Local Culture

From Waterfront Park's inviting promenade to the shops and sidewalks of Bay Street, Beaufort's community pride is celebrated nearly every month with events such as holiday parades (one for boats, one for street floats) and the 10-day Water Festival in July. Festival or not, the water exerts an irresistible, year-round pull, for everything from fishing and sailing to kayaking and paddleboarding.

The abundance of shoreline means many homes are close to the water. Houses with deepwater docks often fetch seven-figure prices. There's a diverse mix of housing, from renovated historic homes and new condos around town to fixer-uppers, remodeled properties, and just-built waterfront bungalows on nearby islands (among them Lady's, Dataw, Fripp, and Cat).