Location:
The Crystal Coast is all of Carteret County, North Carolina. It is North Carolina’s central coast and the southern region of the barrier island system called the Outer Banks. The Crystal Coast includes Atlantic Beach, Beaufort, Emerald Isle, Morehead City, Down East villages and the Cape Lookout National Seashore.

Geography:
The Crystal Coast’s 1064 square miles is nearly half land and half water. It is composed of 531 square miles of land and 533 square miles of water. Crystal Coast beaches face south from the southern point of Core Banks at Cape Lookout to the west end of Bogue Banks. Therefore, the sun rises, sets and tracks along the ocean beaches for the length of each day. The day-long sparkle on the ocean water gives the Crystal Coast its moniker.

Climate:
Annual Rainfall in inches 55”
Annual Average Temperature 64º
Average Air Temperature-January 45º
Average Air Temperature-July 80º
Number of Freeze Free Days 332
Direction of Prevailing Winds SW
Average Water Temperature-Jan. 50º
Average Water Temperature-July 78º

Municipal Populations (Sensus of 2008):
Atlantic Beach 1,815 people, 971 households
Beaufort: 4,189 people, 1,780 households
Bogue 620 people, 254 households
Cape Carteret 1,214 people, 545 households
Cedar Point 929 people, 438 households
Emerald Isle 3,488 people, 1,644 households
Indian Beach 92
Morehead City 14,548
Newport 3,349 people, 1,136 households
Peletier 521
Pine Knoll Shores 1,547 people, 776 households

Attractions:
The greatest attraction of the Crystal Coast is its 82 miles of ocean beaches. From the Cape Lookout Lighthouse to the Fort Macon Civil War historic site, Crystal Coast attractions are for family enjoyment. Activities scheduled by each site are for all ages.

Visitors and residents enjoy permanent and changing exhibitions and participate in scheduled activities offered by each site. Attraction sites are the Cape Lookout National Seashore, Core Sound Waterfowl Museum, Beaufort Historic Site, North Carolina Maritime Museum, the History Place and Fort Macon State Park.

State & National Parks:
Cape Lookout National Seashore is one of America’s only undeveloped barrier island systems. It is made up of three islands: Shackleford Banks and North and South Core Banks. Access is by private boat or ferry service.

Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge, Cedar Island, has areas for hiking, bird watching, boat launching, picnicking and hunting. Waterfowl are abundant in spring, fall and winter.

Croatan National Forest offers hiking trails and camping areas in the western portion of the Crystal Coast. The Cedar Point Tideland Trail and camping site is located in Cedar Point.

Fort Macon State Park of Atlantic Beach, one of North Carolina’s most visited state parks, is enjoyed annually by more than 1 million visitors. It offers self-guided tours of the Civil War historic site, scheduled ranger programs, 354 acres of undeveloped ocean beach to enjoy, picnicking facilities and bathhouse.

Rachel Carson Component of the NC National Estuarine Research Reserve is a series of islands that parallels the Beaufort waterfront for about 3.5 miles. Feral horses live on the reserve. Islands are accessible by private boat or ferry service.

Theodore Roosevelt Natural Area, Pine Knoll Shores has a trail through an ancient maritime forest. Birding is interesting here.

The Crystal Coast of North Carolina
My wife and I love Carteret County. It is appropriately named the Crystal Coast. The two words that describe it best are "World Class" World class fishing, beaches, climate and most of all - World class people!

~ Bill Hitchcock. Give us a Call or E-mail us today!