Max and I found Beaufort NC on a whim! We were looking for a lesser-known town on the water in North Carolina and came across Beaufort. This quaint coastal town was founded in the 1700s and is one of the oldest towns in North Carolina. Over the past few years, Beaufort NC has been recognized by several magazines as one of the best small towns to visit in the South. It’s considered part of the Crystal Coast in the Southern Outer Banks of North Carolina.
If you’re familiar with Beaufort South Carolina, the towns are actually spelled the same but pronounced differently. We quickly learned, Beaufort, NC is pronounced: “Bow fort”. Whereas Beaufort SC is pronounced “Byou fort”. Very confusing!
We loved Beaufort so much we’ve been back a few times now. Max and I visited prior to having our daughter as well as with our daughter. It’s a great place to travel for all kinds of travelers. While there is so much to do in and around Beaufort, it’s also a great place to kick back and relax! Below, I’ve put together a few of the best things to do in Beaufort NC to help you plan your perfect weekend away!
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DURATION
Beaufort is the perfect location if you’re looking for a quick getaway. While the town is small, there’s a lot to do in and around Beaufort. I’d recommend spending about two days in town, however; there’s plenty to do if you’re looking for a longer trip!
As I mentioned, Beaufort is considered part of the Crystal Coast in the Southern Outer Banks of North Carolina. There are several other towns making up this region including Atlantic Beach, Emerald Isle, Morehead City, Pine Knoll Shores, and more. If you want to explore a little more of this region I suggest adding a few days to your itinerary. You could also do a day trip to Beaufort if you’re staying in one of these areas!
BEAUFORT NC WEATHER
While Beaufort experiences all four seasons, winters tend to be mild meaning it’s a great destination year-round. However, if you don’t like the heat, avoid visiting in the summer months since it is hot & humid. If you want to spend time at the nearby beaches, I recommend visiting late Spring into early Fall. We’ve mainly visited in March/April and the weather has been mediocre. It’s been nice enough for exploring but a little chilly. Ideally, you’d want to make your trip for late April/May.
BEAUFORT NC HOTELS
We’ve always stayed at the Beaufort Hotel about two miles from downtown. We absolutely love the hotel. It’s located on the water with excellent views of Carrot Island. Oftentimes you’re able to see dolphins swimming down the channel!
The rooms are trendy, clean, and spacious with a nice patio. Personally, I love the bathrooms! As far as amenities go, there is an outdoor pool and fitness center at the hotel. The restaurant on-site is also excellent with the best views!
If you’re planning to visit Beaufort in the summer months, book your accommodation a few months in advance. Since it’s a small town, Beaufort hotels downtown get expensive and book up quickly! However, if you’re booking off-season, take advantage of their seasonal promotions on their website.
Grounds at the Beaufort Hotel
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GETTING AROUND
Similar to most destinations in the United States, you’ll want a car for your trip to Beaufort North Carolina. While the town is small and walkable you’ll need a car to drive to nearby beaches and destinations. If you’re visiting the islands, the ferry either leaves from downtown Beaufort or Hawkers Island (about 20 min driving). There is plenty of paid parking downtown Beaufort however if you visit off-season you won’t have to pay.
DAY 1
Get an early start on your first full day in Beaufort – especially during summer! I recommend heading to the town of Beaufort NC before heading to the islands in the afternoon. You can grab breakfast at the Beaufort Hotel which is excellent or at one of the coffee shops in town.
EXPLORE BEAUFORT
My absolute favorite thing to do in Beaufort is walk Front Street. As I mentioned, we like staying at the Beaufort Hotel which is about 2 miles from downtown Beaufort. You can walk from the hotel to downtown along Front Street. The views are absolutely spectacular! With excellent views of the water, beautiful homes, and gorgeous trees.
My suggestion is starting your first morning in Beaufort with the walk along Front Street. If you’re staying at the hotel you can either grab breakfast then head into town or walk into town for breakfast. If you’re not a walker you can also rent bikes or a golf cart from the hotel. If you’re not staying at the hotel, you can take the walk from downtown and grab brunch at the hotel. I don’t normally recommend eating at hotels but the food is delish and the views from the restaurant are top notch!
In town, I suggest wandering in and out of shops and soaking in the views along the pier. If you’re in town on a Saturday morning, check out the Beaufort Farmers Market (seasonal). It looks excellent! Unfortunately the last few times we’ve been to Beaufort it’s been out of season. You’ll also want to make a stop at the Maritime Museum in downtown Beaufort. It’s free to enter and a great activity for kids of all ages! They offer a little scavenger hunt for kids that are old enough but our daughter loved looking at the boats and pirates inside. Our favorite part of the museum was learning more about Blackbeard and his significance in Beaufort!
CARROT ISLAND
After a nice morning exploring Beaufort, head to the islands! You have a few options from downtown. The easiest island is Carrot Island which is about 10-15 minutes via ferry. The island is viewable from downtown and is known to have wild horses. This is a great option if you have kids because it’s a relatively quick yet entertaining activity! There is a 1-mile loop you can take once you get to the island. Carrot island also connects to Bird Shoals which is known for sand dollars. You can spend a quick hour exploring but there’s plenty to do if you stay longer. In the off-months, you can book the ferry last minute but book in advance during the summer.
Pricing:
- $10 Adults (12 & up)
- $5 Kids (3-11)
SHACKLEFORD BANKS & CAPE LOOKOUT
If you have more time I suggest heading to Shackleford Banks and Cape Lookout NC. Since it takes a little longer to do both islands plan to have at least 4-5 hours here. It’s a great half-day trip from Beaufort but I recommend taking an early afternoon ferry.
There is a ferry to Shackleford and Cape Lookout from downtown however, the combination tour leaves from Harker’s Island. It takes about 20 minutes to drive to Harker’s Island from downtown. With that said, you’ll want to double-check both ferries are running because sometimes the ferry only runs from one location. Again, in the off-months, you can book the ferry last minute but book in advance during the summer.
Shackleford Banks NC is also known for wild horses! We went last time and it’s crazy, you can wander the island and see a ton of beautiful horses! There are marked trails along the island or you can stay along the beach. I recommend about an hour on this island. After seeing the horses, you can catch the ferry to Cape Lookout State Park to explore the grounds and soak in some beach time. Cape Lookout is most well-known for the lighthouse on the island. You’re able to climb the Cape Lookout Lighthouse but it’s currently closed for renovations and expected to open again in 2025. Plan to spend about two hours on the island to explore the grounds of the lighthouse and enjoy the beach.
DAY 2
On your second day in town, I recommend heading outside of Beaufort! Drive over to Atlantic Beach to visit Fort Macon and then continue driving for some excellent scenery. Grab a quick breakfast in town or make a stop on your way over to Atlanta Beach.
FORT MACON
Fort Macon State Park is located less than 20 minutes from downtown Beaufort. It’s free to enter and a great place to visit to learn a little history and take in the scenery. The fort was initially built to guard Beaufort Harbor between 1826 and 1834. The fort was temporarily seized by Confederate troops in 1861 during the Civil War. It was also used in the Spanish-American War in 1898 and again during World War II from 1941-1945.
To learn more about the fort you can take the guided tour which is offered daily at 11 am, 12 pm, 2 pm, & 3 pm. The tour lasts approximately 45 minutes. Surrounded by 3 sides of water (Atlantic Ocean, Beaufort Inlet, and Bogue Sound) there are several beach access points at the park. There’s also nearly 5 miles of walking trails which we loved!
AQUARIUM & SIGHTSEEING
From Fort Macon, continue on to the Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium NC which is about 15 minutes from the park. The Aquarium is an excellent stop if you have kids but it’s honestly great for everyone! We visited with our daughter and she absolutely loved it. There are a ton of tanks filled with fish, turtles, jelly fish, starfish, sharks and more. It took us about an hour to go through which I would say is about average.
- Pricing: $12.95 (Adults 13 & up) and $10.95 (Ages 3-12)
- Booking: The Aquarium books up and it’s highly recommended to book in advance! We booked the evening prior.
Prior to heading back to downtown Beaufort, I recommend taking some time to continue along the Crystal Coast. We made our way down to Emerald Isle which is absolutely beautiful. Plan for a few spontaneous stops along the way. If it’s nice out stop at the beach to enjoy the views or soak in the sun. If you’re staying at the Beaufort Hotel, I recommend making it back in time for sunset as the sunset is incredible from the hotel!
BEAUFORT NC RESTAURANTS
For a small town, there are a surprising amount of well-known restaurants in Beaufort! The downtown has several trendy restaurants (with a view!) offering local cuisine. Many of the restaurants advertise using local fresh ingredients making the food extra delicious! Below is a list of our favorite Beaufort restaurants! Keep in mind, the majority of restaurants I’ve listed below are only open certain days of the week. If you’ve already been to Beaufort, leave me your restaurant suggestions in the comments below.
BEAUFORT GROCERY
A trip to Beaufort NC wouldn’t be complete without visiting Beaufort Grocery as it’s a staple of the town! The restaurant first opened in 1991 serving mainly homemade soups, salads, deli sandwiches, and desserts. In the evening, Beaufort Grocery offers a more upscale menu with seafood specials and other entrees. The restaurant also serves brunch on Sundays in addition to the normal lunch menu. Max got a sandwich and loved it whereas I got soup and salad. My soup was amazing but the salad was mediocre.
Hours – Thursday through Monday (11:30 am – 2:30 pm & 5:30 pm to 9 pm | Sunday opens for brunch at 10 am)
MARMALADE CAFE & BAKERY
Marmalade Cafe & Bakery is a newer cafe in town having opened at the end of 2021. I love the inside of the restaurant as it feels quaint and cozy. The restaurant was really busy both times we visited but there is plenty of seating. We’ve only tried pastries and coffee but the food looked excellent!
Hours – Thursday through Sunday 7:30 am to 2 pm
LES CISEAUX
Les Ciseaux is a French bakery in town which offers the best pastries and baked goods. There is very little information about the bakery online. It feels like an authentic French bakery as it’s a little difficult to find. Once inside this small shop, there are a handful of excellent baked goods to choose from. We went for a chocolate croissant and regretted only purchasing one!
The bakery is only open Thursday-Saturday so if you’re in town during this time, it’s a must!
BLACK SHEEP
Black Sheep is a Brick Oven Pizzeria located along Front Street with an excellent view overlooking the water. The scratch kitchen uses fresh and seasonal ingredients to serve up quality pizza to customers! We’ve been there a few times now and the pizza is excellent! Last time we ordered the homemade pizza bites and they were incredible.
Hours – Open Wednesday through Sunday 11 am to 9 pm
As you can tell, we absolutely love spending time in Beaufort NC! This small town is filled with maritime history and charm. If you’ve already been, be sure to let me know your favorite things to do in Beaufort North Carolina!
Safe Travels,
Sarah :)
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