5 Reasons Why Beaufort, SC Is The Ultimate Two-Night Getaway Destination

An hour and a half south of Charleston, the small South Carolina town of Beaufort is the perfect destination to visit with your family 

Recently, my family and I were able to take a two-night getaway to The Emerald in Beaufort, SC. Whenever we plan to travel with our two-year-old son, I always get a bit of ‘motherly anxiety’ regarding our plans, the logistics of getting around, and most importantly, keeping my toddler happy and entertained. Our stay at The Emerald not only surpassed our expectations but secured a place on our list of easy getaways to make a repeat visit to. Below I will explain more about why this stunning town ranked so highly on our list for a family-friendly, mini-vacation spot:

#5 A Charming Waterfront Town

Beaufort, SC is one of the most picturesque small towns that we’ve ever visited. Everywhere you look you’re greeted with beautiful harbor views, Spanish moss, and the famously recognizable lowcountry marshes. Between dining on the waterfront, strolling through the Beaufort Tree Walk, or chatting on the swings in Waterfront Park, everywhere you look is “picture perfect”.

#4 1.5 Hours From Downtown Charleston

As many parents can attest, it’s not always my idea of ‘fun’ to travel with a toddler. From packing up half of your house to entertaining your children during the trip, logistically a long trip can be a nightmare. Thankfully, Beaufort, SC is only an easy hour-and-a-half trip from the Charleston peninsula. Not only is it a shorter drive, but the trip also takes you through country roads and along scenic lowcountry marshes so you don’t have to worry about massive traffic or unexpected delays either. 

#3 A Variety Of History And Activities

Beaufort, SC is home to an unbelievable amount of preserved history due to the civil war not being fought within the town. In addition, it is also home to a lot of Gullah Geechee culture. With such rich and diverse history within the town, you will have so much to see and learn about during your visit. 

For the kids, there is A LOT of beautifully landscaped outdoor green space to run around and play. The renovated waterfront park playground is incredible and even has designated sections for toddlers and older kids to play safely. When you visit Bay Street, you will also be greeted with a variety of small boutiques with treasures from local artists, culinary gifts, clothing, and toys which makes the shopping experience fun for everyone. Make sure to swing by Bay Street Jewelers to check out the beautiful Beaufort Destination Collection of jewelry that honors this special town.

#2 The Food

I can’t begin to rave about Old Bull Tavern enough. Two words: Butterscotch Pudding! As a newly designated lover of butterscotch, I would make the trip down to Beaufort just to eat that pudding! 

Simply put, the food in Beaufort was awesome, especially for seafood lovers such as myself. The shrimping industry is booming within the town which is reflected on the local restaurants’ menus. In fact, the shrimp salad at Plums also secured a spot on my list of favorite bites and sips during our time there. In addition, you can’t go wrong with trying the tomato pie at Lowcountry Produce, the chocolate macadamia caramel from The Chocolate Tree, and the iced coffee from Scout Southern Market (head to the back of the store)!

#1 The People

If I had to guess, I would say that the phrase ‘southern hospitality’ originated in Beaufort. The Beaufort locals that we had the pleasure of meeting absolutely made this trip. Anne and the amazing staff at The Emerald went above and beyond to welcome us with a special treat and answer all of our questions. Megan from Visit Beaufort, Emma from Emma’s Earth Shop, and Wayne, the ultimate tour guide, made sure that we got a full lesson on what makes Beaufort so special. From the local boutique employees, to the restaurant managers and waitstaff, everyone that we met went out of their way to make us feel welcome, special, and even doted upon (in my son’s case). 

On our last night in Beaufort, we visited Old Bull Tavern, where we met the incredible team of Oscar, Sydney, and our server, Derek. On our way out, Derek remembered that my son was turning two and pulled out his wallet to gift my son his first two-dollar bill for his birthday. This act of kindness was so incredibly touching and memorable. People like Derek who welcome families into their establishments with open arms are the number one reason why Beaufort is the ultimate getaway from Charleston!

To book your getaway at The Emerald in Beaufort, SC please email AllHospitalityTeam@gmail.com or visit: https://theemeraldbeaufort.guestybookings.com/listings