With the dogwoods blooming and the streets filling with people last week I had the pleasure of having family visit for a few days. I have a very small family but we live 700 miles apart and since they were only visiting for two days I wanted to make sure I was able to show them all the must sees in my sleepy town. Beaufort, NC and the surrounding area may be small but it is quaint and beautiful and full of history. In 2012 Beaufort was voted #1 Coolest Small Town in America by Budget Travel and to be honest I am not surprised as it is a hidden gem in my opinion!
I am a transplant to this area via the military, but we went against the grain a bit and moved to the far side of base where nobody from our community really puts down roots…. albeit temporarily. We chose this area due to our love of the water and laid back vibe you get near the beach, and although that puts us almost an hour from most of our friends its almost as if we are holding onto a well kept secret. I want to share some of those secrets with you to add to your checklist for your next visit!
1.) North Carolina Maritime Museum. Do yourself a favor and make this the first stop of your journey. This is a very well managed FREE attraction that will give you the rundown of the history that made Beaufort known to so many. The kids will love this as they get to see and learn about boats, pirates, and local wildlife and you can even get to take a shell with you as a parting gift. They get to learn through interactive displays that will teach them about Blackbeard and the infamous Queen Anne’s Revenge that ran aground right in our back yard just one mile from Fort Macon, Atlantic Beach. The museum may be a touristy thing to do but I feel like you gain a genuine appreciation for the history of this area by learning a little bit about it. When you are done here take a short walk across the street to the Watercraft Center to get a glimpse into the art of traditional boat building.
Now for some adventure!
2.) Paddle Taylor’s Creek. Rent a Paddle Board or Kayak and get out on the water! Beaufort inlet is calm and full of wildlife, and in my opinion the best way to see it is to get out there with it. There are a few Rental Companies that I would recommend depending on what you are looking for. If you are staying near Front Street mosey on down to the docks and find the Beaufort Watersports hut. They will rent you a paddle board, paddle and life vest (that you must wear) for around $10 per hour with a launch site right on Front Street. I will say there are many places to launch in the area and if you would like to take the board with you to explore for the day I would highly suggest Beaufort Paddle at the base of the draw bridge where you will get the best full day price. Once you get that board worked out paddle up Taylor’s Creek along Carrot Island and just take in the scenery and wildlife around you, which brings me to my next to do….
3.) Hike the Rachel Carson Reserve. Go for a hike and find the horses on Carrot Island, Bird Shoal and Town Marsh! There are about 50 wild horses across from Front Street in Beaufort and I highly recommend getting over there by kayak, but be sure to bring trail shoes because there are tons of cactus and sand spurs to dodge if you go off the trail. If you have little ones, no problem this island is easily walkable in an hour or two, just take the Island Ferry Adventure that will drop you off right on the beach; and if you are lucky you may see some dolphins along the way! While you are on the Reserve cross over to Bird Shoal during low tide and look for some unique seashells and sand dollars. The ferry hut will give you a shell bag upon request so you can bring back as many as you like, and trust me there are a million to choose from! If you do take the ferry your local boat captains will likely inform you of some of the known history while you cross the Inlet. The Reserve is always an adventure and you are bound to find new wildlife with each visit.
4.) Spend a day in Shackleford. If you are lucky enough to have access to a boat and the weather permits take a leisurely journey during high tide up Taylor’s Creek and head out to Shackleford Island. You can anchor right to the beach and spend the day sunbathing and wading in the beautiful blue water on the southern most barrier island on the Cape Lookout National Seashore. If you are feeling a bit more adventurous hop on the Island Express Ferry in your hiking gear and explore via horse trails! Similar to the Rachel Carson Reserve the Shackleford Banks are home to over 100 protected wild horses. This island is much larger than Carrot Island, mentioned above, and requires a bit more walking but the views are incredible and the challenge is worth it. If you are lucky enough to find a few horses along the way, be mindful that they are wild and do enjoy their distance. Pack a lunch and some water though as there is not much out there except shear beauty.
There are no establishments on the Reserve or Shackleford, but when you return from you adventure try these out:
5.) Beaufort Grocery. Trust me when I tell you to make this a top priority for either lunch or dinner, either will satisfy your taste buds. This small French country Bistro is charming and delicious. Personally I recommend the No.2 Fuhgeddaboudit for lunch or the daily special as it has yet to disappoint in my 2 years of frequenting this establishment!
6.) Coffee and Ann Street. Stop into Cru Bar for a coffee or ice cream and go take a leisurely stroll down the beautiful Ann Street. The historical houses on this lane were built between 1709 and 1910 and range in popular architectural styles such as Queen Anne, Federal, and Greek and Gothic Revival; and let me tell you, they are beautiful. If you stop into the Beaufort Historic Site on the corner of Turner and Ann Street pick up a copy of the Walking Tour Map or even hop on one of the narrated bus tours that are conducted from a super cool red double decker. While you are on your walk pay attention to the plaques next to the front door of each historic home, this will tell you who the original owner was and what year it was built. You will also pass by the Old Burying Ground which originated in 1709 and contains Revolutionary and Civil War graves. Warning: bring your bug spray if visiting in the summer because the mosquitos may just carry you away!
Ready for a night cap after adventuring all day? Try a couple of the local watering holes:
7.) Rhum Bar and Backstreet Pub. Backstreet Pub is hidden down a small lane that runs parallel to Front Street and it has a local vibe where you can just relax. There are plenty of board games and a beautiful courtyard area to sit and enjoy a local brew. Depending on the night follow the spiral staircase up (watch your head at the top) to a hidden upstairs bar and stage room where local bands will provide musical entertainment.The Backstreet Pub has been called the friendliest, funkiest little bar from Maine to Venezuela.
If you fancy a beautiful panoramic view and a “Pain Killer” journey down the main drag to Front Street Grill at Stillwater and make your way out to the Rhum Bar in the back where you can sit on the deck and enjoy the unique Carolina coast sunset. There are lots of outdoor sofas, lounge chairs, and umbrellas to assist in ultimate relaxation and they tend to have half priced appetizers during happy hour and a great wine selection! This is a great place to hangout if you have a large group and the staff is always on point.
Now, this is a short list as there are a million of things to do in Beaufort, and during the summer there is something going on every weekend. I like to follow the Facebook page to keep up with all the festivities. I have been here 2 years and there are still things I want to take advantage of while I get to live in such a wonderful area, so I have included a few items from my personal Beaufort bucket list below that you may want to check out if you are in town for more than a few days. I don’t claim to be an expert guide, but I hope this list helps you discover some of the whimsy of this charming small town in Eastern North Carolina.
My Bucket List as a “local”:
1.) A Day in Cape Lookout via Ferry – I have heard renting jeeps is a must!
2.) Ferry to Ocracoke to camp on the beach. – We are going in May, so stay tuned!
3.) Sunset Sail with Lookout Cruises.
4.) Dive Certification with Discovery Diving.
I hope you visit soon!
“Remember what Bilbo used to say: ‘It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”” — J.R.R. Tolkien
My Wilder Ride 