Hopefully the start of 2011 has you in good health and spirits — and hopefully a gym membership at a great location and price will make it all the better.

CityFIT is a well-appointed, 24 hour facility boasting elliptical machines, treadmills, a recumbent bicycle, free weights, Nautilus equipment, medicine balls, training benches and much more. The micro spa rooms include private lockers and individual rainfall steam showers…the perfect spot to decompress after your work out.

• Get 90 days of membership and 24 hour acces for $135 — or save $45 with a couple’s price of $225.
• Bring your own trainer for free (your trainer will need to pay a 20% fee per contract and/or training session to City FIT.)
• $10 visitors passes.
• Hotel guests always have free access to CityFIT while staying in the hotel.

Call City Loft Hotel at (843)379-5638 or visit our offices at 301 Carteret Street to join. You can download an application here.

And as always City Loft Hotel is here to help you enjoy your stay in town and navigate all that there is to do.

Here’s just some of what’s going on:

• Seafood, Jazz and Brew festival
• Yemassee Shrimp Festival
• Hunting Island beach sweep
• Hardeeville Catfish Festival

Click here for a full list of weekend events.

And that’s just the beginning. We of course have our weekly farmers markets, and if you just want to enjoy a great meal and take in a little relaxation, you know we can help you with that, too.

So give us a holler, and let us know we can make your stay in Beaufort all that it can be.

Have you heard of City Java & News?

Located near the corner of Carteret and Port Republic streets in historic downtown Beaufort, the spot is a great place to grab a cup of coffee on the way into work, or take a quick break on a walking tour of the downtown area and historic Point.

Stephanie Fairbanks, general manager of the adjoining City Loft Hotel, remarks that “there’s just a really nice energy in the coffee shop. There’s a fresh vibe and it’s very cheerful.”

The coffee blends are provided by Island Coffee. Four regular coffees are available including a “Sunrise,” french roast, decaf, and Costa Rica organic. There’s also a fifth including a regularly changing seasonal blend — presently “Flores Bajawa Ngura.”

Bottled water, organic no-sugar added juices, and cane-sugar sodas are also available.

A staple of muffins, biscotti, cookies, cupcakes, cinnamon roles, and a 72-layer biscuit with ham and cheese is offered.

For lunch a number of sandwiches, chips, and soups are offered.

There’s plenty of space with a sidewalk patio, and rear conference room that can be reserved for privative meetings with advance notice.

And don’t forget that free Wi-Fi internet is always on.

Image by faungg

Running parallel with historic downtown Beaufort’s many restaurants, historic attractions, and shops is the Beaufort Waterfront Park.

This public land along the Intracoastal Waterway offers some of the best views of nature in the country and is located midway between Charleston and Savannah. Many restaurants dot the park’s edge and offer scenic views to be enjoyed while eating dinner from a restaurant’s porch or terrace. A long boardwalk dots the park’s edge, perfect for a stroll after dinner or just a chance to sit in one of the many swinging benches to enjoy the view of the Beaufort Rive and its marsh.

Not to be overlooked is the park’s modern playground, clean facilities, day dock and marina.

But despite the historic nature of its surroundings the park is actually fairly new, having been built in the mid 1970s as a way to revitalize Beaufort’s downtown district.

In 1975, the City of Beaufort worked with landscaper architects Robert Marvin and Associates to develop the site plan. When completed the park was a marvel of engineering. But the park has undergone major updating and renovation over the years and still serves as home to the popular Beaufort Water Festival held each July. (In 2010 it will be held from July 16 to 25.) Also held at the park are the Taste of Beaufort, Shrimp Festival, Gullah Festival, and many, many more.

Located just a block from the park, the City Loft Hotel is a great spot to rest whether you’re in town for a multi-day festival, or just want your hotel to offer convenient access to one of the best views in the country and many of the other beautiful historic sites in town.