Area Attractions

Emerald Isle and the communities on Crystal Coast offer our vacationers so many things to do, you'll see why vacationers return year after year to venture out to many of our areas favorite attractions.

For the family, you may want to spend an entire day visiting our historic sites, museums and parks. Here are some highlights of the Crystal Coast with Emerald Isle's parks and recreational information.

For more details click here.

 

 

Historic Towns and Special Places to Visit!

Emerald Woods - This is Emerald Isle's newest park and it is off located along Coast Guard Road, this sound-side, 41-acre park features walking trails and sound access with additional amenities forthcoming. 

Cedar Street Soundside Park -  Located at the end of Cedar Street on the Sound Side.  Parking Available for 10 cars with a pier and Public Sound Access.  Launch your kayak from here!

Ocean Oaks Park -  Located in the Ocean Oaks subdivision off Coast Guard Road —a neighborhood park with playground equipment and a grill.

Blue Heron Park & Tennis Courts (open until 11pm): Located behind Town Hall, this park features two tennis courts, a basketball court, picnic shelter and playground.  The tennis courts require reservations, which must be made in person in the Tennis court Sign-Up Book located under the Picnic Shelter adjacent to the courts.  A fee of $2 per person, per hour must be paid at the Emerald Isle Community Center for playing tennis.

Beaufort - Third oldest town in North Carolina. Stroll waterfront docks and view sailboats and yachts at anchor. Historic tours, shopping, restaurants. Wild horses roam the Rachel Carson Estuarine Sanctuary on Carrot Island across from  the Beaufort waterfront.

Beaufort Historic Site - Guided tours of authentically restored homes and buildings, the Old Burying Ground and Beaufort's charming historic district. 252-728-5225

NC Maritime Museum in Historic Beaufort -  North Carolina maritime history exhibits and displays. Coastal  environment and barrier island ecology. Special workshops  and programs.

Cape Lookout Lighthouse & National Seashore -  The islands of Cape Lookout stretch 56 miles from Ocracoke to Beaufort Inlet. Take a day trip to beautiful remote beaches. Watch wild horses and other wildlife. Great shelling. Be sure to bring water and a picnic lunch for the day. Authorized passenger ferry service is available from the waterfronts at Morehead City, Beaufort and Harkers Island. 

Crystal Coast Jamboree - The hottest ticket at the beach! Exciting live variety show in the tradition of Nashville and Myrtle Beach. Featuring year-round family entertainment. Located in Morehead City.

Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center, Harkers Island - Museum for people to learn and share about Core Sound history, crafts and heritage. Open daily, gift shop, free admission. Harkers Island. 

Fort Macon State Park, Atlantic Beach - Civil War fort is a historic landmark. Free admission. Civil War re-enactments on special weekends. Picnic area and bath house. 

Hammocks Beach State Park - Miles of unspoiled barrier island beaches and maritime forests. Daily passenger ferry in summer. 910-326-4881

Spend a day on one of the most beautiful barrier islands on the East Coast! Located on undeveloped Bear Island, just south of Swansboro, you'll  find wild dunes, sand ridges,  maritime forests, and marshes and wetlands full of wildlife. Daily passenger ferry runs in the summer. Activities include swimming, picnicking, fishing, camping, and boating. Bath house facilities. Educational and interpretive programs are offered. Directions to ferry dock: from the Emerald Isle bridge turn left onto Hwy 24 east to Swans­boro. Turn left onto Hammocks Beach Road. Continue to park entrance. 

Historic Swansboro - Waterfront views, quaint downtown filled with boutiques, shops, antiques and restaurants.  252-326-1174

NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores - This is the area's premier attraction and must do while visiting Bogue Banks. Open daily from 9 am to 5 pm with a small admission fee. For large group discounts and membership information, please visit http://www.ncaquariums.com/

NC Coastal Federation - Citizens working together for a healthy coastal environment.

Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter - Rehabilitation facility cares for injured, sick, and orphaned native wild animals. 

The History Place, Morehead City - Historical research library. Carteret County artifacts, best collection of Civil War materials in eastern North Carolina and a notable genealogy collection. 

Tryon Palace Historic Site & Gardens, New Bern - Colonial Governors' palace and formal gardens. 

For Putt-Putt and Ice Cream shop information, just give us a call at 866.586.6980 and we'll share our inside scoop on the best places to visit.

Give us a call!