Emerald Isle, NC Attractions

Emerald Isle and the Crystal Coast offer our vacationers so many things to do! You'll see why vacationers return year after year to venture out to many of our areas favorite attractions.

For the family, you may want to spend an entire day visiting our historic sites, museums and parks. Here are some highlights of the Crystal Coast with Emerald Isle's parks and recreational information:

Beaufort – The third oldest town in North Carolina. Stroll waterfront docks and view sailboats and yachts at anchor. Enjoy historic tours, shopping, and wonderful restaurants. Wild horses roam the Rachel Carson Estuarine Sanctuary on Carrot Island across the Beaufort waterfront.

Beaufort Historic Site - Guided tours of authentically restored homes and buildings, the Old Burying Ground and Beaufort's charming historic district. 

Blue Heron Park & Tennis Courts -Located behind the Police Department, this park features two tennis courts, a basketball court, picnic shelter and playground. A fee of $2 per person, per hour must be paid at the Emerald Isle Community Center for playing tennis.

Cape Lookout Lighthouse & National Seashore -  The islands of Cape Lookout stretch 56 miles from Ocracoke to Beaufort Inlet. Take a day trip to beautiful remote beaches and watch wild horses along with other rare wildlife. Be sure to bring water and pack a picnic lunch for the day.

Cedar Street Soundside Park - Located at the end of Cedar Street directly on Bogue Sound.  There is parking available for 10 cars with a pier and Public Sound Access.  Enjoy the beautiful views or launch your kayak from here!

Core Sound Waterfowl Museum - Museum for people to learn and share about Core Sound history, crafts and heritage. Open daily with free admission. Located in Harkers Island.

Emerald Woods - This is Emerald Isle's newest park and is located along Coast Guard Road. This soundside park is 41-acres and features walking trails and sound access with additional amenities.

Fort Macon State Park - This Civil War fort is a historic landmark. Enjoy Civil War reenactments on special weekends. Gift shop, picnic area, and bath house on site. 

Hammocks Beach State Park - Miles of unspoiled barrier island beaches and maritime forests. Daily passenger ferries are available during the summer months.  Spend a day on one of the most beautiful barrier islands on the East Coast! Experience untouched wild dunes, sand ridges, maritime forests, marshes and wetlands full of wildlife. Activities include swimming, picnicking, fishing, camping, and boating. Bath house facilities. Educational and interpretive programs are offered.

Historic Swansboro - This Historic Town waterfront town offers breathtaking views. Swansboro is known for having a quaint downtown filled with boutiques, art galleries, shops, antiques and restaurants. 

The History Place - A historical research library. Includes interesting Carteret County artifacts, the best collection of Civil War materials in eastern North Carolina, and a notable genealogy collection. 

NC Aquarium - This is the largest of the three aquariums in North Carolina. A must see for both locals and visitors. Open daily from 9 am to 5 pm with a small admission fee.

NC Coastal Federation - A non-profit organization that focuses exclusively on protecting and restoring the coast of North Carolina through education, advocacy and habitat preservation and restoration.

NC Maritime Museum - The museum is the official repository for artifacts from Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge, which ran aground near Beaufort in 1718. Other exhibits and displays feature a spectacular sea shell collection, coastal ecology, and boat making workshops.

Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter - Rehabilitation facility cares for injured, sick, and orphaned native wild animals. 

If you’d like assistance picking out Emerald Isle, NC attractions during your stay with us please call us at (866) 586-6980. We’ll also let you know about the upcoming Crystal Coast events. Visit the Official Town of Emerald Isle, North Carolina site for additional information on water access and parks.

Give us a call!

Emerald Isle Realty, Inc.
7501 Emerald Drive    Emerald Isle, NC 28594
Rentals:   getaways@eirealty.com     Sales: (800) 304-4060   sales@eirealty.com
Business Hours: Monday - Saturday (9am-7pm) Sunday (1pm-7pm)