Sights to see
Directly across Front St. from the Inlet Inn is where all the tour companies are located. Simply walk across the street & you can take a ferry to Shackleford Banks, go on a Dolphin Watch, board a catamaran & sail the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, take an after dark stroll through the Historic District with the Beaufort Ghost Walk, go Parasailing, go Fishing, or just take a relaxing Harbor Tour.
Beaufort Historic Site |Â Walking Distance
The Beaufort Historical Association is a private, non-profit, membership and volunteer based organization founded in 1960 by a group of Carteret County citizens without the aid of grants and public funds. The organization owns and operates the Beaufort Historic Site, which depicts 18th and 19th century life in Beaufort and includes six authentically restored historic buildings open for tours (link to tours page) year round. The site is open to the public and staffed six-days a week, year round, and seven days a week June â August.
North Carolina Maritime Museum | Walking Distance
The North Carolina Maritime Museum documents, collects, preserves, and researches the maritime history of coastal North Carolina for the purpose of interpreting this history through educational services and exhibits for our contemporary society, and passing intact its material culture to future generations.All of the museumâs programs and exhibits, both general and specialized, interpret the stateâs cultural maritime history and offer a larger national perspective on coastal environment and barrier island ecology.
North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores | 25 Min Drive
The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores takes you across the state on an aquatic journeyfrom the mountains to the sea⊠Feel the spray of a mountain waterfall. Watch river otters play. Touch a stingray. Look a shark in the eye. Explore shipwrecks â without getting wet. See a rare white sea turtle. Thousands of aquatic animals take you on a journey from the stateâs grand peaks to the open Atlantic, much as a raindrop makes its way to the ocean.
Fort Macon State Park | 15 Min Drive
Fort Macon offers public access to the surf, sun and sand of the Crystal Coastâas well as a historic landmark. This area of undisturbed natural beauty is the perfect place to explore salt marches and estuaries vital to the coastal ecosystem. The park is also home to a Civil War fort with a history as intricate and unique as the waterways of the sound. Visit Fort Macon to enjoy the landâs natural beauty and soak up some history.
Beaufort Ghost Walk | Walking Distance
Take an after dark stroll through a Historic Town full of Haunted Tales. Chilling stories of murderous pirates, unexplained happenings, ghost ships and haunted houses will have you looking over your shoulder on the way home. See Blackbeardâs House and a 300-year old cemetery. As enjoyable as it is entertaining, the Beaufort Ghost Walk is one of our most popular attractions and one that shouldnât be missed. Families and Groups have a blast on this tour. Kids love it!
Shackleford Wild Horse & Shelling Safari | Walking Distance
Take a 15 minute Boat Ride over to the pristine Outer Banks Island of Shackleford Banks, which is part of the Cape Lookout National Seashore. You will help your guide track the horses and see first hand the fascinating behavior of horses in the wild, a rare experience with nature that youâll never forget. Shackleford is well known as one of the best shelling destinations on the East Coast. Among other things, you can find Conchs, Whelks, Queenâs Helmets, Scotch Bonnets, Olive Shells, Sand Dollars, and more.
Crystal Coast Lady | Walking Distance
Miss Crystal Coast offers a variety of narrated, relaxing cruises on the Crystal Coast in Beaufort, NC. All tours offer spectacular views of the coast, as well as sightings of the local bottlenose dolphins and unique wild banker horses. Choose from our signature daytime and sunset cruises, our dolphin watching cruise, islands cruise, and more! Book your unforgettable Beaufort boat cruise today.
Lookout Cruises | Walking Distance
Lookout Cruises offers daily sailing excursions departing historic Beaufort for up to 42 passengers on a 45-foot catamaran with cushioned seating, plenty of shade and large clean restrooms on board. Whether itâs two people, a family outing, tour group or business party, Lookout Cruises offers a memorable sail on the NC Coast complete with cool breezes, saltwater and breathtaking scenery. So make your reservations today for one of these unforgettable Lookout Cruises!.
Escape Rooms | Walking Distance
Port City Tour Co. is your destination for entertainment, education, talented acting, and history! We can also deliver a catered experience for your special events. And be sure to visit the âBeaufort Escape Roomâ located in our store at 108 Middle Ln. in beautiful Beaufort, NC. Featuring two immersive escape room games which delight families and friends or make for an awesome date night! Our Escape Room is also the beginning location for The Beaufort Ghost Walk. Welcome to the Crystal Coast!
Lookout Adventures | 10 Min Drive
Simply give us a call & schedule your adventure.Reserve a Private Island Hopping Charter for an unrivaled Cape Lookout experience, book one of our Inshore/Nearshore Fishing Charters or Shark Fishing Charters, and spend a half-day or full-day fishing for the local species, or take advantage of our COMBO-Day package, which gives you a half-day of fishing, combined with a half day personalized Island Hopping Adventure throughout the entire Cape Lookout area.
Core Sound Waterfowl Museum | 32 Min Drive
Simply give us a call & schedule your adventure.Reserve a Private Island Hopping Charter for an unrivaled Cape Lookout experience, book one of our Inshore/Nearshore Fishing Charters or Shark Fishing Charters, and spend a half-day or full-day fishing for the local species, or take advantage of our COMBO-Day package, which gives you a half-day of fishing, combined with a half day personalized Island Hopping Adventure throughout the entire Cape Lookout area.
Kitty Hawk Kites | Walking Distance
Kitty Hawk Kites has remodeled and opened its new doors directly on the Beaufort waterfront. This shop offers the leading selection of kites, wind art, toys, t-shirts and apparel, Hobie kayaks, and more. In addition, stop by and make your reservation for one of our new Beaufort adventures: Hang Gliding Or Kiteboard Lessons. Or rent a golf cart, SUP, or Kayak for the day!
Hungry Town Tours | 3 Min drive
Weâre passionate about sharing what makes Beaufort great and wanted to create a tour that even we would want to take. Learn where the locals go, what the locals eat, and hear some of the more unusual stories about Beaufort that you might not hear on a typical tour. Think of us as your insider connection to the best that Beaufort has to offer. We offer historic Beaufort walking tours and bicycle tours throughout the year. You can pedal through 300 years of history, or step back in history with our walking tours.
Climbing Cape Lookout Lighthouse | Short Ferry Ride
The Cape Lookout Lighthouse is open for climbing from the third week in May to the third weekend in September. Self-guiding tours of up to 10 people* will begin every 15 minutes during the hours of operation.
Beaufort Inlet Watersports | Walking Distance
PARASAILING IS EASY! With our top of the line equipment and experienced staff, we make your trip as smooth sailing as possible! Once the flyers are secured to the parasail, they are instructed to sit down on the back deck for take-off and then they are ready to fly! The flight is approximately 10-12 minutes long. After enjoying the views, flyers descend back to the deck of the boat for landing. Landing is as simple as standing up! And thatâs all there is too it!
Island Express Ferry Service | Walking Distance
Island Express Ferry Service LLC is the only authorized concessionaire to drop off at Cape Lookout Lighthouse and Shackleford Banks! We provide park visitors with great service while facilitating visitor understanding and appreciation for the park. Experience the beauty of the Crystal Coast with sparkling clear waters and pristine beaches. See the wild horses of Shackleford Banks or go hiking, fishing, and swimming. Fun for the WHOLE family! Leave the stress of the mainland behind.
Water Bug Tours | Walking Distance
Waterbug Tours offers narrated wild horse, nature and history cruises from the historic Beaufort, North Carolina waterfront. On this 45-60 minute shaded cruise, youâll discover natureâs beauty, see Beaufortâs landmarks and learn about our local lore. Most of all, youâll have fun and a memorable experience. We will cruise along the calm waters of Beaufort, Taylorâs Creek and the Rachel Carson Reserve in search of our wild ponies⊠along the way itâs common for us to see dolphins, sea turtles and a variety of other wildlife.
Island Ferry Adventures Ferry Service | Walking Distance
Come discover some of the hidden treasures of our Crystal Coast. Relax and enjoy our warm sandy beaches, pristine waters, gentle Atlantic breezes, maritime forests, descendants of shipwrecked horses and unparalleled shelling. Come visit one of the few remaining undeveloped coastal barrier island systems in the world. Observe the natural beauty, wind shaped sands and maritime influences on these uninhabited islands. There are no lines and no traffic jams, so enjoy your ride with us and leave the crowded beaches to others.