| When talking to clients about living in Beaufort, I am | | | | it's top ten places to retire. Dataw Island is |
| always interested to learn the various reasons they | | | | commonly referred to as Beaufort's best retirement |
| have for moving to (or remaining in) Beaufort. During | | | | community. |
| my years in the area I have probably heard hundreds | | | | 6. "It's a GREAT place to raise a family." Small town |
| of reasons, but in this article I've decided to narrow it | | | | values and lack of big city distractions make the area |
| down to the top ten reasons to people love to live in | | | | a wonderful place to raise a family. Living in a small |
| Beaufort: | | | | town makes a community tighter. The adults do |
| 1. "I love Activities on the Water!" With all the | | | | more activities together, children grow up together |
| beaches, rivers and tidal creeks that lie in the | | | | forming with life-long friendships, and much of the big |
| Beaufort area, we often have to ask clients what | | | | town mischief doesn't happen here. Families here |
| kind of water activities they're looking for. | | | | also enjoy parks, festivals and boating activities held |
| Beachgoers love Hunting Island State Park for it's | | | | throughout the year. |
| beautifully secluded beaches and picnic areas. If | | | | 7. "A good job market is important." While no big |
| you're looking for seclusion, then maybe private | | | | industry resides here, historic and resort tourism, real |
| beaches like Fripp Island or Harbor Island. Boaters | | | | estate and medical centers provide a very low |
| who love to cruise or fish beware. Beaufort has so | | | | unemployment rate and lots of jobs. Beaufort |
| many inlet rivers and tidal creeks, you could have | | | | Memorial, the resort islands of Harbor and Fripp, |
| trouble exploring them all in a lifetime. | | | | some of the prettiest property in the country all are |
| 2. "We love this Quiet Little Town." I might hear this | | | | part of what make the job market very strong. |
| more than any reason people live in Beaufort. There | | | | 8. "Wow, the weather!!" Mild climate is certainly one |
| are two types of Beaufortonians. The first is born | | | | of the top reasons that clients move to Beaufort. |
| and raised here. The second has moved here. No | | | | In the 70s for around 6 months a year, I cannot |
| matter which, they all agree that they love the small | | | | imagine anywhere to top our weather. |
| town feel. In a time where most areas have far | | | | 9. "Lots of Southern Hospitality and Charm." The first |
| too much urban sprawl, Beaufort remains relatively | | | | thing I noticed when exploring the Beaufort area was |
| unspoiled. I cannot count the clients that have | | | | how incredibly nice the people are. If you don't |
| moved from larger cities such as Atlanta and | | | | want to take my word for it, Southern Living readers |
| Charlotte. Big time development and gridlock traffic | | | | have voted Beaufort the top Southern Small Town |
| is something we here certainly don't miss. | | | | for 7 years in a row. |
| 3. "Lots of culture and history." Being the 2nd oldest | | | | 10. "All the Food!" One of the things people really |
| town in South Carolina, Beaufort's history is still | | | | love Beaufort is the food. Being a small town there |
| prominent today. Historic architecture, Gullah Culture, | | | | are not thousands of restaurants like other big |
| and past civil war monuments mark days gone by. | | | | cities. What the town lacks in quantity is makes up |
| Our history has paved the way for a lot of tourism. | | | | for in quality. Unlike many cities, Beaufort hasn't |
| Residents and visitors alike enjoy taking carriage | | | | turned into a strip mall of chain restaurants. On just |
| tours of the downtown historic district, touring the | | | | about ever corner, there is a Mom n' Pop's eatery |
| Penn Center, and viewing the Antebellum homes in | | | | that will have your taste buds begging for more. |
| the Old Point section of town. | | | | The best part is it's all original. If you eat at Yes |
| 4. "All the Festivals." You name it, we have a festival | | | | Thai Indeed, LT's County Cookin, or Bricks on |
| for it here. Among these are the Water, Soft Shell | | | | Boundary you better enjoy it. Because you won't |
| Crab, Shrimp, Gullah, Sea Music, and Film Festivals to | | | | find these places any where else in the world. |
| name a few. The most famous is the Water | | | | Delicious, original food is a Beaufort tradition. |
| Festival, which attracts tens of thousands. In a | | | | Beaufort is a great place to live in. The reasons to |
| smaller town, it is great to have constant city | | | | live here are as varied as the people who give them. |
| organized events to go to. Seniors, families, and | | | | Beaufort attracts all kinds of people - singles as well |
| young love birds can all be seen in attendance. | | | | as families, Northerners and native Southerners, |
| 5. "I'm ready to retire." CNN Money, Reuters, and | | | | younger and older people (and all the ages in |
| Carolina Living all named Beaufort, South Carolina to | | | | between). |