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 The lovely Lowcountry is located on South Carolina’s Treasured Coast which includes the historic towns of Port Royal, Beaufort and Bluffton as well as the popular golf and tennis resort of Hilton Head Island. South Carolina’s Treasured Coast is also made up of numerous smaller islands which reflect the history and heritage of both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars as well as native arts and culture.
About an hour south of Charleston and north of Savannah, the Beaufort region offers scenic beauty and a slow pace of life surrounding the history and culture which increasingly beckon travelers, and some never want to leave.
You’ll notice spectacular beauty any day you visit the Lowcountry. The Intracoastal Waterway, the Atlantic Ocean and a myriad of rivers and creeks wrap the islands in opportunities for sunrises and sunsets unlike any others you will see, and the wide variety of waterfowl and year-round foliage contribute to the natural appeal. You’ll find special cuisine, culture, history and heritage to suit any interest.
Census Information
About the Beaufort Region
The county seat of Beaufort County is the city of Beaufort. Also in Beaufort County are the historic towns of Port Royal and Bluffton and the resort town of Hilton Head. Many sea islands and communities are connected by bridges. The county is referred to as South Carolina's Treasured Coast for the many diverse treasures of history, heritage, arts and culture awaiting discovery by visitors and residents.
Neighboring counties in the South Carolina lowcountry are Hampton, Jasper and Colleton.
City of Beaufort
Beaufort is located on Port Royal Island, one of the large Sea Islands along the southeast Atlantic coast of the U.S. It is one of the few tow
ns with its entire downtown designated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as a historic district. The town was filled with mansions built by the wealthy plantation owners before the Civil War. It was one of the only Southern towns occupied by Union troops, rather than destroyed during the war. More than 50 historic structures have been identified and include many lovely private homes beautifully restored and enjoyable on tour by professional guides, either walking or via horse-drawn carriage or bus. Spring and fall events offer special opportunities for visitors to tour several private homes and gardens.
Art galleries, antique shops and modern boutiques are also within the downtown walking area, not to mention fine dining and quick eateries. The moderate climate hosts outdoor relaxation for meals or park enjoyment almost year-round. Port Royal
Bounded by the Beaufort River and Battery Creek, the Old Village quarter of greater Port Royal offers a unique blend of small town atmosphere, natural settings and pleasant surprises for those wishing to while away an unhurried day in a tranquil Lowcountry setting. Easily accessible from Highway 802 between Parris Island and the City of Beaufort, this uncut gem of the Lowcountry lies peacefully distant from the hubbub of its better known sister communities of Beaufort and Hilton Head. The Old Village boasts an authentic period tea room, working shrimp docks, a first rate seafood restaurant and some of the most interesting and eclectic shops on the coast. It is also home to the Lowcountry Estuarium / A Coastal Learning Center. Nature lovers will want to wander the trails of the fresh water wetland bird sanctuary and explore the intertidal zone at Sands Beach where a quarter mile long boardwalk leads to an architectural design award wining observation tower looking out over playing dolphins and the marshes of Battery Creek. Three annual festivals: the Soft Shell Crab Festival in April, the July Holiday Festival and Oktoberfest each fall add seasonal spice to the low simmering community gumbo that sets this town and its warm and welcoming residents and shopkeepers apart. You will not be disappointed if you make it a point to discover Old Port Royal.
Bluffton
The historic town of Bluffton
is conveniently located between Beaufort and Hilton Head and showcases the old and the new. Bluffton is a focal point of the county with easy access to Hilton Head Island and the City of Beaufort. The entire county area offers a myriad of history, heritage, arts and culture and is referred to as South Carolina's Treasured Coast. Eight homes here withstood the ravages of the Civil War.
Hunting Island
Hunting Island State Park, 16 miles east of Beaufort, is South Carolina's most visited state park. It has three miles of clean, safe beach along the Atlantic Ocean, picnic tables and camp sites with an ocean view, plus an 1873 lighthouse that offers a bird's eye view of the pristine island and coastal waters that embrace it.
There's more to the 5000-acre Hunting Island State Park than its magnificent beach. Hiking trails pierce the subtropical forest of palmettos, pine and moss-draped oak and may offer glimpses of the abundant bird and wildlife residents.
A pier offers a venue for fishing and crabbing and a spot to watch dolphins do their own fishing. An ambling marsh walk reveals secrets of the tidal marsh and presents an opportunity to watch millions of scurrying crabs. A large lagoon is a perfect staging area for launching kayaks. A Visitors Center and a Nature Center provide a wealth of information about the coastal ecology.
An annual South Carolina Park Passport lets you access this state park -- and dozens of other parks throughout the state -- for a modest annual fee. The phone number for Hunting Island State Park is 843-838-2011.
The Sea Islands
The Sea Islands include more than 60 small islands, with the primary inhabited ones connected by bridge and a few reachable only by boat. The unmatched scenic beauty is colored by views of glistening daily sunrises and sunsets unlike anywhere else in the world. Add the palmetto trees and live oaks draped with Spanish moss, the year-round blooms of hibiscus flowers, hundreds of varieties of coastal birds and the easy-going pace of life in the slow lane, and you'll recognize the attraction which lures thousands of tourists, retirees and relocating families.
To the east of the City of Beaufort are the islands of Lady's, Coosaw, Judge, Cat, Cane, Gibbs, St. Helena, Dataw, Distant, Harbor, Hunting and Fripp. These are a mixture of residential and resort areas, with Harbor, Dataw and Fripp being gated communities made up of residential property and resort rentals, some of which are situated along world-class golf courses.
Much rural and agricultural land on these islands is still worked by native Beaufortonians decended from slaves, and the shrimping and fishing industries based in these areas are of major importance to the local economy as well as the fine dining enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.
Callawassie and Spring Islands are south of the Broad River in Beaufort County and are private golf communities. Bull Point and Bray's Island are in the northwest portion of the county and also are private communities.
Daufuskie Island is another noted resort area reachable only by boat to the southwest of Hilton Head Island.
Port Royal Island, home to the City of Beaufort, and Hilton Head Island are also considered Sea Islands.
Hilton Head
Hilton Head Island in the southernmost part of Beaufort County boasts 14 miles of beachfront, 25 golf courses, plentiful meeting and reunion space in hotels and vacation villas plus shopping and dining opportunities for every interest. For recreation, business or lifestyle, Hilton Head Island offers a family-friendly destination with a breath of fresh air.
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