14 Best Things to Do in Beaufort, NC: Pirates and Ponies

Beaufort is one of those rare towns that looks exactly as you hoped it would. Painted wooden houses, a working waterfront, a graveyard full of stories, and wild horses grazing across the creek. Blackbeard’s ship went down just off this coast, and the town has never quite gotten over it. It’s small, walkable and easy to love.

Downtown Beaufort, North Carolina, with historic buildings along the waterfront — Downtown Beaufort. Photo: Aurora30 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

The short answer: the best things to do in Beaufort, North Carolina are visiting the free North Carolina Maritime Museum, strolling Front Street, touring the Old Burying Ground, kayaking Taylor’s Creek to see wild horses, and taking a boat out to Shackleford Banks.

First, how to say it: this one’s “BO-fort,” not “BEW-fort,” which is the South Carolina town. You’ll fit in right away. And don’t skip #5: the little girl buried in a rum keg is the story you’ll be telling when you get home.

1. See Blackbeard’s Treasures at the Maritime Museum

The North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort. Photo: Willthacheerleader18 via Wikimedia Commons, CC0

At 315 Front Street, the North Carolina Maritime Museum is free, and it’s the best place to start. Its star attraction is the collection of artifacts from Queen Anne’s Revenge, Blackbeard’s flagship, along with shells, coastal wildlife and shipwreck exhibits. Even people who don’t usually like museums tend to like this one.

2. Watch Boats Being Built

The Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center, where you can watch boats being built. Photo: Willthacheerleader18 via Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Across the street, the Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center is where model ships are displayed and visitors can watch boatbuilding in progress. It’s a quiet, absorbing stop that gives you a sense of this town’s relationship with the water. Check who’s working before you go.

3. Walk Front Street

Historic homes along Front Street in Beaufort. Photo: Willthacheerleader18 via Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Front Street runs along Taylor’s Creek, and it’s the town’s main stage, with shops, restaurants and docks. Walk it at least twice, once in the morning and once at sunset. Look across the water while you’re at it, because the wild horses are sometimes visible on the far shore.

4. Explore the Beaufort Historic Site

The Josiah Bell House at the Beaufort Historic Site. Photo: Willthacheerleader18 via Wikimedia Commons, CC0

At 130 Turner Street, the Beaufort Historic Site has nine buildings managed by the Beaufort Historical Association. The association has also offered a narrated double-decker bus tour in season, which is a fun way to see the town, so ask what’s running when you visit.

5. Tour the Old Burying Ground

The Old Burying Ground in Beaufort, North Carolina — The Old Burying Ground in Beaufort. Photo: Indy beetle via Wikimedia Commons, CC0

The Old Burying Ground at 400 Ann Street is among the most atmospheric spots in North Carolina, with live oaks and old graves that have stories attached. The most famous grave belongs to a little girl who, as the legend goes, died at sea and was brought home preserved in a keg of rum, and visitors still leave her toys and trinkets. Look too for Captain Otway Burns’s tomb, topped with a cannon from his ship, the Snap Dragon. Guided tours run in summer and you can walk it on your own, but be respectful, as this is still a sacred place.

6. Join a Pirate Walk

A historic house in Beaufort, on the old streets the walking tours cover. Photo: Willthacheerleader18 via Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Beaufort leans happily into its pirate past. Port City Tour Company offers a Pirate Walk and a Ghost Walk, which make a fun way to spend an evening. If you’re around in August, the town’s Pirate Invasion takes this to another level, and kids absolutely love it.

7. Kayak Taylor’s Creek

A sailboat on the Beaufort waterfront, along Taylor's Creek — A sailboat on the Beaufort waterfront, along Taylor’s Creek. Photo: Willthacheerleader18 via Wikimedia Commons, CC0

The water here is calm, and you can launch from Front Street or rent from Beaufort Paddle across the causeway. At low tide, you can look for sand dollars. Keep an eye on boat traffic and the current, and head out early to avoid the afternoon wind.

8. See the Wild Horses of the Rachel Carson Reserve

Wild horses on Carrot Island in the Rachel Carson Reserve. Photo: Bonnie Gruenberg via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Across Taylor’s Creek, the Rachel Carson Reserve is home to wild horses, which you can reach by kayak or boat. It’s a delicate, protected place. Watch from a distance, don’t feed or approach the horses, and leave only footprints.

9. Take the Boat to Shackleford Banks

A wild pony grazing on Shackleford Banks in Cape Lookout National Seashore — A wild pony on Shackleford Banks. Photo: Lori von Gretener via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

About 15 minutes by boat, Shackleford Banks is an uninhabited island where wild horses roam a beach you can walk for miles. Confirm your return boat before you leave, allow at least two hours on the island, and bring water and sunscreen, as shade is very limited. It’s the single best day trip from town.

10. Go Out to Cape Lookout

The diamond-patterned Cape Lookout Lighthouse rising over the dunes of Core Banks — Cape Lookout Lighthouse. Photo: Jarek Tuszyński via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Farther out, the diamond-patterned Cape Lookout Lighthouse stands on miles of undeveloped sand. Some guides still tell you that you can climb it, but it has been closed for a stabilization project, so check with the National Park Service. It’s still worth the trip for the shelling and the emptiness.

11. Shop the Farmers’ Market

Sweet potatoes at a Carolina farmers market — Illustrative photo: sweet potatoes at a Carolina farmers market. Photo: TheDigitel Beaufort via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

The Olde Beaufort Farmers’ Market at 300 Courthouse Square runs on Saturday mornings, typically from mid-April to mid-November, with a holiday market in December. It’s a good place to pick up local produce and crafts, and to get a sense of town life beyond the waterfront.

12. Eat by the Water

Homes along the Beaufort waterfront, a short stroll from the restaurants. Photo: Willthacheerleader18 via Wikimedia Commons, CC0

For a waterfront dinner, try Moonrakers at 326 Front Street, with its Sky Deck, or Clawson’s 1905 Restaurant at 425 Front. Beaufort Grocery Company at 117 Queen Street does sandwiches at lunch and fine dining at dinner. Fishtowne Brew House at 33-B Turner Street is a good choice for a local beer.

13. Visit Fort Macon and Atlantic Beach

The restored brick walls of Fort Macon at Fort Macon State Park near Atlantic Beach — Fort Macon, a restored pre-Civil War fort. Photo: DiscoA340 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

About 15 minutes away, Fort Macon State Park has a restored pre-Civil War fort, free day use, and a beach for swimming. Combine it with the boardwalk at Atlantic Beach for an easy day trip. You’ll be glad of the variety if you’re staying for several days.

14. Ride to Ocracoke

A North Carolina state ferry arriving from Ocracoke Island — A ferry arriving from Ocracoke. Photo: Myoder006 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Under an hour away, Cedar Island has a state ferry to Ocracoke, one of the great island escapes on the East Coast. The crossing takes about two and a quarter hours each way, so plan on a whole day, or better yet, stay overnight. Reservations are a good idea in summer, as the ferry can fill.

Best Free Things to Do in Beaufort

The Maritime Museum is free, and so are Front Street, the Watercraft Center and looking for horses across the creek. If you visit the Old Burying Ground on your own, you might be asked for a small donation. Sunset from the docks costs nothing and is still the best show in town.

When to Visit Beaufort and How Long to Stay

Spring brings the Wine and Food Festival in April and the Music Festival and Wooden Boat Show in May. Summer means warm water and full boats. Fall is a local favorite for its cooler air, and December has the Christmas Flotilla and Candlelight Tour. Two nights is a good minimum, or three with a boat trip.

Where to next? Browse our North Carolina guides for more of the coast and the mountains, or see all our travel guides on Decidel.

How we checked this guide: hours, fees and rules were checked against official and published sources in November 2026. They can change, so confirm with the venue before you go.