Travel Guide Beaufort

Beaufort, a small town of 4,000 people, is located at Cape Lookout National Seashore, at the southern tip of the Outer Banks. Founded in 1709, it is the third oldest city in North Carolina, after Bath and Edenton. The two cities closest to Beaufort are Morehad City and Atlantic Beach, both to the west, on the other side of Harlowe Creek, respectively 4 and 6 miles off Route 70. From Beaufort, Route 70 continues along the coast to Atlantic and Cedar Island, 38 miles away. The islands facing the city, including Carrot Island, are home to Rachel Carson Reserve. About forty wild horses live there permanently. In other words, more than 110 horses occupy the Shackleford Banks further south. Despite a similar spelling, Beaufort differs phonetically from its neighbour in South Carolina, whose name is pronounced "Biaufort". The Beaufort Historic District is accessible by foot or even by bike because the distances are so short to go from one end to the other. There is only one mile between the two ends of Front Street. Walking through the nearby streets, we discover an impressive number of classified residences, including Hammock House, the oldest (1709). It was off Beaufort in 1718 that the pirate Blackbeard (real name Edward Teach) sank his ship, the Queen Anne's Revenge. The wreck was found in 1996 and many objects that were on board (guns, grenades, belt buckles...) are now on display at the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort.