Beaufort, South Carolina
Romantic village flair meets coastal city
Beaufort, founded in 1711 in the ‘Lowstate’, south of South Carolina, is the second oldest city in the state after Charleston. With its splendid mansions, the winding historic streets, the secluded gardens and the centuries-old moss-covered oaks, it embodies a southern idyll that very often serves as a film set.
Beaufort is a dream destination that enchants visitors. Enjoy the picturesque views during a carriage ride. Enjoy the famous southern cuisine in one of the many restaurants or take a relaxing stroll through the historic district, the city center with over 100 listed buildings.
- Timedictionary: Offers a list of largest cities in South Carolina.
Fishing paradise to history – Beaufort has it all
Beaufort is located on Port Royal Island, one of the largest sea islands. It is part of an island chain with over 100 islands in the Atlantic, which are lined up along the coast of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Here you will find wonderful, natural beaches and wide marshland. Take part in one of the guided island bus trips, boat and kayak tours or fishing charters and enjoy the beauty of the coastal lowlands. Sport fishing, bicycle tours, horse riding and adventure tours are offered all year round on natural beaches and peaceful inland waterways. Every fisherman’s heart will beat faster if Beaufort’s experienced captains reliably bring you to the fish. 25% of the US East Coast marshland water with excellent fishing opportunities is here in Beaufort County.
You can enter a completely different world on St. Helena Island. The calm island about 8 km east of Beaufort leads you into the Gullah culture and its history, which goes back to the descendants of the slaves from Africa. Here is the Penn Center, a museum founded by Quaker missionaries in 1862, shortly before the end of the civil war, to give freed slaves the failed education they need for a new life. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote his ‘I have a Dream’ speech in one of the huts on the site.
- Transporthint: Overview of South Carolina, including population, history, geography and major industries.
Fort Fremont takes you back to the 1890s and the Spanish-American War. You can get an overview of the location and its once ultra-modern facility here. Another historic site is the Santa Elena History Center. Santa Elena was founded in 1566 and was the first European settlement in North America.
ARGUS REISEN recommends:
The historic Bed & Breakfast Inns in Beaufort are ideal for a perfect romantic getaway. They each have their own fascinating story. The staff is top notch! Let yourself be pampered in one of these wonderful inns in the charming city center of Beaufort, for example at the Beaufort Inn, the Cuthbert House Inn, the Rhett House Inn or the North Street Inn.
It can get quite hot in the southern lowcountry. There is no better way to cool off than with an iced tea in the Sweet Tea Bar – your taste buds will dance for joy. The small bar can be found in the Scout Southern Market in the heart of Beaufort. Here you can also browse for furniture, lamps, jewelry and gifts in the style of the southern states. You will surely find a perfect piece here that you can take home with you!
Highlights in Beaufort
- Santa Elena History Center
Her intriguing but little-known story is about religion, geopolitics, cultural clashes, war, and struggles for survival – here, over 40 years before the English settled in Jamestown, Virginia, the Spaniards founded a city on the banks of the Port Royal Sound in Beaufort County, SC - Fort Fremont
Built in 1898 in response to the Spanish threat, you have the opportunity to experience history up close and take a guided tour of Fort Fremont every fourth Saturday of the month into the 1890s and the Spanish American War back. - Saltus River Grill
The seafood restaurant is located in the middle of the historic city center and should not be missed when visiting Beaufort. Exceptional dishes, breathtaking views of the sea, incomparable service – what more do you need for a perfect evening. - Carriage Tours
If you’re looking for something special and unique in Beaufort, explore the city on a horse-drawn carriage accompanied by a friendly, knowledgeable guide. - Hunting Island Lighthouse
The Hunting Island Lighthouse is the only lighthouse in South Carolina that allows access to the interior. The view from the top is well worth the effort.
Information about Beaufort
Foundation: 1711
Area: approx. 87 km²
Population: approx.13,000
Height: 3 m above sea level
Time zone: Eastern Standard Time
Intern. Airport: Charleston International Airport (approx. 115km)
