Dolphins swimming by during breakfast. Kayaking past wild horses before lunch. Savoring local Bites & Blues in the afternoon. Dancing to live music in the evening. Does a couple’s getaway from Raleigh get much better than the Crystal Coast?
Last weekend, Craig and I escaped from the kids for a well-earned parent break to Beaufort and Morehead City, and it just happened to be our 22nd wedding anniversary. Fun events and live music were the focal point of this trip, adding an extra dash of excitement to our romantic Spring getaway.
With its Southern Outer Banks location offering 85-miles of pristine beaches and barrier islands, it’s easy for you to fill the moments in between the events with captivating historic tours, nature-based activities, and tantalizing culinary adventures.
We visited in partnership with the Crystal Coast, and we loved how the fun festivals, stunning setting, and friendly personality gave us a weekend filled with love, laughter, and unforgettable moments.
We hope it inspires you to take your own much-needed pre-summer couple’s trip.
April/May Events on The Crystal Coast
As April fades into May, the weather warms up and the Crystal Coast of North Carolina comes alive with a myriad of exciting events. Whether you’re a foodie, art enthusiast, or nature lover, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Here are a few events to consider:
- On the last weekend in April is the Beaufort Wine & Food Festival. If you’re a wine enthusiast, this festival is a must-attend. Enjoy wine tastings, culinary delights, and beautiful coastal views in Beaufort.
- Music lovers should hit May’s Beaufort Music Festival. May 17 & 15 the waterfront venue at Gallants Channel in Beaufort. And Raleigh’s beloved American Aquarium band will be playing!
- Love dancing to Beach Music? Save the date for the 10th Annual Atlantic Beach Music Festival on the boardwalk at the Circle on May 17 & 18, 2024, from 11am to 6:00pm.
- See the full list of events.
Now, follow in our footsteps below as we share our weekend getaway, including all the fun activities, delicious places we ate, and where we stayed. All you have to do is replace your Crystal Coast events with the ones we did.
Day 1: Beaufort History to Blind Wine Tasting in Morehead City
After an easy 2-hour, 45 minutes’ drive from Raleigh, you’ll arrive in one of North Carolina’s oldest towns – Beaufort, which Craig, and I (and probably many others) affectionately call Pirate Town.
It hooked us in with its don’t-take-life-too-seriously personality, natural beauty, wild horses, slow pace, and local friendliness. We can see why Travel & Leisure Magazine named it “America’s Favorite Town.”
Our Uber driver, who has lived in many other places, and now owns a brewery restaurant in Morehead city, affirmed that the Crystal Coast is the friendliest place he’s ever been, and people are generally very happy with the lifestyle.
We also met readers of this blog, who told us, after relocating from Apex last year, that they are now “living the dream.” Time for a taste of that dream…
Lunch: Front Street Grill
Taken care of. That’s how I felt from the minute I sat down until I left at Front Street Grill. Our server was attentive and helpful, and ensured that everything I ordered came out safely for my gluten free requirements.
He steered us towards a refreshing spring cocktail of the day – vodka, mint and raspberry – spicy and delicious grilled grouper bites for appetizers, and their signature chili-lime shrimp tacos for entrees (in a bowl for me).
Elevating all of this were the views out over Taylor Creek and the small islands of the Rachel Carson Reserve. What a way to start your romantic getaway in Beaufort.
Double Decker Bus Tour of the Beaufort Historical District
I know you’re tempted to just lovingly stare in each other’s eyes all weekend, but memorable moments also include getting to know the history of the area you’re visiting!
One of the best ways to learn about it is on the 90-minute, 1967 vintage double-decker bus tour with the Beaufort Historic Site. Due to unforeseen transmission issues (now repaired), we had our tour on a golf cart instead!
Our guide made stops along the way to regale us with tales of pirates, a girl in a barrel, Confederate spies, and how the term “sideburns” came to be!
Stops will include the Old Burying Ground cemetery resting in the shade of majestic live oak trees. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places and holds fascinating stories about Beaufort’s 300-year-old history!
You can also do a self-guided walking tour of Downtown (maps at the Beaufort Historic Society) but we recommend the guided tour for bringing those stories to life.
We have also previously joined a memorable evening ghost tour of Beaufort on a winter visit to the Crystal Coast.
Stroll Downtown Beaufort
If you have time before (or after) lunch, wander the town’s historic streets and waterfront popping into shops and soaking in the coastal ambiance.
Don’t miss the uniquely designed colorful dresses well suited to coastal living at Southern Frock. Owner and Designer and Meredith College graduate, Emily Newnam retailed in boutiques throughout the east coast and Caribbean.
Island Outfitters is another great local boutique store that caters to men and women with trendy and classic clothes.
The waterfront is also perfect for a sunset stroll – the views of the sky lighting up in an array of pink and reds is memorable. On this visit we were at other events during sundown, but we have been here for sunset before, and it is spectacular!
Check In: The Inlet Inn
It’s time to check in and freshen up before the evening’s activities at the Inlet Inn, located on Front St in the heart of the historic district.
The original Inlet Inn was built in 1850 and over the years has been a dry goods store, a private residence, a summer home, a boarding house, and an Inn before becoming decrepit in the twenties and torn down. It was rebuilt in 1985 as the inn it is now.
It was an easy walking distance to everywhere, which was especially great after an evening of live music.
We enjoyed our cozy first floor room with a comfortable King Bed, sitting area and fireplace, and waterfront balcony. The inn comes with free parking and complimentary continental breakfast.
If you can afford the splurge, we recommend a room on the third floor for expansive views over Downtown Beaufort, Taylor’s Creek, and Carrot Island. See rates and availability.
Blind Wine Tasting with Crystal Coast Corks & Forks, Morehead City
A quick drive over the bridge from Beaufort will take you to Morehead City, a vibrant waterfront town perfect for anglers and seafood lovers.
Our purpose for this evening was to enjoy Corks & Forks third annual blind wine tasting event. We arrived with images of us tasting wine with blindfolds on, but instead stepped up to a row of eight different wine bottles wrapped in brown paper bags.
Using our inner sommelier, with each sample we tried to identify each grape using a list of twelve possibles. While we didn’t guess too well, we were impressed with the quality of the wine, and the lively atmosphere of this community fund raiser. We even walked out of there with the phone numbers of new friends!
This fun event may not be on when you’re visiting, but that doesn’t mean you can’t pop into the Promise Land Market where it was held in a large bar/event space out the back.
It has a cozy, heritage type vibe with a coating of modernity with its locally sourced, small production, North Carolina food, wine, and cocktails as much as possible.
NOTE: Morehead City is only 10-minutes from Beaufort. Ubers are easy to come by. So, make sure you book one if you’re going to be drinking.
Live Music: Tapping at the Admiral Bar & Cru Wine Store, Beaufort
Live music in small bars abound in Beaufort – the perfect setting for our romantic couple’s getaway.
Our Uber dropped us off to what felt like your neighbor’s backyard deck at Tapping the Admiral Bar in Downtown Beaufort.
Gather around the gas fire or the picnic tables beside the food truck to listen to live music, in our case, soulful rocker, Monika Jaymes.
In keeping with the spirit of this day drinking town, the music finished at 9pm. As we love live music, we hopped on over to the Cru Wine Bar to hear Think Twice, an Americana band that finished at 11pm for the night drinking crowd.
Day 2: Hikes, Bites & Blues, and More Live Music
Unless you want an early start to see the sunrise, it’s not necessary to wake up too early. Sit on the balcony of your hotel room and enjoy watching the Beaufort morning come alive before heading out for the day in Morehead City.
Let’s start with breakfast in Morehead City on the way to your first activity.
Breakfast: The Banks Grill
Shrimp and pimento cheese omelet, chunky monkey donuts, chicken and waffles, or world-famous Cinnamon Buns? These are just some of the reasons why The Banks Grill has been voted local’s favorite breakfast spot several years in a row.
All tastes will be catered for with their extensive breakfast menu – be sure to order a side of creamy grits! They don’t take reservations and they are popular, so you may want to rise early and get here before the crowds.
No worries if you have to wait; they’ll soon be opening a mimosa bar & lounge where you can pass the time in bubbly comfort.
Hike the Elliot Coues Trail, Fort Macon State Park
Time to walk off all your worthy indulgences with a lovely hike through the gorgeous Fort Macon State Park.
The 3.2-mile Elliott Coues Nature Trail is a favorite of ours for the way it loops through rolling dune fields with ocean views, canopied pathways formed by the maritime forest, and boardwalks over the salt marshes.
If time permits, you can tour the unique five-sided brick Fort Macon which in years past played a crucial role in protecting the strategic Beaufort Inlet and the surrounding region during times of conflict, including the Civil War and World War II.
Lunch: Sugar Loaf Island Deli & Yellowfin Pub
You may want to recharge with a light lunch at Sugarloaf Island Deli & Yellowfin Pub on the waterfront before the afternoon’s annual event in Morehead City.
This was a popular restaurant with a buzzing atmosphere of friends and families enjoying some quality seafood under the warmth of the sun with water views.
I recommend the catch of the day quinoa bowl (on my day it was tuna!) washed down with an ice-cold margarita. Craig enjoyed his Shrimp & Crab Potato.
Bites & Blues Festival, Downtown Morehead City
The Crystal Coast knows how to put on unique events that highlights their coastal lifestyle. For this Bites and Blues Festival, it was all about local culinary flavors and good music.
With your cardboard ticket in hand, you wander up and down the streets of the town, stopping off at marked locations for a sample of food from participating restaurants. Bites ranged from ceviche to seafood Mac and Cheese, to Coconut Sorbet, and small cocktail samples.
Along the waterfront, small local bands played on the streets and in bars and restaurants – we heard everything from the Doors, Five to One and the Killers, Mr. Brightside to originals from the Mad Fiddler and an older blues band.
I loved how this event introduced us to several restaurants in Morehead City without us having to sit down and eat a full meal at each one.
Once you’ve completed all eighteen stops and voted for your favorite (ours was the shrimp cake with lemon aioli from Catch 109) head back to Beaufort to close out the day.
Pre-dinner Craft Cocktails
If you’re looking for a pre-dinner cocktail pick-me-up with views of Taylor’s Creek and the Rachel Carson Reserve, consider an Espresso Martini at the Green Room at Black Sheep.
Or to elevate that view, head to Moonraker’s rooftop bar where you can see out over the barrier islands to the Atlantic Ocean. Keep a lookout for wild horses happily grazing over on the island.
Dinner: Blue Moon Bistro
Without a doubt, Blue Moon Restaurant is one of my new favorite restaurant experiences in North Carolina, possibly further.
Everything was exceptional from the intimate setting inside a quaint, historic home, to the attentive and knowledgeable server, the stunning presentation of the food, and the unbelievably delicious flavors.
Chef Jayson pairs classical French techniques with timeless, yet creative modern dishes that emphasize local seafood and produce.
Our server and bar manager, Laura, was so knowledgeable about wine and helped us choose the perfect glass to compliment my Cumin & Pepper Crusted Filet Mignon (with fingerling potatoes, broccolini, hollandaise, rosemary & blue cheese compound butter).
And Craig’s Elk Striploin (with Carolina gold rice, maple carrot puree, shiitake mushrooms, and haricot vert almondinc).
You will not be disappointed starting with a pre-dinner drink of pink-peppercorn, old-fashioned, and Brussel Sprouts and then ending with the crack of a Creme Brulee. Almost everything on the menu could be made gluten free. Blue Moon won my heart.
Live Music: Backstreet Pub & Cru Wine Store
You won’t have a conversation with a local without hearing Backstreet Pub mentioned. Housed in a century-old former bakery, it is famous among sailors who course the Intracoastal Waterway and has a moniker of “friendliest, funkiest little bar from Maine to Venezuela.”
With blissful bellies, we headed to its cozy packed beer garden to hear live music by Mac & Juice.
Once again, we did not finish our evening here once the music ended. Taking advantage of our kid-free weekend away, we headed back to Cru Wine Bar to listen to Running from Mayor band who kicked up the energy with pop-punk covers.
We had a blast dancing the night away in Pirate Town and having lots of funny conversations with locals and visiting groups of people getting married or celebrating their bachelorette parties.
Day 3: Beaufort Kayaking & Long Lunches
As this is departure day, your activities will depend on what time you leave. We wanted to soak up at least one-half day more of the beautiful Crystal Coast region before driving home at 3pm.
Breakfast: 34° North Restaurant
Just a short drive along Taylor’s Creek will bring you to the Beaufort Hotel and their classy restaurant on the water, 34 Degrees North. Fully supportive of the farm to table concept, you’ll find meals made from the best local and seasonal produce.
Breakfast will be traditional American fare. Gluten-free options are limited, but I was able to enjoy a delicious omelet. Craig felt his loaded skillet dripping with sausage gravy was the perfect meal for a Sunday morning in Pirate Town.
It’s a popular place for waterfront dining or sunset cocktails, and we spotted dolphins!
Kayaking tour with Beaufort Paddle
If you’re feeling adventurous, embark on a kayaking expedition through the tranquil marshes of the Rachel Carson Reserve, which is home to about 35 wild horses.
I loved the relaxed choose-your-own adventure style of this paddling tour. Our guide, Allison, gave us a few options and we put together a lovely two-hour kayak trip.
We paddled across Taylor’s Creek over to walk along the white sand beaches of Bird Shoals passing a group of four wild horses along the way.
Our journey continued down the creek, enjoying the views of the historic Beaufort waterfront on one side and horses grazing on the banks of the Rachel Carson Reserve on the other. Some tours get lucky and see dolphins.
Stopping off at Tower Beach, we followed a trail covered in horse evidence (aka poop) to their freshwater reserve, where a family of six horses were having a morning drink, along with a couple of hard-to-spot blue herons!
Our kayaking tour with Beaufort Paddle was the perfect way to end our weekend getaway to the Crystal Coast.
Lunch: Moonrakers
We experienced nothing short of exceptional food during our stay in Beaufort and Moonrakers completed that story with an exclamation mark!
We opted for lunch on the sky deck to feel the warmth of the sun and enjoy the views of the boats coming in and out on this relaxing Beaufort Day (and of course, more wild horses).
“Finally, America has gotten fried calamari right!”
Was what I said to Craig as the waitress served his sweet chili calamari. It’s one of my favorite dishes from my local Australian hometown that America has never been able to replicate as tastefully. As I’m gluten free, I had to work hard to stop myself at one small taste to verify it was good.
His dry rubbed Moonraker burger with bacon and pimento cheese was also delicious.
My coastal inspired spice rub wings with coconut & mango sauce were outstanding. I also had a seasonal gluten free flatbread with seared radicchio, whipped ricotta, apricots, pancetta, pecorino – the leftovers of which I’m eating while writing.
Final Thoughts on our Festival Focused Weekend Getaway to the Crystal Coast
This couples getaway from Raleigh was the perfect way to celebrate our wedding anniversary. It had everything our coastal heart loves: outdoor activities in stunning locations, exceptional food experiences, fun live music experiences, and festivals that really helped us to get to know the local culture and personality better.
And super friendly people. We really felt like we were part of the community here. Which is one of the biggest reasons we love to travel – it’s all about connection to people, places and each other.
We hope you’re inspired now to immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of the Crystal Coast’s live events, where every moment is a chance to connect and create cherished memories with your loved one.
Whether it’s sipping wine at a blind tasting or dancing to live music under the stars, let the magic of the Crystal Coast sweep you off your feet on this unforgettable couple’s getaway.