The Crystal Coast - A Fascinating North Carolina Paradise

While there are so many beautiful places to boat, North Carolina's Crystal Coast does not get the attention it rightfully deserves. This said, there are plenty of people including year-round residents and vacation homeowners, who are just fine with that. The Crystal Coast is an 85-mile stretch of coastline in North Carolina that extends from the Cape Lookout National Seashore, which includes 56 miles of protected beaches, westward to the New River.

The precise boundaries of this coast are often disputed, but the main area includes all the major Carteret County beaches (those on Bogue Banks, which face south). It also includes eastern portions of Carteret County, such as Harkers Island, Down East, and Shackleford Banks, as well as the northern Onslow County beaches (Bear Island/Hammock's Beach), and a few ports along the Intracoastal Waterway. So what makes North Carolina's Crystal Coast a paradise?

Beaches

The crystal water beaches are stunningly beautiful and are lined with many vacation homes and resorts. There are also many locations with public beach access including an area called "The Circle" in central Atlantic Beach. This area includes shops, houses, and amusement rides along the ocean at the end of the causeway from the bridge to Morehead City. The Circle is undergoing a redevelopment and promises to be even more stunning when completed.

Diving

It is one of only two spots in North America where the warm waters of the Gulf Stream approach the coastline, creating ideal conditions for diving. The area is a wreck divers paradise. Known as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic,” there are more than 2,000 vessels that have sunk along the North Carolina coast. During World War II, German U-boats frequently targeted merchant vessels sending them to their final resting places 100 feet beneath the sea. These wrecks can be viewed by divers due to the clear, warm waters.

Fishing

Due to the close proximity of the Gulf Stream, the Crystal Coast is also a very popular fishing destination. The coastal waters have an average temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit and provide the Crystal Coast with the longest fishing season on the Atlantic coast. The area is home to one of the largest fishing tournaments in the world, the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, based out of Morehead City. Other species of fish caught along the Crystal Coast include bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, red drum, false albacore, sea trout, striped bass, cobia, sailfish, dolphin, and wahoo.

Cruising the Intracoastal Waterway

Nationally, the Intracoastal Waterway extends 3,000 miles from the heart of New York to the Gulf of Mexico. The waterway, which began as a critically important trade route for shipping companies, is now more commonly used as a recreational trail for North Carolina boaters who want to explore the depth of the East Coast without straying too far from the Atlantic beaches.

History Buffs Rejoice

In Atlantic Beach, Fort Macon is a major attraction for those interested in Civil War history. During the war, the fort changed hands several times between Union and Confederate forces and eventually fell into disrepair and was finally restored as part of the state park system in 1934. The “Living Shipwreck” exhibition features a life-sized replica of a German U-352 submarine and Blackbeard’s infamous ship, the Queen Anne's Revenge, which was found nearby off the coast a decade ago. Beaufort is one of the oldest towns in North Carolina and is also home to the North Carolina Maritime Museum. This museum contains all of the artifacts discovered on the Queen Anne’s Revenge and many other displays of interest to maritime lovers.

What's Your Paradise?

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