Boutique waterfront inn
Anchorage 1770
A restored 18th-century house on the Bay Street waterfront, with its own restaurant, the Ribaut Social Club. The most romantic choice; ask for a water-view room.
South Carolina · Couples · Two nights
Beaufort
A short flight. Lowcountry time.
Antebellum homes under live oaks, a waterfront park made for slow evenings and salt marsh in every direction. Beaufort is small, quiet and easy, and the airport is just across the river from town.
WaterfrontHistoric innsMarsh & beach
YOUR ROUTEKMYR to KARW
STRAIGHT-LINE DISTANCE~115 NM
ILLUSTRATIVE FLIGHT TIME~1 hr 1 min
WEEKEND STYLETwo nights · Courtesy car + walks
Time illustration: direct distance at 150 KTAS plus 15 minutes for departure and arrival, matching the discovery page. Use ForeFlight for your actual flight plan.
01 / Aviation & getting around
Land, then cross the river.
KARW, Beaufort Executive Airport (formerly Beaufort County Airport), is on Lady’s Island, a few minutes across the bridge from downtown.
The airport FBO
The airport runs its own FBO, with 100LL, transient parking, a courtesy car and rental cars listed. Listed hours are roughly 8 AM–5:30 PM weekdays and 9 AM–4 PM Saturday, so call about Sunday departures and after-hours access. Ask about the nightly transient fee and any waiver with fuel. No live fuel price is shown.
Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort is nearby. Review the sectional, restricted areas and current NOTAMs, and expect military traffic. Check runway length and obstacles in the Chart Supplement.
02 / Where to stay
Choose your kind of weekend.
Beaufort is a town of inns rather than big hotels. Rates and availability need travel dates.
Historic district · Classic inn
The Rhett House Inn
An antebellum inn with wide verandas, a short walk from the waterfront. Classic Lowcountry charm and a good base for exploring on foot.
Official details for The Rhett House InnIn town · Historic
The Beaufort Inn
A well-reviewed historic inn in the heart of downtown, close to restaurants and the waterfront park. Confirm room type and parking.
03 / Where to eat
Two dinners. One easy lunch.
A small town with a strong seafood scene. Reserve the anchor dinners, especially in spring and fall.
Friday dinner · On the water
Saltus River Grill
Beaufort’s best-known restaurant: contemporary seafood with views of the river and the swing bridge. Ask for a table near the windows or on the terrace at sunset.
Saturday dinner · European-Lowcountry
Ribaut Social Club
The restaurant at Anchorage 1770, with a European sensibility and a Lowcountry table. Quieter and more intimate than Friday. Reserve ahead.
Lunch · Bay Street
Plums
A casual, long-running Bay Street spot backing onto the waterfront park. Easy for lunch between walks. For a dressier alternative, try Wren Bistro & Bar.
04 / Things to do
Under the oaks. Out on the marsh.
Beaufort rewards an unhurried pace. Pick one outing beyond town and let the rest of the weekend be slow.
Historic district & Waterfront Park
Antebellum homes, live oaks and Spanish moss, many of them film locations. End at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, with its swings facing the river: the best seat in town at sunset.
Horse-drawn carriage tour
A relaxed way to hear the town’s history from a local guide. Tours leave from Bay Street; Southurn Rose Carriage Tours is one operator. Book ahead in busy seasons.
Hunting Island State Park
A wild barrier-island beach about 30 minutes away, with marsh boardwalks, maritime forest and a historic lighthouse. Check whether the lighthouse is open for climbing on your dates.
Penn Center, St. Helena Island
One of the first schools for formerly enslaved people, and part of the Reconstruction Era National Historical Park. A meaningful stop on the drive to Hunting Island. Check hours.
Spanish Moss Trail
A flat rail-trail along the marsh, made for an easy walk or bike ride. Ask locally about bike rentals.
Parris Island Museum
The history of the Marine Corps recruit depot. It is on an active military base, so check current visitor access rules and ID requirements before going.
Optional / Spa & relaxation
Time for two
Beaufort’s romance is mostly outdoors: the waterfront swings, a carriage ride, a sunset boat outing from the downtown marina. For a massage, ask your inn which local spas it recommends or whether it can arrange in-room treatments.
Visit Beaufort’s own romantic-getaway itinerary includes spa ideas and current openings.
Visit Beaufort romantic getaway ideas05 / Shopping & boutiques
Bring home something with a story.
Bay Street is the heart of it: a few walkable blocks of galleries, boutiques and bookshops.
Downtown
Bay Street shops & galleries
Independent boutiques, home goods, Lowcountry art and a bookshop or two, all within a short stroll of the waterfront park.
Local art
Lowcountry galleries
Marsh landscapes, sweetgrass baskets and Gullah art. A meaningful souvenir that is genuinely from here.
06 / What’s happening
Sometimes the event is the reason to fly.
This prototype links to the destination calendar. It does not yet match events to your travel dates.
July
Beaufort Water Festival
The town’s big summer celebration on the waterfront, with boats, music and events. Lively, hot and busy; book lodging early.
October
Pat Conroy Literary Festival
A celebration of Beaufort’s best-known writer and Southern literature, with readings and events around town.
Spring & fall
Best seasons
Mild weather, azaleas in spring and comfortable evenings on the water. Summer is hot, humid and buggy on the marsh.
Concerts, festivals & local happenings
Check the destination calendar when choosing a weekend, and confirm dates and tickets with the organizer.
07 / Suggested itinerary
Friday in. Sunday home.
A sample Friday–Sunday weekend: the historic town, one beach and history day, and two waterfront dinners. No bookings or availability confirmed.
Day trip version
Just for the day
- Arrive
Land at KARW mid-morning; borrow the courtesy car or arrange a ride across the river.
- Midday
Lunch on Bay Street, then a horse-drawn carriage tour of the historic district.
- Afternoon
The waterfront park swings, then back to the FBO well before it closes.
FRI
Arrive & unwind
- Late-morning arrival
Land at KARW, subject to the actual flight plan, and drive the few minutes into town.
- Afternoon
Lunch at Plums, a carriage tour, then check in and rest on the veranda.
- Evening
Sunset on the waterfront park swings, then dinner at Saltus River Grill.
SAT
Island day
- Morning
Drive out to the Penn Center, then on to Hunting Island for the beach and marsh boardwalks.
- Afternoon
Back to town to browse Bay Street, or walk part of the Spanish Moss Trail.
- Evening
Dinner at the Ribaut Social Club.
SUN
An easy departure
- Morning
Breakfast at your inn and a last walk under the oaks.
- Before leaving
Return the car and allow time at the FBO, especially if it keeps shorter weekend hours.
- Fly home
Let weather and your flight plan set the departure.
Longer stay · Add a day
With an extra day
- Morning
The Spanish Moss Trail by bike or on foot.
- Afternoon
The Parris Island Museum (check base access) or more beach time at Hunting Island.
- Evening
A sunset boat outing from the downtown marina.
08 / Good to know
Keep the weekend easy to change.
These details make the difference between an appealing list and a usable getaway.
Book in this order
Inn first (there are few rooms in town), then ground transport and the two dinners.
Allow for the season
Summer brings heat, afternoon storms and no-see-ums on the marsh. Bring insect repellent.
Check FBO hours
Weekend hours are shorter than at bigger airports. Confirm fuel and access for your departure time.
Dates come next
Inn rates, tours and restaurant hours are date-dependent. No availability or live price is implied here.
Testing / Destination 05
Draft for review.
Research-based selections, not personal-visit endorsements. Researched November 1, 2026. Several picks have no website link because official addresses could not be confirmed; check each one, and confirm hours, prices and availability directly before booking.
WingAway Weekends helps you discover the destination. Use ForeFlight and current official aviation information for route, performance, weather, NOTAMs and preflight decisions. Flight planning and PIC responsibility stay with the pilot.