, safe, and supportive introduction to surfing for ages 10 and up! Kids, teens, adults, and...

Fit on Fripp Goat Yoga Ages 14+

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort

Book online
$35.00

duration: 1 hour cancellation_summary: 48- hour in advanced meeting_point: Beach Club min_age: 14 group_size: 30 description: Experience the unique blend of fitness and fun with Goat Yoga. Kickstart the season by joining us for an interactive yoga...

Gift Cards

Emma's Earth Shop Golf Cart Tours

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

TWO DAY-Reiki 3/Master Class

The Arts Port Royal

Book online
$700.00

duration: 7 hours min_age: 15 group_size: 8 accessibility: Second Floor description: Day 1, Intuitive Healing...Day 2, Learn to Teach Reiki. On Day 1, we will go further into the process of Intuitive Healing and deep listening. We will do practical...

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...

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...

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