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Beaufort crowned “Best Small Town for Adventure” in America by USA Today

The small coastal town of Beaufort, North Carolina has received national attention for their big experiences for adventure. USA Today 10Best’s crowned Beaufort the “Best Small Town for Adventure” in America.

“From the wild horses on Shackleford Banks to boating, fishing and kayaking the many waterways and marshes of the Inner Banks, Beaufort, North Carolina is an outdoors Mecca,” say 10Best contributors Cele and Lynn Seldon. The Boathouse Marina offers easy access to the Intracoastal Waterway and Atlantic Ocean, and it’s also possible to drop a kayak into Taylor’s Creek for a paddle. Charter companies facilitate offshore fishing and diving, and the Rachel Carson Reserve sets the scene for wildlife watching.”

Where your Outer Banks adventure begins.

Situated on ten acres, the Beaufort Hotel offers the privacy of a boutique hotel within minutes to some of the best experiences you’ll enjoy on the Southern Outer Banks.

Discover, experience, and explore Beaufort during your stay – named the ”Best Small Town for Adventure” in America by USA Today.

The Beaufort Hotel is a private escape that’s open to every kind of adventure you can imagine. We encourage you to explore Beaufort like a local, as we give you a slice of what it’s like to live here on the Crystal Coast.

Dozens of Must Do Adventures During Your Stay

Adventures on Land

Your coastal North Carolina adventure starts here! Create a memorable experience by visiting Beaufort’s local attractions. Discover, experience, and explore Beaufort, North Carolina during your stay. Our staff can assist you in enjoying any of our activities.

Girlfriend Getaways

The perfect destination for a girlfriend getaway.

Girlfriend Getaways

Old Burying Ground

Visit the weather tombstones of military heroes, privateers, and famous local residents.

Golf Cart Rentals

Getting around Beaufort on your own golf cart is an easy. Available at the Beaufort Hotel.

Historic Buildings

Explore the two acre area site of ten buildings with six authentically restored.

Whisky Tasting

Make your day an adventure and try the Beaufort Hotel’s Maker’s Mark Private Select® Bourbon.

Bird Watching

Discover the coastal habitats where more than 200 species of birds have been observed

Coastal Romance

Enjoy the relaxed elegance of our boutique hotel for your romantic getaway.

Boat Building

The rich heritage of wooden boat building comes alive in an authentic boat shop.

Ghost Walk

Your haunted guide, who shares their own Beaufort stories from the Golden Age of Piracy.

Pirate Blackbeard

Discover the artifacts from Blackbeard’s flagship, Queen Anne’s Revenge, In 1718.

Hiking

Fort Macon State Park offers three hiking trails including one along the beach.

Golf

The Beaufort Club features a top ranked 18-hole golf course minutes from the Beaufort Hotel.

Fort Tours

Explore a surviving examples of 19th century military architecture and fortification.

Core Sound Heritage

This unique museum will provide you with an understanding the Down East local culture.

Baseball Champions

Enjoy an adventure at the ballpark to see our Morehead City Marlins, back-to-back baseball champions.

Sharks

Your adventure awaits as you come face to face with a tiger shark at the North Carolina Aquarium.

Farmers' Market

Shop locally with farmers, fishermen and artisans at the Olde Beaufort Farmer’s Market.

Decoy Carving

Youngsters learn how to carve and paint ducks with the Core Sound Decoy Carvers Guild.

Double-Decker Bus

Hop aboard a 1967 English double-decker bus and learn the tales of Beaufort’s past.

Adventures on the Water

Create a memorable experience with an adventure on the water. Discover and experience these activities on the water during your stay at the Beaufort Hotel. Several of these adventures are personalized experiences and depart from the Beaufort Hotel.

Cape Lookout

Cape Lookout National Seashore is known for its iconic lighthouse and shimmering.

Shackleford Banks

The descendants of the Spanish Mustangs may have survived a shipwreck 400 years ago.

Rachel Carson Tours

Explore Rachel Carson Reserve with your own personal guide. Boat departs from the Beaufort Hotel.

Rachel Carson Reserve

Explore Rachel Carson Reserve.

Sand Dollar Island

This sandbar offers the best hunting grounds for sand dollars for the entire family,

Radio Island

Take a stroll along the beach where the waves are gentle and the views are outstanding.

Shelling Safari

Discover the wild horses and explore one of the best shelling destinations on the East Coast.

Catamaran Sailing

Experience a memorable sail with cool breezes, saltwater, and breathtaking scenery.

Paddle Boarding

First timers and experts will enjoy paddling the local waters for a lasting memory.

Kayaking

Your kayak adventure will give you the time of your life as you paddle Taylor’s Creek..

Kayak Tours

Your adventure will take you places to see blue crabs, hermit crabs, and oysters.

Kayak Fishing

Discover why the waterways of Eastern North Carolina are an angler’s paradise.

Scuba Diving

The legendary shipwrecks from the Graveyard of the Atlantic often come with tragic tales.

Wreck Diving

The legendary shipwrecks from the Graveyard of the Atlantic often come with tragic tales.

Beaufort Dolphins

A daily morning sail up the river will take you where the dolphin come to play.

Tiki Cruise

Every tiki boat cruise is a unique Crystal Coast adventure. Boat departs from the Beaufort Hotel.

Island Boat Tours

Enjoy 360-degree views as you look for dolphins, horses, marine life, and shore birds.

Sunset Cruise

See the red and yellow North Carolina sunsets as you sail out to sea.

Beach Shuttle Trucks

Learn about the Cape’s history and ecology as you ride in comfort to the Point at Cape Lookout.

Kubota UTVs

Enjoy the scenic landscape of Cape Lookout by renting a new Kubota UTV and explore the island.

Surf/Shore Fishing

Enjoy a personal lesson on how to fish from the shore. Boat departs from the Beaufort Hotel.

Seining & Casting

Try your hand at seining or cast fishing on the Crystal Coast. Boat departs from the Beaufort Hotel.

Family Fishing

Create a vacation memory with a family fishing adventure. Boat departs from the Beaufort Hotel.

Clamming

Search and catch your very own clams with your guide. Boat departs from the Beaufort Hotel.

Crabbing

Learn how to harvest crabs the way the local watermen do. Boat departs from the Beaufort Hotel.

Adventures in the Air

If you are looking to see the Crystal Coast from a different point of view, you’ve come to the right place. These breathtaking views from the sky are the ultimate adventure experiences on the Southern Outer Banks.

Sky Diving

Experience an adrenaline rush like never before with tandem jump from 9,000 feet in the sky.

Parasailing

Every seat is a window seat with incredible views as you fly hundreds of feet in the air.

Airplane Tours

You’ll enjoy a bird’s eye aerial view of the Crystal Coast as you venture out in the air.

a close up of a sail boat on the ocean

two wild horses on a a seashore