Beaufort, North Carolina – Beaufort was the best surprise of my trip to North Carolina. I fell in love with this picture-perfect town, with its white-washed Bahamian-style houses (including one where Blackbeard lived!) and its wildflower-strewn, pony-dotted offshore islands. Welcome to beauteous Beaufort.
Olde Beaufort Towne
In the heart of town, the delightful Beaufort Historic Site includes seven 18th- and 19th-century buildings clustered around a shady green. Three historic houses are packed with period furnishings and artifacts, depicting daily life back in the day. Also on site are the old Cataret County jail and courthouse. Best of all, an authentic 19th-century apothecary contains a fantastic collection of historical pharmaceutical and medicinal instruments. Around the corner is the atmospheric Old Burying Ground, dating back to the early 18th century.
Rachel Carson Reserve
Beaufort overlooks a mosaic of scenic islands, marshlands and waterways which comprise the Rachel Carson Estuarine Reserve. Here, ever shifting islets and shoals provide refuge for wild horses and water birds. Fish, turtles and dolphins inhabit the brackish waters, while small mammals like river otters and marsh rabbits frolic in the brush. I was lucky enough to befriend a couple of local residents, who took me out around the reserve in their skiff; but you can also rent a kayak from Beaufort Paddle or take a boat tour with Waterbug Tours.
