Diary of a Sightseer: Beaufort, South Carolina

Tucked halfway between Savannah and Charleston is a lesser known dream town for both Civil War buffs and Hollywood movie mavens. Beaufort, South Carolina - called home by the many Marine families of Parris Island - has been an American foundation for four centuries.

Not to be confused with Beaufort (pronounced Bowfort) North Carolina, this Beaufort (pronounced Bee-uwfort) couldn't be a more romantic vacation spot. Take a horse-and-buggy ride through cobblestone streets of white columned mansions with the first known "widow's walks" (rooftop patios where ladies in hoop dresses would watch their husbands' ships come home). Add to that all kinds of water sports, top-notch golf courses, quaint eateries and great fishing; Beaufort offers 4 or 5 days and nights filled with well-rounded fun and southern charm.

Beaufort sports one of the highest percentages of historic homes in the Civil War South. It's been named the "Most Romantic City in the East" by Life Magazine and has twice won "Best Small Town" from Southern Living Readers' Choice Awards. Visitors enjoy "The Spirit of Old Beaufort" Walking Tour, and sometimes the homes' interiors are open to the public. Many of Beaufort's cemeteries and churches date back to at least the early 1700's. People who fought or lived through the American Revolution and helped establish the town are buried here.

Not into history? How about movies? Stick around Beaufort long enough and you could see the likes of Sally Field, Barbra Streisand, Robert Duvall or Denzel Washington. Their films "Forest Gump", "Prince of Tides", "The Great Santini", and "Glory" (the story of the First African American Regiment of South Carolina which was formed right here in Beaufort), were all filmed here, among other movies like "The Big Chill". Most of the homes in which the stars stay or film are on the carriage tours.The owners of these federal, Georgian and colonial masterpieces can get untold sums of money to go away while a movie company rents their property.

Places to Stay and Things To Do - There are restaurants along the waterfront (the Ace Basin is the convergence of three rivers). Antique shoppers will be enthralled with the small downtown area which is a National Trust for Historic Preservation landmark. And honeymooners can stay at one of seven Bed and Breakfasts, like the Rhett Inn dating from 1820 or Two Suns Inn that was built to look that way.

Recently rejuvenated is the connecting Port Royal area, with 40 historic homes and new houses which were required to be architecturally in keeping with the originals. If you know anyone in the Marines, you can get a tour of the Parris Island facilities. When you've had enough of that, try kayaking or shrimping on the surrounding Sea Islands, or head for the nearby famed Hilton Head resort area.

One hour to the northeast of Savannah and an hour southwest of Charleston, save some time for Beaufort on your next southern vacation.

To find out more about Beaufort, South Carolina, go to the Beaufort Chamber of Commerce website, http://www.beaufortsc.org. ♦♦

Resources:

1 "Ready to Get Away?" 10 Perfect Escapes for a Summer Weekend", Life Magazine, June, 2005, New York, N.Y.10020. www.life.com/Life.

2 "The South's Coastal Treasures", Southern Living Magazine, Mid-April 2005, Tampa, FL. 33662.