The Crystal Coast of North Carolina has been one of our family’s favorite beach destinations on the East Coast of the United States for more than a decade. There is so much to do, yet it isn’t as crowded as some other beaches. It truly is a gem! In this article, I’ll share some of our favorite activities and things to do when we visit!
1. Enjoy the beaches
There is so much fun to be had along the Crystal Coast of North Carolina. My favorite activities are taking a walk on the beach or sitting under an umbrella, enjoying the waves crashing in while I read a book. Truly, I always feel most relaxed near the water. Also, every so often we are able to spot dolphins in the water along the Crystal Coast, so be on the lookout as you relax on the beach! We typically stay in Salter Path, right between Atlantic Beach and Emerald Isle beach.
2. North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
If it’s a rainy day, or you’ve had too much sunshine (we’ve all been there, right, Northerners?! Haha), it’s time to head to the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores! We love how this aquarium starts with the mountains and heads to the sea. It’s such a cool concept, and you get to learn all about North Carolina’s waterways and ecosystem. I always find it so interesting to compare the freshwater fish and animals to the saltwater ones!
We even had the opportunity, since there were still spots available, to take the behind the scenes tour of the aquarium and get a look behind the curtain! We learned so much about how to care for sea turtles, what to actually do if you’re stung by a jellyfish, and even got to feed the fish and sharks at the end! This is great for upper elementary school kids or older. It was a great time and so informational! I’d certainly go back to learn more! Our tour guide, Kayla, was fantastic and answered all of our questions about how the animals are fed, and how they check each tank’s water chemistry! Thanks, Kayla!
At the time I wrote this article, The aquarium costs $12.95 per adult and $10.95 per youth. For the behind-the-scenes tour, it costs an extra $20 per person.
3. Shark Tooth Island
We’ve been coming to the Crystal Coast for more than a decade but had never heard of Shark Tooth Island until one of my coworkers told us we had to check it out!
Basically, there is an island near Swansboro that is loaded with shark’s teeth and shells! Due to the currents and tides, this island is perfect for finding these fossils.
We used Pogie’s Fishing & Kayaking to get over to the island. You can kayak, but the six of us went by boat. We stayed for around 2 hours on the island and found over 300 shark’s teeth altogether! We had a wonderful time and wish we would have known about this sooner and stayed longer! It’s super fun to make it a little competition to see who can find the most or the biggest tooth! We learned it is best to go during low tide to cover more surface area to find the teeth and shells!
I highly recommend doing this and using Pogie’s! For the summer season, they are even taking a boat around with fresh-squeezed lemonade, orangeade, water, and snacks to some of the islands and kayakers while you’re out near the water and hot sun! We got to try out their first ever test batch, and it was delicious and refreshing! If you plan to use Pogie’s, their boat can take up to 6 people at a time.
4. Fort Macon State Park
Fort Macon State Park is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year! If you’re a history buff or like to visit military sites, this is a stop for you.
This fort was built before the Civil War in 1826 and was reopened for use during WWII! We enjoyed learning the history of the fort, and they even have a section about the original construction costs, as well as the architectural designs. It was really fascinating!
There is also a beach and hiking trails to enjoy at the state park. It is always fun when you can combine outdoor recreation with a little bit of history sprinkled in too!
5. Mini Golf
Mini golf is one of our favorite family activities! We all get very competitive!
The Crystal Coast has many places where you can play mini golf. Our favorites are Lost Treasure Golf & Raceway, as well as MacDaddy’s Golfin Dolphin mini golf! Both spots offer more than just mini golf, so you can make a whole evening of games, fun, and competition.
6. Cape Lookout National Seashore
If you love checking out lighthouses and enjoy a nice boat ride, make sure to head to Cape Lookout National Seashore. The only way to get to the lighthouse is by boat. The ferry over to the island is even dog-friendly, so we were able to take Denali with us when we went to explore!
It is also considered an International Dark Sky Park, so it is stunning for stargazing too! Additionally, this is a national seashore, so if you have a National Parks passport, you can get it stamped! We love taking our passport books to all the National Parks! It is so fun and an easy memento of so many awesome experiences and trips wrapped up in one little booklet!
The ferry costs $24 per person, $17 per child, and $7 per pet (leashed). It is about a 15-20 minute ride out to Cape Lookout. During the busy season, the ferry runs every 30 minutes.
When we head to Emerald Isle, NC, we always book with Bluewater Vacation Rentals! For the past two visits, we have rented a condo at Grande Villas. Some of the rentals here are pet-friendly, just make sure you read the information on the site to ensure the condo you are renting allows pets.
It has a great ocean view, a gated dog park, a game room, a fitness center, a pool, and beach access! We highly recommend booking with Bluewater and staying at Grande Villas! Denali loved it too and made a friend at the dog park!
Have you been to the Crystal Coast of North Carolina? What was your favorite beach or spot? Are there any hidden gem activities you like to do?
Wx Shield 
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