Beaufort, South Carolina is truly a special place and one of the pearls of the coastal Carolinas. But there is a quaint little rising star just down the road that you should make time for when visiting the Beaufort area. Port Royal is a fifteen minute drive from old town Beaufort taking Ribaut Road. Few people have heard of it or take the time to make the short trek to check it out. This town is on its way to being a destination in itself in another ten years and locals say you should get in now if you are wanting coastal real estate in the area. Linda and I have been there three times and we still can’t get enough pictures of the sun setting behind the shrimp boats tied to the docks.
A big reason to visit Port Royal is to have dinner at Fishcamp on 11th Street. There is usually a wait but that’s no problem because you can walk down to the docks where the shrimp boats are docked. You can get great seafood, an outdoor bar and they usually offer entertainment on the weekends.
Come an hour early to dine at Fishcamp and walk along the boardwalk at the Sands. It has a marginal beach area which would be suitable to let the kids run around for a bit but don’t expect a true beach experience. What it does have is a nice system of boardwalks that border the water and a bird preserve. If you are going in the heat of the summer you may want to do this in the morning or late afternoon hours as it can get hot. I have heard that the fishing there is great and that if you get there at low tide you might find a shark tooth or two.
If you visiting Port Royal on a Saturday, be sure to check out the Port Royal Farmers Market. Linda was very impressed with the size of it and the quality of the vendors. She made several purchases to take home with us and I managed to entertain myself listening to a great blue grass band. The market is located at Naval Heritage Park that also has a skateboard complex where you can watch the young daredevils on their boards.
While I wouldn’t list Port Royal as a destination in itself, it makes a great addition to your itinerary when visiting the Beaufort, SC area.
