While no trip to North Carolina’s Crystal Coast is complete without a visit to the beaches on Emerald Isle and Atlantic Beach, this region has much more to offer family travelers beyond sand and sea. Go beyond the ocean and explore these gems on the Crystal Coast.
Stargaze at Cape Lookout National Seashore
See the Milky Way with your own eyes at this International Dark Sky Association-designated spot, the first and only of its kind on the East Coast. Astro-tourists and stargazers alike flock to Cape Lookout National Seashore. For those particularly interested in the stars, join Crystal Coast Stargazers Club for some exciting events, including the Star Party 2024 event on May 3 and 4.
© Crystal Coast
Learn About Beaufort’s Pirate and Haunted History
Beaufort’s captivating past can be explored on the Beaufort Historic Double Decker Bus Tour, a 1967 English double-decker bus right in Beaufort. Or, if you prefer to know more about pirates, take a guided Beaufort Ghost Walk, led by pirate guide. And don’t forget to let the little ones climb aboard a real pirate ship with Beaufort Pirates Revenge. At North Carolina Maritime Museum, see Blackbeard’s ship, Queen Anne’s Revenge.
© Crystal Coast
Kayak Next to Rachel Carson Reserve’s Mustangs
See freely roaming, majestic horses up close with Beaufort Paddle in Rachel Carson Reserve. The wild horses at Rachel Carson Reserve were introduced to the site by a local physician in the 1940s.
© Crystal Coast
Go on a Behind-the-Scenes Tour at North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
Go beyond the glass of the 306,000-gallon Living Shipwreck tank and feed fish and sharks with the guidance of knowledgeable educators. Both Feeding Frenzy and Shark Snack tours offer firsthand experiences into the world beneath the waves.
Visit the largest sustainable sturgeon caviar farm in the United States. A tour here includes an overview of the indoor recirculating aquaculture system technology farm, insight into its sustainable practices, a caviar tasting and more.
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