Beaufort, North Carolina

Beaufort is a quaint waterfront town in east central North Carolina and is the county seat of Carteret County. Having been surveyed in 1713, it is the third oldest town in the state. In 1996, this small town gained notoriety when the ship once commanded by the famous pirate Blackbeard was found in Beaufort Inlet. This discovery put Beaufort under tourist radar. This town is not to be confused with its namesake in South Carolina. These two towns have different pronunciations; coincidentally, they are both recommended by SmallTownGems.com. The North Carolina Maritime Museum is located in Beaufort, as well as Duke University’s Marine Laboratory.