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Beaufort, North Carolina: Where Fun and Adventure Meet – The Best Places to Visit and Things to Do!

The Rachel Carson Reserve out there runs a whole 2,315 acres of the tidal flats and the salt marshes. Bird Shoal is a 6-acre island out there and it holds the endangered piping plover on it. The Old Burying Ground dates right the whole way back to the 1700s out there. Shackleford Banks holds the whole of the wild horses out there. Take the ferry.

You are going to Beaufort, North Carolina and you want to know what to look at. Beaufort is a small town with more worth seeing than the size of it suggests. History person, nature person, eater or adventurer, this town has a version for you.

For history, work through Beaufort’s past at the North Carolina Maritime Museum, the Beaufort Historic Site and the Old Burying Ground. For natural country, the Rachel Carson Reserve, the Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge and the Cape Lookout National Seashore. For food and drink, Fishtowne Brew House, Cru Wine Bar & Beaufort Coffee Shop and Clawson’s 1905 Restaurant & Pub. For shopping, the boutiques and shops on Front Street. Outdoors, kayaking and paddleboarding and fishing charters. Then the Mattie King Davis Art Gallery and the Beaufort Olive Oil Company. And past Beaufort, Atlantic Beach and Fort Macon State Park.

Key Takeaways

• Beaufort, North Carolina offers something for everyone, from history buffs to nature lovers to foodies and adventure seekers.
• Explore Beaufort’s historical sites, natural wonders, food and drink scene, local boutiques, and outdoor adventures.
• Don’t miss local gems like the Mattie King Davis Art Gallery and the Beaufort Olive Oil Company, and consider venturing beyond Beaufort to nearby attractions.

Historical Journey

History people do well in Beaufort. These are the sites to get to.

The Maritime Museums

For anybody who likes boats, the North Carolina Maritime Museum is the one. It covers the state’s long seafaring history and holds artifacts from shipwrecks including Queen Anne’s Revenge, the flagship of the pirate Blackbeard. There are exhibits on fishing, whaling and boatbuilding. The touch tank holds live sea creatures.

Pirates and Shipwrecks

Beaufort was once a haven for pirates and smugglers, Blackbeard among them. A tour of the Beaufort Historic Site covers that end of the town’s past. You see the Old Jail, where pirates were locked up, and the Hammock House, where smugglers kept their loot. The ghost walk covers the town’s more infamous residents.

The Old Burying Ground

The Old Burying Ground is the quiet way into Beaufort’s past. This historic cemetery dates to the 1700s. Many of Beaufort’s early settlers are buried here. The gravestones carry intricate carving. Respect the graves and leave nothing behind.

Beaufort’s historic district holds a lot of stories. Pirates, shipwrecks or the ordinary lives of the early residents, all of it rewards a slow look. Take the time on it.

Natural Wonders

Beaufort, North Carolina has serious natural country. The reserves, the wild horses of Shackleford Banks and the lighthouses cover most of it.

Exploring the Reserves

Beaufort holds two reserves: the Rachel Carson Reserve and Bird Shoal. The Rachel Carson Reserve runs 2,315 acres of tidal flats, salt marshes and ocean beaches. Bird Shoal is a 6-acre island holding a range of bird species, the endangered piping plover among them. Take a guided tour or walk the trails and see them up close.

Wild Horses of Shackleford Banks

A trip to Beaufort is not finished without Shackleford Banks and the wild horses on it. These horses have lived on the island for hundreds of years and there is nothing else like standing near them. Take the ferry from Beaufort or Harkers Island and give the day to the beaches and the horses.

The Lighthouses

Beaufort also holds two historic lighthouses: the Cape Lookout Lighthouse and the Ocracoke Lighthouse. The Cape Lookout Lighthouse stands on the southernmost point of the Cape Lookout National Seashore and only a ferry reaches it. The Ocracoke Lighthouse stands on Ocracoke Island, part of the Outer Banks. Both give you the coast from a height.

Wildlife, hiking or history, Beaufort has natural ground for it. The wild horses of Shackleford Banks, the trails at the Rachel Carson Reserve and the climb up a historic lighthouse are the three to do.

Food and Drink Delights

Beaufort, North Carolina eats and drinks well. A proper meal or a cold drink, there is a room for it. These are the places for the local cooking and the craft beer.

Savor the Local Restaurants

Beaufort holds some of the strongest restaurants in the area. Seafood through to southern comfort cooking, the range is covered. These are the ones to book.

City Kitchen

This room runs farm-to-table, with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Take the shrimp and grits or the fried chicken for the southern end of it.

Clawson’s

Clawson’s is known for seafood and it earns that. Shrimp, oysters and crab all come off the menu, and the crab cakes and the seafood chowder are what people order.

Beaufort Grocery Company

This restaurant and bakery has been a local favorite for over 30 years. The menu runs sandwiches through to seafood, and the desserts are worth the extra course.

Craft Breweries

Beer people should work the craft breweries in Beaufort. These are the two.

Beaufort was a haven for the pirates and the smugglers long before it was a town for the visitors. Queen Anne’s Revenge was Blackbeard’s flagship and the artifacts off it sit in the museum. The Old Jail out there is where the pirates were actually locked up at the time. The horses have outlasted all of them.

Crystal Coast Brewing

This brewery runs beers across the range, IPAs through to stouts. Take the Down East Lager or the Crystal Coast IPA for the local version.

Mill Whistle Brewing

Mill Whistle Brewing sits in nearby Beaufort and runs beers including a Belgian Dubbel and a Hefeweizen. There is a food truck on site, so the meal comes with the beer.

Whatever you feel like, Beaufort has it. Seafood through to craft beer, you will eat well here.

Retail Therapy

Beaufort shops well. Boutique shops through to farmers market stalls, there is plenty to catch your eye.

Boutique Shops

Beaufort’s boutique shops are worth the walk. Trendy clothing through to handmade jewelry, they carry the range. Walk down Front Street and work through the local shops. Something in there will only exist in that one window.

For something specific, It’s Retail Therapy. This women’s boutique carries current fashion, gifts and accessories, from clothing through to jewelry. It sits in the heart of downtown Beaufort, so it is easy to reach.

Farmers Market Finds

For fresh produce and handmade crafts, the Olde Beaufort Farmers Market. It sits on Main Street and it carries what a good day out needs. Fruit and vegetables through to handmade soaps and candles.

Take your time across the vendors. You do not know what is on the next table. A new fruit or vegetable, or the right gift for somebody.

So get out and shop. The wallet ends lighter and the day ends better.

Outdoor Adventures

Beaufort, North Carolina suits outdoor people. The natural country and the wildlife here run deep. These are the two outdoor days to take.

Kayaking in Taylor’s Creek

For an unusual way into Beaufort’s natural country, kayak Taylor’s Creek. Rent a kayak from a local outfitter or bring your own and paddle the calm water. Greenery runs down both banks and dolphins and sea turtles both turn up.

For the version that shows you more, take a guided kayaking tour. A guide knows where the wildlife is and carries the history and the ecology of the area with them. They also keep you out of the mud.

Boardwalk Strolls

For a slower outdoor hour in Beaufort, walk the boardwalk. The Beaufort boardwalk runs along the waterfront with the boats and the water in front of you. It is good ground for watching people, taking photographs or sitting in the sun.

For the history and the ecology behind it, take a guided boardwalk tour. A guide points out the landmarks and fills in what the town used to be.

Kayak or boardwalk, Beaufort has an outdoor day for you. Take the paddle or the walking shoes and get out into this coastal town.

Local Gems

Beaufort, North Carolina is a small town full of things you will not see elsewhere. Artists and artifacts at one end and the community itself at the other.

Artists and Artifacts

Art and history people should look at the local artists and artifacts in Beaufort. The town holds a number of talented artists making work out of the country around them. Their art turns up in local galleries and shops, and some of them run workshops and classes.

Beaufort also holds a number of artifacts worth the look. The mill whistle is the most recognizable of them, and it used to mark the start and end of the workday for the town’s mill workers. You can still hear it today, which keeps the industrial past close.

Heart of the Community

The community is what makes Beaufort what it is. The locals are friendly and they are proud of the town. Family-owned businesses run through the area, staffed by people who care about the work.

The best way to see that is at one of the town’s events. The annual Beaufort Pirate Invasion through to the United States’ Fourth of July celebration, there is usually something on. And you may meet Ranger, the town’s coolest dog.

Whatever the interest, Beaufort has something in it. Come down and look for yourself.

Beyond Beaufort

For more past Beaufort, there are towns and attractions within reach. These are the places to point the car at.

Visiting Morehead City

Morehead City is a short drive from Beaufort and it carries more than its size suggests. Walk the Morehead City Waterfront for the shops and restaurants and the Atlantic Ocean in front of them. Seafood people should eat the local catch at one of the many seafood restaurants in town.

For history, the North Carolina Maritime Museum covers the maritime heritage of this area. For outdoor hours, the Rachel Carson Reserve, a protected run of tidal flats and salt marshes good for hiking, birdwatching and kayaking.

Day Trips to Emerald Isle and New Bern

For a longer day, take Emerald Isle or New Bern. Emerald Isle is a barrier island with miles of clean beach, good for swimming and sunbathing and surfing. Fishing and boating both run there too, so bring the gear.

New Bern is the historic one, with plenty of Southern character. Walk the historic district for the mansions, the shops and the restaurants. Tryon Palace is the one to make time for, a Georgian-style mansion that once housed North Carolina’s colonial governor.

For something further off the usual route, take Harkers Island or Newport. These small towns show you traditional coastal life, with fishing and boating and open country around them.

So there is plenty past Beaufort. History, outdoor hours or Southern character, the towns around here carry all three.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some free things to do in Beaufort, NC that won’t break the bank?

Beaufort has plenty that costs nothing. Walk the Beaufort waterfront, look at the historic homes and churches, or take the beach for the sun and the sand. The North Carolina Maritime Museum lets you in for nothing as well.

What’s the deal with the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort?

The North Carolina Maritime Museum is a serious place. It covers the history and culture of the North Carolina coast across good exhibits, and there is a boat tour. It also costs nothing to enter.

Where are the best places to eat in Beaufort, NC? I’m hungry!

Beaufort has restaurants worth the table. For seafood, Fish Tales or Clawson’s 1905 Restaurant & Pub. For pizza, Black Sheep or Beaufort Grocery Company. And for something sweet, The Sweet Spot and its ice cream.

What kind of events can I expect to find in Beaufort, NC?

Beaufort runs events right through the year. In summer, the Beaufort Music Festival or the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament. In fall, the Beaufort Pirate Invasion or the North Carolina Seafood Festival. In winter, the Beaufort Christmas Parade or the Crystal Coast Christmas Flotilla.

Is Beaufort, NC worth visiting or should I just stay home?

Beaufort is worth the trip. It is a coastal town with a long history and plenty to do in it. Museums, beaches or a slow walk through town, all three hold up here.

What are some unique and fun things to do in Beaufort, NC in the winter?

Winter in Beaufort is chilly and it is not empty. Tour the historic homes and churches, take the Beaufort Historic Site, or take the North Carolina Maritime Museum. A boat tour will still get you out to the wild horses on Shackleford Banks. Failing that, a book and hot cocoa.

Frequently asked questions about Beaufort, North Carolina

Where exactly can you go and see the wild horses near Beaufort, North Carolina?

Shackleford Banks out there is where the whole of the wild horses have lived for hundreds of years now. The ferry runs right out to that island from either Beaufort or from Harkers Island out there. The beaches out there and the horses on them will take up the whole of a day easily. Ferry.

What is on show inside the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort?

The North Carolina Maritime Museum out there covers the whole of the state’s long seafaring history. Artifacts off the wreck of Queen Anne’s Revenge, Blackbeard’s own flagship, are all in there as well. The exhibits out there run the fishing and the whaling and the whole of the boatbuilding. Free.

How big is the Rachel Carson Reserve sitting near Beaufort, North Carolina?

The Rachel Carson Reserve out there runs a whole 2,315 acres of the tidal flats and the salt marshes. Ocean beaches sit inside the whole of that reserve out there as well as the marsh does. Bird Shoal is the 6-acre island out there that the piping plover actually nests on. Guided tours.

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