The Beaufort Inn

The Beaufort Inn is the most romantic way to turn a Beaufort day trip into a weekend, and it puts you a short walk from everything in the historic downtown. It stands at 809 Port Republic Street in Beaufort's National Historic Landmark District, and its heart is the Wallace Smith Mansion, a late-nineteenth-century house with deep porches and verandas, surrounded by gardens and courtyards. The inn has grown beyond the main house into a cluster of historic buildings and cottages, so accommodation ranges from classic rooms in the mansion to spacious cottages with kitchenettes that suit longer stays and families. South Carolina's official tourism site describes the rooms in terms that capture the style: heart pine floors, fireplaces, cast iron soaking tubs and, in many rooms, private balconies or porches, with large windows and king beds in the standard rooms, plus suites and two-bedroom lofts for groups. A complimentary breakfast is served in the main inn's parlor, or on the porch on pleasant mornings, which is one of the great small pleasures of a Beaufort stay. From the front door, Bay Street's shops and restaurants, the John Mark Verdier House and Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park on the Beaufort River are a few minutes' walk, and the grand houses of the Point neighborhood are a pleasant stroll beyond. Carriage and walking tours depart from downtown, and river cruises often show dolphins in the Beaufort River. It suits couples on a romantic getaway, history lovers, and anyone exploring the Lowcountry slowly, with Hunting Island and the Penn Center a short drive away.

Why stay in Beaufort overnight: the town is at its most beautiful early and late, when the day-trippers have gone, the light turns gold over the river and the historic streets fall quiet. Staying at the inn lets you walk the Point at dusk, dine on Bay Street without watching the clock, take the Verdier House tour first thing in the morning, and set off early for St. Helena Island, Fort Fremont and the Hunting Island lighthouse, whose climbing hours start in the morning.

Choosing a room: rooms in the main mansion have the most historic character; the cottages, with kitchenettes and more space, suit families, friends traveling together and longer stays. Ask for a room with a private porch or balcony, and a fireplace if you are visiting in the cooler months, when an evening fire is a real treat. Confirm parking arrangements and any policies on children and pets when booking, as historic inns vary.

The trade-offs: it is a historic property, so expect stairs, varying room sizes and the occasional creaky floorboard, and it is about an hour and a quarter from Hilton Head's beaches. It is not a beach base. But as a romantic overnight, or a base for exploring Beaufort, St. Helena and Hunting Island, it is one of the most charming addresses in South Carolina. Anchorage 1770 on Bay Street is the other classic choice in town, with river views.