Beaufort is a city located in North Carolina, USA, and, unlike its brother of the same name and spelling in South Carolina, this one is pronounced boh-fart, instead of the former’s bew-fart. This city was founded in 1709 by the British, and it is considered the third-oldest city in North Carolina, right next to Bath and Edenton. This small and humble city houses a population of barely 4,000 and was named as “America’s Coolest Small Town” by readers of Budget Travel Magazine.
Beaufort is admired by many as one of the best places to go for a weekend getaway, which may be due to its overflowing history and architecture that the town has managed to perfectly maintain since the 18th century. From culture and romance to food and adventure, Beaufort caters to everyone. Here are the best things to do in this little city:
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1. Dine at one of Beaufort's favourite dining joints, Clawson's
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Sunshine is on the way and cooler temperatures! It’ll be a great afternoon and evening to visit #beaufortnc and Clawson’s Restaurant!
Posted by Clawson's 1905 Restaurant & Pub on Friday, November 13, 2020
Clawson’s regular menu does a great job of providing familiar, casual food, using local, fresh ingredients sourced from nearby farms and their own gardens. Clawson’s critic
The original Clawson’s brand was started by Charles and Mary Clawson, immigrants from Sweden and Ireland respectively. They were known for their bakery that is housed in probably the oldest building in the state, built in 1870 completely out of brick. When the store was destroyed by a hurricane, it moved to a re-established site in the north region of Front Street, where it is today.
However, the owners were forced to close the business in 1934 after failing to repay the mounting debts resulting from the Great Depression. The current owners of the building emphasised the need to preserve the history of the place by displaying memorabilia from Clawson’s grocery store as well as items from throughout the city’s history.
Today, the restaurant remains one of the top recommended and visited dining spots in the state, and serves up well-loved specialities including shrimp and grits, Shackleford scallop, and more. There is also a private dining room located on the third floor where wedding receptions, business gatherings, and private parties are held.
Clawson's
Address: 425 Front Street, Beaufort, NC
Website: Clawson’s
2. Admire Beaufort's dolphins
Beaufort has so many dolphins paying a visit that dolphin-lovers won’t even need a boat to catch a glimpse of these lovely mammals. There are several guided tours held in Beaufort that are conducted between the months of November and May.
The tour conducted by Lookout Adventures will take you on a relaxing and intimate cruise and you’ll be amazed at the Atlantic bottlenose dolphins that often show up in groups, calving and rearing their young near the inland bays and rivers.You’ll also be given plenty of interesting information by the captain and guides who are well versed in the biology and behaviour of these dolphins.
The tours host a maximum of 6 people and take place for about 2 hours. Besides the dolphins, you’ll also be able to admire the flora and fauna and scenic landscapes during the boat ride.
While nobody can ever guarantee wildlife sightings, Lookout Adventures will give you 100 USD off any future trips with the company if, for some reason, the dolphins do not show up.
If you’re not a fan of boats or being on the open water, just take a stroll along the boardwalk of Front Street and, with a little bit of luck, you’ll still be able to spot these lovely mammals. If you’re really lucky, you’ll be able to catch wild horses in the same frame, as well as the gorgeous sunset.
Private Dolphin Watch
Price: from 225 USD
Duration: around 2 hours required
Contact: (252) 515-0356
Website: Private Dolphin Watch
3. Go on a romantic sunset cruise
Beaufort is known for having beautiful sunsets that can be enjoyed almost every day. The people from Lookout Adventures also organise a sunset cruise tour that is perfect for those who just want a peaceful and relaxing activity tour. This tour will take you to see the gorgeous and scenic local waterfronts, islands, and landmarks while you admire the picturesque sunset.
You’ll be taken through historic and beautiful waterways where you’ll be greeted with amazing architectural gems, such as the Historic Beaufort Waterfront, Morehead City Waterfront, the NOAA Research Lab on Piver’s Island, the Rachel Carson Reserve, Ft. Macon, Shackleford Banks, and more. Food and drinks are allowed to be brought onto the boat or you can also purchase them at a reasonable fee.
This private sunset cruise caters to a maximum of 6 guests per tour and lasts for about 2.5 hours. Food that is available on board includes assorted sandwiches such as roasted turkey and avocado, BLT, bacon and turkey, and Mediterranean veggies.
Private Sunset Cruise
Price: from 325 USD
Duration: around 2.5 hours required
Website: Private Sunset Cruise
4. Go on the very thrilling Beaufort Ghost Walk
As mentioned before, “America’s best small town” is the third-oldest town in the state and, with that, there’s bound to be a whole ton of ghost stories and encounters that are just waiting to be brought up again and again. So why not take a guided ghost-walking tour and learn about the horrors and history of the more-than-300-years-old town?
Beaufort Ghost Walk is a guided walking tour where you’ll be entertained by guides dressed as pirates, taking you through Beaufort’s many “ghostly” places. These guides will entertain you throughout the whole tour with their never-ending assortment of haunting stories, tales of ghost ships and haunted houses, and interesting accounts of the history of Beaufort. You’ll also get to know about the unexplained ghostly encounters of the guests and guides of past walking tours. These stories aren’t fake or made up at all! In fact, they were extensively researched and well documented. They include the folklore and legends that have been carefully preserved from local generations.
This ghost walk is also one of the most famous activities in this small town, and it’s definitely not one to be missed! It’s perfect for thrill-seekers of all ages. It has received the thumbs up from families, kids, and the elderly. Don’t forget your camera!
Beaufort Ghost Walk
Address: 108 Middle Lane, Beaufort, NC 28516
Contact: (252) 772-9925
Website: Beaufort Ghost Walk
5. Get adventurous and go on a Wild Horse & Shelling Safari tour
The dolphins aren’t the only wild creatures residing in Beaufort, there’s also the wild horses! The wild horses of Shackleford Banks are on Shackleford Banks, an island just 15 minutes away from the city. These wild horses are said to be one of the last isolated group of horses in the United States of America that were descended from horses that were brought to the island over 400 years ago.
In this tour, you’ll be taken on a 15-minute ferry ride and arrive at Shackleford Banks where you can experience the behaviour of the wild horses, which will definitely be something that you will never forget! After the tour, you’ll be taken to one of the best shelling beaches in California, where you’ll be given free and easy shelling time at the beach where views of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse can also be enjoyed. Shackleford Banks is also known as one of the best islands for shelling and you can find conchs, whelks, queen’s helmets, Scotch bonnets, and many more.
Don’t forget to bring along your camera to capture these probably once-in-a-lifetime experiences with nature!
Wild Horse & Shelling Safari tour
Address: 702 Front Street, Beaufort, NC 28516
Contact: (252) 772 - 9925
Website: Wild Horse & Shelling Safari tour
So much to offer in a city so small
A city that houses barely over 4,000 people might leave people surprised when they find out that there’s actually so many unconventional things to do here. And indeed, these activities cater to every type of traveller, whether you’re seeking culture, good food, or even a new adventure! Add Beaufort to your North Carolina travel list and have a fantastic time.
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