🌊 ON THE ISLAND + NEARBY
Things To Do
From the NC Aquarium 20 minutes east to the surf right in front of Carolina Dream — everything worth doing on the Crystal Coast.
⭐ TOP PICK · 20 MIN EAST
NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
1 Roosevelt Blvd, Pine Knoll Shores, NC · Open daily 9 AM–5 PM
One of the best aquariums on the East Coast — 20 minutes from your door. The centerpiece is the Living Shipwreck — a 306,000-gallon tank with a life-size replica of the German U-352 submarine sunk off the NC coast in 1942. Sand tiger sharks, a green sea turtle, and schools of fish circle the wreck. Also: stingray touch-tank, river otters, sea turtle exhibit, jellyfish tanks, and the Queen Anne’s Revenge / Blackbeard exhibit. Outdoor marsh trail, nature play area with shark tooth digging for kids. Dairy Queen inside the park.
🦈 306K-gallon tank
🐢 Sea turtles
🦦 River otters
🖐 Stingray touch tank
🌿 Marsh trail + nature play
☕ Dairy Queen on site
Adults: ~$12.95 · Kids 3–12: ~$10.95 · Military discount available · 📞 (252) 247-4003
📍 Directions
Kayak and SUP rentals off the sound. Calm protected water, great for any skill level. Paddle tidal creeks and marsh backwaters — morning is best before wind picks up.
One of NC’s most scenic fishing piers. Fish cleaning stations, night fishing lighting, ocean views the whole way. Worth the walk even if nobody fishes.
41-acre maritime forest park with a disc golf course, floating pier, and shaded trails. Perfect morning activity before the beach heats up. Free entry, easy walking.
NC’s only sea turtle rehabilitation hospital. Guided tours through the facility with turtles in active recovery. Incredibly educational, especially with kids. Free or low-cost entry.
6-passenger cart for the day — cruise the island, hit the pier, catch a sunset run. ~$95–$120/day. Split 7 ways it’s basically free. One of the best group activities on any beach trip.
Emerald Isle has a paved multi-use path running the entire island. Rent bikes locally and ride with ocean views. Flat, easy, great for the whole group any time of day.
Late March NC surf is brisk but rideable. Boogie boards are cheap at Walmart on the way in. Low crowds, uncrowded beach. East-west orientation means sun all day from Carolina Dream.
East-facing beach means full sunrise views from Carolina Dream. Dolphins are most active at sunrise — walk 15–30 min either direction. No crowds, pure NC coast energy.
Undeveloped barrier island only accessible by ferry. Zero development, pristine sand dunes, wild horses on the sound side. One of the most untouched beaches on the East Coast — bucket list day trip.
🛣 Hot Tub Night: Carolina Dream has a hot tub. Best move is after dark with drinks while the sound of waves carries over the dunes. That is the one.
🍴 BREAKFAST · LUNCH · DINNER
Where To Eat
Best spots on and near the island. Caribsea is already locked in for Night 3 — here’s everything else.
☀ BREAKFAST
One of the highest-rated spots on EI. Shrimp and grits, eggs Benedict, pancakes, local seafood for breakfast. Large outdoor patio, live music weekly, dog friendly. The go-to morning out for the whole group.
NY-style bagels on the Crystal Coast. Loaded cream cheeses, egg sandwiches, great coffee. Fast and casual — perfect for grabbing 7 breakfast sandwiches to take back to the beach house.
Local favorite for breakfast and lunch. Bagels, biscuits, Belgian waffles, specialty coffee, hearty breakfast plates. Attached coastal market. Casual, quick, great for the whole group.
Southern hospitality and home cooking. Brisket and eggs, omelets, biscuits, great atmosphere. One of the island’s most loved spots. Arrive early on weekends or expect a wait.
🌮 LUNCH
Currently the most popular restaurant on the island — reopened for the 2026 season on March 6. Open-air, casual, dog-friendly. Fish tacos, seafood sandwiches, wings, cold drinks. Thu–Sun 11 AM–9 PM.
Family-owned local burger truck doing old-fashioned smash burgers. Nostalgic flavors, generous portions. Open Mon–Sat 11 AM–9 PM. Perfect quick lunch after the beach.
Pick up fresh local shrimp, crab, and fish and cook it at Carolina Dream. Great option for a low-key seafood night at the house. Locals buy here religiously.
Consistently praised as the best pizza near EI. Meat Lovers and Hawaiian are the crowd favorites. Close to the beach, easy to grab on the way back to the house.
🌓 DINNER
Named after the SS Caribsea freighter sunk off NC in 1942. Locally sourced seafood, house-aged steaks, signature cocktails. EI’s only rooftop bar — the Torpedo Lounge — panoramic Intracoastal and Atlantic views. Military discount 15% every day.
Local seafood institution. Steam bar style — peel-and-eat shrimp, crab legs, fresh fish. Great for a group, casual vibe, consistent quality. Daily 4–9 PM. Perfect backup if Caribsea is full.
Consistently rated among EI’s top fine dining. Fresh-daily ingredients, exceptional service. Great if someone wants something beyond seafood. Upscale casual — no need to overdress.
Classic island beach bar. Cold drinks and live music on weekends. Best for an after-dinner drink or a casual night out when you don’t want a full restaurant. Locals and vacationers mixing.
🍦 Sweet Spot & Ben & Jerry’s — Both on the island, both worth it after dinner. The Atlantic Beach Pie at Gaffer’s is a local legend: saltine crust, key lime/lemon custard. Order it.
📅 MAR 28 – APR 2 · CRYSTAL COAST
Events During Your Stay
What’s happening on the Crystal Coast during spring break week — plus a couple worth knowing about just after you leave.
Heads up: Annual events sometimes shift dates year to year. Confirm at emeraldislerealty.com/area-info/events or crystalcoast.com/events before driving out.
MAR28SAT
☘ Emerald Isle St. Patrick’s Festival
📍 Emerald Plantation Shopping Center, Emerald Isle · Annual late-March
One of the biggest spring events on EI — and it might be happening right on your arrival day. 75+ arts and craft vendors, live music, petting zoo, face painting, beer garden (21+), amusement rides, food trucks. Going strong for 25+ years. Drop your bags, walk over.
⚡ Confirm exact date at emeraldislerealty.com/area-info/events
LATEMARTBD
🚲 Croatan Buck Fifty — Gravel Race
📍 Croatan National Forest · Carteret Speedway · 30 min north
Annual gravel race through Croatan National Forest — 150, 50, or 20-mile distances. The start/finish at the Speedway has food trucks, vendors, and music even if you’re just watching. Great half-day spectator event. Confirm at croatanbuckfifty.com.
LATEMARTBD
🏃 Emerald Isle Marathon, Half & 5K
📍 Emerald Isle · Annual charity race
Annual charity race along the island — full marathon, half, or 5K. Course runs through Emerald Isle with ocean views the whole way. Great spectator energy. If someone wants to do the 5K as a spring break opener, this is it. Check emeraldislemarathon.com for 2026 date.
SPRINGTBDLATE MAR
🚲 Bike the Banks — Coastal Charity Ride
📍 Emerald Isle Community Center · 10 / 50 / 100 mile routes · 7:30 AM start
Charity ride launching from the EI Community Center — a short drive from Ocean Drive. All routes follow the Crystal Coast with water views the whole way. Even casual riders do the 10-miler. Good group activity. Confirm spring 2026 date at area events pages.
APR15AFTER
🍷 Beaufort Wine & Food Festival (Apr 15–19)
📍 Downtown Beaufort, NC · beaufortwineandfood.org · 30 min east
Just two weeks after checkout — 21st annual. World-class winemakers, celebrity chefs, tastings, seminars, connoisseur dinners. Since 2005 it has donated over $1M to local nonprofits. April 15–19, 2026 confirmed. Worth a return trip for anyone who loves food and wine.
⭐ April 15–19, 2026 · Confirmed dates
APR17FRI
🎵 Sidewalk Prophets — Acoustic Evening
📍 Parkview Baptist Church, 4738 Arendell St, Morehead City · 7–9 PM
Dove Award-winning Christian alternative band doing an intimate acoustic show two weeks after checkout. 240M+ streams, five #1 songs, played the Grand Ole Opry. Tickets from $33 on Eventbrite. VIP Q&A with the band available. Friday April 17, 2026 confirmed.
🎟 eventbrite.com · Confirmed Friday April 17, 2026
SPRING50thBEAUFORT
⛏ Beaufort Wooden Boat Show — 50th Anniversary
📍 Beaufort Historic Waterfront · beaufort-nc.com · 30 min east
50th year celebration in 2026. Watch wooden boats built live in competitive speed builds, view stunning traditional vessels, demos and exhibits along the historic waterfront. Typically free. Confirm spring 2026 weekend at beaufort-nc.com.
⭐ Major 50th milestone — confirm exact 2026 dates
🚗 WITHIN 45 MINUTES
Day Trips Worth Taking
With 5 nights you have time to explore beyond the island. These are all within an easy drive from Ocean Drive.
One of the oldest towns in NC. Waterfront boardwalk, wild horses on Carrot Island visible from the docks (free ferry!), Old Burying Ground, great lunch spots. Cape Lookout ferry departs from here.
The most pristine undeveloped barrier island beach on the entire East Coast. Ferry only — no roads, no development. Historic lighthouse, wild horses on Shackleford Banks, incredible shelling. Full day trip that people talk about for years.
Civil War-era fort at the tip of Bogue Banks. Free entry, epic ocean views from the ramparts, museum inside the fort, and a pristine beach right next door. NC’s second most visited state park for a reason.
Charming small waterfront town right before the bridge. Great for a lunch stop or boutique browsing. Bicentennial Park overlooks the river. Also your grocery stop on the way in — Harris Teeter and Walmart are both here.
Gateway to Beaufort. Waterfront dining strip, ferry access to outer islands, home of the Beaufort Wine & Food Festival (just after your trip). Sears Landing is a solid waterfront dinner if you want off the island for a night.
157,000 acres of coastal forest with hiking trails, Carolina bay lakes, birding, and a unique pocosin wetland ecosystem. Home of the Croatan Buck Fifty gravel race in late March — great spectator event even if nobody races.
🐎 Shackleford Banks wild horses — if you do one day trip, make it Beaufort + Cape Lookout. Seeing wild horses on a barrier island with a lighthouse in the background is a memory that sticks. Island Express Ferry departs from Harkers Island, ~45 min from Ocean Drive.