Combine Spoleto with paddling Charleston Harbor, the nearby backwaters, or a visit to Ft. Moultrie National Monument on Sullivan's Island, and you have a great Low Country vacation. Truth be told, Beaufort recently has caught up with its bigger cousins in some respects. Real estate developers discovered its paradisiacal qualities in the 1960s. And while it has always been home or second home to a few artists and writers, it has grown significantly as a vacation home destination.
Outdoor cafes overlook the water, and antique shops, bookstores and gift shops line the streets.
A few highlights include the Beaufort Museum, St. Helena's Episcopal Church, built in 1724, and nearby, Hunting Island State Park, a deeply forested site with good beaches, a lighthouse and nature trails. When you visit Beaufort, find out events going on at the Penn Center on nearby St. Helena Island. It was founded in 1862 as a school for freed slaves, and today offers a museum, gospel performances, community sings and other activities. The Penn Center is a good place to learn about the Gullah language and culture. Gullah and the closely related Geechee cultures survived among African slaves who came primarily from Angola and Sierra Leone.