Beaufort Bound

Written by Andrea Serrano

I love to kick off the beginning of the summer with a trip with the family and this year we chose Beaufort, SC. This charming town reminds me of what Charleston must have been like 20 years ago. Only an hour and a half away, this small city packs a punch with so many fun things to do. I’m glad I packed some goodies from Rhodes Boutique because I knew there would be some picturesque settings. 

Rhodes Boutique not only has some of the cutest clothes in Charleston, they carry great accessories at affordable prices and and a selection of gifts and kitchen accessories to brighten up your home. I love this palm print cocktail shaker and plate. They also have matching drinking glasses, perfect for a summer BBQ or porch party.

The first day we got into Beaufort, it was stormy, but we made the best of it at the hauntingly beautiful Hunting Island. This state park has a lighthouse you can climb to get a bird’s eye view of the incredible raw beach. The beach stretches for nearly a mile long with the ‘the boneyard’ of dead trees. We loved taking a walk discovering all of the beauty and nature.

Thankfully, the sun came out and so I’m glad I packed this vibrant coral dress by Show Me Your Mumu from Rhodes Boutique. This tote bag has become my summer carry all that I wear everyday and it was only $28! I love a bargain and Rhodes definitely has it all, plus they’re locally owned so that’s a bonus. Located in South Windermere in West Ashley, this boutique makes it super easy for me to shop coming from James Island. They always have something new in stock and their dress selection is on point!

Our first big meal was at Saltus River Grill in the heart of downtown. It overlooked the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park and my boys enjoyed playing in the playground while we waited for our dinner. We had to order the oysters, of course, and we were not disappointed. I had the veggie sushi too which was a nice healthy portion. This place is great for kids because they had a lot of great options including these truffle fries that we enjoyed munching on too.

Rhodes Boutique carries an array of Shoshanna dresses and this one definitely caught my eye. The color and silhouette is perfect for summer, but you could totally transition it to fall with boots.

We stayed at charming The Anchorage 1770 and loved every second of our stay. This boutique waterfront inn is conveniently situated on Bay Street and walking distance to everywhere you want to be. It was built in 1770, and apparently is the oldest and largest Tabby structure still in use. Every room has it’s own vibe and so much character. We stayed on the bottom floor, which was probably good because we can be a loud bunch. With 3 front porches overlooking the Beaufort River, it’s easy to post up and have a private moment with your loved ones. Chef Byron Landis is also a big reason to stay at The Anchorage 1770. The breakfast was one of our favorite dining experiences. They had all of the favorites on the menu plus some remixed dishes like Eggs Benedict with avocado and the best cheese grits I’ve ever had.

Even though we had the kids with us, it still felt like a romantic getaway with my hubby Gustavo.

On the second night we dined at Breakwater and every dish was mouthwatering. We had the Tomato Cucumber Salad, Pimento Cheese Plate, Scottish Salmon, and of course the kids went for the chicken tenders and burger sliders. My salmon dish was the best I’ve ever had. The outside was crispy and the inside was cooked to perfection. Even though I asked for the recipe, I’m pretty sure mine won’t come out the same. The sea island peas and butter beans were the perfect compliment to the fish. Chef Megan Horne is a rock star in the kitchen and the staff was so gracious.

Some of our other highlights were the Beaufort Kayak Tours and Every Second Counts Escape Room. The kayak tour is the best way to see Beaufort by water and get in some history. We pulled up to a sandbar and learned so much about the ecology of the lowcountry. Every Second Counts Escape Room was our first experience in a escape room and now we’re hooked. We had a pirate themed room and had a history lesson of pirate life between Charleston and Beaufort. They also had a DaVinci Code, Area 51, and Insane Asylum room that we are dying to try out next time we’re in town.

Beaufort is on the top of my list for easy weekend escapes from Charleston. I’ve only been there for a day trip, but I’m so glad we took a whole weekend there because there really is so much to do. We can’t wait to come back again already, maybe even by boat!

Photography: Marybeth Creates