I could not agree more with the sentiments expressed by Captain Bruce below. Beaufort is a GREAT port of call, and these good folks are SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSORS! And, by the way, so are Downtown Beaufort Marina and Port Royal Landing Marina..

Beaufort, (pronounced Bewfert) S.C. and nearby Port Royal are wonderful old Coastal Carolina small towns rife with history, traditions, antebellum architecture, and southern charms. The City Council has “gone to bat” for the cruising community and passed an ordinance last year that allows boaters to stay for 180 days before tax and registration issues surface. Therefore, Beaufort S.C. is cruiser friendly, presents a beautiful waterfront, and has several good restaurants and shops along the waterfront. Dinghy docking is free, temporary big boat tie-ups are free, and anchoring spots are plentiful. The downtown marina is still wonderful, offers a courtesy car to marina cruisers, and has a small ships store. During oyster season, a café named `Nippy’s’ has an all you can eat shrimp and/or oyster night on Fridays and Saturdays. We hit the ice cream parlor on the way back to the boat’¦’¦’¦.. yum. If you want to live elegantly, southern style, then make your reservation at the `Rhett House Inn’. http://www.rhetthouseinn.com or any of the fine nearby B&B’s. One of the finest restaurants you may encounter along the AICW is “Emily’s Restaurant and Tapas Bar” www.emilysrestaurantandtapasbar.com . Of course, “Blackstone’s Cafe” www.blackstonescafe.com remains a staple for any low country cruiser. Approximately 30 movies have been made in Beaufort, so if you have not toured Beaufort, you must take the tour in a horse drawn carriage. If you’re looking for a quiet vacation, this may be your next destination.
Bruce Franz

Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Downtown Beaufort Marina

Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Port Royal Landing Marina