An Afternoon in Beaufort | Eastern North Carolina Now

    When visiting Atlantic Beach / Morehead City area for any practical length of time, it is strenuously advised you spend some time, maybe an afternoon, in Beaufort, North Carolina. While the sun-drenched beach along the vast crystal coast of Carteret County can keep one mesmerized by the allure of its shifting sand and dunes, you must still break away from the relaxingly hypnotic drone of the of crashing waves, and journey further east and to the mainland - to Beaufort.

    I took my own well heeded advice this early Spring, one afternoon, with my bride directing me to wherever, and whatever destination she did so want us to occupy. I was her willing servant, and she was hungry for a late lunch.

    “Oh, my dear wife, where might you gain proper sustenance?” I bade.

    “The Beaufort Grocery Company on one of the side streets, off the waterfront. I hear its good,” She replied.
The Beaufort Grocery Company, a restaurant on one of the less traveled side streets in Beaufort: Above. The colorful plate of a delicious meal: below.     photos by Stan Deatherage

    This large Victorian home with a widow's walk is just across the street from the Beaufort Grocery.
    I found a small lot to park in, between the waterfront and the restaurant, and we quickly made our way to the eatery, and ordered post haste. I ordered the Gougeres (two of them), which were delicious shrimp and parmesan stuffed puff pastries, with fresh fruit and sweet potato fries on the side. My wife ordered the sautéed triggerfish on fresh baked bread, with goat cheese and the peach salsa, with broccoli salad on the side. We shared our entres, and ravenously enjoyed the victuals with a couple of specialty beers. We shared them too.

    After the delicious meal in the quaint ambience, we walked all over the small town. I took pictures and wife enjoyed the air, the sun and inspiration of where community meets the wild, sand dunes of Carrot Island, wind swept and across the most narrow sound, Back Sound, I have witnessed. She walked the boardwalk, stopped to search for the stray wild pony amongst the island’s dunes, as ships slipped in and out of the port of Beaufort.
Along the Beaufort waterfront, one can peer through the docked ships, and, on a rare occasion, possibly spy a wild pony amongst the dunes on Carrot Island: Above and Below. Looking back along the waterfront of the Beaufort Historic District on the east side of downtown: The next below.     photos by Stan Deatherage


Along Front Street on the corner of Front and Queen Streets, just 1/2 block south from the Beaufort Grocery is the Inlet Inn, a large Bed and Breakfast: Above. Also along Front Street is the Carteret Academy, that has served members of the community for years, as it continues to do so today: Below.     photos by Stan Deatherage

    It was a fine afternoon in the village formerly known as “Fish Town” in 1722, when the this commerce center was established along banks on what is now known as Back Sound in this protected harbor so very close to the sea. And due to its port location, Beaufort’s earliest purpose, outside of being the dock for vessels hauling up fish, and other watery creatures from the blue waters of the Atlantic, with its warm Gulf Stream, was that of a customs town. Today, Beaufort's planked waterfront promenade serves as a gathering area for folks, and instead of levying a tariff, proprietors of other fine eatery's and barkeeps of later day establishments provide a cold, delicious beverage and a hot meal for fair compensation: The next two images below.