Beaufort

Charming homes and churches grace this old town on Port Royal Island. Come here on a day-trip from Hilton Head, Savannah, or Charleston, or to spend a quiet weekend at a B&B while you shop and stroll through the historic district. Tourists are drawn equally to the town's artsy scene (art walks are regularly scheduled) and the area's water-sports possibilities. Actually, more and more transplants have decided to spend the rest of their lives here, drawn to Beaufort's small-town charms, and the area is burgeoning. A truly Southern town, its picturesque backdrops have lured filmmakers here to film The Big Chill, The Prince of Tides, and The Great Santini, the last two being Hollywood adaptations of best-selling books by author Pat Conroy. Conroy has waxed poetic about the Lowcountry and calls the Beaufort area home. The city closest to the Marine base on Parris Island, Beaufort also has a naval hospital.