Waterfront Park stretches along the south side of Bay Street, looking across the Beaufort River to Lady's Island. Mature live oaks shade the lawn, and the boardwalk that runs the length of the park is set with porch swings facing the water — an unusually pleasant detail. Shrimp boats and pleasure craft pass by; in the mornings, locals walk dogs, and in the evenings the park fills up with families and street musicians.
The park is also where most of Beaufort's outdoor events happen: the Water Festival in July, the Shrimp Festival in October, and an open-air concert series through the summer. Even outside festival season it is the natural place to spend an hour after lunch on Bay Street.