traveling with my bwuhs

Weekend in Beaufort, SC – Day One
This summer, we took a weekend trip to Beaufort, South Carolina—a charming coastal town just about an hour’s drive from our home near Charleston. Most of our getaways require a bit more time on the road, so it was refreshing to take our time leaving home and still arrive with most of the day ahead of us. Because we spent three days exploring, I’m splitting this into a three-part series.

We arrived around lunchtime and parked in a public lot near the marina. It happened to be the final weekend of the Beaufort Water Festival, so much of Waterfront Park was fenced off for the festivities. Still, the town had a lively energy that made us excited to start exploring.

Lunch with a View (Sort of)
We wandered down Bay Street and decided to eat at Panini’s on the Waterfront. While they had outdoor seating, the festival fencing blocked most of the view of the Beaufort River, so we opted to sit inside. The menu was packed with tempting options, and we’ll definitely be back to try more.

We ordered Almond-Crusted Calamari to share (a family favorite!), and then everyone picked their own delicious dish:

• I had the Roast Porkette Panini
• Hubs went with the Surf & Turf Cheesesteak
• Boy1 ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo
• Boy2 chose Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce

Hubs and I stepped outside our usual picks and were pleasantly surprised. Everything was flavorful, and the service was friendly and attentive.

Local Finds and Fun
After lunch, we explored the vendor tents set up near the marina. We tasted some delicious frozen slush mixers (yes, we brought a few home), sniffed our way through an impressive selection of candles, and the boys picked out some 3D-printed toys. It was a great little shopping detour before our next adventure.

Historic Tour by Golf Cart
Next up was a golf cart tour of historic downtown Beaufort with Beaufort Tours. Our guide, Jennifer, was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the area’s history—from its early settlement to its role in the Civil War. While the boys may not have hung on every historical detail, they thoroughly enjoyed the mermaid statue, seasonal skeletons, oversized boots from the Lowcountry Boot Trail (more on this later), and—of course—the novelty of cruising around town on a golf cart.

We wrapped up the tour just in time—lightning flashed across the sky as the rain rolled in. Jennifer masterfully condensed centuries of history into our hour-long ride, making sure we didn’t miss a thing before the skies opened up.

Checking In
With the rain coming down, we headed to our hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn on Boundary Street. It was in a great location—just outside of downtown and convenient to both Beaufort and Port Royal. We stayed in a one-bedroom suite, giving the boys their own space (a must since our bedtimes don’t always align). It was an accessible room on the first floor, so there was plenty of space. We did notice a musty smell when we first arrived, but it either cleared up after adjusting the temperature or we just got used to it.

The hotel had a nice pool area and a grill, though it was a bit too crowded for us to use. Staff throughout the property were kind and helpful. Our room included breakfast (more on that in the next post). We did have to get our keys reprogrammed at one point and noticed a charge for “Premium WiFi” even though WiFi is advertised as free—likely something we missed in the fine print.

Back Downtown & Sweet Treats
After settling in, we returned to Bay Street to browse a few shops. The playground near the Carteret Bridge was still wet from the rain, but it looked like a great spot for a sunny day. We stopped into Barefoot Bubba’s and The Beaufort Candy Shoppe, then treated ourselves to ice cream at Kilwins. Everyone got something different:

• Boy1: Traverse City Cherry
• Boy2: Mint Chocolate Chip
• Hubs: Cake Batter and Fudge Brownie
• Me: Toasted Coconut and Fudge Brownie

We sat on benches outside the shop enjoying our cones. It was decadent and exactly the kind of vacation moment you remember.

Evening Views in Port Royal
Following a recommendation from our server at lunch (thanks, Kourtney!), we made our way to the Port Royal Boardwalk. We strolled past locals fishing and families enjoying the sunset. The shore was lined with oyster shells, and we even spotted a shell recycling drop-off in the parking lot. We climbed the Observation Tower—well, the boys did. I made it to the third level, while Hubs stayed firmly grounded. Still, the views were beautiful, and we even caught the sound of horns from Parris Island as we descended.

Drive-In Movie Night
To cap off the night, we headed to the Highway 21 Drive-In to see The Smurfs. We arrived early to grab a good spot and hit the concession stand for the classic burgers, fries, popcorn, and candy. There were a few tense minutes figuring out how to turn off the car’s daytime running lights, but once we were set, it was a great experience—if a bit steamy. The condensation from the AC and humid air meant frequent swipes of the windshield wiper, so next time, we might try a cooler evening when sitting outside is more doable.

We returned to the hotel full, happy, and ready to crash after a fun-packed day. Stay tuned for Day Two of our Beaufort weekend!

❤ Jen