Shari’s guidebook
Sightseeing
This is a great place to see the sun come up or go down! Grab a pole and fish off the pier, but get a license at the desk first! Take in the air and sit a while and you can people or fish watch! Hopefully you will see a dolphin or two while you are there!
77 locals recommend
Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier
100 Bogue Inlet DrThis is a great place to see the sun come up or go down! Grab a pole and fish off the pier, but get a license at the desk first! Take in the air and sit a while and you can people or fish watch! Hopefully you will see a dolphin or two while you are there!
North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
1 Roosevelt BlvdEmerald Isle Woods Park
9404 Coast Guard RdExplore nature through cleared trails.
Take the kids to play and slide if you are taking a break from the beach. Safe place with green lawns and shade awnings!
11 locals recommend
Blue Heron Park
7500 Emerald DrTake the kids to play and slide if you are taking a break from the beach. Safe place with green lawns and shade awnings!
Drop your kayak in and go explore the little islands all within a 5 minute row! Collect shells or sit in the quiet and take in the breathtaking views!
7 locals recommend
Cedar Street Park
7802 Sound DrDrop your kayak in and go explore the little islands all within a 5 minute row! Collect shells or sit in the quiet and take in the breathtaking views!
North Carolina Maritime Museum
315 Front StGrab a ferry and head to Bear Island! Enjoy the area and walk the beach collecting shells or sunning yourselves! Best day ever for a day trip for all ages.
66 locals recommend
Hammocks Beach State Park
1572 State Rd 1511Grab a ferry and head to Bear Island! Enjoy the area and walk the beach collecting shells or sunning yourselves! Best day ever for a day trip for all ages.
Take a 30 minute ride and go see this historic landmark! Pack a bag and a cooler or stop after you visit at one of the great places to eat in Atlantic Beach!
12 locals recommend
Fort Macon Beach & Historic Landmark
2303 Picnic Park DrTake a 30 minute ride and go see this historic landmark! Pack a bag and a cooler or stop after you visit at one of the great places to eat in Atlantic Beach!
Entertainment
Salty Pirate Waterpark
8915 Reed DrAbsolutely must have to get around in the summer. Everyone loves a golf cart open air ride. There are some rules and do not break them or the local wonderful EI Police will give you a ticket!
6 locals recommend
Emerald Isle Golf Cart Rental & Sales
8201 Emerald DrAbsolutely must have to get around in the summer. Everyone loves a golf cart open air ride. There are some rules and do not break them or the local wonderful EI Police will give you a ticket!
Food scene
Best rooftop bar on the island! Go have a rooftop cocktail then head down to eat some of the best food served anywhere!
63 locals recommend
Caribsea
8921 Crew DrBest rooftop bar on the island! Go have a rooftop cocktail then head down to eat some of the best food served anywhere!
Rucker Johns Restaurant
8700 Emerald DrA local favorite with local flare!
All kinds of fun things go on here, besides food they have entertainment and yard games out back under the lights at night.
43 locals recommend
The Java Post
207 WB McLean DrAll kinds of fun things go on here, besides food they have entertainment and yard games out back under the lights at night.
My all time favorite!!! Great Margaritas and food but the atmosphere makes it even better. Not expensive at all.
13 locals recommend
Plaza Mexico Restaurant Bar & Grill
140 Fairview DrMy all time favorite!!! Great Margaritas and food but the atmosphere makes it even better. Not expensive at all.
Flipperz Family Bar & Grill
311 Mangrove DrLocal Seafood at its best. Great servers too.
Visit here and sit at the bar as the have the VERY BEST MARTINIS on the island. You can walk from Lucky Enough as its 2 blocks away so after some delicious seafood or filet mignon you can stroll home at your leisure.
42 locals recommend
Kathryn's Bistro & Martini Bar
8002 Emerald DrVisit here and sit at the bar as the have the VERY BEST MARTINIS on the island. You can walk from Lucky Enough as its 2 blocks away so after some delicious seafood or filet mignon you can stroll home at your leisure.
This little gem is at he end of the street! Great people work there and the pizza is delicious! Nothing like walking to dinner with no mess to clean up!
9 locals recommend
Circle Pizza and Subs
7702 Emerald DrThis little gem is at he end of the street! Great people work there and the pizza is delicious! Nothing like walking to dinner with no mess to clean up!
Cutest place to take the pups for a coffee and meet other doggies! They sell wine and beer and are a short walk away! Must, must, go there! The iced coffee is our personal favorite. The owner Wendy and her help are the most fun of the entire visit! Southern Hospitality at its BEST!
6 locals recommend
Muttigans
8101 Emerald DrCutest place to take the pups for a coffee and meet other doggies! They sell wine and beer and are a short walk away! Must, must, go there! The iced coffee is our personal favorite. The owner Wendy and her help are the most fun of the entire visit! Southern Hospitality at its BEST!
This is an order at the counter restaurant but worth the wait. Great seafood and flare of what a beach restaurant should be. Try a blueberry jalapeno margarita, it will not disappoint!
69 locals recommend
Fish Hut Grill
301 Mangrove DrThis is an order at the counter restaurant but worth the wait. Great seafood and flare of what a beach restaurant should be. Try a blueberry jalapeno margarita, it will not disappoint!
DQ Grill & Chill Restaurant
8307 Emerald DrNothing is more fun than a walk to the DQ!
This cute local favorite is tucked away near Burts Surf Shop. Best chocolate fudge brownie icecream too!
15 locals recommend
Ben & Jerry’s
8204 Emerald DrThis cute local favorite is tucked away near Burts Surf Shop. Best chocolate fudge brownie icecream too!
Another fun ice cream store with added fun! They sell candy and souvenirs too!
29 locals recommend
Sweet Spot
8201 Emerald DrAnother fun ice cream store with added fun! They sell candy and souvenirs too!
Favorite art gallery
Take some time out of your trip to visit this lovely gallery and buy some local art! Glen is an incredible artist and his wife is even sweeter than him!
Day Five Art Gallery
Emerald DriveTake some time out of your trip to visit this lovely gallery and buy some local art! Glen is an incredible artist and his wife is even sweeter than him!
Bar Scene
This is a place young and older love to visit. You must be 21 but it is the islands bar! Outside is a Tiki type patio with cornhole and music. Inside they have a band on weekends. Great staff and the locals bar for sure. Go out and meet some of the greatest islanders around.
24 locals recommend
Emerald Club
8102 Emerald DrThis is a place young and older love to visit. You must be 21 but it is the islands bar! Outside is a Tiki type patio with cornhole and music. Inside they have a band on weekends. Great staff and the locals bar for sure. Go out and meet some of the greatest islanders around.
Home brew type bar on tap. Beer and wine only. Pet friendly and a local fan favorite.
33 locals recommend
The Growler Bar Emerald Isle
200 Mallard DrHome brew type bar on tap. Beer and wine only. Pet friendly and a local fan favorite.
City advice
Getting around
Weekend Traffic
There is one main bridge to get onto the Island. There is some construction also happening on the bridge so have patience, they do a good job moving it in each direction.
What to pack
Bring Sunblock
During the summer you do not realize that on the beach you are burning until it is too late. It can ruin a vacation.
Book before you go
Sun shade
You can rent a Shibumi shade for your stay at sharisshade.com