4:00 PM
Check in
Stay at Inlet Inn NC.
Front Street inn beside Taylor's Creek, within the walkable harbor district and near the NC Maritime Museum and downtown restaurants; room choices include waterfront categories and…
Weekend itinerary
Front Street Friday, barrier islands Saturday
Walk Taylor's Creek Friday evening, take Saturday's authorized ferry to Cape Lookout or Shackleford Banks, then spend Sunday at the maritime museum and Old Burying Ground.
By Cal Mercer — a Second Star Guide itinerary
Front Street on Friday, the passenger ferry on Saturday, and Beaufort's historic blocks on Sunday.
Best length
2 nights
Arrive Friday before dinner, reserve Saturday for one barrier-island ferry, and leave Sunday morning for Beaufort's historic district and maritime museum.
Stay
Inlet Inn NC
Front Street inn beside Taylor's Creek, within the walkable harbor district and near the NC Maritime Museum and…
Main activity
Cape Lookout or Shackleford Banks
Check current NPS conditions and the authorized ferry schedule before the island day.
Trip shape
Front Street, one island, and the historic district
Friday stays within the Front Street walking core. Saturday requires a reserved ferry window; Sunday stays in town before the drive home.
Friday
Check in near Front Street and walk to Moonrakers
Walk Taylor's Creek and the boardwalk after check-in, then use the 6:30 dinner slot at Moonrakers rather than moving the car again.
6:30 PM
First dinner
Start with Moonrakers Beaufort.
Wood-fired seafood and local beer on Front Street, with a rooftop bar and covered open-air patio overlooking Beaufort's waterfront and boardwalk.
Saturday
Cape Lookout or Shackleford Banks for Saturday
Choose Cape Lookout for the lighthouse grounds and ocean beach or Shackleford Banks for dunes and wild-horse habitat. If marine service cancels, move the museum and historic district to Saturday.
8:00 AM
Breakfast
Beach Bowls before check-in, when seasonal hours allow
Acai bowls, smoothies, and dairy-free or gluten-free options in Beaufort; seasonal opening hours determine whether it is available before a ferry departure.
9:30 AM
Main activity
Board the authorized ferry for Cape Lookout or Shackleford Banks
Island Express is the authorized concessioner from Beaufort and Harkers Island. At Cape Lookout Lighthouse, the dock closure currently requires a beach landing and a 5-10 minute soft-sand walk that may cross water; the lighthouse is closed to climbing and interior entry.
4:30 PM
Afternoon
Return to Front Street before dinner
Allow for the actual ferry return, then walk the waterfront or rest before driving to dinner.
7:00 PM
Dinner
Drive to 34 Degrees North for Taylor's Creek views
34 Degrees North sits at Beaufort Hotel on Lennoxville Road outside the downtown walking core, with Southern-inspired cooking and views across Taylor's Creek.
Sunday
Ann Street, Old Burying Ground, and maritime history
Walk Ann and Turner streets and Old Burying Ground first, then continue to the NC Maritime Museum and nearby Watercraft Center during their published hours.
9:00 AM
Sunday morning
Walk Ann and Turner streets before the museums open
Walk Ann and Turner streets and Old Burying Ground before continuing to the museum block on Front Street.
11:00 AM
One last stop
Continue to the NC Maritime Museum
The NC Maritime Museum covers boats, coastal life, and Blackbeard artifacts; the nearby Watercraft Center shows traditional boatbuilding.