North Carolina's 85-Mile Crystal Coast Is the Perfect Destination for Wildlife Viewing, Birdwatching, and Exploring Pristine Beaches

25.07.2023 - 10:22 / matadornetwork.com / Emerald Isle

The Crystal Coast, a beautiful 85-mile stretch of beaches on the southern Outer Banks of North Carolina, is a treasure trove of attractions and activities. This region includes several distinct communities such as Atlantic Beach, Beaufort, Pine Knoll Shores, Emerald Isle, Morehead City, and Cape Lookout, each offering its own charm and appeal. A trip to North Carolina’s central stretch of coastline gives you easy access to pristine beaches, top diving destinations, wildlife (including wild horses, sea turtles, dolphins, and more), and plenty of areas perfect for when you want to do nothing more than kick back and relax with a drink and a good meal.

Plan your visit at the right time and you’ll come across a music festival or two, though there’s truly never a bad time to visit in the warmer months.

Photo: Crystal Coast Tourism Authority

The best way to experience Crystal Coast is to immerse yourself in the outdoors. Whether you want a chill day laying out on the beach or would rather crank up the adventure with jet skis or a UTV ride, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for here.

Based around a restored fort from before the Civil War, you can spend some time learning about the fort’s history and the surrounding nature before heading out to explore the nearly five miles of trails here. Like elsewhere along the Crystal Coast, wildlife is abundant. Dolphins can be spotted from the swimmable beach, and hikes run though a salt marsh and dunes where more than 300 species of bird reside. Needless to say, you’ll want to bring your binoculars with you if you’re a birdwatcher.

Fort Macon State Park: 2303 E Fort Macon Rd, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512

Photo: Crystal Coast Tourism Authority

Taking a boat to Cape Lookout is one of the best ways to experience the magnitude of the coast and enjoy some wildlife spotting along the way and when you arrive. Cape Lookout National Seashore consist of the barrier islands about three miles from the mainland. This is where the horses reside on Shackleford Banks and they tend to get much of the attention from visitors, but there’s also a notable lighthouse to check out (though it’s undergoing renovations until 2025), historic villages, and plenty of opportunities for fishing, birding, seeing protected wildlife, and shelling. For an extra special experience, you can camp out right on the beach and stargaze your way through the night (Cape Lookout is an International Dark Sky Park) knowing more adventures lie ahead the next day. Just note that beach camping is a barebones experience here with no running water or amenities, so you’ll need to bring everything in with you and take everything back out when you leave.

Cape Lookout National Seashore: Ferries leave from various locations