A Mother-Daughter Trip to a South Carolina Bed and Breakfast

We enjoyed a complimentary stay at the Rhett House Inn, a South Carolina bed and breakfast. All opinions are my own.

If you’re a friend of the blog, you know the Rhett House Inn is a familiar muse—we visit every year, and honestly, it’s hard not to fall for its unique charm. I get so excited when I see you all visiting the B&B, too!

This time, we’re back for round two of our mother-daughter trip at this coastal South Carolina bed and breakfast to celebrate my mom’s birthday weekend.

After years of visiting, we’ve perfected the Beaufort experience. Come along with us on our getaway to this historic inn and laid-back town.

Use code CARLEE15 when booking to save 15% on your stay.

Arrival: A South Carolina Bed and Breakfast

The exterior of the Rhett House Inn is straight out of your summer fiction beach novel. Built circa 1820, this white antebellum-style B&B is framed by majestic oaks draped in Spanish moss. It boasts elegant columns and sprawling verandas on two floors. 

We decided to extend our stay last minute, so we checked in late on Thursday night and made our way to the Cottages. The Rhett House Inn has three options for your stay—the Main House (from our stay here), the Newcastle House (from our stay here), and the Cottages. Built in 1846 as a store for freed slaves to buy and sell goods, the Cottages have been transformed to mirror the beautiful rooms in the Main House.

Friday Morning: A Southern Breakfast

We began our day with an early morning walk through a quiet downtown Beaufort, making our way to Stephen Elliot Park to catch a view of the Woods Memorial Bridge, famous for its appearance in Forrest Gump.

And then we made our way back to the Rhett House Inn for one of the best parts of our stay. The back door proudly bears a sign reading “back door friends,” and as longtime guests should, we slipped through the back entrance to have breakfast. We said good morning to Chef Beverly as she cracked an egg over the stove and made our way to the veranda for breakfast al fresco. By now, we know the wait staff—did I mention we come here a lot? They always treat us like family.

After perusing the full Southern breakfast menu, we decided on grits, hash browns, eggs, bacon, fruit and toast. With Chef Beverly or Mark in the kitchen, you can’t go wrong.

Friday Afternoon: Downtown Beaufort

After spending a slow morning at the B&B, we stopped for a light lunch at Magnolia Cafe, a new-to-me establishment right down the road from the Rhett House. Their Greek yogurt bowl and golden milk tea were out of this world, the perfect pick-me-up after a heavy breakfast.

We spent most of our day in downtown Beaufort. My mom and I are methodical shoppers when we join forces. Between that and us reading every inappropriate cocktail napkin until we were crying laughing, shopping took a while. We didn’t even make it halfway down the street.

We visited a few of our favorite stores, like Bay Street Treasures (where I found a cute antique for my guest bathroom at home), M Interiors, Sweet Bay, and Olive The Above, which is my top choice. Their olive oils and vinegars are a staple in my pantry. 

Friday Night: The Local Dive

Back in the Main House, we started our evening with hors d’oeuvres in the parlor—a spread of charcuterie and cocktail nuts, best enjoyed on the veranda in my opinion. I could sit out there all day!

Umbrellas high and feet soaking wet, we walked to dinner in a summer thunderstorm. We landed at one of my all-time favorite Beaufort restaurants, Lost Local, where fish and barbacoa tacos pair perfectly with their house margarita. It’s a laid-back, local dive that never disappoints.

A leisurely walk through downtown later, we made it back just in time for nightly desserts—key lime pie, cherry cobbler and chocolate cake—wrapping up our first full day in Beaufort on a sweet note.

Saturday: A Lowcountry Thunderstorm

Saturday morning began with a relaxing pace, highlighted by a delightful breakfast in the Main House, where Chef Beverly’s renowned blueberry pancakes stole the spotlight. We lingered through much of the morning, meandering around the inn before walking along the waterfront to Herban Market and Cafe. Their food looked exceptional, but after a big breakfast, we settled for protein smoothies and made our way to downtown. 

And you guessed it—more shopping. We bebopped around downtown until the rumble of thunder sent us hurrying back to the B&B. Armed with afternoon cookies, tea, and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, we settled onto the veranda and watched the Lowcountry thunderstorm roll in. Nearby, another mother-daughter duo passed their afternoon watercoloring on the porch. The simple, quiet moments of a trip are always my favorite. 

Saturday Evening: Dinner with a View

Later, after savoring a few olives and cheese from the Rhett House Inn’s evening hors d’oeuvres, we set off for dinner, though not before I introduced my mom to one of my beloved Lowcountry treasures, Grayco. This hardware and lumber store surprises with its stunning array of home goods and clothing, and if you haven’t visited yet, you must!

En route to dinner, we couldn’t resist pulling the car over to explore the Cypress Wetlands, where we marveled at the sight of hundreds of snowy egrets crafting their nests among the trees. I’ve never seen anything like it.

After the birdwatching detour, we arrived at Fishcamp on 11th Street, arguably our favorite dining spot in the area. We watched the boats drifting on Battery Creek alongside plates of salmon and crispy fried flounder, then capped the evening with a slice of key lime pie back at the inn.

Sunday Morning: The Farewell Breakfast

Sunday morning kicked off with me singing Happy Birthday to my mom before we made our way out the door for one last breakfast at the B&B. This is the second birthday in a row that she’s woken up at the Rhett House Inn, and I can’t think of a better way for her to start her next year around the sun.

As a special birthday surprise, Tyler, an outstanding waiter at the inn, surprised her with a mimosa to toast the occasion. When I rave about the exceptional staff at Rhett House, I truly mean it—we had the best time with them!

Book Your Stay and Save

Use code CARLEE15 when booking to save 15% on your stay.

My mom and I thoroughly enjoyed our trip, spending most of it at the Rhett House Inn. Our favorite moments were spent on the veranda, enjoying the cadence of the afternoon storm, and at breakfast, savoring coffee and a Southern breakfast.

You can find a full list of our favorite things to do in the area in my previous blog post here, but you may never want to leave the B&B. This special haven draws us back year after year with its timeless allure.

The Rhett House Inn has graciously provided a discount code, CARLEE15, offering 15% off your stay to create your own cherished memories at this Lowcountry treasure. Book your escape at rhetthouseinn.com, and be sure to let them know we sent you!

Looking for something other than a coastal South Carolina bed and breakfast? Check out our stay at the Ellijay River House, a mountain getaway in Ellijay, Georgia.