Discover Beaufort County

Beaufort County combines extensive wetlands with forest and agricultural land. Its entire eastern border meets the Pamlico Sound, and its topography ranges from flat to gently rolling. Water, open landscapes, and historic sites shape the region in different ways.

Explore Wetlands and Waterways

At Goose Creek State Park, wetlands lie along the Pamlico River. One of the park’s distinctive landscapes is a cypress swamp, which you can view from a long boardwalk. The park’s estuarine areas can be explored on foot or by paddling on the Pamlico River. This gives you two distinct ways to experience the landscape: a walk through the area or a trip on the water.

Beaufort County’s waterways offer opportunities for paddling. These include the Pamlico River and the Pungo River, as well as Pantego Creek, Blounts Creek, and Tranter’s Creek. Other creeks and their tributaries add to the options. If you’re planning time on the water, you can use the names of the different waterways to guide your plans.

Historic Sites and Homes

Founded in 1705, Bath was North Carolina’s first town and the state’s first port. In Historic Bath, you can visit two historic homes. The Harding’s Landing State Dock provides access to Historic Bath from Bath Creek. The Bonner House is one of the best-preserved examples of early 19th-century Carolina architecture. The Palmer-Marsh House is another notable historic site in the region: it is a National Historic Landmark.

The region’s historic sites offer different perspectives. Bath combines its early history as a town and port with visits to two homes, while the Bonner House showcases early 19th-century architecture. This distinction can help you choose an outing focused more on town history or architectural history.

Art, Theater, and Museums

In Washington, the Arts of the Pamlico arts center has two theaters, indoor and outdoor spaces for art exhibitions, and a historic vaudeville museum. The Turnage Theatre was built in 1913 as a vaudeville theater. Its building is listed as a contributing structure in the Washington Historic District. The theater’s history and the arts center’s current range of offerings provide two different starting points for a cultural visit.

The Belhaven Memorial Museum officially opened on April 1, 1965, on the second floor of the historic Belhaven Town Hall. Its work includes collecting, displaying, and preserving historic and cultural artifacts and objects. The museum also promotes interest in the history, art, science, and culture of Belhaven, Beaufort County, and eastern North Carolina.

The Washington Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum is part of the National Park Service’s Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program. Separately, a restored Seaboard Coast Line Railroad caboose presents a vivid history of slavery in Washington and Beaufort County.

Explore Washington at Your Own Pace

The Historic Port of Washington audio tour takes you to historic sites along the waterfront and downtown. Washington also offers self-guided audio tours exploring the treasures of the Harbor District. Tour availability, route content, and platform details may change, so check the information before planning your visit. The two offerings have different themes: one connects waterfront sites with downtown, while the other focuses on the Harbor District.

Advance phone reservations are required for a tasting or tour of The Hackney gin distillery. It produces 1,000 Piers Gin. Call ahead to schedule your visit. River Vibes rents cruiser bikes in Washington for solo rides and tandem rides; availability and provider details may change, so it’s worth checking before you plan.

Ferry Service and Travel Planning

A state-owned and state-operated ferry runs daily from the north side of the Pamlico River at Gaylord’s Bay near Bayview, and from the south side at Huddle’s Gut near Nutrien in Aurora. Operating details may change with service conditions. Check the schedule information before planning your trip.

Different themes can help shape your travel plans: wetlands and paddling opportunities, Bath’s history, or art, theater, and museums in Washington. This makes it easy to center your stay on the experiences that interest you most.

Discover more destinations: Chocowinity, Aurora, Person County, Hoke County, Cabarrus, Edgecombe County, Mitchell County, Nash.

For the main travel overview: North Carolina.