Beaufort is very much like a little sister who stands in the shadow of her beautiful bigger sisters. In this case Savannah and Charleston are her bigger sisters. While Beaufort is not as big as Savannah or Charleston, she is nonetheless as equally as beautiful…Read More

Beaufort is very much like a little sister who stands in the shadow of her beautiful bigger sisters. In this case Savannah and Charleston are her bigger sisters. While Beaufort is not as big as Savannah or Charleston, she is nonetheless as equally as beautiful and impressive.

The history of Beaufort goes back to about the same time period as Hilton Head. In 1562, Jean Ribault in Hilton Head put soldiers on Paris Island to start a colony. By the mid-1750s, rice and indigo merchants became some of the wealthiest men on the continent and began to build large plantations and grand homes. In 1861, Yankees took over Beaufort, leaving thousands fleeing in its wake. Many people left behind their slaves. This gave a new life for more than 10,000 slaves left behind. Schools were established for them, and the redistribution of land allowed many to purchase land. Harriet Tubman spent two years here as a spy for the union solders. Many of the slaves moved to a nearby St. Helena and established the Gullah culture. Many of the practices that were handed down through the generations are still here.

By the 1870s, after an economic recovery, Beaufort once again saw an invasion of Yankees. This time, though, it was Northern snowbirds looking for a way to escape the cold winters. Today, Beaufort still plays host to those fleeing the cold Northern winters. In 1915, the U.S. Marines started training troops at Paris Island. In 1967, the Historic Beaufort Foundation started to work diligently to save the historic downtown area.

In 1975, Beaufort was designated as a National Historic Landmark District, and 439 sites were listed.

Today, Beaufort (FYI: there is also a Beaufort, NC, but it is pronounced bo-fort) plays gracious hostess to more than 3 million people who come seeking her beauty. The National Trust has named her as one of the "Dozen Distinct Destinations". It was named as one of the "50 Best Small Southern Towns". John Villani named it as one of the "100 Best Small Arts Towns in America". Local resident Pat Conroy, author of Prince of Tides, says all his novels are love letters to Beaufort.

Today’s visitor to Beaufort will find her charm incontrovertible. You may stay at one of the quaint and historic B&Bs, enjoy a tour of the historic district by horsedrawn carriage, and enjoy a gourmet meal at one of the many restaurants found here. You will find the weather here perfect year-round. Even in the coldest of months, it remains around 60 degrees.

Hollywood has coming calling over 20 times to use the natural beauty of Beaufort in their movies. Movies such as Rules of Engagement, Forces of Nature, Prince of Tides, the Great Santini, 1994’S Jungle Book, Something To Talk About, GI Jane, Legend of Bagger Vance, and most notably, Forrest Gump, used Beaufort in many of their scenes. On both the carriage tour and walking tour, you can hear some juicy Hollywood gossip.

There are more than 35 art galleries locate in downtown. Many of the artists have had their work represented in MoMA in NYC. There are frequent art classes and meet-the-artist events staged in Beaufort. There are several local theater troops, including Lowcountry Shakespeare. The USCS Performing Arts hosts a range of talents, from touring Broadway casts to legendary dance troops such as the Alvin Ailey. The USBC (University of SC-Beaufort) host the Festival Series, which brings high-caliber performances of bluegrass, classical, jazz, and more. If you have seen Forrest Gump, you know that wonderful gospel church choir that Forrest sings with? Well, that is Beaufort’s own Hallelujah Singers. This dynamic gospel choir can be found performing at local events or their own church (New Street Baptist Church) when they are not touring.

There are dozens of restaurants ready to please the taste buds of visitors to this fair city. You will find a variety of cuisine, while lowcountry and seafood are the specialties. The seafood here is fresh and out-of-this-world. Many of the restaurants along the bay offer stunning views to go with the wonderful meal. Ollie’s by the Bay is on of my favorites. Shopping is also a major sport here. You will find everything from upscale designer duds to antiques, local crafts, and specialties. Make sure you stop by the Chocolate Tree for some mouthwatering chocolate goodies.

Throughout the year, you will find a number of festivals and events. There is the Beaufort Water Festival, Art Association Spring Shop, the Gullah Festival, garden tours, Penn Center Heritage Days, Beaufort Shrimp Festival in October, and Tribute to Great Chefs of the South, Taste of Beaufort, and National Tourism Week. In the spring and fall, check out the tours of historic homes and gardens. This is often your only way to see the beautiful homes here from the inside. Once again, it tends to get very busy here during these times, so make sure you plan in advance.

If you have a Marine graduating from Paris Island, make sure to stay for a few days afterwards to enjoy all the beauty here. Beaufort is the perfect place to day trip to or from. Historic Savannah is only about 45 minutes away. The southern playground of Hilton Head is 30 minutes away. Charleston is 100 miles away. There is also nearby Fripp, St. Helena, and St. Phillips islands.

No matter what you choose, just make sure you choose to visit Beaufort. Here you will find Southern charm and smiles practiced everyday. She is a small Southern gem who will stay with you long after you leave her. Please visit www.beaufortsc.org for more information.

I love beautiful Beaufort! The thing I can't stand are the bugs! Don't get me wrong: the unique spiders, butterflies, and love bugs are something to see. It's the no-see-ums or the sand fleas that are bad. They look like gnats and are very small.…Read More

I love beautiful Beaufort! The thing I can't stand are the bugs! Don't get me wrong: the unique spiders, butterflies, and love bugs are something to see. It's the no-see-ums or the sand fleas that are bad. They look like gnats and are very small. They bite, and man, does it itch. Another horrible bug is the roach. They call them water bugs, but this is just a huge overgrown roach. Don't mistake this for anything but disgusting! They just may scare you! They scared me! My tip for you is to make sure you spray down before you walk out. Some seasons are worse than others, but I think it really depends on the weather! PS The love bugs they look like two bugs stuck together, and they are! Close

It took about 45 minutes to get to Beaufort from Hilton Head Island. It is a nice ride through the marshlands. Historic Beaufort is a wonderful town to walk around. There are cute shops and beautiful homes. The waterfront has a gorgeous park and lots…Read More

It took about 45 minutes to get to Beaufort from Hilton Head Island. It is a nice ride through the marshlands. Historic Beaufort is a wonderful town to walk around. There are cute shops and beautiful homes. The waterfront has a gorgeous park and lots or cafes to enjoy the view. The homes along the water are large old mansions. We were lucky to be invited into one. The owners had just bought the place and were still in the midst of fixing and cleaning. They saw us admiring the front of their home and invited us in. Isn't southern hospitality wonderful?! Their home was on the water overlooking the bridge. The views from the second floor porch went on for miles. The home was used as a hospital during the civil war. It was a real treat. We bid our goodbyes, wished them luck with their new home and they asked us to stop by again next time we are in the area to see their progress. How nice is that? There are certain times during the year when several homes are open for touring. If you are in the area then, I would take a look.Close

It’s possible to visit nearby Beaufort without killing the entire day. Founded in 1526, Beaufort offers a lot of history and gives a good sense of traditional Low Country living. Forrest Gump, The Great Santini, The Prince of Tides, and The Big Chill…Read More

It’s possible to visit nearby Beaufort without killing the entire day. Founded in 1526, Beaufort offers a lot of history and gives a good sense of traditional Low Country living. Forrest Gump, The Great Santini, The Prince of Tides, and The Big Chill were all filmed there.

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A nice little side trip from Hilton Head is a drive over to historic Beaufort. Beautiful antebellum homes some restored to granduer can be viewed. It is also supposedly where Forest Gump was filmed. Your first stop into town should be at the Beaufort…Read More

A nice little side trip from Hilton Head is a drive over to historic Beaufort. Beautiful antebellum homes some restored to granduer can be viewed. It is also supposedly where Forest Gump was filmed.



Your first stop into town should be at the Beaufort Visitors Center at 1106 Carteret Street.



We went on a Sunday and the town was very quiet. On Sat or weekday, more stores and sights are likely open. Nevertheless, we found local pottery and epicurian treats to purchase.

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