Beaufort is the second oldest city in South Carolina. The old port town of Beaufort is the gracious center of the picturesque Lowcountry. Historic homes dating from as early as 1717, and the grandiose mansions built in the pre-Civil War era have been carefully restored.

Walk past the many historic homes where famous movies have been filmed, such as "The Prince of Tides", "The Great Santini", "The Big Chill", "Forces of Nature" movie stars have walked the streets of Beaufort!

Fine dining can be found in places like "Plums Restaurant", "Saltus River Grill", and so many more! "Paninis" offers Italian/American Cuisine with influences from the entire Mediterranean. If you're in the mood for great Italian food, live entertainment, a full service bar, and a big screen TV, then you've got to stop by "JPs Place". Check out our Area Dining link for a list of fine area restaurants.

		You can always tell when you're near the South Carolina Coast. The silvery-gray threadlike masses draped in trees are a sure sign! Related to the pineapple, Spanish Moss grows throughout the eastern half of South Carolina and can be found from Virginia to Argentina! Home to a number of creatures, including chiggers, snakes and bats, the Spanish Moss is also used in nest making.
		Beaufort Stew, also known as Frogmore Stew, is a culinary delight of the South Carolina coast. The recipe is less than 60 years old, but has brought enough pleasure to last an eternity! Richard Gay of the Gay Seafood Company claimed to have invented this “lowcountry boil” while on National Guard duty. Well received among locals and picked up a mainstay at the Steamer Restaurant, Gay campaigned to have this concoction of shrimp, corn and sausage declared the official seafood dish of SC, but to no avail.
		The Hollywood of the South? You can almost say that! Many popular movies have been filmed in Beaufort including The Great Santini, The Big Chill, The Prince of Tides, Forrest Gump, The Jungle Book and Something to Talk About. The home located at 1 Laurens Street is known as Tidalholm and is a private residence. The spacious home was used as the Meecham’s family home in the Great Santini and was also featured in The Big Chill.
		From professional boxers to acclaimed writers, Beaufort has raised them all! Joe Frazier, born in Beaufort, became a pro boxer after winning a gold medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Author Pat Conroy was not born in Beaufort but calls the place home. A graduate of the Citadel, the Military Academy of South Carolina in Charleston, Conroy returned home to teach at Beaufort High School. Eventually, Conroy wrote best selling books including The Lords of Discipline, The Prince of Tides and Beach Music.
		Shrimp is to Beaufort what Apple Pie is to America! That’s why every year this city hosts its annual Shrimp Festival. Local restaurants gather to offer samples of shrimp recipes – sure to entice your appetite! Ecology displays provide an educational opportunity for everyone to learn about the natural marine resources that Beaufort has to offer! For the exercise enthusiast, compete in the 5K walk/run – it’s a good excuse to eat even more!
		And exactly how do you say the name of this city? Some confusion exists over the pronunciation of Beaufort, South Carolina partly due to the fact that just one state over lies Beaufort, North Carolina. South Carolina’s Beaufort is pronounced “BYOO-fert” and North Carolina’s Beaufort is pronounced “BOH-fert”.
		Tabby Cement, a mixture made from lime, sand and oyster shells, makes up many structures in Beaufort. It has been said that Beaufort has the largest number of tabby ruins in the United States. The Historic Foundation of Beaufort has placed the structures on its endangered resources list.
		Gullah is a Creole form of English and is indigenous to the Sea Islands of South Carolina and Georgia. Another name for the language and culture of the black Sea Islanders is Geechee. Most of Gullah vocabulary is of English origin but the grammar and major elements of pronunciation come from many West African languages. The words goober (peanut), gumbo and yam have Gullah roots.
		Beaufort is a great spot for lovebugs. Literally! The lovebug, also known as the honeymoon fly, is an invader from Central America and swarms over Beaufort from April until May and September to October each year. Mowed, rotting grass along highways provides the ideal breeding ground for the bugs. The name comes from the fact that the lovebugs mate while coupled in mid-air – as high as 1500 feet in flight! No need to worry about these critters, they do not sting, bite or carry disease.