I love Beaufort SC. When Jean & I travel to the low country, we always try to visit this amazing, yet hidden South Carolina beach area.
When you are visiting South Carolina be sure to make time for the Lowcountry area around Kiawah Island and the town of Beaufort. This area is one of the prettiest and most fun in South Carolina, replete with festivals, great restaurants and all sorts of other things to do and see.
Want to See Awesome Beauty? Visit Beaufort SC Lowcountry
Beaufort is the ultimate gracious Southern town with a pleasing combination of urban refinement and Lowcountry friendliness. It is replete with exquisite cuisine, antebellum architecture and rich heritage. Add in the beach, a large number of sunny days, and great walk-ability and you have a wonderful beach town.
Strictly speaking, Beaufort is not directly on the ocean although you can see an amazing
Beaufort SC sunset from the docks in the late afternoon.
It actually lies along the banks of the Beaufort River and the Port Royal Sound. There is open Atlantic water about 16 miles east of Beaufort's historic town center. Here Hunting Island State Park boasts three miles of the most beautiful beaches in South Carolina. There is also abundant marshlands and maritime forest, as well as the only lighthouse in South Carolina still open to the public.
Beaufort boasts a very walk-able downtown area which bookstores, art galleries, and antique shops, all perfect for an afternoon of shopping or browsing. The many restaurants serve fresh, off-the-boat seafood and traditional Low country meals such as just-picked collard greens and spicy, thick gumbos. The area also includes a vast waterfront park which is the perfect venue for live concerts.
The area surrounding Beaufort is rich with southern history. Beaufort's downtown area is a designated National Historic Landmark, as is St. Helena Island where a rich Gullah heritage is remembered and nurtured by descendants of slaves.
Beaufort natives differentiate between those whose families have been in town for generations and those who are more recent arrivals, say within the last twenty years. A comeyeah is a more recent arrival, meaning 'come here' or a new comer. Beanyeah means 'been here' and refers to what Beaufort calls the locals. Since Beaufort is South Carolina's second oldest city, beanyeah status is not easily achieved.
Beaufort's history starts when the Spanish arrived back in the early 1500s. They failed to create a successful settlement. Later on, the French also attempted to create a settlement at Beaufort, but like the Spanish were not successful. It wasn't until 1711 that the British were able to establish a successful settlement despite frequent attacks by the Yemasee Indians.
Despite its early beginnings, it is the Civil War which still resonates with more locals in Beaufort. Many local residents still remember what the war meant and talk about its aftermath. One of Beaufort's most beautiful areas is the historic Old Point neighborhood where homeowners have found bullets and arm bones from the Civil War.
Beaufort was the first and last town in the Confederacy occupied by Union Troops. These troops arrived in 1861 which caused more than 1,400 residents to flee the town. However, it was this occupation which spared Beaufort much of the destruction experienced by other Southern cities. Most of the homes were turned into hospitals and were not destroyed, so still remain today.
Beaufort SC is a wonderful combination of history, cuisine and Low country living. It is a perfect place to experience the beauty of South Carolina.
You can see fine art prints of Beaufort and other South Carolina locations at
BobPardue.pixels.com
