The Crystal Coast is located in eastern North Carolina’s Carteret County, the sixth largest in the state. The coast is named for its sparkling waters and consists of six geographic areas: Bogue Banks, Beaufort, Morehead City, Swansboro, the Down East communities and western Carteret County. These areas cover 85 miles of beautiful coastal scenery and friendly towns and each has its own history and local flavor. Steeped in a combination of myth, legend and fact, these communities have obtained their own unique place in American history and have become a destination for global tourists and new residents alike.

Incorporated in 1722, Beaufort is North Carolina's third oldest town. It has been visited by patriots, privateers and pirates, and was known as “Fish Town” in the early 1700s when Blackbeard frequented the coast. The picturesque and historic ''Beaufort Town'' was established as a seaport with the right to collect customs and was the third largest port in the state during the American Revolution.

As in most of eastern North Carolina, early trade centered around the lumber, barrel staves, rum, and molasses industries. These items were shipped from the rich Newport River area plantations to the West Indies in exchange for glassware, cloth, furniture, and coffee. The port later declined as a trade center and commercial fishing became the primary business in the area. Beaufort continued to prosper into the nineteenth century both as a port and as an agricultural, commercial and governmental center. In the 1970s, the town and waterfront were restored and Beaufort became a major summer resort for the wealthy.

The town offers many unique attractions and points of interest. In 1997, Beaufort was highlighted in national and international news when the wreckage of what is presumed to be Blackbeard's flagship, Queen Anne's Revenge, was discovered in 20 feet of water 2 miles from the Beaufort Inlet. The Historic District of Beaufort is on the National Register of Historic Places and boasts more than a hundred historic homes, each with a plaque bearing the date of construction. Street names reflect the early development of the town: Ann Street for Queen Anne; Craven Street for the Earl of Craven; Pollock for the governor at the time of the survey; and Orange Street for William, Prince of Orange, who became William III of England. Beaufort is also home to the North Carolina Maritime Museum and Watercraft Center and the Rachel Carson Reserve.

Morehead City is Carteret County's other sound-side mainland seaport and is situated on the opposite bank of the Newport River from Beaufort. True to its maritime history, the city is home to several marine-research facilities, including the Institute of Marine Sciences and the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. It is also home to the Ferry Division of the North Carolina Department of Transportation. One of North Carolina's deep water ports, it serves as a port for the Second Division of the US Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune.

This area of the Crystal Coast is the product of extensive planning by John Motley Morehead, governor of North Carolina from 1841 to 1845. He envisioned a “great commercial city" where Shepherd's Point intersected with the Newport River and the Beaufort Inlet. Plans to extend the North Carolina Railroad from Goldsboro to Shepherd's Point were interrupted by the Civil War. Following the war, the shipping terminal deteriorated but the railroad continued hauling vast quantities of seafood to the state's inland sections. In recent years, a large charter-fishing fleet has developed. Morehead City has regained its commercial viability as a modern port terminal and is also known as the "sound-side" of the Atlantic Beach resort trade.

Across Bogue Sound from mainland Carteret County lies Bogue Banks, home of Atlantic Beach. What began as a fledgling resort town in the 1920s has continued to gain popularity over the years. Today the city boasts amusement parks and beach clubs mingling with hotels and condominiums. Thousands of sun-seekers flock to the area each summer, many to visit historic Fort Macon State Park. The park offers a number of outdoor activities including fishing, hiking, picnicking and swimming. Other resort villages -- Pine Knoll Shores and Emerald Isle -- are also located nearby.

Pine Knoll Shores is located between Atlantic Beach and Emerald Isle on Highway 58. The town is home to the North Carolina Aquarium, which is situated on 298 acres of maritime forest in the Theodore Roosevelt Natural Area. The 35,000-square-foot building houses aquariums ranging in size from 300 gallons to 12,000 gallons, as well as a touch tank, interactive exhibits, classrooms, meeting rooms, a large auditorium and a gift shop. Nature lovers will enjoy the natural marsh area and two nature trails outside. In addition to the aquarium, Pine Knoll Shores offers dozens of educational programs for both adults and children.

Emerald Isle is located between mileposts 15 & 21 at the western end of Bogue Banks, overlooking Bogue Inlet and Sound. Taking its name from the large maritime forests on the island, Emerald Isle is noted for its family-oriented beaches. Like many of North Carolina's coastal islands, Emerald Isle was first home to Native Americans. The Algonquin Indian tribe occupied the surrounding countryside from around A.D. 500 until colonial times. English whalers and fishermen settled the area surrounding the mouth of the White Oak River around 1730. It remained mostly uninhabited, however, until the late 1950s, when small family cottages began to appear.

Cape Carteret is located on the western edge of Carteret County. The town is on the banks of the White Oak River near the Bogue Sound and provides easy access to the Cape Fear River, the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic seacoast. Cape Carteret naturally offers a wide variety of activities for the water-sports enthusiast, including fishing, canoeing, and kayaking. Along the outskirts of Cape Carteret on the banks of the White Oak River is the Crystal Coast Amphitheater, home to award-winning outdoor musical dramas.

The arts are alive and well on the Crystal Coast. The coast is home to an eclectic community of local artists, and many nonprofit arts organizations in the area actively support artistic endeavors. Events such as the North Carolina Seafood Festival and the Beaufort Music Festival bring together artisans and performers from all over the country to entertain and dazzle onlookers with their crafts. Local artists also shine at the juried artist shows hosted several times a year by the Carteret County Arts and Crafts Coalition.

Other popular pastimes include river and ocean day cruises, which offer visitors a way to see dolphins and enjoy the scenery from the water. For people looking to spend some quality time off the beach, The Circle at Atlantic Beach is a great destination. The Circle is located at the heart of Atlantic Beach and is a charming area with a 1950s beach-town ambience. Those looking for entertainment on dry land can also try one of the ten beautiful championship golf courses located within a 30 -40 minute drive from the coast.

The Carteret County School System serves over 8,000 students at all grade levels, from pre-kindergarten to high school. In 2002 the majority of the schools in the district were designated as "Schools of Excellence" or "Schools of Distinction" based on state public educational standards. North Carolina is also home to some of the best colleges and universities in the country. Residents looking to attend a major university can take a short three-hour drive to Raleigh, where they will find the nationally acclaimed North Carolina State University. The Crystal Coast also has its share of community colleges.

The Crystal Coast offers a moderate climate, a relaxed beach-community atmosphere and a host of water- and land-based recreational activities. It is a great place to spend a vacation or a lifetime, so come and see some of what the area has to offer.