This coastal town is home to some of the finest beaches in the world, complete with soft sand, spectacular sunsets, and enough activities to satisfy the entire family!
It’s also known for the different types of fishing you can do, from casting along the pier or shoreline to a kayak or a boat out at sea.
Not surprisingly, you’ll find there is a wide variety of fish species to be caught here, including pompano, drums, bluefish, sea mullet, trout, spots, and more.
However, if you’re not into fishing, there are plenty of activities to keep you occupied on dry land!
These include playing a round of mini-golf at Emerald Forest, showing off your go-karting skills at Fun World Motorsports, or picnicking at Blue Heron Park.
To find out more about what Emerald Isle has to offer, take a look at our list of recommendations below
The 29 Most Popular Things To Do In Emerald Isle, North Carolina
29. Huggins Island
5.0
(1 review)28. Theodore Roosevelt Nature Trail
5.0
(1 review)![AF1QipNs1mLM8A60JLEfGFV4tPgXMyNO5z nob1z5lsWw296 h202 n k no Af1qipns1mlm8a60jlefgfv4tpgxmyno5z nob1z5lsw=w296-h202-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipNs1mLM8A60JLEfGFV4tPgXMyNO5z_nob1z5lsWw296-h202-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: James Erath, Google Maps
Location: Pine Knoll Shores NC
27. Swansboro Area Heritage Center Museum
5.0
(2 reviews)Location: 502 W Church Street Swansboro NC
Tel: 910 650 0459
Web Address: http://swansborohistoricsite.org/
26. Jones Island
5.0
(3 reviews)![AF1QipMP6HFTpMSilSE5DPZRvDZubmpUKJPKnLxWbVsXw296 h202 n k no Af1qipmp6hftpmsilse5dpzrvdzubmpukjpknlxwbvsx=w296-h202-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipMP6HFTpMSilSE5DPZRvDZubmpUKJPKnLxWbVsXw296-h202-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: Scott Connolly, Google Maps
25. Headys Beach
4.8
(4 reviews)![AF1QipNmzCr ClQqAWsWF7YhLRmB70HmuwN 3mE0STp w296 h202 n k no Af1qipnmzcr clqqawswf7yhlrmb70hmuwn 3me0stp =w296-h202-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipNmzCr_ClQqAWsWF7YhLRmB70HmuwN_3mE0STp_w296-h202-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: Rick Nobers, Google Maps
24. Patsy Pond
4.4
(7 reviews)![AF1QipN1lhPWt0Grlhe93eXZV7xJTdxS3sQPTKMRZqPHw296 h202 n k no Af1qipn1lhpwt0grlhe93exzv7xjtdxs3sqptkmrzqph=w296-h202-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipN1lhPWt0Grlhe93eXZV7xJTdxS3sQPTKMRZqPHw296-h202-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: Partha Sarathy, Google Maps
23. Bogue Sound
4.7
(11 reviews)![Bogue Sound Bogue sound](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bogue_Sound.jpg.webp)
Credit: Kd5463, License, Wikimedia commons
22. The Path Art Gallery
5.0
(11 reviews)![AF1QipMcWZ0 1zP9DiAlxPUF4oRXDT4M FpNh4ZkuaCcw296 h202 n k no Af1qipmcwz0-1zp9dialxpuf4orxdt4m-fpnh4zkuacc=w296-h202-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipMcWZ0-1zP9DiAlxPUF4oRXDT4M-FpNh4ZkuaCcw296-h202-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: The Path Art Gallery, Google Maps
Location: 1245 Salter Path Road Atlantic Beach NC
Tel: 808 281 5818
Web Address: http://thepathartgallery.com/
21. Bear Island
4.8
(27 reviews)20. Cedar Point Tideland Trail
4.9
(43 reviews)Location: Forest Rte 153A Swansboro NC
19. Swansboro Municipal Park
4.8
(99 reviews)![AF1QipPx7bvWR0bkv1iOjjVs3XxSvMfHvmYYXcP8DKt1w296 h202 n k no Af1qippx7bvwr0bkv1iojjvs3xxsvmfhvmyyxcp8dkt1=w296-h202-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipPx7bvWR0bkv1iOjjVs3XxSvMfHvmYYXcP8DKt1w296-h202-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: Swansboro Municipal Park, Google Maps
Location: 830 Streetate Road 1447 Swansboro NC
Tel: 910 326 2600
Web Address: https://swansboro.recdesk.com/
18. Salter Path Beach Access
4.7
(124 reviews)![AF1QipM5yez5hyvfYkFoO0CK3KuAAlij6Ux9w7unULGww296 h202 n k no Af1qipm5yez5hyvfykfoo0ck3kuaalij6ux9w7unulgw=w296-h202-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipM5yez5hyvfYkFoO0CK3KuAAlij6Ux9w7unULGww296-h202-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: Megan Carroll, Google Maps
Location: 1025 Salter Path Road Salter Path NC
Tel: 800 786 6962
17. Theodore Roosevelt Natural Area
4.6
(129 reviews)![AF1QipN3BTKJQ8biKf5ZJdYL ibbBBgPxHX886OqwSDow296 h202 n k no Af1qipn3btkjq8bikf5zjdyl ibbbbgpxhx886oqwsdo=w296-h202-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipN3BTKJQ8biKf5ZJdYL_ibbBBgPxHX886OqwSDow296-h202-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: Arthur Schalick, Google Maps
Location: Theodore Roosevelt Streetate Natural Area 1 Roosevelt Blvd Pine Knoll Shores NC
Tel: 252 726 3775
Web Address: http://ncnatural.com/Coast/naturalsouth.html
16. Patsy Pond Nature Trail
4.5
(134 reviews)![AF1QipPPS2kPYetl 8nWib9TGAHcXbI8RCRXviuo0SMbw296 h202 n k no Af1qippps2kpyetl-8nwib9tgahcxbi8rcrxviuo0smb=w296-h202-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipPPS2kPYetl-8nWib9TGAHcXbI8RCRXviuo0SMbw296-h202-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: Sharon Seiler, Google Maps
Location: 3614 NC 24 Newport NC
Web Address: https://nccoast.org/project/patsy-pond-nature-trail/
15. Star Hill Golf Club
4.0
(134 reviews)![AF1QipPjw Hbol5QAEx9LeM1PNDTDLxmEFojF8VjbUT0w296 h202 n k no Af1qippjw hbol5qaex9lem1pndtdlxmefojf8vjbut0=w296-h202-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipPjw_Hbol5QAEx9LeM1PNDTDLxmEFojF8VjbUT0w296-h202-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: Star Hill Golf Club, Google Maps
Location: 202 Club House Dr Cape Carteret NC
Tel: 252 393 8111
Web Address: http://starhillgolfclub.com/
14. Riverview Park
4.6
(223 reviews)![AF1QipMFs669UFx8uioJJEIejFVIjesKprD0ZGCbTuW5w296 h202 n k no Af1qipmfs669ufx8uiojjeiejfvijeskprd0zgcbtuw5=w296-h202-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipMFs669UFx8uioJJEIejFVIjesKprD0ZGCbTuW5w296-h202-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: Riverview Park, Google Maps
Location: 310 W Corbett Ave Swansboro NC
Tel: 910 326 2600
Web Address: http://swansboro.recdesk.com/
13. Bicentennial Park
4.6
(267 reviews)![AF1QipMeFTQa2mSeuZHgpMPD6nucagS26VSEm9X9K3HPw296 h202 n k no Af1qipmeftqa2mseuzhgpmpd6nucags26vsem9x9k3hp=w296-h202-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipMeFTQa2mSeuZHgpMPD6nucagS26VSEm9X9K3HPw296-h202-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: Bicentennial Park, Google Maps
Location: 104 E Corbett Ave Swansboro NC
Tel: 910 326 2600
Web Address: http://swansboro.recdesk.com/
12. Golfin’ Dolphin
4.1
(346 reviews)![AF1QipMBIFLG7QXUr95zNY6VENIyN0aAKIZiEedY1XDmw296 h202 n k no Af1qipmbiflg7qxur95zny6veniyn0aakizieedy1xdm=w296-h202-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipMBIFLG7QXUr95zNY6VENIyN0aAKIZiEedY1XDmw296-h202-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: Golfin’ Dolphin, Google Maps
Location: 134 Golfin Dolphin Dr Cape Carteret NC
Tel: 252 393 8131
Web Address: http://thegolfindolphin.com/
11. Lost Treasure Golf & Raceway
4.4
(1,113 reviews)![AF1QipMyhh6FIusnTioRng0hDtcubakML3zd74A7GyCmw296 h202 n k no Af1qipmyhh6fiusntiorng0hdtcubakml3zd74a7gycm=w296-h202-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipMyhh6FIusnTioRng0hDtcubakML3zd74A7GyCmw296-h202-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: Jerome Fitzsimmons, Google Maps
Location: 976 Salter Path Road Salter Path NC
Tel: 252 247 3024
Web Address: http://losttreasuregolf.com/
10. North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
4.7
(1,596 reviews)Location: 1 Roosevelt Blvd Pine Knoll Shores NC
Tel: 252 247 4003
Web Address: http://ncaquariums.com/
Our Top picks
9. Water Boggan
5.0
(1 review)Location: 8915 Reed Dr Emerald Isle NC
8. Blue Heron Park
4.6
(70 reviews)![AF1QipP bT4tWSlF 1C0VwJmObtO8PKE HfZCDpQvpBw296 h202 n k no Af1qipp bt4twslf-1c0vwjmobto8pke--hfzcdpqvpb=w296-h202-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipP_bT4tWSlF-1C0VwJmObtO8PKE-HfZCDpQvpBw296-h202-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Location: 7500 Emerald Dr Emerald Isle NC
Tel: 252 354 3424
Web Address: https://emeraldisle-nc.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/Blue-Heron-Park-5
7. Emerald Forest Mini-Golf
4.0
(202 reviews)![AF1QipPtjzSIZ7J7wrirC8DmZjX8QI VG7ncsgntdk5Aw296 h202 n k no Af1qipptjzsiz7j7wrirc8dmzjx8qi-vg7ncsgntdk5a=w296-h202-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipPtjzSIZ7J7wrirC8DmZjX8QI-VG7ncsgntdk5Aw296-h202-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: Emerald Forest Mini-Golf, Google Maps
Location: 8720 Reed Dr Emerald Isle NC
Tel: 252 764 0017
Web Address: http://emeraldforestgolf.com/
6. Fun World Motorsports
4.5
(256 reviews)Credit: Stephen Novak Jr, Google Maps
Location: 9102 Coast Guard Road Emerald Isle NC
Tel: 252 354 2313
5. Emerald Isle Woods Park
4.6
(318 reviews)![AF1QipNgJR74gBMnGRAQFzwqZCHJnaCqVDt8WJM2cxcpw296 h202 n k no Af1qipngjr74gbmngraqfzwqzchjnacqvdt8wjm2cxcp=w296-h202-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipNgJR74gBMnGRAQFzwqZCHJnaCqVDt8WJM2cxcpw296-h202-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: Penny McPherson, Google Maps
Location: 9404 Coast Guard Road Emerald Isle NC
Tel: 252 354 3424
Web Address: https://emeraldisle-nc.org/emerald-isle-woods-park
4. Emerald Isle Beach
4.8
(458 reviews)![800px Sunset at The Point2C Emerald Isle2C North Carolina 800px-sunset at the point%2c emerald isle%2c north carolina](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/800px-Sunset_at_The_Point2C_Emerald_Isle2C_North_Carolina.jpg.webp)
Credit: Vahurzpu, License, Wikimedia commons
Web Address: https://emeraldisle-nc.org/
3. Salty Pirate Waterpark
4.4
(488 reviews)![AF1QipO6hgmTg1EPpRgOwUFnxiiCXHOPA64zii55W7Cxw296 h202 n k no Af1qipo6hgmtg1epprgowufnxiicxhopa64zii55w7cx=w296-h202-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipO6hgmTg1EPpRgOwUFnxiiCXHOPA64zii55W7Cxw296-h202-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: Salty Pirate Waterpark, Google Maps
Location: 8915 Reed Dr Emerald Isle NC
Tel: 252 354 2609
Web Address: http://saltypiratewaterpark.com/
2. Hammocks Beach State Park
4.8
(1,060 reviews)Location: 1572 Streetate Road 1511 Swansboro NC
Tel: 910 326 4881
Web Address: http://ncparks.gov/hammocks-beach-state-park
1. Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier
4.7
(3,339 reviews)Location: 100 Bogue Inlet Dr Emerald Isle NC
Tel: 252 354 2919
Web Address: http://bogueinletpier.com/
Final Words:
Thank you for reading our list of the best things to do in Emerald Isle, North Carolina! We hope it helped you plan the perfect itinerary for your next trip to this fantastic destination. Happy travels!
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