Beaufort, NC

 

Located about 20 miles from Emerald Isle, the town of Beaufort, pronounced Bow-Fert, is one of the most popular towns on the Crystal Coast. It was voted #1 Favorite Small Town in 2014 by Travel + Leisure readers! As the third-oldest town in the state, Beaufort has a rich history. From the famous underwater pirate ship of Blackbeard to the North Carolina Maritime Museum, Beaufort’s extensive maritime history dates back more than 300 years.

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Located on Taylor’s Creek, Beaufort offers visitors fantastic waterfront views and plenty of fun outdoor activities such as kayaking, fishing, standup paddleboarding and boating. For nature lovers, you’ll find trails and boardwalks, wild horses, more than 200 species of birds, bottlenose dolphins and sea turtles. Book a vacation rental during the late spring or early summer when the town is hopping with food and music festivals, boat shows and more.

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Established in 1709, Beaufort, N.C., is a quaint coastal town located on Beaufort Inlet, a channel leading south to the Atlantic Ocean. The third oldest town in the state and seat of Carteret County, Beaufort has a residential population of about 4,000 with a high influx of visitor traffic during the warmer months. 

 

Beaufort was first known as Fishtown because the fishing industry was and has been an important part of the county’s history. Beaufort was later named for Henry Somerset, Duke of Beaufort. As a fishing village and port of safety dating from the late 1600s, Beaufort has been visited by patriots, privateers, merchants, and skilled craftsmen who built Bahamian and West Indian-style homes and public buildings. Approximately 150 of the restored historic homes bear plaques noting names of the Town’s earliest known owners and dates of original construction. The Plan of Beaufort Towne, laid out in 1713, survives in a 12-block area, which today is on the National Register of Historic Places.

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The early economy of Beaufort was on the use of natural resources in the area. Hence, fishing, whaling, the production of lumber and naval stores, shipbuilding, and farming were the chief economic activities. Though Beaufort had the safest and most navigable harbor of any of the ports of North Carolina, extensive commercial activities failed to develop, owing to the fact that the town was almost completely isolated from the interior. Now, Beaufort’s economy depends heavily on tourism.

 

Best Things to Do in Beaufort

1. See Queen Anne’s Revenge, which was Blackbeard’s famous pirate ship at the NC Maritime Museum.

2. Take a boatbuilding workshop at the Watercraft Center located directly across from the maritime museum.

3. Hop aboard a 1967 English double-decker bus for a live-narrated tour of the Beaufort Historic Site. See the restored homes, courthouse, county jail and apothecary shop.

4. Enjoy live music and craft beer on the Beaufort waterfront after a long day on the water at Clawson’s Restaurant & Pub.

5. Enjoy artwork by local artists at the Mattie King Davis Art Gallery during your visit to Beaufort Historic Site.

6. Go birding at Rachel Carson Reserve and take in the scenic views from the Carrot Island Boardwalk.

7. Tee off on the world-class par-72 course at North River Golf Club which features five tee boxes, expansive bunkers, wooden bulkheads, lakes and ponds.

8. Pedal through 300 years of history or sample Southern culinary dishes from a variety of local Beaufort restaurants on a guided history or culinary biking tour with Hungry Town Tours.

Top Events in Beaufort

1. Beaufort Food & Wine Festival

2. Beaufort Wooden Boat Show

3. Beaufort Music Festival

4. Beaufort Homes & Gardens Tour

5. Beaufort Craft Beer Festival

6. Holiday Art Walk & Christmas Candlelight Homes Tour