Beaufort’s Waterfront Park: Swing, Stroll, and Stay a While
It’s one of Beaufort’s most spectacular views and it’s yours for the taking at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. Whether you’re looking for a day of relaxation or an activity-filled weekend visit, the multi-acre park and its foliage-filled promenade along the Beaufort River is the perfect spot to enjoy the outdoors in Southern style.
Why not sit a spell? Southerners know how to relax. And you will too when you discover the nearly two dozen bench-style swings flanking the waterfront and positioned perfectly to take in the cool sea breezes. There you’ll find a quiet spot to start your day with a cup of coffee or a mid-day gelato treat from Common Ground, located park side. Plan to return again to swing and sway at dusk for your chance to marvel at some of the most picture-worthy sunsets in the South.
A beautiful mixture of recreational green space, tropical landscaping, and meandering walkways bordered by waterfront dining, galleries, shops, and boutiques, Waterfront Park also features an open-air pavilion and inviting lawn seating as its premier outdoor entertainment venue. Everyone looks forward to the day when Beaufort’s many year-round celebrations return such as the Shrimp Festival in fall, Gullah Festival on Memorial Day weekend, and the town’s legendary week-long Water Festival bringing visitors from near and far each July.
Thankfully, you don’t need a celebration to enjoy Beaufort’s Southern hospitality and delicious dining opportunities. Options abound for waterfront, porch, and patio dining for just about every palate. Some of my favorites include Panini’s on the Waterfront for Italian and New World cuisine; Plums Restaurant and its authentic Southern-style breakfast and lunch offerings; and Saltus River Grill for a fine dining experience including Lowcountry cuisine and some of the freshest seafood Beaufort has to offer.
If you haven’t soaked up enough Southern sun and salty air, head steps away to the 100-slip Beaufort Marina just a short distance inland from the Atlantic Ocean and boasting wide-open water views. There you’ll watch tranquil sailboats passing by or meet boaters as they dock their vessels.
If you’re lucky, you’ll even see the historic Woods Memorial Bridge, one of Beaufort’s most notable landmarks and one of just a handful of movable swing bridges left in South Carolina, open throughout the day as sailboats, barges, and even cruise ships travel the intercoastal waterway. Those stopped atop the bridge in what affectionately is called a “Lowcountry traffic jam,” don’t mind waiting for the bridge to swing open and closed. It’s the perfect opportunity to relax, de-stress, and grab some of the best river views from above!
When you’re ready for more activity, families will appreciate the newly installed Beaufort-themed playground on the park’s east side featuring a shrimp boat with nets for climbing, an Arsenal style structure (a nod to another Beaufort landmark), a spinner, slides, and swings. The park is also equipped for children with disabilities. Or, if the water is drawing you nearer, why not get in it — in a kayak, that is! Enjoy frequent dolphin sightings, saltmarsh ecology, visits to sandbars and more with Beaufort Kayak Tours, a Trip Advisor’s Travelers’ Choice (2020) recipient. But, be prepared to spend at least a half-day on the water.
If that’s not enough fun, then consider renting bikes from Emma’s Earth Shop to pedal around town or along the waterfront paths. Or, maybe a horse and carriage ride through the National Historic District of Beaufort is more your style. You’ll enjoy reliving Beaufort’s storied history while viewing Antebellum and Victorian architecture with guided tours by Sea Island Carriage Company or Southurn Rose Buggy Tours .
Serious history buffs might consider a two-hour leisurely walking tour through town by Janet Matlock with Janet’s Walking History Tour. Her comprehensive, entertaining, and educational tour includes Indians, massacres, pirates, slaves, wealthy planters, Revolutionary and Civil Wars, a great fire, reconstruction, catastrophic hurricanes, and wonderful stories, too, about the bravery and tenaciousness of Beaufortonians throughout history.
If neither of those options are your speed, consider taking a golf cart “movie tour” hosted by Beaufort Tours LLC. You’ll visit some famous sites throughout Beaufort where scenes from Forrest Gump, The Great Santini, and other movies were filmed. In fact, if you happen to be in town during February, grab some tickets to the annual Beaufort International Film Festival. You’ll enjoy a wide variety of movie previews and may even catch a few celebrities out and about!
No matter what you choose to do, planning for a day trip, weekend, or week-long stay in Beaufort is what I do best! Let me set the perfect itinerary of suggested activities, dining reservations, and accommodations for you. Whether you’re a stroller or a sitter, a biker or a boater, or anything in between, Beaufort’s small-town charm and Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park is ready to impress you!
Welcome, Karen Snyder to the Luxe Lowcountry Travel Team.
Karen L. Snyder
Karen Snyder has pursued her passion for writing for more than 30 years and is the owner of WORD Writing & Virtual Services. She has served as a corporate editor to Fortune 500 companies and contributing writer to many regional publications and magazines covering parenting, travel, health, education, and more. She relocated to Beaufort in 2018 and enjoys the Southern lifestyle and the coastal beauty of the Lowcountry.
Photo Credit: Kathleen Basil
