Beaufort Boosting it’s Cool

The town of Beaufort on the Crystal Coast—North Carolina’s Southern Outer Banks—has been named “America’s Coolest Small Town” for 2012 by Budget Travel magazine.

Beaufort's waterfront on North Carolina's Southern Outer Banks named America's Coolest Small Town

Beaufort possesses an old-world, southern charm, steeped in maritime history and the adventure brought by its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. Boats dot the marina, from private yachts and massive sailboats to the trawlers the bring locally owned restaurants “fresh from the docks” sea fare. Once home to the infamous pirate Blackbeard and the final resting place for his Queen Anne’s Revenge two miles off the coast, Beaufort offers a glimpse into the past 300+ years of historical legacy. And to enjoy it all cozy inns charm the coast so the combination makes it very appealing to its 4,300 locals and travelers alike.

Dangling like a delicate strand of pearls off the coast of North Carolina, the favored Atlantic beach destination of generations represents one of the only remaining natural barrier island systems in the World. The Islands are strung together with 85 miles of silken coastline along the Southern Outer Banks, 56 miles of which are in the protected Cape Lookout National Seashore. The barrier islands take a southward curve, blessing the Crystal Coast with beaches that course east and west with views of the dazzlingly bright sun rise to greet the day and then slip into the shimmering translucent blue waters during a spectacular North Carolina sunset.

For more information on Beaufort and North Carolina’s Crystal Coast, visit www.crystalcoastnc.org or www.facebook.com/crystalcoast.

Boats dot the marina bringing locally owned restaurants "fresh from the docks" sea fare. Image courtesy of Childress Art And Imagery.com ©.