Junk Removal in Beaufort, SC

An updated vaccine is recommended for adults and most children. Statewide, 7% of vaccinations did not specify a home county.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Notes: The hospitals map shows the average I.C.U. occupancy at nearby hospitals in the most recent week with data reported. The data is self-reported to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services by individual hospitals. It excludes counts from hospitals operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Indian Health Service. Numbers for hospitalized patients are based on inpatient beds and include I.C.U. beds. Hospitalized Covid-19 patients include both confirmed and suspected Covid-19 patients. The C.D.C. stopped reporting data on cases in May 2023.

How trends have changed in Beaufort County

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Notes: Weekly county death data prior to Jan. 2021 was not reported by the C.D.C. and is sourced from reporting by The New York Times. Hospitalization data is a weekly average of Covid-19 patients in hospital service areas that intersect with Beaufort County. Hospitalization numbers early in the pandemic are undercounts due to incomplete reporting by hospitals to the federal government.

Historical trends in Beaufort County

The data in these charts has been archived and they are no longer being updated.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The data in these charts has been archived and they are no longer being updated. Weekly county case data prior to Jan. 2021 was not reported by the C.D.C. and is sourced from reporting by The New York Times. The C.D.C. stopped reporting data on cases in May 2023. Test positivity data is based only on test results reported to the federal government and is a seven-day average.

Labor Day weekend has arrived, unofficially marking the end of summer and many may be looking for things to do this weekend following Idalia’s impacts on the Southeast and South Carolina’s Lowcountry.

While there aren’t many Labor Day-specific activities on the local calendar, there are no shortage of nearby things to do with your family.

Here are eight activities to try that are perfect for your Lowcountry Labor Day weekend.

The Parrot Palooza Sunset Celebration with Shannon Tanner & the Oyster Reefers is a fun, Caribbean-style concert event for the family to enjoy this holiday weekend. Parrot Palooza offers an opportunity for attendees to dance and enjoy their evenings during the holiday weekend with shows starting at 7 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday featuring the Jimmy Buffet tribute band.

Children’s entertainment will also be present, featuring Cappy the Clown at the harbour, with further children’s activities from 6-9 p.m. The events are subject to change and are reliant on weather conditions. Any updates can be found at the Shelter Cove Harbour and Marina’s Facebook page. All activities for the event can be found at 17 Harbourside Lane, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926.

For those who prefer a more carnivorous diet, barbecue is quite popular during Labor Day weekend festivities. Beaufort County is filled with great barbecue options.

Previous Island Packet reporting detailed that Yelp’s 2023 selections for the best barbecue in the county included locales such as:

Despite Idalia’s hurricane force winds and flooding that took place just days ago, efficient cleanup efforts helped restore the county as weather began to calm. Blue, sunny skies are predicted for the weekend.

Heading to the beach for a relaxing Labor Day weekend could be the fun that the whole family needs after the recent tropical weather events. Hilton Head Island has 12 miles of white-sand beaches, and the Lowcountry as a whole has a large quantity of beautiful, unique beaches.

Sea Pines has a plethora of activities for your family to choose from this holiday weekend. Whether you want to relax or explore, there are options for everyone. Aside from Harbour Town and South Beach Marina, this area of the island’s south end has its own set of ruins, a nature preserve, Lawton Stables, aquatic tours and gear rentals, dolphin cruises, nationally-recognized restaurants, a PGA Tour golf course and more.

For an adult group, find a local happy hour spot. Many local establishments offer happy hour specials and live music for over-21s to spend those end-of-summer Lowcountry evenings. Hilton Head Distillery, Poseidon, Aunt Chiladas and The Sandbar are just a few of the many places to enjoy an evening beverage in the surrounding area for this Labor Day weekend.

Are you in favor of some healthy, family competition? The Lowcountry is known for its award-winning golf courses. Set up a tee time and play one of the many courses available. Not a golfer? Mini golf, tennis or pickleball are also popular choices that are sure to bring a fun time and memories that will last.

Enjoy the local Lowcountry flora and fauna this weekend with sunny skies after a week of wind and rain. The region has a unique environment that can be explored through these nine local parks and trails in Beaufort County.

Whether you’re a long-time local, summer vacationer or part-time resident, you may have led yourself to believe that you’ve seen everything on the island.

Do you know for certain if that is actually true?

Hilton Head has several surprising treasures that you might not have known existed or thought to explore.

If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, try visiting at least one of these six ‘hidden gems’ located around the island.

Charleston may get most of the attention when it comes to South Carolina’s many cities, but the history, culture, and (of course) Southern charm that make it so special can also be found in smaller and less expensive places in the region. If you’ve ever watched “Forrest Gump” or read anything by the late author Pat Conroy, you may be familiar with Beaufort, a harbor town on Port Royal Island. Its narrow streets, oak trees, and historic district that pre-dates the Civil War are similar to those in Charleston, but Beaufort is remarkable and magical in its own right. Plus, it doesn’t draw the same crowds that tend to flock to notable Holy City hangouts like King Street, Folly Beach, and the Battery.

Before you read any further, though, you need to know how to properly pronounce the name. Not to be confused with Beaufort, North Carolina (said like “bow-fert”), the coastal town has a pronunciation more akin to “bew-fert.” Mistaking the two will immediately identify you as a tourist — and it won’t sit too well with the locals. Once you have that squared away, you can start planning your trip to Beaufort, the second-oldest city in South Carolina.

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Best Things to Do in Beaufort, South Carolina

In 1969, Beaufort became one of the few U.S. cities with an entire downtown designated as a historic district by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, so exploring the neighborhoods filled with Victorian, Greek Revival, Neoclassical, and Federal-style homes is at the top of most travelers’ lists. At Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, you’ll spot Woods Memorial Bridge, recognizable from the aforementioned Tom Hanks blockbuster. Stretching your legs is also encouraged along the Spanish Moss Trail, a 10-mile greenway that weaves by Beaufort’s marshes and through trees draped in Spanish moss. Given its waterfront location, Beaufort should also be experienced by boat; book a Dolphin & History Boat Cruise with Coastal Expeditions or an ecology tour with Beaufort Kayak Tours. Paddleboarding is another option, with rental equipment available at Higher Ground Outfitters.

Beaufort’s ties to the literary world are strong; visiting the Pat Conroy Literary Center (Beaufort was Conroy’s adopted hometown) or one of the three independent bookstores in town — NeverMore Books, McIntosh Book Shoppe, and Beaufort Books — is a must for book lovers. For those interested in local art, there’s the Gullah Art Gallery and Museum, Legacy Art Gallery, Rhett Gallery, Thibault Gallery, or Atelier Off Bay.

Many of the best things to do in Beaufort are found further outside of downtown. About 17 miles east is Hunting Island State Park, with its pristine beaches, marshes, maritime forest, saltwater lagoon, and the Hunting Island Lighthouse, which was destroyed during the Civil War and rebuilt in 1875. St. Helena Island (a 13-minute drive away) is home to Penn Center — one of the United States’ first schools for formerly enslaved individuals — as well as the family-owned Dempsey Farms, where you can pick in-season fruits and vegetables. Local produce can also be acquired on Saturdays at the nearby Port Royal Farmers Market.

The Best Things to Do in South Carolina, According to a Local

Beaufort Hotels

An overnight trip to Beaufort is best accompanied by a stay in one of the town’s upscale inns. Slow Southern mornings paired with a home-cooked breakfast can be enjoyed on the expansive wooden porch at The Rhett House Inn. Guests can also book the more modern Rhett House Inn Cottages, which sit across the street from the main building. Once a Union Army hospital, Anchorage 1770 overlooks the Beaufort River and offers a fine dining experience at the Ribaut Social Club. The Beaufort Inn first opened its doors in 1897, and the property’s modern-day chapter features several fully renovated buildings within the town’s historic district.

Where to Eat and Drink in Beaufort, South Carolina

As with most Southern cities and towns, food is a major part of the local culture. If you’re a traveler who plans their vacations around meals, you’ll want to start your day at Blackstone’s Cafe or Herban Market and Cafe. If you’re exploring Beaufort during the day and want something quick, order a fried chicken sandwich or po’boy from Lowcountry Produce Market & Cafe. Chapman’s Grocer also has grab-and-go treats, wine, and craft beer. Old Bull Tavern is a lively gastropub open only for dinner, Saltus River Grill is great for indulging in seafood, and those craving Italian should dine at Griffin Market. Gullah Grub Restaurant on St. Helena Island is one of the area’s most famous restaurants (it appeared on Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations); get the shrimp gumbo.

Best Time to Visit

A South Carolina summer is hot and humid — there’s no getting around that. To explore Beaufort in the most comfortable climate, your best bet is to go in either early spring or late fall. April and October are ideal for having plenty to do (winter is far from bustling) while simultaneously avoiding the sweltering weather synonymous with the South.

Getting There

If you’re flying into Hilton Head Airport (HHH) or Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) — both are under an hour away — you’ll need to rent a car to fully experience Beaufort and its surrounding area. Charleston International Airport (CHS) is also an option, although it’ll take about 90 minutes to get to Beaufort.

There's a moment at Hunting Island State Park as you're biking along the Lagoon Trail—ocean breezes and intoxicating beach vistas playing peekaboo to your left—when the sandy path turns inland and a sign points to Diamondback Rattlesnake Trail. A good idea? Yes.

"Yes," it turns out, sums up the best way to experience Beaufort, South Carolina, and its environs, including Hunting Island. Yes, the path less taken is an excellent idea, as is the Sweet Tea Float at Scout Southern Market. Spending hours strolling through The Old Point and gazing at historic homes and even older live oaks offers endless enchantment. But with my eyes peeled for rattlers, I was (yes) relieved that the only serpentine thing I discovered was more of the winding trail along old dune ridgelines through a primordial wonderland.

The trail affirms why Hunting Island, a breathtaking 25-minute drive from Beaufort, is South Carolina's most popular state park. With a dozen similar paths and 5 miles of pristine beach, this place leads you back eons in time through an untouched maritime forest with towering pines and ospreys soaring overhead as well as magnolias and saw palmettos tangled with yaupon hollies and wax myrtles in the dense understory. Here you breathe deeper and look more closely. Life slows down, and a sense of awe percolates up.

Take a seat on one of the bench swings at Beaufort's Waterfront Park. Wide and welcoming, they move back and forth in a rhythmic lullaby. You can't help relaxing, especially if you happen to catch a sunset or tune into the soft lapping of the Beaufort River against the floating dock, hearing the jingling clink of pulleys against sailboat masts—a mariner's wind chime.

Saltus River Grill, where the scenic setting rivals the exceptional food and drink. PHOTO: Peter Frank Edwards A slice of the sweet life from Beaufort’s upscale Saltus River Grill. PHOTO: Peter Frank Edwards

Waterfront Park showcases the smart civic planning that makes Beaufort such a delight: The town's best vistas are protected and preserved. There are thoughtful amenities (parking, public bathrooms, an amphitheater, picnic tables, and plenty of green lawn for kids and dogs to play on). Plus it's all conveniently adjacent to an enticing array of restaurants, coffee shops, and stores along Bay Street. What better nightcap than to sit and swing a spell after enjoying grilled scallops or top-notch sushi at Saltus River Grill?

Historic Craven Street. PHOTO: Peter Frank Edwards A rooftop sunset at Anchorage 1770. PHOTO: Peter Frank Edwards

Beaufort is subdued in the best possible way. She has the same deep history and stunning architecture that her nearby sisters, Charleston and Savannah, are celebrated for, but she's fine staying slightly out of the limelight. Wise and mature, Beaufort wears her age like the badge of honor it is. Her Lowcountry aura feels elemental, with more patina and less pomp. Along Short Street at the edge of The Old Point, moss-heaped limbs cradle historic mansions. Beaufort's treescape shouts of grandeur in whatever language oaks speak. Gardens and yards aren't so much manicured as they are magical. It's easy to see why Hollywood frequently comes calling (a stairwell at The Beaufort Inn features posters from major motion pictures filmed here). Longtime resident Pat Conroy was so smitten that he wrote, "When I came to Beaufort I had struck upon a land so beautiful I had to hunt for other words."

Not far from Short Street, the First African Baptist Church, a Gothic Revival gem built by freedmen in 1865, bears witness to Beaufort's African American, Gullah, and Reconstruction-era history. "Robert Smalls was a member here. This document notes his Sunday school attendance and that he put a few cents in the offering plate," says the Rev. Alexander McBride, a jovial former marine and the church's pastor of almost 20 years, pointing to framed, yellowing pages hanging behind the sanctuary. A statue of Smalls, an enslaved crewman who heroically commandeered a Confederate ship and later served as a U.S. Congressman, is less than a mile away at Tabernacle Baptist Church, where a monument to Harriet Tubman is also planned.

Both churches are worthy stops, along with the Penn Center across the bridge on St. Helena Island, the Gullah Art Gallery/Museum on Bladen Street, and the Legacy Art Gallery on Bay Street. Each place gives a deeper insight into the region's vibrant and enduring African American and Gullah Geechee culture. Providing an overview of Beaufort's past, Capt. Henry Brandt of Coastal Expeditions offers a boat tour that cruises through the area's Native American, Spanish, and French history; Union occupation; and a view of Camp Saxton's tabby ruins, where the Emancipation Proclamation was first read in South Carolina—all interspersed with musings on estuary ecosystems and the fecund marvels of pluff mud.

"You don't fully experience Beaufort until you see it from the water," Brandt claims. After watching dolphins curl and glide from the boat's bow and admiring the town's steeples rising in the background, I absolutely believe him.

Where to Stay

Anchorage 1770Boutique hotel in an 18th-century mansion with fine dining at the Ribaut Social Club; anchorage1770.com

The Beaufort InnHistoric main inn plus several cottages clustered around a courtyard; beaufortinn.com

What to Eat and Drink

Blackstone's CaféClassic diner-like options; blackstonescafe.com

Common GroundCoffee, lattes, baked goods, and sandwiches; commongroundbeaufort.com

Lowcountry Produce KitchenLocally sourced salads and sandwiches and a legendary tomato pie; lowcountryproduce.com

Chapman's GrocerGrab-and-go items plus beer, wine, and snacks; facebook.com/Chapmans-Grocer-Beaufort

Saltus River GrillFine dining with fresh local seafood, Southern fare, steaks, sushi, and a well-curated wine list; saltusrivergrill.com

Old Bull TavernGastropub featuring a lively bar scene anda lamb shank that does not disappoint; oldbulltavern.com

Where to Shop

Scout Southern MarketUnique gifts and home goods as well as delicious treats like the famous float at the Sweet Tea Bar; scoutsouthernmarket.com

Bachelor Hill AntiquesOffering treasures galore; bachelorhillantiques.com

Cabana22Coastal-chic boutique; cabana22.com

The Chocolate TreeConfections such as fudge, truffles, and peanut brittle; thechocolatetree.us

Legacy Art GalleryGullah-inspired works; legacyartgallery.com

What to Do

Hunting Island; southcarolinaparks.comSt. Phillips IslandPat Conroy Literary Center; patconroyliterarycenter.orgCoastal Expeditions; coastalexpeditions.comReconstruction Era National Historic Park; nps.govSpanish Moss Trail; spanishmosstrail.comCraven Street en route to The Old Point to explore historic neighborhoods

Hey y’all. Beaufort did it again. Beaufort SC was just named the #1 Best Small Town in S.C. by Southern Living magazine.

“Sure, big city trips can be fun for a change, but when we want to truly sink into vacation mode, we’re partial to visiting small towns,” SL said in its article. “And some of our favorite spots lie within the state lines of South Carolina. We’ve always loved the Palmetto State for bringing us universally beloved destinations like Charleston and Hilton Head, but dive a little deeper into the state’s geography, and you’ll find dozens of hidden gems just waiting to be discovered.”

Enter, Beaufort, South Carolina.

“Wild beauty and Lowcountry allure abound in this South Carolina gem.”

“Get lost among the pines and palmettos of an ancient maritime forest at Hunting Island State Park, catch a striking sunset over the Beaufort River, and marvel at the columns and sweeping porches of stately mansions on Historic Craven Street.”

Southern Living seems to nail it with that description.

In a nod to local cuisine, SL said, “One final bit of advice for our trip to Beaufort: Order the tomato pie at Lowcountry Produce. It’s a seasonal delicacy that can’t be missed. ”

It’s good to be consistently included among the best, but this isn’t really that much of a surprise if you’ve ever visited Beaufort SC.

Beaufort is in some good company on the list, too.

The Top 10 are:

1. Beaufort 2. Georgetown 3. Bluffton (congrats, neighbor!) 4. Aiken 5. Folly Beach 6. Clemson 7. Travelers Rest 8. Edisto Island 9. Landrum 10. Anderson

For the entire list, visit here.

The accolades really have been pouring in for Beaufort recently, and we couldn’t be more proud.

Just last month, CNN named Beaufort one of the Best Small Towns in America.

Trips To Discover recently named Beaufort the Best Summer Vacation Destination in South Carolina, one of the Most Friendliest Towns in the U.S. and one of the 20 Most Beautiful Small Towns in the U.S.

In 2022, Southern Living magazine named Beaufort the #1 Best Small Town in the South.

We’ve also recently been named one of the 25 Best Small Towns in America by Architectural Digest; the Most Charming Small Town in South Carolina; one of the Cutest Towns in the U.S. and the Most Quaint Town in South Carolina.

In addition to those, Southern Living magazine named the Old Sheldon Church ruins one of the South’s Most Beautiful Chapels; named Hunting Island State Park one of the Best State Parks in the South; and named downtown Beaufort’s Craven Street one of the South’s Most Beautiful Streets.

To see more of Beaufort, the Best Small Town in S.C., check out this link, too.