HIT THE
ROAD
VENTURE OUTSIDE CHATHAM FOR A DAY (OR TWO!), AND EXPLORE ALL THAT NORTH CAROLINA HAS TO OFFER BY BROOKE SPACH
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CRYSTAL COAST TOURISM AUTHORITY
The Crystal Coast is an exceptional shoreline for fishing because of the shipwrecks and rock piles that provide habitats for offshore fish, and it draws thousands of anglers throughout the year.
22
CHATHAM MAGAZINE
CRYSTAL COAST
A
lso known as the Southern Outer Banks, this 85-mile stretch of beaches comprises 11 coastal communities, including Atlantic Beach, Beaufort, Emerald Isle and Cape Lookout. Although you may have just stored away your swimsuits, there is plenty to do at North Carolina’s beaches in the late summer and early fall. The Cape Lookout National Seashore is one of the last natural barrier island systems in the world, and in 2021, was certified as an International Dark Sky Park.
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2022
Experience the night sky like never before on the Island Express Ferry Starlight Cruise on Aug. 27. The ferry also offers daytime boat rides past or to Shackleford Banks, where you might be able to spot wild horses roaming the island. In Atlantic Beach, visit the restored Civil War and World War II fort at Fort Macon State Park before checking out the nearly century-old boardwalk, which will receive a $2 million upgrade over the coming months. The Crystal Coast offers many festivals this time of year: the Emerald Isle Fishing Tournament (Sept. 17), Beaufort Pirate Invasion (Sept. 23-25), the Emerald Isle Beach Music Festival (Sept. 24) and more. Seafood lovers should definitely plan their trip for Sept. 30-Oct. 2 in order to attend the 36th annual North Carolina Seafood Festival on the Morehead City waterfront.
JOHNSTON COUNTY
J
ust south of Raleigh is Johnston County, or “JoCo,” an ideal daytrip destination for North Carolina history lovers. Bentonville is rich with Civil War history; visit Bentonville Battlefield, the state’s largest, during a walking or driving tour. Another stop on the tour is Cole Plantation, a site where music legends such as the late Thelonious Monk and Nat