Essential Things To Do In Beaufort, South Carolina

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If you’re a fan of the movie Forrest Gump, then you’ve probably already seen a lot of Beaufort, South Carolina, which was where the movie was mostly filmed.

Famous for its gorgeous South Carolina coast and sea islands, antebellum mansions and 19th century architecture, as well as delicious seafood and stunning beaches, you’ll find there are many things to do in Beaufort SC.

Beaufort is an exquisite and serene small historical city immersed in a forest of ancient live oaks and surrounded by marshlands, islands, waterways, and the Atlantic Ocean.

Not to mention it’s South Carolina’s second-oldest city.

If you’re wandering what to do in Beaufort, then you’ve come to the right place, as below I have listed some of the top attractions in the city.

Is Beaufort, South Carolina Worth Visiting?

Beaufort is rich in history and Gullah heritage, Southern Charm, natural beauty, and delicious local seafood, so yes, it is worth visiting.

It was named the South’s best small town by Southern Living Magazine and is located about halfway between Charleston and Savannah along the protected Intracoastal Waterway and South Carolina’s Atlantic Coast.

We first visited with my parents in 2010 when Kalyra was only two and a half. We still talk about that road trip between here and the other Beaufort in North Carolina.

Up there in NC they pronounce it Bowfort (as in bow tie.), which is the English pronunciation. Down here, they pronounce it Beaufort as in beautiful.

Back in 1562, the French explorer Jean Ribault claimed the Port Royal Harbor and set up a settlement on Paris Island.

This makes this area older than Jamestown in Virginia by 45 years and St Augustine in Florida by three years.

During this time period, the Spanish also attempted to colonize this area bordering the second deepest natural harbor on the East Coast, and the British came later.

All failed because of the fierce defense of the Yamasee people, the Native Americans who lived in these lands.

Life was abundant for them here and they did not want to leave.

Unfortunately, as our sad history goes, the English formally chartered Beaufort in 1711, turning it into a ship building hub and pushing the Yamasee out into North Florida with the Seminoles.

We can’t change history, but we can…