2 Best Sights in Beaufort, The North Carolina Coast

In the center of town, the historic site consists of 10 buildings dating from 1732 to 1859, including the 1796 Carteret County Courthouse and the 1859 Apothecary Shop and Doctor's Office. Don't miss the Old Burying Grounds (1709), where Otway Burns, a privateer in the War of 1812, is buried under his ship's cannon; a nine-year-old girl who died at sea is buried in a rum keg; and an English soldier saluting the king is buried upright in his grave. Tours of the entire 12-block historic site, which is now on the National Register of Historic Places, either on an English-style double-decker bus or by guided walk, depart from the visitor center. For a self-guided tour, download the free walking tour brochure from the website and put on your walking shoes—Beaufort has about 150 historic houses with plaques that list their date of construction and original owner.

An exhibit about the infamous pirate Blackbeard includes artifacts recovered from the discovery of his flagship, Queen Anne's Revenge, near Beaufort Inlet. Other exhibits feature coastal culture and the state's rich marine science history. You'll see model ships of all sizes, fossils, duck decoys, and a full-scale shark lunging out from the wall. The associated Watercraft Center, across the street, has lectures and classes on boatbuilding, and you can see various projects under construction.