 |
|
|
 |
||||
|
Home > Getting Around |
||||||
The Crystal Coast is about many things, especially water and water activities. In this area you'll see thousands of boats — pleasure craft, sailboats in safe harbors, kayaks, the last of the menhaden fishing fleet, ocean-going research vessels, huge luxury yachts, tankers and container ships, and more than 6,000 commercial fishing boats, big and small, hauling in the catch. About 95 percent of the visitors to the Crystal Coast arrive by car, although getting here by sea or air provides a beautiful journey as well. In this chapter you'll find
information for getting to the Crystal Coast and for getting around once
you are here. |
The
Crystal Coast is at the southern end of the great barrier island chain
called the Outer Banks. This narrow strip of land travels 81 miles of
coastline, beaches, dunes and waterways down N.C. Highway 12 with
connecting ferries. The Bogue Banks portion of the Crystal Coast is
geographically unique. It sits on an east-west axis, allowing a sunrise
and sunset view over the ocean and sunbathers to lie on the beach facing
the ocean due south.
|
|
LandThe Crystal Coast is a short three-hour drive from the state capital of Raleigh, a straight shot on U.S. Highway 70, and only a couple of hours from Greenville, home of East Carolina University. If you're coming to the area from the north or south, Interstate 95 or U.S. Highway 17 will take you to either U.S. Highway 70 and on to Morehead City or you can arrive on N.C. Highway 58, which leads straight to Emerald Isle. From the west, Interstate 40 will also take you to U.S. 70, which leads directly to Morehead City. From the east, the most picturesque journey into Carteret County, travelers must reserve space for the 2¼-hour ferry ride from Ocracoke Island to Cedar Island (see the ferry schedule in this chapter). At the ferry landing, N.C. Highway 12 continues a short distance to intersect with U.S. 70 W. near the community of Sea Level, the highway's point of origin. (Interestingly enough, U.S. 70's other terminus is in Los Angeles.) From here, it's an unforgettable ride through lowland fields of junkus and Spartina marsh grasses and Down East fishing villages to historic Beaufort and the Crystal Coast or on to Havelock and New Bern. Between Morehead City and Emerald Isle or Swansboro, the main thoroughfare is N.C. Highway 24, which offers views of Bogue Sound as you cross its bridges at Broad Creek and Gales Creek. Make the sightseeing brief, because this is always a busy highway with commuter traffic, schools and neighborhood developments along the 25-mile stretch between U.S. 70 and N.C. 58. On the island of Bogue Banks, N.C. 58
runs parallel to the beach for more than 22 miles, from Atlantic
Beach west to Emerald Isle. Mile markers along the way make it easy
to find things. Mile 1 (MM 1) begins at Fort Macon State Park on the
east end of the island and the markers continue west, ending at the
high-rise bridge in Emerald Isle. |
|||
|
|
Bus and Taxi ServiceCurrently, there is no bus service to Carteret county. Bus service is offered in Havelock and New Bern. Several cab and limousine companies service the area: A-1 Yellow Cab, (252) 240-2700 or (252) 504-3680, takes passengers to Atlantic Beach, Beaufort, Morehead City, Down East and area marinas. A-1 also will take passengers to the airport in New Bern. Atlantic Beach Taxi, (252) 240-3555, serves all the towns between Atlantic Beach and Emerald Isle as well as Morehead City and will take passengers to the airport in New Bern. Crystal Coast Yellow Cab Co., (252) 728-3483 or (252) 726-3125, offers service to Atlantic Beach, Beaufort, Morehead City, Newport, Down East and will take and pick up clients are area airports. Diamond Limousine Service,
(252) 240-1680, offers service for local and long-distance trips,
including airport transfers. |
|||
|
|
Car RentalsThis area has very few car rental
establishments. More rental options exist in New Bern at Craven
County Regional Airport. In Carteret County, Michael J. Smith
Airport (Beaufort Airport) offers Enterprise rentals and Star
Rentals, (252) 728-1777. In Morehead City, Ford Rent-A-Car is
operated by Morehead City Ford, 5557 U.S. Highway 70 W., (252)
247-2132; and Enterprise Rent-A-Car is located at 5317-B U.S.
Highway 70 W. in Morehead City, (252) 240-0218.
|
|||
|
|
Continue to By Air |
