The coastal town of Beaufort, NC is decorated with historic craftsman homes, waterfront sunset views, friendly locals, and charming seaside inns. The town of Beaufort, NC is best known for its rich history, including the home of Blackbeard, one of the most infamous pirates to sail the inner coastal. It is also known for its close proximity to Shackleford Banks, where wild horses have survived for hundreds of years. This down-home Southern charm getaway is kid-friendly, family-friendly, pet-friendly, and best of all, budget-friendly.
Beaufort is a small nautical town with history ringing through the small streets once walked by legends such as the pirate Blackbeard. Today, Front Street downtown is marked with waterfront restaurants, shops, and boutiques. Grab a bite to-go as you load the ferry to Shackleford Banks and picnic among the wild horses.
I recently traveled to Beaufort with two college friends. We stayed two nights at the Inlet Inn and could see wild horses grazing from our hotel window. It was in the perfect location to park our car for the weekend and explore the town on foot.
Things to Know Before Going to Beaufort, NC
Not to be confused with Beaufort, SC
Both North Carolina and South Carolina have coastal towns named Beaufort. Beaufort, NC is pronounced “Bow-fort” while Beaufort, SC is pronounced “Bew-fort”.
Blackbeard and Queen Anne's Revenge
Beaufort had naval influence in the 1700’s when global trade lanes were being established by Europe. With this naval advancement, came the era of piracy on the global trade lanes of the open seas.
Edward Teach, later known as Blackbeard the infamous pirate, first served in the Royal Navy under Queen Anne’s rule. Once capturing a French slaving vessel, he rename the flagship as Queen Anne’s Revenge. He took residence in Beaufort in the Hammock House, which is the oldest house in Beaufort. Locals talk of reports of moaning sounds that can be heard from the yard of the home. Blackbeard was known to hang his captors in the trees outside of Hammock House.
Only the Devil and I know the whereabouts of my treasure and the one of us who lives the longest should take it all. – Blackbeard
Once trapped by the English navy in the inner coastal, rather than surrendering, Blackbeard sank his own ship the Queen Anne’s Revenge in Beaufort’s sound. Artifacts from the ship are displayed today in the Maritime Museum in Beaufort, NC.
Straight out of a Nicholas Sparks movie
The novel A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks, was inspired by Beaufort, NC and the movie was filmed in this historic town. The house featured in the movie a ‘Walk to Remember’ still sits in Beaufort and is occupied by residential family. There is a great bicycle tour, which is a tourist favorite, by Hungry Town Tours called A Ride to Remember that commiserates the novel and the movie. This bike tour will take you on the path of all of the featured spots in the movie.Â
Wild horses have survived on the banks for centuries
Beaufort is known for its close proximity to Shackleford banks which are populated with wild horses. These quiet majestic powerhouses have survived and thrived on the banks of the inner coastal since colonial days. The horses are believed to have come from ship wrecks centuries ago, and have survived hurricanes, floods, and droughts for hundreds of years. Observation of these wild horses are just a short ferry ride away from Beaufort, NC across the waterway to Shackleford Banks.Â
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Beaufort NC boasts of friendly locals who will greet you with a smile, wave, and “Hello” as they pass you on the street. This display of southern hospitality comes from the wonderful life of living in Beaufort North Carolina.
Beaufort is not part of the outer banks, as it is located on the inner coastal of North Carolina’s Crystal Coast. This nautical town is south of the outer banks and located directly across from Harkers Island and Cape Lookout National Seashore.Â
Atlantic Beach is about 7 miles and 16 minutes drive from Beaufort NC.
Emerald Isle is about 24 miles and 45 minutes drive from Beaufort NC.
This coastal town is decorated with beautiful historic homes, friendly locals and remarkable sunset views. Beaufort NC is known for its rich history and close proximity to Shackleford Banks and Harkers Island.
The oldest restaurant in North Carolina is Clawson’s 1905 Pub in Beaufort NC.
Both North Carolina and South Carolina each have a small coastal town named Beaufort. The two towns differ in how their locals pronounce the name. Beaufort, NC pronounced as “Bow-fort” and Beaufort, SC pronounced as “Bew-fort”.
Where to stay in Beaufort, NC
Recently I traveled to Beaufort NC on a girls trip with two friends from college. We stayed at the waterfront Inlet Inn on Front Street. It is in the perfect location to park your car for the weekend and explore the town by foot. The Inn is directly across the street from the Island Express Ferry that services Shackleford Banks and Harkers Island.
From our hotel room, we could see wild horses grazing across the waterway. The Inlet Inn is clean and quaint with beautiful landscaping and outdoor seating areas. They also serve continental breakfast room service, delivered to your room by the friendliest staff. We enjoyed a 2 nights at the Inlet Inn and look forward to visiting again!
Best Restaurants and Bars in Beaufort, NC
Moonrakers has beautiful waterfront lower patio and rooftop dinning with great sunset views. The service was prompt and friendly. Each dish was picture perfect and tasted even better. The craft cocktails were equally good. We recommend the crab dip, Mahi and French Channel Marker75 cocktail.
Clawson’s family restaurant was established in 1905 it was actually first established as a post office and the remnants of the early post office is still in the restaurant today. Imagery of an old-timey bar where you would tie your horse up at the front and get a cold drink and talk with the locals welcomes you as you enter Clawson’s front doors. Today, the restaurant is decorated with old old artwork and furnishings from the original as well as over the past 100 years. The restaurant is family friendly, kid friendly, and budget friendly. This restaurant was not abnormally busy and the wait time was minimal. I would recommend the crab cake salad and the spicy pimento cheese.
Several locals recommend Aqua which sits a block from Front Street. Aqua is not waterfront, however it comes highly recommended by locals – even a waitor we had at a different restaurant told us that the lasagna at Aqua can not be beat!
This building used to be the bakery for Clawsons Bakery in the early 1900’s. Today it is the Backstreet Pub, a local favorite! This lively dive offers live music and outdoor seating.Â
live music and outside seating. The friendly bartender and local patrons greeted us with smiles and light conversation through the night.Â
This local favorite is a coffee shop by day, wine bar by night, entertaining with live music on weekends.
Best places to shop on Front Street
Salt water taffy, T-shirts, Hats, and various souvenirs. I bought salt water taffy, a “Pirates” Beaufort NC shirt that is designed like the Beatles Abbey Road Cover, and cute Blackbeard pirate costumes for my nephews.
Best Things to Do in Beaufort, NC
1. Front Street Waterfront Boardwalk
This waterfront strip of downtown Beaufort NC is decorated with original craftsman style homes, marinas, waterfront restaurants, shops and bars.Â
3. Golf Cart History Tour
On the first night we started by taking a golf court golf cart history tour of the town. Our tour guide was extremely friendly and extremely knowledgeable of North Carolina and Beaufort history.Â
4. Old Burial Ground
This burial ground goes back several centuries and contains many different tombs of soldiers political parties religious heads and unknown bodies. One particular grave was especially interesting and is decorated today with children’s toys it’s the grave of the rum girl. The local legend of the grave of the rum girl is when she passed away her father used rum as embalming to keep the body from decomposing before he was able to lay her body to rest in the old burial ground. Today locals and tourists like keep the grave of the from girl decorated with children’s toys colorful beautiful rainbow flags and gadgets.
Fort Macon was constructed in 1756 to protect North Carolina as inlets and sounds attracted seafarers seeking land, as well as threat from hostile nations and pirates such as Blackbeard. Spanish raiders captured the town of Beaufort in 1747, and British raiders occupied Beaufort in 1782.
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A day at Shackleford Banks is relaxing and adventurous as we explored through the sand dunes and the inner Island to see the wild horses in their natural habitat. These horses are believed to have come from shipwrecks centuries ago during the ages of pirating and establishing the naval trade lanes.
Before heading to the ferry, grab a bagged lunch from a local sandwich shop to take for a picnic on Shackleford Banks. The Island Express Ferry Service is on Front Street, across from the Inlet Inn. Rules for the ferry were simple keep your mask covering your mouth and nose and seated on the ferry at all times. It was a short ferry ride to Shackleford Banks maybe 10 minutes tops with beautiful scenery as people we’re boating and camping on the beach enjoying the day.
As the ferry arrived to Shackleford Banks, there were four to five horses on the beach drinking from a freshwater rain pool within 20 yards. After a short walk down the beach to a dock, and inland about 100 yards, there are several groups of wild horses in their natural habitat. We climbed up and down sand dunes through some treacherous patches of sand difficult to walk through for anyone with knee issues.
Finally, at the end of our trail we came to a large sand dune that dropped off to the beach. Slid down the sand dune to enjoy a beautiful virgin beach, untouched by the general public. We enjoyed our bagged lunches and spiked water bottles, enjoying laughs and 20 years of friendship. That afternoon, 4 hours had gone by and we had missed our return ferry reservation. It was not an issue as we were able to catch the next ferry, which comes every hour.
The coast of North Carolina is nicknamed as the Graveyard of the Atlantic due to hundreds of years of history at the ocean floor. Ship wrecks dating back to the Spanish invasion in the 1700’s are among thousands of ship wrecks to be discovered on a scuba diving adventure on the crystal coast.
9. Beach Access
Beach driving at Atlantic Beach is allowed off season from October 1 to March 15. Annual permits are available at the Town Hall or online.
10. Local's Favorite fishing spots
No one knows where the fish are biting in North Carolina better than the local fisherman. When youre visiting Beaufort NC with the intent to fish, you must first obtain a recreational fishing permit license. The most caught fish in North Carolina are flounder, red drum, cobia, spotted seatrout, and king mackerel.
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Check out the local fishing reports and fishing charters.
11. Historic Homes
Sears Craftsman Homes
Did you know in the early 1900’s you could order a home kit from Sears? Sears offered over 300+ designs and sold 75K+ home kits in the US during the early 1900’s. Today these beautiful homes are scattered across the unit states. Beaufort NC proudly boasts of numerous historic craftsman style homes, some of the oldest and biggest in the country.
Hammock House - Blackbeards House
On this golf tour our first stop was the Hammock House which stays today is the oldest house in Beaufort North Carolina. The hammock house is known for having residents such as Blackbeard himself. this house is also believed to be haunted and the locals report sounds of moaning coming from the front yard at night as Blackbeard was known to hang his captors by the trees.
Kid friendly and family friendly, this maritime museum contains a display of remnants from Blackbeard’s main ship the Queen Anne’s Revenge.Â
15. Festivals/Concerts
- North Carolina Seaford Festival (Morehead City, NC)
- Beaufort Music Festival
- Atlantic Beach Music Festival (Atlantic Beach, NC)
What to pack
- KOOZIE Cooler Tote Bag
- Walking Sandals (Mens/Womens/Kids)
- Sun Visor
- Umbrella
- Travel Fishing Pole
- Folding Chair
Which part of Beaufort, NC are you most excited about? Leave comments below
3 comments
Such a good list of things to do! I was just there and we were able to do a few of them. I can’t wait to go back. It’s such a cute place to visit.
Thank you Ginger!
I loved reading about your experience in Beaufort, NC. Your descriptions really made it come alive for me. Happy travels!