Home > Nightlife

 

PREMIER COMPANY LINKS

NIGHTLIFE TIPS

Nightlife comes in a variety of forms on the Crystal Coast and varies from person to person. Most visitors have a full day of outdoor activities and are happy with quiet evening activities, like a drink after dinner and a stroll on the beach or waterfront. Still, the Crystal Coast offers a few spots where you can kick up your heels and enjoy a night of fun. City dwellers must keep in mind that things are done on a much smaller scale in these parts, so you won't find the large dance clubs offered in a more metropolitan area or larger beach city. You will, however, find a nightlife that welcomes visitors and is quick to accommodate most musical tastes.

Many of the local nightspots offer you a choice of staying inside or enjoying a water view in an outdoor lounge. For those who prefer to be outdoors, which our area's mild climate allows most of the year, there are harbor cruises, the beach and deck bars. Besides the many waterfront bars, several local boats offer sunset trips or dinner cruises. Check our Attractions chapter for more information about entertainment cruises.

Shag dancing to beach music is popular here, and many clubs cater to people who enjoy this pastime. The shag is a type of dance that was probably a derivative of the beach bop, although it is smoother and done to rhythm and blues or North Carolina's own beach music. The dance is basically an eight-step, alternate-step that has a definite rhythm and distinct appearance. A few local beach clubs and a few parks and recreation departments offer shag lessons for those wanting to learn.

Here we have listed the spots that cater primarily to nightlife seekers. Some of these close or are only open a few nights each week during the winter so calling ahead is always a good idea in the off-season. If the business is on Bogue Banks, we have used the mile marker (MM) number for easy location. Bear in mind that many restaurants are considered nightspots because they feature live entertainment on weekends during the season or have a bar, so check our Restaurants chapter for more information on those as well. The local newspaper or any one of the weekly vacation guides might also help you in selecting a nightspot. If we mention ABC permits, it means that the establishment can legally sell liquor in addition to beer and wine. ABC stands for Alcohol Beverage Control, the state agency that regulates the sale of liquor in North Carolina. At the end of this chapter we have supplied information about movie theaters and a list of ABC stores in the area.

Continue to Bogue Banks