Outdoor Activities
Emerald Isle, NC is a great place to visit at any time of the year. To be sure, during the summer months, clean white beaches and clear clean ocean top the list of outdoor activities. But, Emerald Isle is surrounded with other natural gems that also are perfect for reconnecting with Mother Nature.
Emerald Isle Wood Park
A little-known gem in the Crystal Coast’s jewel box is Emerald Isle Woods Park. Located off Coast Guard Road in the western end of town, this coastal wooded area spans 41 acres and provides a nice piece of solitude during your visit to Emerald Isle any time of the year. While camping isn’t permitted, there are plenty of walking trails to enjoy and a boardwalk that encroaches on the Bogue Sound. The trails and boardwalk have several small inclines and declines and is rated easy to moderate. I recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes and taking some water with you while visiting the park. If you decide to take a stroll on the boardwalk, be sure to take a camera with you, as you’re sure to find white-tailed deer, osprey, egrets, wading birds, woodpeckers and other shore birds.
The park is home to nine-hole disc-golf course. While on the course, you’ll be able to tour the park over nine holes until you reach the sound for the final hole. Be sure to pack your own Frisbees or discs and take on this challenging course. Other activities to consider during your time at Emerald Woods Park include packing a picnic for a relaxing family lunch or taking advantage of the four available BBQ grills. Picnic tables are also available to lay out your spread.
Directions: Take NC 58 into Emerald Isle and take the 1st right onto Coast Guard Rd. Go 1/4 mile and Emerald Isle Woods Park is on your right.
McClean-Spell Park
The McClean-Spell Park is a nearly 30-acre tract behind the old town hall and recreation center on the north side of Highway 58 (Emerald Drive). The property is named after two of the town’s founding families. Most of it – about 20 acres – is to remain forever in its natural, maritime forest state, but about 10 acres is eventually to be used for some kind of more active park, such as ballfields. Presently, the park has walking nature trails that span about a mile.
Eco-Tours & Bird Watching
For a one-of-a-kind experience, plan a special Outer Banks eco-tour for a close-up look at everything from marshes to barrier islands. Not only will you be impressed by the natural beauty that surrounds the Outer Banks but your family will also have the opportunity to watch dolphins, comb and collect seashells, explore the waters of the Atlantic during a snorkeling adventure, and so much more. Among the popular eco-tour companies are Coastal Ecology Sails, Crystal Coast Ecotours and Pelican Charters.
And if your eyes are fixed to the sky, keep an eye out for native birds that call the east coast home. Among some of the rarer birds that frequent Emerald Isle is Black Skimmers, Great Crested Flycatchers, Prothonotary Warblers, American Oystercatchers, Wintering Waterfowl and a variety of wading birds.
Marsh-dwelling birds like herons, egrets, and shorebirds can be found near the Bogue Sound and other saltwater estuaries. Nesting birds like the red-cockaded woodpecker, Eastern Bluebird, pine warbler, Carolina chickadee and Eastern Towhee along with elusive species like Bachman’s sparrow and brown-headed nuthatch can be found more in the wooded inlands like Fort Macon State Park and the Croatan National Forest.
More Nature & Fun
While there aren’t established kayaking trails to explore in Emerald Isle, numerous kayaking experience exist in Bogue Sound and Archers Creek. Emerald Isle has plenty of hands-on adventure as well, with plenty of bike trails running down Emerald Drive and Coast Guard Road. Whether you’re beating the heat with an early morning ride or catching a gorgeous sunset, you can’t go wrong with a family bike ride.
Bogue Sound is also a great place to embark on a kayak adventure with serene views of the calm waters. It’s also a great spot for some kayak fishing. Speaking of fishing, you came to the right place! Whether you are a beginner angler or an experienced enthusiast, the area has plenty of opportunity to get out there and cast a line.
Surf fishing and wading can be done along any shore, but for a more secluded experience, head out to the Cape Lookout National Seashore or Fort Macon State Park. While you’re there, try your hand at diversifying your fishing skills and try crabbing.
When it comes to pier fishing, you’ll want to check out the Bogue Inlet Pier. Here, you can spend the entire day fishing with cleaning stations and other fishing equipment, snacks and more at the pier house. During the summer season, the pier is a hot spot for flounder and drum.
If you’re looking for a free souvenir to take home with you, why not go shelling on some of the area's more secluded beaches. Bear Island, the next island west of Emerald Isle is a great area to go searching for shells with little interruption while you walk along the shoreline. Bear Island is accessible by boat and kayak leaving from Cedar Point.
Emerald Isle, NC is filled with opportunity for the outdoor enthusiasts or families looking to unplug. If you’re looking to do the same, visit my website at www.EIHomesforSale.com for my free Guide to Living in Emerald Isle. Or text your email address to: 919-308-2292.
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