Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:Beaufort, North Carolina
Our Tourist Attractions Expert Says:
If pirates and ghosts don't scare you, then you and your family should take a vacation to Beaufort, North Carolina, a town surrounded by islands and coastal beauty. In Beaufort, history's past residents are still around to haunt visitors and provide spooky stories for the enchanted guest.
Beaufort, North Carolina, or "Beaufort Town," has been a well renowned fish town since the 1600s, when it was established as a seaport. Since 1709, Beaufort has been North Carolina's third oldest town. In the 1970s, Beaufort became a major summer resort as the town and waterfront were restored. In 1997, Beaufort received more recognition as the site where the wreckage Blackbeard the pirate's flagship was discovered. Parts of this ship can be seen at the North Carolina Maritime Museum—the kids will love this exhibit!
The Historic District of Beaufort is on the National Register of Historic Places, with more than a hundred historic homes. The Beaufort Historic Site is the highlight of this district, displaying the history of life in colonial times within nine houses and buildings dating from 1732 to 1859. Guided tours of the Historic Site leave from the Safrit Historical Center. You can also buy a ticket on an Old English double-decker bus for a narrated ride around town, complete with stories of town residents who shaped local history. Architectural walking tours of Beaufort's historic district are also available. Every June, there is also a Beaufort Old Homes Tour which includes tours of private and association-owned homes, musical performances, an antique show and sale, military reenactments and more.
The Hammock House has also been an underpinning in Beaufort's history since the 1700's, and it was once a private residence which served as a landmark for ships. Legends regarding the house relay that it is haunted by ghosts. Another spooky place to visit is the Old Burying Ground, one of the state's oldest cemeteries, with graves marked back to the year 1756, featuring graves of soldiers from the Revolutionary War of 1812, and the Civil War. Several graves are companied by legends and stories of the people buried there, which you can learn about if you take the guided tour. Kids will enjoy the "Ghost Walk."
The Historic District is also a great place to pick up souvenirs from the many gift shops, and great art can be purchased from the Mattie King Davis Art Gallery. Shopping for gifts is also recommended at the Island Traders of Beaufort - Beaufort Trading Company, where you will find products distinctive to Beaufort.
Other historic sites to visit include the Attmore-Oliver House Museum, 30 Acres and a Mule Farm, Josiah Bell House, Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center, Cape Lookout Lighthouse, and the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Ocracoke Visitor Center, where visitors learn about the cultural heritage and natural history of Ocracoke Island, near Beaufort.
While you're in the area, also take advantage of the beautiful Beaufort waterfront. Get in touch with your adventurous side as you parasail, kayak, or boat your way through the waters, relax on one of the dinner cruises, or treat yourselves to a delightful harbor tour on the water. On land, take a trip to the Rachel Carson Coastal Estaurine Reserve, or walk around the 70 miles of barrier islands of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Inland, you can take a hike, fish, or hunt in the Croatan National Forest, or on the Hoop Pole Creek Nature Trail, among other trails. At Fort Macon State Park, you can also swim or take a guided tour. Another fun idea is to visit one of Beaufort's vineyards, such as the Botticelli Vineyards or Bannerman Vineyard, to pick your own grapes. At A Day at the Farm in Cove City, you can also experience life on a dairy farm! (A great option for the little ones!)
At night, check out a performance at the Crystal Coast Jamboree, offering a live two-hour show that combines country traditions with comedy, gospel, bluegrass, dance, tributes and the music of the season. The Deepwater Theater also has traditional bluegrass and folk concerts, and the nearby New Bern Civic Theatre offers nightly showings of plays and musicals, with special Sunday matinees in the day. Yearly events add more excitement to Beaufort, with a Wooden Boat Show in May, and several other concerts, shows and art programs!
The most popular places to stay in and around Beaufort are mostly in chain hotels such as the Country Inn and Hampton Inn, which provide the best deals. For a more unique experience, rent a houseboat on Taylor's Creek by the lighthouse—a once in a lifetime experience!
Beaufort is known for having many fine restaurants, including Aqua, The Spouter Inn, Ribeyes Steakhouse, The Sandbar, Channel Marker, Island Grille, and Shepard's Point, serving mostly fish and seafood in an authentic environment.
To get to Beaufort, take the NC-24 East for about 45 miles until you reach US-70 East (Arendell Street). Make a slight right and follow US-70 to the area. Once you are there, you will find it easy to travel around to the nearby islands and banks via water ferries. So, enjoy the waterfront and the town's rich history, and don't let the ghost stories scare you!