Sunny Days &
Rainy-Day Plans
Everything to do around Atlantic Beach and the Crystal Coast, in one place: filter by type of activity or by indoor/outdoor below, or just scroll from the house outward. Card titles link straight to each place’s website where one exists.
Atlantic Beach
~1–3 Miles · Right Outside Your DoorEverything here is a short walk, bike ride, or drive from the house.
AB Watersports
Jet ski, pontoon, kayak, and paddleboard rentals right on the causeway, plus guided jet ski tours out to Cape Lookout. Deep-sea and inshore fishing charters also run daily out of Atlantic Beach’s marinas.
Atlantic Beach Town Park
A family-friendly park just off The Circle with mini golf, a splash pad, a skate park, and a basketball court. Catch the free Friday-night summer movie series on the lawn in season.
Champions of Atlantic Beach
A full-service gym right on Fort Macon Road: cardio, free weights, and group fitness classes, all indoors. Day and week passes are available for visitors.
Fort Macon State Park
A restored 1830s coastal fort with a small museum, ranger-guided tours, and a lifeguarded swimming beach. One of the most-visited state parks in North Carolina. And one of the closest attractions to the house. The visitor center and casemate rooms are covered, so it also works as a rainy-day pick.
Hoop Pole Creek Nature Trail
An easy 1-mile round-trip walk through maritime forest to a salt marsh overlook, mostly boardwalk and paved trail. A nice option for young kids or anyone who wants shade over sand for an hour.
Oceanana Pier
A working fishing pier since 1959, stretching nearly 1,000 feet into the Atlantic. Great for pier fishing, sunrise or sunset walks, or a meal at the Pier House Restaurant overlooking the water.
The Circle & Boardwalk
The heart of Atlantic Beach: a small, charming boardwalk with beach access, playgrounds, volleyball courts, outdoor showers, and a cluster of shops and eateries right on the sand.
Capt. Stacy Fishing Center
Deep-sea and offshore fishing out of Atlantic Beach for over 60 years, including headboat trips for snapper, grouper, and sea bass.
Fisherman’s Inn Charters
Inshore fishing and scuba diving charters aboard Captain Al’s Mutiny II, docked right on the causeway.
Pelagic Sportfishing
Owner-operated offshore charters aboard a 61-foot boat, chasing tuna, wahoo, and billfish in the Gulf Stream, plus nearshore half-day trips.
AB Bike & Beach Rentals
E-bikes, beach chairs, umbrellas, surfboards, and shibumis, delivered or ready to grab and go. “Visit the beach, leave the gear to us.”
70 East Custom Carts AB
Golf cart rentals for cruising around town, with a wide selection of clean, well-maintained carts.
The Beauty Barge
Private boat charters out on the water, right from the causeway: a relaxed way to see the sound and coastline without the crowds.
Pine Knoll Shores
~5 Miles · ~12 MinA short drive down Bogue Banks brings you to the Crystal Coast’s best-known attraction. Plus quieter nature spots next door to it.
Aquarium Kayak & Paddle Programs
Guided kayak and stand-up paddleboard trips through the calm sound-side waters around Pine Knoll Shores, led by aquarium educators. Scheduled seasonally; spots fill fast in summer.
NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
A “mountains to the sea” journey through North Carolina’s aquatic habitats: river otters, a stingray touch tank, sharks, and rare sea turtles. Fully indoor and built for a rainy day, with an outdoor nature trail along the marsh for sunny visits too. Budget around two hours.
Theodore Roosevelt Natural Area
A quiet maritime forest preserve right next to the aquarium, with walking trails through one of the last undisturbed stretches of woods on Bogue Banks.
Salter Path & Indian Beach
~7–8 Miles · ~15–17 MinA small, low-key stretch of Bogue Banks with a couple of worthwhile stops.
Professor Hacker’s Lost Treasure Golf & Raceway
A pirate-themed mini golf course and go-kart track: 36 holes across two courses, plus bumper boats and an arcade. A reliable hit with kids.
Public Beach Access
Salter Path and Indian Beach have their own quieter public beach accesses if you want a change of scenery from Atlantic Beach’s more crowded stretches.
Morehead City
~7–8 Miles · ~15–17 MinThe largest town on the Crystal Coast, with a working waterfront and indoor options for a gray day.
Atlantic Station Cinema
A small, family-friendly movie theater right in Atlantic Beach. No need to leave the island for a matinee.
Charter Fishing & Diving
Morehead City’s docks are a launch point for half- and full-day charter fishing in the Gulf Stream, plus wreck diving. Several independent operators run out of the waterfront.
Escape Rooms & Laser Tag
Game On Escape Rooms offers themed puzzle rooms for ages 10 and up, while Battle Works combines laser tag, axe throwing, and nerf wars. Both in the Morehead City area.
The Waterfront
A scenic stretch along Bogue Sound with docks, boat tours, and dive charters. Watch the day’s catch come in, or just stroll and take in the sunset over the water.
Wine & Design
A paint-and-sip studio with a rotating calendar of guided art classes, from canvas painting to stained glass and candle making. A fun rainy-day option or girls’-night-out pick.
Beaufort & Shackleford Banks
~11–13 Miles · ~21–25 MinOne of North Carolina’s oldest towns, and the jumping-off point for the Crystal Coast’s wild horses.
Beaufort Historic Site
A two-acre collection of restored 18th- and 19th-century buildings in the heart of downtown, with costumed-interpreter guided tours through Beaufort’s early history.
Historic Front Street
A picturesque waterfront promenade along Taylor Creek lined with boutiques, galleries, and restaurants. Plus a good chance of spotting wild horses grazing across the water on the Rachel Carson Reserve.
NC Maritime Museum
Free exhibits on coastal life, shipwrecks, and lifesaving stations: including the official collection of artifacts recovered from Blackbeard’s flagship, Queen Anne’s Revenge.
Shackleford Banks Wild Horses
An undeveloped 9-mile barrier island: part of Cape Lookout National Seashore, home to roughly 100 wild Banker horses. Reach it by ferry from Beaufort; visitors are required to stay at least 50 feet from any horse. Excellent shelling and swimming too.
Island Express Ferry Service
The only ferry authorized to drop off at Cape Lookout Lighthouse and Shackleford Banks, departing from Beaufort and Harkers Island. Also offers UTV rentals on Cape Lookout and special sunset and dolphin-watching cruises.
Island Ferry Adventures
A different set of docks than Island Express: this ferry runs to Bird Shoal Beach, Carrot Island, and Sand Dollar Island in the Rachel Carson Reserve, all uninhabited and great for shelling, swimming, and spotting wild horses.
Beaufort Pirates Revenge
A family-friendly pirate cruise aboard the Revenge, a 40-foot replica ship, with sword fights, sing-alongs, and water cannon battles for treasure. A seasonal Ghost Float haunted cruise runs after dark.
Emerald Isle
~17–19 Miles · ~30–32 MinThe western end of Bogue Banks, with some of the widest beaches on the island.
Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier
A 1,000-foot pier at the west end of the island: a solid spot for black drum, red drum, Spanish mackerel, and an easy way to spend an afternoon without a boat.
Bowling & Arcade
Mac Daddy’s in Emerald Isle rounds out the indoor-entertainment options with bowling, an arcade, and a sports bar: a good pick for a group with mixed ages.
Emerald Isle Woods Park
A 41-acre nature preserve with trails through maritime forest, boardwalk access and a kayak launch on Bogue Sound, picnic areas, and a 9-hole disc golf course. Dog-friendly.
Emerald Plantation Cinema
Emerald Isle’s own hometown theater: a locally owned, small-screen alternative on the west end of the island.
The Point
One of the biggest and prettiest beaches on Bogue Banks, at the far western tip of Emerald Isle. Beach driving is allowed with a permit during certain seasons: a favorite spot for sunset.
Distances are estimated driving distance from 205 Barefoot Lane and will vary a bit with traffic and exact route: a GPS app will get you the precise number. Hours, fees, ferry schedules, and even websites and phone numbers for small local businesses can change; we’ve verified what’s listed here as of this writing, but it’s worth a quick check before you head out. See our Shopping guide for boutiques and gift shops, and Where To Eat & Drink for coffee, bars, and restaurants. Have a favorite spot we should add? Let us know.