The lovely sandy beach is at the southern tip of Port Royal and overlooks Battery Creek. There's a…read moreboat launch as well. The highlight is the Henry Robinson Boardwalk that is available for fishing but at the end of the boardwalk is the observation tower. The challenge with the parking lot is that it is in desperate need of repaving. But, big holes. There is a big power pole that you could probably use to charge up your boat battery. [Review 19484 overall - 1056 in South Carolina - 454 of 2023.]

Nice spot for views…read more It is about a 1,200 ft long with a nice 5 story viewing deck at the end. Located across the street. Great free parking, close to all major hotels, very clean, lots of birds. Trash cans available, keep clean for everyone to enjoy.

A great playground for the locals and for those who are staying in the area on vacation. Live Oaks…read morePark is surrounded by fences, which I absolutely appreciate. It's great to know that people can't approach from just any angle and it's certainly a calming influence to know that your little ones can't simply wander into the road. Open during non-school hours because it is part of the Port Royal Elementary School during school hours, there are a couple of seats for the grown ups and playground equipment for the little ones. There is also a group of picnic shelters and a fire pit at one end. [Review 19487 overall - 1059 in South Carolina - 457 of 2023.]

This is an extensive paved bike and walking trail which runs around ten miles (as of this writing)…read more More development is planned as part of the larger East Coast Greenway network. This segment of trail has several parking areas, some with water, apparently one with bathrooms that I didn't make it to because I didn't have the time or energy for all ten miles on a hot day. It is built on an abandoned railroad right of way and despite running close to many of the larger roads in the area, has enough trees that it feels like green space unless you are actually crossing a road, which happens occasionally. There are some bridges over splendid estuarine habitat, and there's no reason not to check out the trail if you have time.

We came here on a Friday afternoon and the history center was opened until 4 PM. Two of the…read morevolunteers there were very friendly and very knowledgeable about the history of the area. We watched a 25 minute video of the history of the fort and the war. There is a sheltered picnic area and a natural path to the beach.

The general motion of travel around here will be from Beaufort to the ocean, which is Hunting…read moreIsland State Park. However, this detour is interesting. There is a separate parking area, from which one walks to the historic fort. It certainly looks cool, and signage explains the context. There is a visitor center which was closed when I was there on a holiday, but to their credit they left the bathrooms open and it was a very nice modern facility. The fort is a prelude to a beach however; it's not the ocean beach but it is quite a nice view and the very light waves are safe for those who don't want the ocean. There are residences lining the area with signage very strictly telling visitors to keep to the beach and not go on anyone's yard. But the public area is free and is worth visiting.

A brief visit here, hoping to catch the bridge opening but it was not to be. Instead, a seat on the…read morebench to watch the waterway for a bit. There is another park on the other side, but it has a playground and kids. I did not feel up to that today. The park also has a historical marker and you know how I love historical markers, even ones from the Confederacy. This one reads, "Known for acts of bravery and outstanding leadership in the defense of Beaufort. This Memorial is erected by the Stephen Elliot Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy opposite the home in which this chapter was organized." The marker was erected in 1968 by Stephen Elliott United Daughters of the Confederacy. The home is nearby. [Review 19479 overall - 1051 in South Carolina - 449 of 2023.]

I really liked being able to visit the Stephen Elliott Park / Cannon Park in Beaufort. It is very…read morepeaceful and has great views of the water and the bridge. There is a nice fountain and cannons in the park and places to sit down and enjoy a nice quiet moment. You can feel all of the history and all of the years and centuries around you everywhere. I enjoyed being able to come here and enjoy the best of what Beaufort has to offer in a calm and relaxed manner. I recommend this park for a quick visit.

Penn Center was recommended as a cultural stop during our visit to Beaufort…read more We did not take a tour but overall found the experience underwhelming. Perhaps we had been spoiled by the excellent IAAM in Charleston. The art work was interesting and the history of the school somewhat but if you have limited time I'd recommend elsewhere.

This loosely laid out complex of buildings paints a historical picture of an island that served as…read morea cultural center for what's now called Gullah-Geechee. The immediate sights next to the parking area are a visitor center where you buy tickets and a small history museum where you hand the tickets in. The history museum included an extensive tour by a local docent, from whom I got very specific details about local history and a friendly conversation of the sort the region is known for. It's a hard experience to explain to those who are living a more conventional American life, but part of the conversation here is about preserving history, with signs in the neighborhood hinting at a legal battle to prevent the surrounding island from being bought up and developed the way that some (but not all) of the surrounding islands have been. A restored schoolhouse on the site is National Parks property, unlike most of it which seems locally owned. Tours and events are offered, but at fairly limited times. It is an interesting place to browse and does have exhibits. There are also some handy water fountains and bathrooms in this area. Otherwise, the site includes a walking tour of several buildings of historic significance, most of which were used to house groups of visitors or for some administrative purpose, but the aesthetics were interesting to look at. This isn't the most dramatic or well-developed experience, and while it seemed more visitor areas might be coming, what's there is a compelling picture of island life and a unique culture.

This area seems newly outfitted as a park. It includes a short trail leading to an overlook out…read moreover the spartina grass, as well as some facilities and a barn for use as an event space. The park promises to be dog-friendly (assuming you're okay with the alligator signs everywhere) and the water fountain has a dog fountain at the bottom. The parking lot offers little protection from sun, and the environment overall is buggy and hot as one might expect. Nonetheless, as a brief pull-off for a drive through the area, it works pretty well. At night, it would be a cracking atmosphere for an event. I wish there were more easy ways to access the natural environment like this.

Very pretty! Well maintained nature trails, benches for resting and enjoying the views…read more Porta-potties available near parking.

Not far from where I'm having drinks tonight, this marker is in a busy parking lot that seemed to…read morehave quite a lot of cars in it this evening. It's in front of the Shellring Ale Works and the FIshcamp on 11th Street, so if you're looking to do something and read a historical marker, this is your spot. The marker has text on both sides. On the front, "In 1939, the Blue Channel Corporation opened a crab canning factory on this site. Founded by inventor Sterling Harris, the company worked with food scientist Dr. Carl Feller to patent a process that eliminated the blue coloration of canned Atlantic blue crab meat without altering its flavor. The company kept principal offices in Beaufort and briefly operated on Lady's Island before moving here to Port Royal and expanding." And on the reverse, "For years, Blue Channel was the nation's top producer of Atlantic blue crab and one of the largest crab packing firms in the country. The crabs processed here were caught and picked primarily by African American men and women of the local Gullah community who had long crabbed and fished along the Sea Islands. Blue Channel moved its canning operations to the Beaufort Industrial Park in 1978 and closed in 1990." It is marker number 7-66 and was erected in 2020 by the Beaufort County Historical Society, Historic Port Royal Foundation, and Town of Port Royal. [Review 19482 overall - 1054 in South Carolina - 452 of 2023.]

This is a great place to reflect, remember, protect and preserve the local heritage, culture and…read morehistory of Port Royal and the Lowcountry