My dad and his wonderful fiancé live in Beaufort, a charming coastal town on the bottom edge of North Carolina. Josh and I like to visit as often as we can because it’s a magical place. There you’ll find fantastic food, excellent beaches and boating, all in a quaint small town atmosphere that really must be experienced.
Beaufort often reminds me of small towns from TV shows and movies; the things that happen in these fictional places tend to actually happen there. For example, we took a recent trip for the Fourth of July. Every year Beaufort has a parade on the Fourth, but it’s not your typical fête of floats. It’s mostly made up of overly decorated golf carts driven by the members of Beaufort’s raucous social clubs. It’s a really fun event, but certainly something that smacks of small town charm.
I’ve heard Beaufort described two ways recently that I think are really apt: as a college town for retirees and as a place where everything is done with a strong sense of humor. For example, the Fourth of July “parade” is one of three annual holiday parades and is by far the biggest. While the parade for the Fourth runs down Front St. (the main street of Beaufort), the St. Patricks Day Parade is two laps around the parking lot of a bar (also completed in golf carts). The Mardi Gras Parade is even shorter: it’s the distance from one of Beaufort’s bars to another, which is about a block away.
We love visiting Beaufort because of these eccentricities. Another example: given it’s coastal location, there’s a lot of pirate-related history (Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge sunk about a mile off the coast). Because of this, every year the town has a “Pirate Invasion” where (to quote my dad) “real pirates” descend upon the town for a weekend for debauchery. In truth it’s like a renaissance fair, but you can bet that it’s one of my favorite events we’ve ever attended.
In addition to the history and tongue-in-cheek attitude of it’s residents, Beaufort boasts a really fantastic food scene. The town hosts an annual Wine and Food festival that brings talent from across the eastern seaboard. The local chefs are also exceptional, and there are a number of restaurants that are on my “must-go” list when we visit. A few are featured below, and I’ve included links to others that I’d recommend if you’re planning a trip. Reservations are helpful, particularly as the service industry in Beaufort was hard hit during the pandemic.
I hope you find this brief guide helpful, and of course please comment with any questions you may have! I’m happy to answer them.
THE FOOD
This trip we dined at five pretty great spots:
- Black Sheep, Beaufort, NC. We love Black Sheep’s pizza and it’s usually a great stop when we visit. Our favorite this time was the Pedro, and we were told that this sister bar The Green Room is also worth a stop (although we did not visit this time).
- 34 Degrees North, Beaufort, NC. Located in the Beaufort Hotel, 34 Degrees North specializes in upscale dining in a breathtaking setting. It’s on Taylor’s Creek, and has absolutely gorgeous sunset views. We all ordered steaks and sides, and be sure not to miss they’re parmesan risotto. The wine list is also expansive, and all in all this was a great dinner.
- Turner Street Market, Beaufort, NC. This is an adorable cafe and coffee shop with a range of breakfast and lunch options. Favorites from our visit included the Bleufort sandwich, their breakfast burrito, and their homemade pimiento cheese. Perfect for a quick breakfast or lunch.
- Circa 81, Morehead City, NC. We love Circa 81, and it will be a repeat player on pretty much every trip to come. It’s tapas style, with a bit of everything cuisine-wise. The menu spans traditional Spanish patatas bravas to Southern favorites to Asian-fusion pot stickers. They have a robust wine list, fanciful cocktails and a comprehensive mocktail list as well. A word of advice: get a reservation and save room for their homemade turtle cheesecake.
- SocialQ, Morehead City, NC. Owned and operated by the same owner/head chef as Circa, SocialQ is a relatively new addition to the food scene in Morehead City. Go early for lunch, as they do run out of their more popular menu items. I ordered a brisket plate, and trust me when I say this is the way to go. You’ll have leftovers, but it is fall apart tender. I got their potato salad and cole slaw as sides, and thought both were pretty tasty.
Past favorites also include:
- Beaufort Grocery
- City Kitchen
- The Spot
- Dank Burrito (Morehead City)
- Backstreet Pub (for beer and live music)
- Cru (for wine and live music)
THE TOURS
Sunset Cruise with Lookout Cruises. We have been trying to do this tour for as long as we’ve been visiting Beaufort, and this is the first time we were able to go! It hasn’t worked out in the past for a variety of reasons– either we were too late in trying to get tickets, or the weather wasn’t suitable etc. This is an absolute must-do if you’re visiting Beaufort. Lookout Cruises is a family operated business. Captain Steve sails you around Beaufort and the surrounding islands in a fabulous 45-foot catamaran. We did the sunset tour and it was gorgeous, but there’s also a tour to Cape Lookout that features some beach time and a locally catered lunch. The ticket price includes wine and beer and we just absolutely loved it.
Fort Macon State Park. Located about 20 minutes from Beaufort, Fort Macon features a small museum about the history of the fort dating back to early colonialism in the area. The best part of the park, though, is the walking trail. It’s about a three-mile loop and takes you through the sand dunes and marsh lands. You’ll get to see some really amazing wildlife up close and personal.
THE SHOPPING
Beaufort Linen Co. This is one of two of my “need to go” shops everytime we visit. If I don’t make it here and to the Beaufort Olive Oil Co., then I don’t know feel like I’ve truly completed my Beaufort trip. Beaufort Linen Co. is a locally owned lifestyle and interior design store that features a beautifully curated assortment of clothing, accessories, home goods, and art. It’s upscale resort living at it’s finest, mixing a little bit of the preppiness of Southern styles with a dash of modern bohemian. I love the selection of local artists and designers, with major name brands. It’s truly a must-visit.
Beaufort Olive Oil Company. Okay, yes I am recommending a store that just specializes in olive oil because it is that. damn. good. We always bring back olive oils and balsamic vinegars from this place and use them on everything at home. Favorites include the Tuscan Herb Olive Oil and the Blackberry-Ginger Balsamic Vinegar. The best part is you fill your own bottles, so you can get trial sizes for things that you may not want a full bottle of!
THE EXTRAS
Boating on the Cape and ICW. My dad and his fiancé have a lovely boat, so we usually take a trip or two out on it. We love to tour up the Intracoastal Waterway, as well as out to Cape Lookout. If you do have a boat or are otherwise renting, be sure to monitor the tides. Beaufort is famous for it’s sandbars, and you can get real stuck, real quick.
Have Cart, Will Travel. If you can rent a golf cart for your trip, I’d highly recommend doing so. We always love cruising around town in the golf cart, and there’s special parking just for them. Only flag is to of course watch your alcohol intake: it’s still drinking and driving in a golf cart, and the police do enforce.
