Beaufort, NC America’s Favorite Town

Wilmington and New Bern may get more attention when it comes to North Carolina’s coastal cities, but the history, culture, and Southern charm that make these coastal cities so special can also be found in a smaller sailing mecca, filled with boat shops, a community of sailors, boutiques and local seafood. I’m talking about the harbor town of Beaufort and the setting for two of Nicholas Sparks’ best known novels. “A Walk to Remember” and “The Choice.” My name is Denis Raczkowski and in this video I will give you a brief introduction into why Beaufort is America’s Favorite town. For starters, Beaufort’s narrow streets, oak trees, and historic district predate Wilmington’s birth by a century or more and its fresh from the docks sea fare outshines that from New Bern. Before going any further, though, you need to know how to properly pronounce the town’s name. Not to be confused with BEWfort, South Carolina the North Carolinian coastal town is pronounced BOW-fert. Mistaking the two will immediately identify you as a tourist — and it won’t sit too well with the locals. Ask me how I know. Separated by 375 miles or 6 hours, both towns were named after the same individual, Henry Somerset, the 2nd Duke of Beaufort. Now that we have pronunciation and geography out of the way, let’s start planning your trip to Beaufort, North Carolina, the third oldest city in the state.

Getting its start as a fishing village and a small port community in the late 1600s, the town's proximity to local sounds and the Atlantic Ocean made it an appealing spot for privateers, shipping vessels, and small-scale commercial fishing operations. And for all these reasons the town was initially called ‘Fishtown.’ Then, In the early 1700s, a landowner named Robert Turner hired the surveyor, Richard Graves to lay out a 100 acre town with 106 lots. Street names reflected the early development of the town: Ann Street for Queen Anne; Craven Street for the Earl of Craven; Turner Street for Robert Turner, owner of the land that was surveyed for the town; Pollock Street for Gov. Thomas Pollock; and Orange Street for William, Prince of Orange, who became William III of England. Today, you can still walk those streets and view or visit some 16 buildings or sites that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Town of Beaufort itself maintains its own collection of homes that fit the Historic District qualification. The structures include a wide array of architectural styles popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, which includes Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, and Queen Anne influenced buildings.

Given its waterfront location, Beaufort should also be experienced by boat and one of the best ways is to visit the Rachel Carson Reserve, located between the mouths of the Newport and North Rivers and directly across Taylor’s Creek from historic downtown Beaufort. The main part of the site, just south of Beaufort, accessible only by private boat or ferry, is a complex of islands which includes Carrot Island, Town Marsh, Bird Shoal, and Horse Island. For the more adventurous, take a ferry to reach the uninhabited Shackleford Banks and pitch your tent on the golden sands amid more than 100 ponies which roam among the dunes, snacking on seagrass and lazing in the surf. Legend has it they’re descendants of Spanish mustangs that escaped a shipwreck.

While some towns do Civil War reenactments, Beaufort does an annual re-creation of a 1747 showdown between pirates and feisty town locals. That swashbuckling sense of excitement still lives on today. Jump aboard the pirate ship "REVENGE" at 600 Front Street in Beaufort and. join the crew, to take part in a pirate adventure, and enjoy festive music guaranteed to unleash your inner pirate. Many other adventures abound in this historic city. In May, the annual wooden boat show takes place on Saturday, the 6th and on 19th and 20th the Beaufort Music Festival takes place on the waterfront at Gallant’s Channel. Then, the 65th annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament returns on June 9th. This exciting nine-day event features many fun-filled activities and daily fish weigh-ins. To hear the best local musicians, go to the Backstreet Pub where Wednesday nights are "Hoot Nights," and during downtimes, patrons are welcome to play cribbage at their tables.

Some of the best things to do in Beaufort are found further outside of downtown. One of my favorite activities is to take a ferry from downtown over to the nearby Cape Lookout National Seashore which offers miles of undeveloped shoreline, a fine spot for adventurous shell hunters, fishermen, hikers, birdwatchers, and lighthouse fans. An overnight trip to Beaufort is best accompanied by a stay in one of the town’s upscale inns like the Beaufort Hotel which pairs slow Southern mornings with a home-cooked breakfast. Or select from a number of cabins and vacation rentals complete with boat docks and fantastic water views or several campgrounds on the outskirts of the town. There are also a number of Bed and Breakfasts located in converted historic homes along the downtown's side streets. Fair warning: Rooms and vacation rentals can fill up months in advance. And, if you are a boater, Beaufort may be an expensive place to dock your boat but it is still easy to have a relaxing, pleasant experience.

As with most Southern cities and towns, food is a major part of the local culture in Beaufort. If you’re a traveler who plans their vacations around meals, you’ll find plenty of ways to stay well satiated, beginning with the incredible dining options located throughout the town such as 34 Degrees North, Aqua Restaurant, Clawson’s 1905, Cru, City Kitchen and the Beaufort Grocery Company to name a few. Several of these restaurants are historic sites in their own right, and some feature outdoor seating overlooking the always busy waterfront docks. All of these restaurants feature fresh seafood in abundance, including oysters, blue crabs, NC shrimps and scallops, and plenty of seasonal fish, and are a perfect destination for any seafood lover.

A North Carolina summer is hot and humid — there’s no getting around that. To explore Beaufort in the most comfortable climate, your best bet is to go during what we call the shoulder seasons, before Memorial Day or after Labor Day. The crowds will be fewer, the lodging prices will be lower and the vibe will be decidedly laid back. You’ll feel like a local. You’ll need a car to fully experience Beaufort and its surrounding areas. Beaufort is accessible from I-40 and from US 70, soon to be I-42. If you are flying, both OAJ, Jacksonville Airport and EWN, New Bern are about an hour away. RDU, Raleigh Durham International Airport is an option but it is 3 hours away by automobile. So, if you seek a boating paradise with plenty of deep water or simply a peaceful and calm out of the way place to call home, reach out to me and let’s find you a home in or around Beaufort! Every journey begins with a first step and your first step should be to contact me by clicking on this Home Buying Link . Click on this newsletter link to subscribe to my newsletter. Or, sign up for my blog on my website, www.EIHomesforSale.com, and subscribe to Emerald Isle Vacation Home Specialist on Facebook and YouTube. Thanks for reading!