North Carolina’s Crystal Coast — that 85-mile strand of golden-sanded coastline stretching from Cape Carteret all the way out to Harkers Island — offers an abundance of fun as varied and unique as its 11 communities. The name is inspired by sparkling waters that visitors enjoy from the comfort of their decks, docks, or beach chairs.
Sure, you could visit alone, but incredible dining, fascinating regional and seafaring history, and amazing outdoor exploration makes the Crystal Coast the perfect destination for a ladies’ getaway, a guys’ weekend, or a family retreat. Read on for three itineraries, then call your partners in crime and pack your bags for the coast.
Eighty-five miles of gleaming beaches only begin to tell the story of The Crystal Coast — from crystal waters bordering sandy, sparkling beaches, to wild mustang horses and a towering lighthouse — the natural beauty of the Southern Outer Banks await exploration.
Kick off your first morning at the Crystal Coast with a stroll along Beaufort’s 12-block downtown historic district. Art galleries, boutique clothing stores, and antique shops offer one-of-a-kind treasures and lively conversation pieces for your home.
Beaufort is North Carolina’s third oldest town, a distinction that’s not surprising given Front Street’s meticulously restored waterfront homes. To take a self-guided tour of historic Beaufort landmarks, stop by the Beaufort Historical Association at 130 Turner Street for information to get you started. (No tour is complete without a visit to the Old Burying Ground, a picturesque cemetery that dates back to 1724.)
When you’re ready for a bite to eat, stop for lunch on the waterfront patio at Front Street Grill. Try the chili-lime shrimp tacos, served with fried plantains, or standards like the pan-seared crab cake with creole remoulade.
Even in sweater weather, the wide and sunny Crystal Coach beaches are ideal for walking, shelling, or lounging. Before you head to the beach for the afternoon, stop by The Book Shop in Morehead City to find your beach read among the more than 35,000 titles. “We’re the biggest book store in town,” says Bobby Bousman, who has owned The Book Shop for 14 of its 25 years and is often found greeting bibliophiles as they walk through the door. “We have new and used titles and are always busy with locals who love books like I do.”
One of the greatest pleasures of girl time at the beach is an epic seafood dinner. The cozy tables, expansive wine selection, heavenly smells, and unbeatable desserts at the Beaufort Grocery create an intimate atmosphere for close conversations. At Emerald Isle, Kathryn’s Bistro and Martini Bar can help loosen tongues more with superb dinner selections and a menu featuring more than 30 martinis.
In North Carolina’s third oldest town, you can admire the meticulously restored waterfront homes as you take a self-guided tour of historic Beaufort landmarks. photograph by The Crystal Coast
On your first day at the Crystal Coast (pro tip: Plan an excursion for the beginning of your trip so you have plenty of time to fry up your bounty), toss in a line, and catch “the big one” on a chartered fishing excursion. All along the Crystal Coast, offshore charters with boats of all sizes can help you and your friends get out on the water to fish for marlin, wahoo, grouper, king mackerel, and snapper.
You may think you’ve gone as far as you can go when you get to Beaufort, but if you keep driving east, you’ll come to the sleepy Harkers Island community, home to the Waterfowl Museum. Here, you can learn all about the regional traditions of decoy carving, boat-building, and commercial fishing. If you’re there in December, plan to check out the museum’s annual Core Sound Waterfowl Weekend & Decoy Festival.
Want to get even farther off the beaten path? Take a ferry to Cape Lookout National Seashore, where you can get up close and personal with Cape Lookout Lighthouse — aptly called our Diamond Lady for its bold pattern.
No trip is complete without a visit to Crystal Coast Brewing, centrally located in Atlantic Beach, just a few blocks from the ocean. Try a pint of their own Crystal Coast IPA, a brew that captures “that special feeling when you see the coat crest upon the horizon,” while you kick back in their taproom or huge game space (yes, they even have video games) out back.
Toss in a line on a chartered fishing excursion, where you can fish for marlin, wahoo, grouper, king mackerel, and snapper. photograph by The Crystal Coast
Many folks think of the beach as the quintessential summertime family vacation, but the Crystal Coast has all the makings for a dreamy winter getaway, too. The Crystal Coast Christmas Flotilla, on December 4, sponsored by the Beaufort Maritime Museum, takes the joy of a holiday parade to the next level. All manner of “things that float,” from kayaks to commercial vessels, drift from the Morehead City waterfront to the Beaufort waterfront, their festive lights sparkling on the water. Cheer them along, and enjoy how the lights’ twinkles match the stars and reflect in your loved ones’ eyes.
Next, prepare to blow young minds at Fort Macon State Park. At the eastern tip of Bogue Banks at Atlantic Beach, you can explore the tunnels and watch for pirates at this restored Antebellum-era fort. If you time it right, you can even join a cannon and musket demonstration.
At Fort Macon State Park, a restored Antebellum-era fort, you can explore the tunnels, watch for pirates, and even join a cannon and musket demonstration. photograph by The Crystal Coast
Just a two-minute drive down the road, Amos Mosquito’s offers a menu guaranteed to satisfy the cravings of every family member, young and old. Shrimp and grits, mango-glazed tuna, sesame-seared trout, scalloped scallops … the list goes on. It won’t be easy, but save room for their famous key lime pie with a graham-cracker crust and topped with whipped cream.
On rainy days, nothing beats a board game or a trip to the aquarium. Even when it’s chilly, the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores gives you some stunning views of Bogue Sound. Otters slide, sharks glide in and out of a living shipwreck in a 306,000 gallon saltwater tank, and baby loggerheads bob with hopeful expressions in tanks.
In addition to daily events guaranteed to delight all ages, the aquarium offers special, seasonal experiences, like Santa by the Sea on Dec. 11, where children can meet the guy in the big red suit and join the “whispered wishes among the fishes.” Kids in second through sixth grade can attend special holiday camps on Dec. 28-30 and Jan, 17, where they’re invited behind the scenes at the aquarium to experience hands-on learning fun.
The fun doesn’t have to stop on a cold or rainy day at the beach. Instead, it’s the perfect excuse to head to the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. photograph by The Crystal Coast
If it’s a board game you’re after, go straight to Emerald Isle Books & Toys, where you can shake off those raindrops and pick up some fun. With a carefully curated selection of board games, puzzles, and books, they’ve got your indoor time covered.
Time for one last seafood dinner? Head on over to the Crab Shack, a Salter Path institution that’s been around since 1976. Grilled, fried, steamed, or broiled; this is as fresh as it gets. It’s a locals’ favorite, and they don’t take reservations. So get there early, grab a drink, and relax on their back dock that overlooks the Bogue Sound.
From its northernmost point in Corolla to its southern terminus on Cedar Island, this scenic byway — bound between sound and sea — links the islands and communities of the Outer Banks.
For the owner of The Country Biscuit, welcoming diners is the fulfillment of a decades-long dream. And diners’ dreams come true when they try the glazed biscuit doughnut holes.
Black bears are the embodiment of North Carolina’s adventurous spirit, immense and wild.
After nearly a century — or just a couple of years — these seafood restaurants have become coastal icons, the places we know, love, and return to again and again.
