Crystal Coast facts for kids
The Crystal Coast is a beautiful 85-mile long coastline in North Carolina. It starts at the Cape Lookout National Seashore and goes southwest to the New River. This area is very popular with tourists and people who own summer homes.
The exact borders of the Crystal Coast can be debated. However, it mainly includes all the big Carteret County beaches. These beaches are on Bogue Banks and face south. It also includes eastern parts of Carteret County, like Harkers Island and Shackleford Banks. Some northern Onslow County beaches, like Bear Island, are also part of it. You'll also find a few ports along the Intracoastal Waterway. Sometimes, this area is called the Southern Outer Banks to connect it to the main Outer Banks islands. Cape Lookout usually marks the southern end of the Outer Banks and the northern start of the Crystal Coast. The Crystal Coast ends at the New River Inlet in the south.
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Fun Things to Do on the Crystal Coast
The name "Crystal Coast" was created by the Carteret County Tourism Development Authority. They wanted to show how clear and beautiful the water is here. This group is also known as the Crystal Coast Tourism Authority.
The area has over 100 restaurants and many hotels. The Doubletree Atlantic Beach is the biggest full-service hotel on the North Carolina coast. Beach cottages are also very popular, especially in Emerald Isle. Many families rent these cottages for a week during the summer. A lot of people from cities like Kinston, Goldsboro, and Raleigh own second homes here.
Many beaches in this region are open to everyone. A very popular spot is "The Circle" in central Atlantic Beach. It has shops, houses, and used to have amusement rides. This area is being updated with new restaurants and shops.
Diving and Fishing Adventures
Diving and fishing are two exciting activities that bring many visitors to the Crystal Coast. This is one of only two places in North America where the warm Gulf Stream waters come close to the shore. This creates amazing conditions for divers. Scuba Diving magazine even calls it a "wreck diver’s dream." The North Carolina coast is known as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic.” This is because over 2,000 ships have sunk here.
During World War II, German U-boats often sank merchant ships in this area. The clear, warm waters let divers see these shipwrecks 100 feet below the surface. Recently, the Lionfish has been found in these waters. This fish is an invasive species. It has sharp, spiny fins and red bands. Conservationists are worried because Lionfish were usually found only in tropical waters far away. Diving activities here include underwater photography lessons and shark dives.
The nearby Gulf Stream makes the Crystal Coast a top spot for fishing. The warm waters mean this area has the longest fishing season on the Atlantic coast. One of the world's largest fishing tournaments, the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, happens in Morehead City. Other fish caught here include bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, red drum, and dolphin. You can join private fishing trips or go on headboat trips. Headboat trips can take up to 100 people, making them more affordable for families.
Morehead City and Atlantic Beach Fun
The North Carolina Seafood Festival has been held for over 30 years. It is one of the biggest festivals in the state. It takes place near the port of Morehead City.
In Atlantic Beach, Fort Macon is a major attraction. It has a rich Civil War history. It is the second most-visited state park in North Carolina. During the war, the fort was captured by both Union and Confederate forces. It was later restored in 1934 and became part of the state park system. During World War II, the government used the fort to protect important facilities nearby.
Today, the park has a protected beach. One of North Carolina's three aquariums is at Pine Knoll Shores. The other two are in Manteo and Fort Fisher. All three have been updated and made larger. The “Living Shipwreck” exhibit has a life-sized model of a German U-352 submarine. It also shows Blackbeard’s famous ship, the Queen Anne's Revenge. This ship was found off the coast about ten years ago.
Exploring Beaufort and Harkers Island
Historic Beaufort and the Down East area of Carteret County are known for their history and culture. Beaufort (pronounced "Bo-furt") is the third-oldest Anglo-European town in North Carolina. It is home to the North Carolina Maritime Museum. This museum keeps all the items found from the Queen Anne’s Revenge. You can see seashells from all over the world, with 5,000 examples from more than 100 countries. At the museum's Watercraft Center, volunteers build and fix boats. They do this to keep the Crystal Coast’s tradition of “backyard boat-building” alive.
On nearby Harkers Island, the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum is located. It helps preserve the islanders' skill of decoy carving. Talented artists carve perfect wooden ducks from blocks of wood. These wooden ducks were used as decoys during duck hunting season. You can take trips from Beaufort and Harker's Island to see the black-and-white lighthouse at Cape Lookout. Nearby Shackleford Banks is home to herds of wild horses, called Bankers.
Neighboring Areas
The communities along the Core Sound shoreline, east of Beaufort, are called the "Down East" area. Since they are in Carteret County, they are part of the Crystal Coast. The beaches and islands north of here, like Portsmouth Island and Ocracoke, are known as the Outer Banks.
South of the Crystal Coast, there is an undeveloped stretch of coast. This area is around the mouth of the New River. It is part of the Camp Lejeune military base near Jacksonville. The next developed area to the south is Topsail Island in Onslow County.
Places to Visit
The following are some of the communities, islands, military bases, and parks often linked with the Crystal Coast:
- Atlantic
- Atlantic Beach
- Beaufort
- Bogue
- Broad Creek, North Carolina
- Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base
- Cape Carteret
- Cape Lookout National Seashore
- Cedar Point
- Emerald Isle
- Fort Macon
- Hammocks Beach (Bear Island)
- Harkers Island
- Indian Beach
- Morehead City
- Newport
- Peletier
- Pine Knoll Shores
- Salter Path
- Sealevel
- Shackleford Banks
- Swansboro
How to Get Around
These highways are important roads in the Crystal Coast area:
- U.S. Highway 70
- North Carolina Highway 58
- North Carolina Highway 24
- North Carolina Highway 101
Images for kids
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Map of Carteret County, North Carolina with towns.
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Map of Onslow County, North Carolina with towns.
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Map of Crystal Coast. The Crystal Coast extends southwestward from Cape Lookout to the New River Inlet.
