Beaufort itinerary scene

Weekend itinerary

Beaufort in one good water day.

Use the freshest light for Hunting Island, keep meals close to the shoreline or main street, and leave enough open time for the view that made you choose the place.

By Cal Mercer — a Second Star Guide itinerary

Beaufort’s waterfront and live-oak streets lead into Saturday’s Hunting Island outing.

Best length

2 nights

Arrive Friday for the riverfront, give Saturday to Hunting Island, and keep Sunday for breakfast and Reconstruction history.

Stay

Beaufort Inn

A historic-district inn near Bay Street and Waterfront Park, suited to travelers choosing restored Beaufort…

Main activity

Hunting Island

Spend Saturday at Hunting Island, with Beaufort meals and history before and after the drive.

Weekend sequence

Riverfront, island, history

Friday stays on foot downtown, Saturday follows US 21 to Hunting Island, and Sunday returns to Beaufort’s historic district.

Waterfront buildings and boats along the Beaufort River at golden hour
Friday begins along Bay Street and Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park.
Live oaks, palmettos, and a sandy path in a Lowcountry maritime forest
Saturday moves through Hunting Island’s maritime forest toward the Atlantic.
Live-oak-lined street in Beaufort’s historic district
Sunday returns to the historic district and Reconstruction-era sites.

Friday

Arrive for Waterfront Park and Bay Street.

Check in near downtown, walk Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, then keep dinner close to Bay Street.

4:00 PM

Saturday

Give Saturday to Hunting Island.

Check the park advisory and forecast, eat breakfast in Beaufort, then leave with water, sun protection, and enough time for the beach, lighthouse, lagoon, or maritime forest.

8:30 AM

Breakfast

Eat breakfast at Blackstone’s Café before the coast.

A downtown Beaufort breakfast-and-lunch café serving morning plates, sandwiches, coffee, and desserts; its hours make it a practical breakfast stop before Hunting Island.

Breakfast / coffee

Blackstone's Café

A downtown Beaufort breakfast-and-lunch café serving morning plates, sandwiches, coffee, and desserts; its hours…

Open restaurant

Compare

Beaufort restaurants by kitchen and location

See downtown breakfast, Bay Street seafood, Lady’s Island water views, and St. Helena lunch choices.

10:00 AM

Main activity

Explore Hunting Island’s beach, lighthouse, lagoon, and forest.

Check the current park advisory, then make the beach, lighthouse, or maritime forest the main stop. Add the lagoon only when weather, access, and the group’s energy allow.

Compare

Read the Hunting Island weekend guide

Use the full guide for the beach, lighthouse, maritime forest, lagoon, and current park advisories.

Compare

Beaufort history and tidal-creek outings

Find narrated historic-district tours, guided paddles, Reconstruction sites, and Hunting Island details.

4:30 PM

Afternoon

Return to Beaufort before dinner.

After the coast, shower and walk downtown rather than adding another distant stop.

7:00 PM

Dinner

Reserve Saturday dinner at Breakwater.

Breakwater serves Southern cooking, seafood, and steaks downtown after the Hunting Island drive, keeping dinner and the walk back to a Bay Street room in the same part of town.

Special dinner

Breakwater Restaurant & Bar

A downtown dining room serving Southern cooking with global influences, seafood, and steaks in a polished…

Open restaurant

Compare

Beaufort restaurants by kitchen and location

See downtown breakfast, Bay Street seafood, Lady’s Island water views, and St. Helena lunch choices.

Sunday

Breakfast, Waterfront Park, and Reconstruction history.

Start at Blackstone’s, then walk Waterfront Park or visit the Old Beaufort Firehouse before a longer Penn Center stop on St. Helena Island.