Merritt Field Air Park is a small, publicly accessible aircraft display located just outside the…read moregates of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. It features retired military aircraft and can be visited without passing through base security. Just take the road toward the gate and carefully make what is probably an illegal u-turn. Named in 1975 for Major General Lewie G. Merritt, a pioneering Marine aviator and South Carolina native, Merritt Field is the airfield portion of MCAS Beaufort. While the base itself is not open to the public, the air park sits just outside the perimeter and offers a modest but meaningful tribute to Marine aviation history. There is a small pull-off area suitable for parking, and from there, you can walk directly up to the aircraft on display. There are no fences or gates restricting access to the planes, making it an easy stop for aviation enthusiasts, families, or anyone curious about military history. When I stopped, I saw four aircraft on display: - F-4 Phantom II: A twin-engine, long-range supersonic jet interceptor and fighter-bomber used extensively during the Vietnam War. - A-4 Skyhawk: A compact, carrier-capable attack aircraft known for its agility and service during the Cold War era. - F/A-18 Hornet: A multirole fighter still in use today, representing the backbone of Marine Corps aviation for decades. - F-35B Lightning II (BF-01): The very first Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant of the F-35B, retired and delivered to MCAS Beaufort in August 2025 for permanent display. Each aircraft is mounted on a pedestal or placed on static display pads, accompanied by small plaques or signage detailing its service history. The area is well-kept but informal--there are no restrooms or visitor facilities, just the aircraft and a quiet stretch of lawn. [Review 1322 of 2025 - 1319 in South Carolina - 24874 overall]

Loved stopping here for some ice cream after a long day at Hunting Island. You wait in line outside…read moreand they take your order. I had "better brownie batter" and it was amazing. In the same parking lot is a little surf and beach store. We didn't go in but it looks to carry one's beach necessities.

Great Ice Cream and staff! Also a hidden gem to see beautiful sunsets over the water.read more

My husband took my here to look around and ended up buying a book, to my surprise it was more than…read morethe actual tag price in the back of the book. The book brand new would've been 16.99 and their price was 18. Ridiculous. That's just not ok making their prices more than the actual price of the book. Small bookstores are supposed to cater to customers and be a little cheaper than a bigger mass book store. It turned me off that a used book was more expensive than if I would've bought it new. Probably never coming back .

I called from the Bluffton area searching for a book that was sold out on HHI and Bluffton. The…read moreowner gladly obliged holding their last one for me. I drove up and retrieved it and looked through the store for other interests. I was in town from Ohio. I was able to give my husband a perfect birthday present !!

If you're looking for a fun place to kayak, check out Higher Ground on Factory Street. We called…read morethe night before and the young lady that we spoke with was very knowledgeable. She took the time to check the wind speeds for the next day, so we wouldn't be scheduling a trip during inclement weather. Once we arrived, the ladies working were extremely friendly and they gave us ample time to check out their merchandise before our adventure started. The kayaks and paddles were in good condition. There are several different routes you can take, a 2 and a 4 mile loop were suggested to us. All the routes will take you past the downtown swing bridge. I would suggest going with the tide either going out or coming back (unless you enjoy paddling the entire time). They also sell kayaks and equipment. They told me that before I purchased a kayak or Hobie fishing kayak, that I could test them in the river. They want you to be happy with your purchase. I will definitely be supporting this business in the future.

Higher Ground is the outdoor store of choice in this area. Savannah and Hilton Head both have…read moresimilar shops, but the staff/owners at Higher Ground create a much more pleasant shopping experience for the Lowcountry gear head. Plus, their new location next to the brew pub makes for a great one-two. Gear up. Beer down.

Much like Quartermaster down the street, they offer high end clothing, albeit at a lower price…read morepoint. Great sunglasses selection as well. I look forward to shopping here again soon.

Bay Street Outfitters on Bay Street in Beaufort is a great place to go for all things fishing and…read moreoutdoor apparel and gear. I really like the atmosphere and styles that they have available here. This is a good place to go for gifts and I have been happy with all of the purchases that I have made from here. The staff here is very personable and knowledgeable.

Tried the blood orange float today and it was delicious! I prefer the raspberry, but it was still…read moreyummy. Their tea is killer every time! My friend got the seasonal apple cider with vanilla gelato. It was a yummy seasonal treat! The cider is exactly what you'd want when ordering this type of drink. It's absolutely delicious!!

While this store is the perfect stop to buy a gift, the true gem is the little cafe in the back! I…read morecouldn't resist the sweet tea float sign outside and had to see what that was about! Southern sweet tea (or unsweetened if you'd like) with two scoops of sorbet - yes, please! We opted for the peach sorbet but there were several option. My dad had a root beer float. I love that they used a craft root beer instead of something more common. I went for the iced café au lait. It was the perfect balance of coffee and sweetness! If you're in the area you MUST try a sweet tea float!

We live here, but had not had the opportunity to visit this adorable shop until recently. Great…read moredecor, merchandise, and attentive staff. The car coasters were just too cute to resist. We are thrilled to have this shop in town.

Very friendly service. They also sell a few goodies for cats. Weasley received his presents today…read moreand loved them!

Pat Conroy's work is amazing. He is among the giants of American literature, and unfortunately left…read moreus far too soon. The Writing Center is well worth visiting to learn more about him and see memorabilia from his life. It's staffed by talented people including current writers. They are all passionate and knowledgeable about Conroy's works, offering insight and anecdotes about his life and work. The Center also provides programs for young people, writers, and schools. It's worth a trip to Beaufort to see this.

Fred was a wonderful tour guide. He knew so much about Pat and his entire family. This is the place…read moreyou need to go if you enjoy Pat Conroy's work.