I'm thinking about going to Beaufort for a mini-vacation with my family next month. By looking at one of Beaufort's tourist website, it seems like a fun place to go. They have Blackbeard the pirate tour and scavenger hunt, wild horses and sea shell safari, ferry ride to lighthouse, and more. Here are the links what I'm talking about: http://www.tourbeaufort.com/legendofblackbeard.htm and http://www.tourbeaufort.com/index.html Have you been there? Do you like it? Which lodge would you recommended? It's going to be three adults and one child. Thanks
I've been there, but haven't stayed there. I stayed at Atlantic Beach and drove there for the day. There's a lot to do in the general area. I visited the Maritime Museum and many of the little shops and boutiques that line the streets. I know you can take boat rides to look at the marine life as well. They have Blackbeard night tours, but I'm not sure if that goes on all year or not. I think it's a nice place.
Beaufort is a nice place to visit. I have a friend that lives down there so I go down there any chance I get. I went to see the wild horses on Shakelford Banks one time and it was really nice. Atlantic Beach has an Aquarium. It is supposed to be nice since it was redone. I've not been so I don't know what its like. I've stayed at the Atlantis, which is at Atlantic Beach, its nice and not too expensive. This time of year the rates are lower at most hotels down there. This is a link to hotels in that area. http://www.crystalcoastnc.org/Accommodations/Hotels/
LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT.... Only downfall is, its not "tourist season" so alot of places might be closed down. Check out restaurants in local hotels. If you can, take a boat ride out. Its mega cheap ($5-8 per person) and alot of fun. I took one boat trip and they told us whereabout Blackbeard's house was. I was sooooo excited, from studying about it in school. Well, we got directions, drove to the cul-de-sac and looked like idiots taking pictures. There was a perfectly normal family living inside staring out us from their door. I apologized and asked if this was Blackbeard's house. They confirmed it and still looked at us like we were weird. (its history people, come on! lol) But all in all, its such a beautiful town. Find a nice restaurant and chat with the locals. But...one piece of advice...WHATEVER YOU DO...DON'T DO A TIMESHARE TOUR....they say 45 minutes, when really its 4-5 HOURS. Dont do it no matter how tempting the prize is! Have fun!
Hammock House in Beaufort was the house where legend says that one of Blackbeard's wives was hanged from one of those oaks. Many of the old Homes date back to the 1600's and onward. Beaufort (pronounced Bo-fert, not Byu-fert as in SC) is celebrating their 300th birthday beginning next year. Beaufort was originally called “Fish Town” and is the 3rd oldest incorporated town in NC. The old cemetery tour is a self guided one, and is quite interesting for the history buff. Blackbeard's ship, the Queen Anne's Revenge, was discovered about three miles off of Fort Macon, which guards the Beaufort harbor. By Legend, Blackbeard scuttled the QAR and removed the treasure with five crewmen, thinking to have to split the treasure between themselves, rather than the entire crew which was abandoned. The QAR has a neat display in the maritime museum. The Fort itself, is a great place to visit. Jetties from the fort were designed by a young Lieutenant of Engineers, Robert E. Lee. The maritime Museum is a great place to visit, as is the Aquarium on Pine Knoll Shores, about a 30 minute drive from downtown Beaufort. Shackleford Banks ponies are viewable on Carrot Island, across from Taylor's Creek from Downtown. Good local ferryboat services abound, ( Ask for Capt’n Manley Mason and tell him Carl Johnson recommended them) They'll take you over to Carrot Island, or Bird Shoal. Tell the folks what you’re looking to see..horses or birds..and they'll probably let you off within 100 yards of a great viewpoint. Remember that Carrot Island is part of the Rachel Carson preserve, and the horses are protected under federal law. They are wild, and the stallions WILL protect their herds. DO NOT take apples or foods for the horses, as their diet has evolved over the course of centuries for marsh grass and spartina, so hay and apples not being a part of their normal diet, can make them sick. Cape Lookout lighthouse is best reached by ferry from Harker’s Island. HI and parts nearby are the old “DOWN EAST” of NC and the natives speak in a Elizabethan-Middle English accent. You probably won’t hear it, unless you go into a community store on the Island, and just listen. As soon as you speak, and reveal that you’re from “Off”, we tend to get as tight lipped as an oyster. If you hear something that sounds akin to , “Moi Loord Hinney”, you heard a local. CALO has a neat visitor’s center. Nearby is the Core Sound museum. As this is the off season, few touristy places will be open, or restaurants for that matter. The Royal James in Beaufort has the best hot dogs Down East. Try to find something other than the tourist trap restaurants. If you want topnotch seafood, try AJ’s in Morehead on Arendell Street. If you want to taste a world famous cheeseburger, check out EL’s Drive In, at the base of the hospital in Morehead off Arendell Street. They are known for “Superburgers” (with cheese, slaw, and chili) or a Shrimpburger. Car Hop service from a place that dates back to the 50s. Locals in Morehead eat at the Capt'ns table or at Cox's restaurant for local food, good service, and less pricey menus. Coxe's and the Capt'ns table are off Arendell Street, across from Smithfield Bar B Q, in Morehead. With our having grown up there, C6 and I love that area. PM us if you have a ?
Thanks to Hatteras, I just changed my 4th of July vacation to Myrtle Beach to Beaufort now, lol. Thanks! It sounds like sooooooooooo much fun!!!
I LOVE THAT AREA!!! I'm sure on a post somewhere I've posted pictures of the wild horses and the lighthouse. I wish mom & dad would move back down there so I've got a weekend getaway place to go to! :lol:
Thanks for that. I know the friendly folks there appreciate your tourist dollars. I forgot to add... If you want to go off shore fishing, rather than charter a boat, try a headboat trip..larger vessel, more fisherman = far less expensive than a charter. Try the Carolina Princess, middle of the waterfront in Morehead. Ask for Cap'n Gould. Terrell is a classmate whose family has been in the fishing business for generations. I've never NOT caught fish with Terrell at the helm. The man KNOWS where the fish are. Hid Daddy ran a charter boat for years and passed the feeshin' know how to his son. Several B&B's are in the area. I use an Einstein vacation plan, from his theory of relativity, I stay with relatives down there. Payback from my living near Disney and their coming to stay with me, I guess.
Thank you, thank you, Hatteras6!! Your information is excellent and I do looks forward to go there. I thought it'll be great for my son to learn more about Blackbeard and lighthouses, since he just finished his school projects about it. It would be also great for my hubby since he loves to fish. Again, thanks!
