‘Subdued in the best possible way’: Beaufort is named the South’s best small town again
Civic planning that’s produced gems like Waterfront Park. Antebellum architecture. Gullah history. Close proximity to wild wonderlands like Hunting Island State Park. And a chill atmosphere.
Those are a sampling of the reasons Beaufort is the South’s best small town, according to Southern Living magazine, which published its best southern small town rankings Tuesday morning.
“Beaufort is subdued in the best possible way,” Stephanie Hunt writes in a Southern Living story about Beaufort under the headline, “The South’s Best Small Town 2022: Beaufort, South Carolina.” “She has the same deep history and stunning architecture that her nearby sisters, Charleston and Savannah, are celebrated for, but she’s fine staying slightly out of the limelight.”
It’s the second time Beaufort topped the charts: It was also named the magazine’s best town in 2017, the first year Southern Living announced its Best Awards — a collection of Top 10 lists that includes Best Bar, Best Restaurant and Best Small Towns.
In a crowded landscape of places to visit, says Rob Wells, president and CEO of the Greater Beaufort-Port Royal Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Southern Living’s recognition amplifies the city’s standing as one of the South’s best places to visit, live and work.
Biking on Hunting Island State Park, which is about 15 miles east of Beaufort, gets praise in Southern Living’s assessment of the city. So does gazing at historic homes in The Point neighborhood, which features antebellum houses and live oak trees draped with Spanish moss.
But Southern Living also gives a nod to the city’s planning efforts that have produced showcases like Waterfront Park overlooking the Beaufort River and amenities such as an amphitheater, picnic tables and ample green space, all conveniently located within walking distance of downtown stores on Bay Street.
Don’t forget to visit First African Baptist Church, “a Gothic Revival gem built by freedmen in 1865, which bears witness to Beaufort’s African American, Gullah and Reconstruction-era history,” Hunt writes.
Beaufort edged out Williamsburg, Virginia, Fairhope, Alabama, Fredericksburg, Texas, and Beaufort, North Carolina, in the list of 20 best small towns.
Beaufort ranked No. 6 on the magazine’s list of Best Small Towns in 2018 and second in 2019.
Conde Nast Traveler, a New York-based luxury and lifestyle travel magazine, identified the city as one of the 26 most beautiful towns in America in 2021.
Wells, of the city’s Visitor’s Bureau, said the 2022 honor of Best Small Town is “huge” because tourism is a key economic driver for the region.
“This is a big deal for a small, coastal town,” Wells said. “Those who love Beaufort have always known how special of place it is. Now we’re excited to introduce our destination to new travelers.”
This story was originally published March 8, 2022 at 11:25 AM with the headline "‘Subdued in the best possible way’: Beaufort is named the South’s best small town again."
