Exploring Atlantic Beach, NC
Time needed at this beach: how long you want to relax for is how long you will be there!
Something hits different with North Carolina beaches, compared to the overcrowded ones on the west coast, as well as points further north and south. There’s a sereneness to it that allows you to separate yourself from the world, even if only for a few moments. One such beach is Atlantic Beach - a complete surprise to us when we moved to eastern North Carolina. It’s peaceful, yet super close to great restaurants and things to do.
The below information is a complete guide of the best places to stay, the top rated places to dine and drink, and all there is to see and do. We’ve also included a summary of the history of this wonderful beach.
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Where to Stay
Atlantic Beach is mainly made up of vacation home rentals (most are very affordable), with a couple of hotels in between. Per our own experiences, vacation rentals are the way to go, no matter how many nights, as the hotels are not well-maintained and tend to be a bit more expensive. We have included both kinds of properties for you to consider:
Where to Dine & Drink
Amos Mosquitos
A cozy eatery & bar with a patio overlooking the water, serving an eclectic, mostly seafood menu.
Blue Moon Bistro
Relaxed New American fine dining from local sourcing, served in quaint digs in a historic house.
Circa 81 (Top pick)
Locally sourced small plates & cocktails served in a chic, minimalist setting. NOTE: They are GREAT with gluten-free!
Costa Bonita Mexican
Serving Mexican dishes.
Floyd’s 1921
Southern dishes, steaks, seafood & live music in a white clapboard house with a patio & fire pits.
Full Circle Cafe (Top pick)
NOTE: They have a lot of gluten-free options!
Luigi’s Pizza
Strip-mall pizza parlor turning out thin-crust pies along with subs, calzones & cheesesteaks. NOTE: They do not cater to Celiac!
Mug Shot
Serving coffees, cocktails, and food.
Prime Bistro & Wine Bar
Featuring wood-fired steaks, fine seafood, house-made pasta, and a robust wine menu.
Social Q Smokehouse
They serve combo plates, sandwiches, bulk meats and sides along with weekly specials.
Table 9 Seafood
Upmarket restaurant offering modern seafood & steak dishes, plus wine & cocktails.
The Island Grill
Trendy spot for upscale seafood & meats, plus brunch in a simple, stylish setting.
The Shark Shack
Burgers, fried seafood & fish sandwiches served at a beach-themed shack with outdoor picnic tables.
Things to See & Do
Atlantic Beach town park
Opened in 2017, the AB Town Park features a splash pad, large skatepark, 18-hole mini-golf course, half-court basketball court, picnic area, concession stand, and public restrooms. The park is free for use (mini-golf & concession stand items for a fee).
Beaufort Historic Site
The Beaufort Historic Site in the middle of Beaufort, North Carolina's historic district, is home to a complex of nine historic houses that tell the story of the coastal region of North Carolina in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Elliott Coues Nature Trail
Explore this 3.2-mile loop trail near Atlantic Beach, North Carolina. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 56 min. to complete. This is a popular trail for birding, hiking, and mountain biking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. The best times to visit this trail are March through October. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.
Fort macon state park
Fort Macon State Park is a North Carolina state park, located on Bogue Banks near Atlantic Beach. The park opened in 1936, though was built in the later 1800s as part of the Third System of US fortifications. Today, the park surrounds the United States Coast Guard Station Fort Macon.
The Battle of Fort Macon was fought there during March and April 1862.
FUN FACT: Fort Macon is made up of 2,379,546 bricks—more than any other U.S. fort.
Head to the Beach
Whether to relax during the day or take in some sunset views from the pier, it’s a great way to spend a day (and early evening)!
North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores (Pine knoll shores)
Watch river otters play, touch a stingray, stare at sharks, explore a shipwreck, and see thousands of aquatic animals take you on a journey from the state’s grand peaks, to the open Atlantic.
North Carolina Maritime Museum (Beaufort)
Visit the Maritime Museum in Beaufort for a taste of coastal cultures and maritime history. Exhibits feature the state’s rich seafood industry, life-saving stations and lighthouses, and sailboats and motorboats.
A History Summary
1870s - Appleton Oaksmith had a vision for east Bogue Banks - a new resort by the sea. He first chose Fort Macon, but was unsuccessful. He then turned his attention to the area which now comprises all of Atlantic Beach and a portion of east Pine Knoll Shores. He soon acquired a title to all of this property in the names of two straw ladies, his wife, Augusta, and her sister, Ellen Mason.
July 4, 1879 - Appleton’s dream was lost - he lost four of his daughters in a tragic accident and never recovered from it.
1880 - The Morehead City Hotel Co. constructed the “New Atlantic Hotel” in Morehead City at the terminus of the Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad in order to make hotel accommodations in the area more convenient for the former patrons of the old Atlantic Hotel (which was lost in a hurricane the year before).
1887 - John J. Royal of Morehead City and Winfield S. Chadwick of Beaufort began construction on Appleton’s vision. They built the first bathing pavilion on Bogue Banks in the location of present day Club Colony.
1898 - Royal and Chadwick split their holdings, with Chadwick getting the east portion and Royal the west. Royal then built his own pavilion on a much grander scale in the location of today’s Sportsman’s Pier. This was the beginning of the development that became known eventually as Money Island Beach.
1922 - Another bathing pavilion and ballroom was opened just east of the present Triple-S Pier by V. Asbury. The development was known as Asbury Beach and the following year, was reserved exclusively for blacks, since these were the days of segregation.
1926 - With things in decline in the area, a group of Morehead City and Beaufort investors formed two corporations, one to buy and develop a new resort on Bogue Banks and the other to build a modern bridge across Bogue Sound to this new development.
1928 - The “new” Atlantic Beach opened for business. This new resort was located west of the Royal Pavilion in an area that became known as the “Circle”.
1929 - A fire all but gutted “Circle” - the office being the only structure that remained in-tact. The building was later moved to an oceanfront lot on West Boardwalk and served as the summer residence of the beach managers for many years. Today it is a private residence and is known as the Pagoda House. It is the oldest documented structure in present day Atlantic Beach. In addition to this, the Great Depression started, which meant the owners defaulted on their loans. Manufacturers Bank and Trust Co. of New York formed The Atlantic Beach and Bridge Company to rebuild the resort proper and operate the bridge.
1930 - Two new bathhouses, a dance hall named the Casino, and several assorted drink stands were built.
1931 - Newman Willis and his wife, Etta, became the first residents of Atlantic Beach when Newman became Mayor.
1932 - The first cottage was built.
1934 - The bridge opened as a toll bridge and remained that until it was sold to the State of North Carolina. Also, James N. “Cap’n Jim” Willis III, was born, and he became the first person to call Atlantic Beach “home” from birth.
1940 - The boardwalk was rebuilt.
1957 - A new charter was adopted making Atlantic Beach an official city. They got an expanded water system, an upgraded sewer plant, a fire station, an air conditioned jail and police station (with radio system), added daily garbage trucks, paved streets, and added lights.
1987 - The city’s boundaries were extended to the Seminole Beach area.
1991 - The city received a new city hall.
1993 - The city established a community theatre.
1996 - The city’s boundaries were extended, yet again, to include the Intracoastal Waterway.
Today - There are 14,000 residents of Atlantic Beach and a new boardwalk is being considered.
