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29 Best and Fun Things To Do In Emerald Isle, North Carolina


TouristWire Editors

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)

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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)

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Credit: Scott Connolly, Google Maps

25. Headys Beach

4.8 ★★★★★ (4 reviews)

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Credit: Rick Nobers, Google Maps

24. Patsy Pond

4.4 ★★★★☆ (7 reviews)

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Credit: Partha Sarathy, Google Maps

23. Bogue Sound

4.7 ★★★★★ (11 reviews)

Bogue sound

Credit: Kd5463, License, Wikimedia commons

22. The Path Art Gallery

5.0 ★★★★★ (11 reviews)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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Credit: MCG, Google Maps

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)

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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)

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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)

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Credit: Vahurzpu, License, Wikimedia commons

Web Address:   https://emeraldisle-nc.org/

3. Salty Pirate Waterpark

4.4 ★★★★☆ (488 reviews)

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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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