April 13 – Beaufort, SC

Downtown Marina Mooring Ball

Miserable people focus on what they hate about their life. Happy people focus on what they love about their life. ― Zig Ziglar

The weather further north is still a little cool, so we are going to hang out in Beaufort for a week…relaxing and doing a little exploring. Beaufort is rich in history dating back to the 1500's. After the Revolutionary War Sea Island cotton was introduced to this area and brought rapid increase in plantations and slaves, new wealth provided Beaufort elegant homes, fine libraries and some of the best preparatory schools in the south. So many men of state and national prominence were produced, that antebellum Beaufort was described as the "wealthiest most aristocratic and cultivated town of its size in America".

We debated taking our bikes to shore today, but since the weather was still a little threatening we decided to just wander through the streets that were close to the waterfront. We spent a wonderful day here in 2011 on our first trip north, but it was June…a little harder to enjoy just strolling through shops and sitting in the park. Today we had the chance to do just that. We’ll have more time later to ride around and explore other parts of the city.

We enjoyed a light lunch at Lowcountry Produce. It’s located in a building that was first a post office and then Beaufort’s city hall. Today it’s a breezy market and café where locals gather to visit and pick up wonderful home made items like Tomato Pie, chicken salad and buttermilk biscuits. I enjoyed a piece of tomato and homemade mozzarella pie and Stan had a bowl of crab soup. Both were amazing. We spent the rest of the afternoon strolling along the waterfront and visiting with a few of the many visitors that arrive on buses to take in the history of this great little town. It was definitely busier today than it was when we were here in July five years ago.

Homes along Bay Street...they overlook the river and we can see them from the boat

The view from Bay Street overlooking the river

Lowcountry Produce

Tomato Pie...I should have bought the whole thing!

Overlooking the Beaufort River 

The waterfront park runs the whole length of  the historical downtown area of Beaufort. There are dozens of swings along the path where people can sit and watch the river...it's a great place to relax and unwind.

I left Stan alone for just a little while and he was picking up girls again! This couple was from Detroit, they were touring the area with a bus tour.