When people head to South Carolina they usually go right to Charleston and miss out on Beaufort entirely. That is a shame because this quiet town on Port Royal Island has incredible water views and lots of history. You get to see big gorgeous trees with moss floating in the breeze and beautiful old neighborhood houses. It is such a relaxing town to visit for a few days. Here are ten great things to do on your trip.
Walk around historic downtown Beaufort
Downtown Beaufort has tons of giant oak trees and incredible houses built before the Civil War took place. It honestly looks just like a real movie set. Grab a nice drink and wander down the quiet peaceful streets while taking in all the old architecture that survived through the war.
Relax at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park
This waterfront park sits beside the Beaufort River and offers you some really breathtaking views. Sitting on a bench with a delicious ice cream is a fine way to watch boats float along. If you pay close attention you might see a dolphin pop right up from the water.
Visit Hunting Island State Park
Hunting Island is the most visited park here because the beach is so nice. An awesome historic lighthouse stands right by the water for your pictures. The wild woods next to the ocean feel completely untouched by people. You will have a great time exploring this pretty outdoor spot.
Bike the Spanish Moss Trail
You ought to rent a bike and ride down the Spanish Moss Trail if you want to get outside and stay active. The paved route runs straight through lush green marshes and peaceful neighborhood blocks, making the views totally awesome the entire time. Watch out for dog owners on the path though, as their pets can stop real fast whenever they want to sniff something.
Explore Penn Center on St. Helena Island
Penn Center is a super important historical site because it was one of the first schools for freed slaves. The old buildings are still there, and you can learn so much about Gullah culture and history. It really gives you a deep appreciation for the people who shaped this whole region.
Check out the Beaufort History Museum
You can find this museum inside an old yellow castle-looking building called the Arsenal. It covers hundreds of years of local history, including the early Native American tribes and European settlers. The exhibits are really interesting, and they do not take all day to get through.
Eat amazing Lowcountry seafood
You cannot visit this town without stuffing your face with fresh local seafood. Places like Plums or The Shrimp Shack serve up ridiculously good shrimp and grits that will make you want to order seconds. Make sure to wear stretchy pants because the food is heavily buttered and totally worth it.
See the Parris Island Museum
Parris Island is famous for training Marines, and they have a free museum you can check out. It is filled with cool artefacts and uniforms from different eras of military history. Even if you are not a huge history buff, it is pretty fascinating to see how the base evolved.
Take a guided golf cart tour
Walking is great, but riding around in a golf cart is way more fun and way less sweaty. A guide will drive you through the historic point neighborhood while telling funny stories and pointing out where movies were filmed. It is basically the lazy and smart way to see the best houses.
See the St. Helena Parish Chapel of Ease ruins
These old church ruins sit right off the road and look incredibly spooky and cool. The church was built a long time ago and was destroyed during the Civil War. Now it is just standing there with no roof and makes for a really neat photo spot.
