200 Things to Do on your Crystal Coast Vacation
200 Things to Do on your Crystal Coast Vacation (While Staying Safe)
Whether you’re a first-time vacationer or you’ve been vacationing with us for years, you won’t run out of things to do on the Crystal Coast. And to make sure you don’t miss a minute of fun, we’ve come up with 200 things to do on your Crystal Coast vacation. Go ahead, build your best itinerary and make the most of your time off!
1 – Take an Eco-Tour with H20 Captain
2 – Search for the beach for shark teeth
3 – Fly a kite
4 – Watch for dolphins playing in the surf
5 – Build a sandcastle
6 – Explore historic Fort Macon in Atlantic Beach
7 – Look for the biggest seashell at low tide
8 – Take a tour of scenic Beaufort
9 – Scuba the Graveyard of the Atlantic
10 – Soak up the sun on the white sandy beaches
11 – Start a body surfing or boogie boarding competition with your friends
12 – Order curbside pickup from our local restaurants
13 – Experience the Oxygen Bar at Infuse Wellness
14 – Strawberry picking at Garner Farms
15 – Pack a lunch and have a picnic at Fort Macon State Park
16 – Have a cup of coffee with your pup at Muttigans in Emerald Isle
17 – Visit the local book store on Emerald Isle
18 – Search for murals in downtown Morehead City
19 – Try an online yoga or workout video on the beach
20 – Feed the turtles at Emerald Plantation
21 – Walk the trails in the Emerald Forest Park off of Coast Guard Road
22 – Play a round of golf at Star Hill
23 – Go bowling or play arcade games at MacDaddys
24 – Book a fishing charter with Capt Stacy
25 – Have an in-home scavenger hunt with the kids in your vacation home
26 – Bike the Emerald Isle Bike Trail
27 – Go to a Marlins’ baseball game
28 – Watch the fishing charters unload the daily catch on the Morehead City waterfront
29 – Take lots of photos to enter into our annual Bluewater Photo Contest
30 – Load up on some of the state’s best wine at the Wine Market in Emerald Isle
31 – Take a moonlight cruise
32 – Wade offshore of Bogue Sound to clam or cast a net
33 – Walk to the end of the Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier for a wonderful view
34 – Get a fishing license
35 – Witness the baby sea turtles hatch and make a run for the ocean in the early summer evenings
36 – Drop a crab pot off your sound front pier and check it daily for fresh crabs
37 – Surf-fish from the beach and see what you can catch
38 – Bask in the sun at Hammocks Beach State Park
39 – Host an evening beach party
40 – Take a step back in history on a self-walking tour of the Beaufort Historic Site
41 – Play a game of beach Ultimate Frisbee
42 – Have family ice cream sundae night with all the toppings
43 – Hunt for sea glass along the shore; blue and purple are rare finds
44 – Stroll down the docks at the Morehead City waterfront
45 – Interact with the marine life in tidal pools along the coast
46 – Search for sand dollars in the surf
47 – Watch the military planes fly down the coast
48 – Take a walk through the shops in historic downtown Swansboro
49 – Pick up a few comic books at Book Beach Mart
50 – Whale watch at Cape Lookout and the Bogue Inlet Pier
51 – Take a selfie at The Point in Emerald Isle
52 – Check out the local catch on the Bogue Inlet Pier
53 – Go bird watching in Emerald Woods
54 – Learn about and go clamming from local experts
55 – Spark some romance with a walk on the beach at sunset
56 – Launch your kayak at the Emerald Isle boat ramp and explore the sound
57 – Start a game of beach football
58 – See what gets washed up on shore after a big storm
59 – Take a sequence of photos of the sunrises and sunsets
60 – Watch the big ships dock at the State Port in Morehead City
61 – Chase Ghost Crabs along the shore after dark; they’re pretty fast and tricky
62 – Play volleyball at the Atlantic Beach Circle or the Emerald Isle Beach Access
63 – Rent a jet ski and explore
64 – Spend the day exploring the many islands along the Crystal Coast
65 – Try your hand at paddle boarding
66 – Pick up the Crystal Coast Series by author Chrissy Lessey
67 – Draw pictures in the sand
68 – Shop til you drop at Island Clothing
69 – Go for a ride on an authentic Banana Boat
70 – Walk under the Bogue Inlet Pier and take a family picture
71 – Count the seconds between waves breaking on the beach; you will notice a pattern
72 – Look for shapes in the clouds as they blow in the breeze
73 – Watch the windsurfers battle the ocean’s current
74 – Charter a cruise for your whole party with Waterbug Tours
75 – Play a game of Bocce Ball with those around you
76 – Dig a hole and bury someone to their waist
77 – Grab the Geneva Chase Mystery Series and get them autographed by local author, Tom Kies
78 – Bury your toes in the warm sand
79 – Take a trip to Shark Tooth Island
80 – Take a walk along the Emerald Isle Bike Path
81 – Play a game of Horseshoes on the beach
82 – Catch Sandfiddler crabs in the surf
83 – Throw a cast net into the sound to see what you catch
84 – Walk the path through Emerald Isle and visit the shops along the way
85 – Look for starfish in the surf
86 – Go to an event featured on our event calendar
87 – Visit Blu Sail Golitz Pottery in Downtown Morehead
88 – Create your very own treasure adventure – bury treasures for your friends and family to find
89 – Skip cooking and grab some BBQ at Moore’s Barbeque
90 – Order your “Bring the party home” paint kit from Wine and Design in Morehead City
91 – Rent bikes and enjoy the outdoors like a local
92 – Or, try an electric bike rental from Pedego Electric Bikes
93 – Enjoy the outdoors by bike on Swansboro’s 25-mile bike trail along the water and through the Croatan National Forest
94 – Take your dog on a tour of all the local dog-friendly spots
95 – Enjoy a nature tour on Taylor’s Creek ending at Carrot Island through The Rachel Carson National Estuarine Research office
96 – Put on your bathing suit and hit the Salty Pirate Water Park
97 – Paddleboard the Bogue Sound
98 – Sample locally brewed beer from Crystal Coast Brewing in Atlantic Beach
99 – Visit the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores and explore all the exhibits indoors and out
100 – Get breakfast or lunch catered to you by The Village Market
101 – Plan some playtime at the Splash Pad in the Atlantic Beach Park
102 – Watch the Musket firing at Fort Macon
103 – Walk through the gardens at Tryon Palace
104 – Visit the birthplace of Pepsi
105 – See how many bears you can count in Downtown New Bern
106 – Go to a race at the Carteret Speedway
107 – Visit the Civil War Memorial Park in Newport
108 – Ride the double-decker bus in Beaufort
109 – Have a front porch photo shoot done by a local photographer
110 – Explore the Boathouse Creek Walking Trails in Cedar Point
111 – Play a round of frisbee golf in the Emerald Forest Park
112 – Have a self-care day with an in-home facial mask, massage, or yoga session
113 – Donate snacks and food at the Emerald Isle Food Lion for Backpack for Kids
114 – Have dinner and drinks outdoors at RuckerJohns
115 – Take a tour of Bogue Sound Distillery
116 – Pick up brunch to go at 34 Degrees North in Beaufort, NC
117 – Or have brunch outdoors at Boro in Swansboro
118 – Beaufort Grocery offers daily specials with curbside pickup – including brunch
119 – Enjoy coffee outdoors at Reeds Coffee in Morehead City
120 – Grab some fresh produce at The Market at Cedar Point
121 – Try making a local favorite, Tomato Pie, with a recipe from local blogger, The Blond Cook
122 – Create a hand-drawn beach scene with items you find in the sand
123 – Plan a day in Swansboro with our guide to the best things to do in Swansboro
124 – Grab a Liege Waffle or Hibiscus Iced Tea at Milk Road
125 – Have an at-home movie night filled with popcorn, candy, snacks, and the latest premier
126 – Comb the beach for sea glass to make a one-of-a-kind bracelet
127 – Tour the local historic sites
128 – Taking the boat out for the day? Promise Land Market in Morehead City offers boat snacks to go
129 – Ride the ferry to Ocracoke and take the kids to see the Ocracoke Banker Ponies
130 – Go on a Hungry Town Bike Tour
131 – Have a quiet dinner for two on Intercoastal at Amos Mosquitos in Atlantic Beach
132 – ake the Wild Horse and Dolphin Sunset Cruise with Crystal Coast Lady Cruises
133 – Go hang gliding with Kitty Hawk Kites
134 – Go skydiving
135 – Grab cupcakes or a coke float at Happy Cakes in MHC
136 – Visit the Maritime Museum in Beaufort
137 – Gather unique rocks, paint them and place them around town
138 – Try your hand at Axe Throwing or a Rage Room
139 – Go-kart race at Fun World Motorsports
140 – Order fresh local produce, shrimp, and eggs through our VSA program
141 – Play Pokemon Go all around the coast
142 – Make fresh fruit popsicles to enjoy with family and friends
143 – Pick up one of our local versions of Monopoly and other board games for hours of fun
144 – Visit Beaufort’s Old Burial Grounds dating as far back as the 1700s
145 – Take your four-legged friend on a walk on the bike path or beach
146 – Complete a puzzle or two
147 – Make a Pandora or Spotify playlist for the beach
148 – Play your favorite music and have a dance party in your vacation rental
149 – Learn a TikTok dance
150 – Watch the wild horses run on Shackleford Banks and Carrot Island
151 – Go Geo Cashing around town. It’s like a giant treasure hunt. See www.geocaching.com/play
152 – Learn to surf or stand up paddleboard
153 – Visit Tryon Palace, explore on your own or take a guided tour
154 – Create new family traditions
155 – Have a free taste of Ice Cream or a free piece of Salt Water Taffy at Sweet Spot in Emerald Isle
156 – Pick up some local postcards and mail them to friends back home
157 – Catch a ferry from Morehead City, Beaufort, or Harkers Island and explore to your heart’s content
158 – Gather the family and make homemade pizzas
159 – Plan a Taco Tuesday night with fresh local ingredients
160 – Double kayak with the one you love most
161 – Make a beach bucket list for your next vacation
162 – Wander through the Carteret County Curb Market in Morehead City
163 – Visit Blackbeard’s House in Beaufort to hear some spooky tales
164 – Enjoy the Summer Concert Series at Fort Macon
165 – Camp out at Hammocks Beach State Park
166 – Take part in the traditional cannon firing at Fort Macon State Park
167 – Explore Down East heritage at the Core Sound Museum in Harkers Island
168 – Pick up a plain dozen of donuts and have a donut decorating competition
169 – If the rain rolls in, do the rain clouds in a jar science project with your kids
170 – Spend the day exploring the many islands along the Crystal Coast
171 – DIY candles with a large shell from the beach
172 – Watch the experts slow cook a feast at the Newport Pig Pickin’
173 – Catch the fast boat races in the Crystal Coast Grand Prix in September
174 – Watch a free outdoor movie in Atlantic Beach every Wednesday night starting at dusk in the Circle
175 – Super glue small shells to the end of bobby pins to make a cute new hair clip
176 – Go live online from your vacation home
177 – Try your hand at the Morehead City Seafood Festival Flounder Fling during the festival
178 – Play a game of beach soccer
179 – Plan a sunrise walk on the beach
180 – Skate the bike path
181 – Grab some flashlights and tell ghost stories all night long
182 – Plan a trip to Sunset Slush for classic Italian Ice
183 – Hit up a local wine shop and have a wine and cheese pairing
184 – Paint and design your own Oyster Shell ring dish
185 – Grab dessert or a fancy shake at Dinis Martinis
186 – Try some authentic Atlantic Beach Pie
187 – Build a pillow fort with your kids in a common room of your vacation rental
188 – Use #BluewaterNC on social media to share your photos and videos
189 – Blog your Crystal Coast vacation and add to it each year
190 – Play a game of cards with your family or friends
191 – Take your own culinary tour and try these local seafood and southern cuisine favorites
192 – Plan a pop-up picnic
193 – Have morning mimosas on the beach
194 – Make and enjoy a charcuterie board
195 – Spend the day exploring Village West on Emerald Isle
196 – Explore Rocket Fizz on Emerald Isle and grab a cold specialty soda
197 – Take your boat out to a sandbar island in the middle of Bogue Sound for a beach day all to yourself
198 – Take a sketch pad and pencil and sketch your family playing on the beach
199 – Want to move here? Start virtually house hunting with one of our agents!
200 – Have a blast and make memories that will last a lifetime!
Which one of these is your favorite idea? What did we miss? What would you add to this list?
