Top 10 Reasons to Retire in Beaufort South Carolina

Beaufort is located on the mainland, set back from the ocean, tucked between the protected Saint Helena Sound and Port Royal Sound. If you notice on the map provided by Google, you will see Beaufort is a fascinating coastal area to find a high quality of life.

Here is why we believe Beaufort is one of the best cities to retire in South Carolina:

• Adventure - With more time on your hands at retirement, you will be looking for interesting things to do which won’t require much effort. Kayaking is the most popular water sport in Beaufort South Carolina. Kayak the thousands of acres and waterways surrounding Lady’s Island and Saint Helena Island. You will find bottlenose dolphin, bird wildlife and fish habitats. When you visit to search for Low Country real estate, take an eco tour by kayak with Beaufort Kayak Tours, voted the best kayak exploration company in Beaufort. Learn the waterways and islands of South Carolina so you can plan your own picnic adventures. Of course, fishing, boating or walking the beaches at Hunting Island State Park are popular too. 

• Cuisine - When you think of Beaufort SC neighborhoods, think of fresh seafood. Shrimping and crabbing describe everyday life on the water in the Lowcountry. Half backers from Florida and northeastern Foodies are accustomed to chic restaurants and delicious food. On Yelp, there are 140 restaurants in Beaufort, from pizza shacks to five star gourmet restaurants. 33 of them are rated four stars or higher. Our favorite restaurants in Beaufort South Carolina are the Saltus River Grill and Eleventh Street Dockside, a fabulous place to watch the sunset. You won’t have a problem finding an excellent place to dine in one of the best cities to retire in South Carolina.

• Romance - While you search for Low Country real estate, you'll become familiar with Bay Street in downtown which hugs the Beaufort River. Waterfront Park, the public community lawn for outdoor concerts, has a row of public swings designed for two, overlooking the river. The swings face the Woods Memorial Bridge which leads to Hunting Island State Park - named one of America’s Top 10 Beaches. Antebellum mansions dating back over 200 years are now Romantic Bed & Breakfast Inns overlooking the Beaufort River. Our favorites include Cuthbert House Inn and The Rhett House Inn. If your taste is more modern, City Loft is a contemporary hotel in Beaufort. If you do not have a sweetheart to sense the romance in Beaufort, no worries, Match.com currently has over 400 singles between the ages of 40 and 60 living in Beaufort South Carolina.

• Art - Author John Villani named Beaufort South Carolina as one of the Top 100 Art Towns in America. There are 10 art galleries in downtown Beaufort. ARTworks, sponsored by the Art Council of Beaufort Port Royal and Sea Islands, offers adult art classes 365 days a year; instruction in clay, pottery, basketry, writing and more. Local art festivals, exhibits, theatre and concert performances are coordinated by ARTworks in various locations throughout Beaufort South Carolina. Beaufort SC neighborhoods are a great place to live if you enjoy art.

• Patriotism - Parris Island Recruit Depot and Marine Corps Air Station are both located in Beaufort South Carolina. Occasionally, you will hear a fighter jet flying over head locals call ‘the sound of freedom’. Businesses continually honor and celebrate our Troops in Beaufort, a pleasure to see. They deserve it! Beaufort SC festivals include musical performances and Presenting the Colors by local military branches dressed up in red white and blue. Veterans have access to the Naval Hospital in Beaufort.

• Best Beaches - Hunting Island State Park is just to the east of Beaufort South Carolina on Saint Helena Island. Trip Advisor named Hunting Island State Park as a Top 10 Beach because of the unspoiled miles of shoreline. The Hunting Island Lighthouse is fun to climb, to take in the view of the Lowcountry marsh and Atlantic Ocean. You won’t find crowds on this beautiful coastal beach inside the state park, only 25 minutes from downtown Beaufort, on one of the most beautiful islands to find Low Country real estate in one of the best cities to retire in South Carolina.

• Organic - Farms still decorate the horizon as you drive through Lady’s Island, Saint Helena Island and the more rural areas of Beaufort. U-Pick farms and Farmer’s Markets are popular places to find seasonal produce and homemade products. Strawberries, tomato’s, peppers, watermelons and pumpkins, to name a few. In the summer months, on Wednesday at Beaufort’s waterfront, you will find more local grown products and on Saturday’s, an open air Farmer’s Market takes place in Port Royal.

• Festivals - You won’t be bored to tears in thanks to exciting Beaufort SC festivals. Just the opposite, your calendars will be filled with festivals in the Lowcountry, entertaining and fun events to share with your grandchildren. The Irish Festival, Soft Shell Crab Festival and Taste of Beaufort take place in the spring. The Beaufort Water Festival and Shrimp Festival takes place in the summer. The Fall Festival of Houses and Gardens takes place in October. And the list keeps growing of annual festivals in Beaufort South Carolina.

• Homes - Whether you desire a gated Beaufort SC neighborhood or waterfront home, there are plenty of high quality choices. One of them is our 2013 Bliss Award winner of Happiest Community of the Year, a non-gated community overlooking the Saint Helena Sound. You'll find private islands and traditional Low Country neighborhoods.

• Simplicity - As the world spins faster and faster around us, it is a pleasure to discover a place offering the simple pleasures of life, what we look for at retirement. The southern charm from the people in Beaufort, makes it easy to meet new friends. Without the noise and dense traffic found in highly populated cities, you will find you can breath easier in Beaufort and make each moment count. Beaufort is quickly accessible from Interstate 95. The New York Times named Beaufort South Carolina as one of the Best Small Towns and we agree. 

If you plan to explore Low Country real estate in one of the best cities to retire in South Carolina, we're happy to share our secrets with you. We've spent time there and know the area well. Ask for us for complimentary Beaufort relocation information to help you learn more about the Sea Islands.