Beautiful Beaufort Offers Something Special for Your Visit.

Beaufort is located on Port Royal Island, one of the large Sea Islands along the southeast Atlantic coast of the U.S. It is one of the few tow ns with its entire downtown designated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as a historic district. The town was filled with mansions built by the wealthy plantation owners before the Civil War. It was one of the only Southern towns occupied by Union troops, rather than destroyed during the war. More than 50 historic structures have been identified and include many lovely private homes beautifully restored and enjoyable on tour by professional guides, either walking or via horse-drawn carriage or bus. Spring and fall events offer special opportunities for visitors to tour several private homes and gardens.

Art galleries, antique shops and modern boutiques are also within the downtown walking area, not to mention fine dining and quick eateries. The moderate climate hosts outdoor relaxation for meals or park enjoyment almost year-round.

About an hour south of Charleston and north of Savannah, the Beaufort region offers scenic beauty and a slow pace of life surrounding the history and culture which increasingly beckon travelers, and some never want to leave.

Outdoor Recreation

The Low Country’s salt-marsh ecosystem, one of the world’s most productive and unspoiled, is remarkably easy to explore from a Beaufort base. Guided boat tours allow visitors to photograph hundreds of species of birds, and guided kayak tours offer a more active role in coastal discovery, while boat rentals let adventurers explore on their own.

Fishing, sailing, shrimping and crabbing are popular activities for visitors, and residents are happy to teach newcomers. Local marinas offer rental boats and arrange charter fishing excursions.

Port Royal’s boardwalk and Hunting Island State Park’s pier are among the ideal fishing venues as well as popular for sightseeing and leisurely strolls. A five-mile leisure trail winds through Port Royal for jogging and bicycling and includes an observation deck.

Dining

It takes days to savor our local cuisine, from spicy barbecue and Frogmore Stew—a flavorful concoction of shrimp, sausage, corn, potatoes and onions—to smooth-as-silk She Crab soup and sweet potato pie. One of the secrets to great Low Country dining is our fresh-from-the-sea ingredients, although a wide range of choices will please any palate.

The Low Country’s recipe for unforgettable dining includes unique settings that treat all your senses. Choices range from cafes with bayside patio tables to weathered dockside hideaways to elegant chandeliered dining rooms.

Shopping

Shopping is an important activity which visitors enjoy, and Beaufortonians take pride in the eclectic and the upscale offerings in addition to regular retail opportunities providing necessities.

Art and antiques are plentiful with an amazing number of local artists represented in the local galleries and shops. Gifts and specialties are unique finds unlike items seen in other locations. The downtown historic district of Beaufort is a walking town where many beautifully restored structures invite visitors into a shopping experience combined with interesting architecture.

Local authors are often available for signing their work in delightful book stores and shops.

Rural galleries and shops can fill a day or two with browsing at marvelous folk art, some produced by native Gullah people who can explain the African heritage still observed in the crafts.

Bluffton and Port Royal offer interesting locally-owned shops with choices of crafts, art, antiques and specialty gift items. Outlet shopping also is unmatched in Bluffton with more than a hundred name-brand stores which are easily accessible.

For additional specific information, visit our Visitor Center at 1106 Carteret Street open daily from 9 am to 5:30 pm and talk to an information specialist.

For more information visit: beaufortsc.org