South Carolina is home to many charming small towns. You'll find them from the foothills of the mountains all the way to the coast. On any given weekend, we can take a vacation right in our own backyard.

The second oldest city in South Carolina is one of those perfect spots for a "staycation." A naturally beautiful "town," Beaufort will enchant you in the best way possible. In fact, Southern Living named Beaufort "The South's Best Small Town in 2017." But really, that's only one in a long list of accolades this great community has earned from being so darn charming.

Let's take a closer look at the allure of this historic Lowcountry treasure.

Bay Street

From the moment you enter downtown Beaufort, you'll be mesmerized by the charm, the beauty and the people. The streets are lined with enormous antebellum homes surrounded by massive oak trees draped in spanish moss.

The roads are dotted with the occasional horse-drawn carriage and covered with tree tunnels. It's the kind of town that makes you naturally smile and greet strangers as if they were next door neighbors.

Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park

Beaufort's waterfront offers sweeping, gorgeous water vistas - and a park that's fully integrated with the commerce taking place along the next street back, called Bay Street.

Restaurants, coffee shops and dessert bars along the park have entrances on their street-facing sides as well as their waterfront patios.

Beaufort's waterfront is wildly popular and a superb way to kick back and relax. But there is so much more to see, so get up and get moving!

Tabernacle Baptist Church

Historic churches, houses, and other landmarks make exploring Beaufort's downtown a photographer's paradise. And then, there's The Point.

The Point Neighborhood

The Point is Beaufort's pride and joy. In it, you'll find the famous house called "The Castle" (shown above). An Italian Renaissance style home smothered with Antebellum appeal, this delicious find is reportedly super haunted. The name, "The Castle" comes from the castle-like appearance of this enormous dwelling.

A stroll around The Point neighborhood is like peeking into the pages of every novel set in a southern town dripping in antebellum charisma.

Mostly void of those tall "privacy" walls, these properties are laid out in full view so you can gawk all you want. But they're still private property so you'll want to hold back the urge to take a closer look.

Beaufort National Cemetery

Over on the other side of downtown rests one of only three national cemeteries in South Carolina. This solemn place is a peaceful inspiration. The grounds are smattered with centuries-old Oak trees covered in hanging moss that quietly frames the countless rows of organized memorials.

The South's Best Small Town In 2017 (as ranked by Southern Living) will delight and enchant you with her naturally beautiful surroundings. Have you visited Beaufort yet?

More information can be found on this official tourism website, or their Facebook page, Visit Beaufort SC.

If you find you just can't get enough of the Beaufort area, you may want to take a drive down the state's most haunted highway.