Heads up: A single weekend in Beaufort could make you want to move here permanently.
Located on the southern tip of North Carolina’s southernmost bend, which curves around the Neuse River and extends toward the Atlantic, Beaufort is a historic fishing town that embraces its rich and briny character. Featuring a walkable downtown area, eateries that highlight local ingredients, and proximity to the water, it’s a convenient spot to spend a weekend—or perhaps your entire life. Here’s what to do, where to eat, and where to stay in Beaufort, North Carolina. And just so you know: You might fall so in love with it that you end up staying forever.
Things to Do in Beaufort, North Carolina
Discover Its History
Begin with a walk through Beaufort’s 12-block historic area, where old homes, featuring intricate gingerbread designs and painted signs indicating their first owners, offer insightful examples of visual appeal and architectural style. To learn more about the region’s maritime past, check out theNorth Carolina Marine Museum located on Front Street. Exhibits include everything from the town’s seafood industry to life-saving stations, along with a glimpse into its pirate-filled history, featuring artifacts from Blackbeard’s wrecked ship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge. Across the street, see ships that are currently being built at theHarvey W. Smith Watercraft Center, where individuals can participate in boat-building courses all year round.
Play Outside
Due to its seafaring heritage, it’s no surprise that water-based activities are a significant attraction. For an adventurous experience near the city, rent a kayak fromBeaufort Paddleand take the approximately 20-minute journey across Taylor Creek toRachel Carson Estuarine ReserveThere, you can explore rugged trails; observe over 200 bird species, including ibises, herons, and egrets; see horses that were introduced by a local resident in the 1940s and have now gone wild; or search for shells—just make sure not to take any that are still occupied!
Explore Nearby Lands
Board the Island Express Ferryfor a 45-minute trip out toCape Lookout National Seashore, where you’ll spend just over two hours. Pass the time shelling on its beautiful beaches or swimming in the clear waters. The lighthouse there is temporarily closed for climbing, but it’s still worth seeing. For a shorter trip (only a 25-minute ride each way), take the ferry to the western end of Shackleford Banks, where you can fish or watch birds. Keep an eye out for thefamous group of Banker horses, believed to be descendants of those who survived Spanish shipwrecks 500 years ago.
Go Shopping
Front Street features several shops ideal for browsing or taking a quick look. It offers items like cheap candy, fudge, and a variety of T-shirts and small trinkets,Beaufort’s General Storestrikes all the nostalgic high notes for a keepsake visit during a coastal trip. Indulge in a hand-dipped scoop, which you can savor on the friendly front porch. Just a short walk away, browse premium home accessories, luxurious bath and beauty items, and light clothing atBeaufort Linen Co.The small shop is run by the husband and wife duo Christina and Richie Cuningham, who relocated to the area after developing a fondness for Beaufort during their weekend visits and summer getaways.
Where to Dine in Beaufort, North Carolina
Get Up and Enjoy Breakfast
Begin your day with a cup of coffee and a snack fromTurner Street Market and Café, which is open for breakfast, brunch, and lunch every day of the week. No matter if you’re looking for something simple like a homemade muffin or something heartier such as a generously filled breakfast burrito or a hearty pork sausage gravy served with biscuits, Turner Street’s menu has something for you. Biscuit French toast and Turkish eggs add a unique twist to the otherwise classic selections.
Get a Regional Specialty for Lunch
For lunch, there’s no more cherished place thanBeaufort GroceryA neighborhood spot that has been offering ready-to-eat sandwiches and fresh seafood since 1991. Be sure to try the BeauGro pimiento cheese (included in the Beaufort Cheese and Fruit Board) or the Sumpin’s Jumpin’ fish sandwich, which varies each day. Return in the evening for more refined dishes such as pan-seared duck breast and roasted lamb chop.
Get a Meal and Beverages with a Scenic Outlook
Before sunset, head to Moonrakerson Front Street for pre-dinner cocktails and a stunning panorama from their large rooftop terrace. Go down to enjoy their complete, seafood-focused menu, or for a more relaxed setting, take a brief stroll toBlack Sheepfor pizza cooked in a brick oven, served by the water’s edge.
Where to Stay in Beaufort, North Carolina
Book A Boutique Experience
Constructed in 1866 and updated in 2022, theInn on Turneroffers cozy, bed-and-breakfast-style hospitality without any of the formalities. The owners, innkeepers, and chefs Kim Bell and Jonathan Haas gather their free “field to fork” breakfast from local farms and offer a daily happy hour with wine. The best part is that the location is only two blocks away from the water.
Rent A Home
In addition to downtown’s various hotel and inn options, such as the charmingPecan Street Inn and the modern, waterfront Beaufort Hotel, the town also offers various vacation homes through VRBO and Airbnb that might be more suitable for large groups or travelers with pets or young children.
Why Beaufort, North Carolina, Makes a Wonderful Place to Retire
In addition to Beaufort’s clear attractions—such as its proximity to the water, relaxed lifestyle, and abundance of shops and restaurants—there are also practical advantages to retiring in this North Carolina town: the state does not tax Social Security retirement income, and it is only 5 miles away from Morehead City, one ofRetireNC’s Certified Retirement CommunitiesThe recognition indicates that a location provides “the facilities, services, and chances that seniors require to lead lively and fulfilling lives, determined by a rigorous evaluation based on specific standards [set by the North Carolina General Assembly].”
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