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! 

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!