Old Beaufort
Horse-carriage tours, and a riverside park.
Beaufort and the Sea Islands
A lovely antebellum town, with Penn Center's Gullah story and Reconstruction history in the Sea Islands.
Antebellum homes under live oaks have been in movies such as The Big Chill. On St. Helena Island, Penn Center was a school for formerly enslaved people from 1862. The Gullah people here have kept a distinct language and culture. Reconstruction Era National Historical Park is here too.
- Best Time
- March–May and October–November
- Time Needed
- 1–2 days
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Check before you go; hours vary by season
- Getting There
- About an hour by car from either Savannah or Charleston.
What to See
1 of 3 are freePenn Center
A landmark of Gullah history and the Civil Rights Movement.
Hunting Island State Park
A wild beach and a climbable lighthouse.
Know Before You Go
- The Sea Islands flood at king tides, so check the forecast.
Where to Stay
Stay in old Beaufort.
Where to Eat
Our picks are on the way.
Editor's picks. Nobody paid to be on this list.
Something wrong or out of date?
Traveler Reviews
Sign in and mark Beaufort and the Sea Islands as visited to write a review.
Go Next
Worth a DetourCharleston
South Carolina
Pastel houses, church steeples and some of the South's best cooking.
Full Guide
Worth a Detour
If You're NearbyMyrtle Beach and Hilton Head
South Carolina
South Carolina's two seaside favorites: Myrtle Beach's 60-mile Grand Strand of boardwalks and golf, and quieter, leafy Hilton Head Island.
Full Guide
Last checked 2026-11-02. Part of the Southeast list.