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CLOSE UP: The Feral Horses of Carrot Island

What do most kids need at the beach to have fun? Not much! That's why sand and surf are definitely the main attractions of the Crystal Coast for children of all ages. When parents and kids want something different than a day at the beach, not to worry — Carteret County is home to a wide variety of options for families. Set out for fun at one of the amusement areas, visit sea life face-to-face at the aquarium, learn about colonial times at the Beaufort Historic Site, zip down a water slide, take the helm of a bumper boat, putt a round of mini-golf, take a spin in a go-cart or attend a camp. Several summer camps of various styles are offered in the area. If you're interested in how the seashore environment works or want to learn how to sail a boat, make sure you check out the North Carolina Maritime Museum's Summer Science School or Junior Sailing Program. The courses are short, so they won't take up your whole vacation. Many of the sites for adventures that follow are also described in other chapters, and, for further details, we have referred you to them. As always, if you seek other ideas, look in other areas of this book or just ask an Insider kid.

Amusements

Golfin' Dolphin
N.C. Hwy. 24, Cape Carteret
(252) 393-8131

This expansive family entertainment complex, off N.C. 24 in Cape Carteret, is where athletes of all ages and stages can hone their competitive edge. The complex includes a 50-tee driving range, baseball and softball batting cages and an 18-hole miniature golf course. While the bigger kids are sharpening their skills, the little ones enjoy the go-carts and bumper boats with water-spray attachments. The Golfin' Dolphin also has a snack bar. The complex is open throughout the spring, summer and fall, so call for winter hours. Golfin' Dolphin's new neighbor is Mac Daddy's Bowling Center, complete with 24-bowling lanes, a sports bar and grill, arcade and conference rooms.

Lost Treasure Golf and Raceway
MM 10.5, N.C. Hwy. 58, Salter Path
(252) 247-3024

How about a ride on a train through caves, ancient ruins and under waterfalls to begin the adventure? The family will enjoy an active day at this Salter Path park. You'll love the go-cart ride over bridges and banked curves. You can splash in bumper boats, play games in a high-tech arcade and putt 18 fabulous holes of miniature golf. Ice cream may be purchased. A picnic area can be used for parties, and group rates are offered. Tickets for each activity are sold separately. Call for seasonal hours.

OK kids (and kids-at-heart), this is the place you've been dreaming of — there's fun in every corner. Mac Daddy's is a huge family entertainment center that has 24 lanes of bowling, a cutting-edge arcade, a snack bar area and much more. It's a great place to bowl with your family or with a group of your friends. Rack up points in the arcade and bring them up to the redemption counter for the prize you've been working, or rather playing, so hard for. The snack bar has all of the American favorites, including pizza, burgers, hot dogs, fries, nachos and pretzels at an affordable price. It's a great spot for birthday parties, so ask about the packages they offer. Located in the same complex as the Golfin' Dolphin off N.C. Highway 24, Mac Daddy's is open year round, seven days a week from 10 AM until midnight with extended hours on the weekends.
 

North Carolina Maritime Museum
315 Front St., Beaufort
(252) 728-7317
www.ncmm.friends.org

The North Carolina Maritime Museum’s is a great place to take the family for a few hours of fun.

Museum exhibits include Coastal Marine Life, North Carolina’s Working Watercraft, U.S. Lifesaving Service and Commercial Fishing. Displayed are a typical 1950s outboard motor shop and outboards, ship models, fossil and shell collections, an observation bell, coastal plant and animal life exhibits, indigenous watercraft and more.

A permanent exhibit in the museum lobby features Blackbeard and his ship, Queen Anne’s Revenge. Included in this display are artifacts, ballast stones and implements such as tacks with decorative heads and a whetstone, which was used to sharpen weapons and knives. There are bones (pig), shards and ceramic fragments of utilitarian containers, and parts of instruments such as dividers and a surveyor’s chain. Additionally, there are small arms hardware, pewter platters and cannon balls.

In the Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center, located directly across the street, visitors can watch boat restoration and construction from a platform above the boat shop floor. In the John S. MacCormack Model Shop, builders construct scale models of a variety of vessels. Classes in boat-building skills are offered for novices and experienced woodworkers alike. Topics include lofting, boat building carpentry, boat modeling for children, diesel maintenance, plane making and others. Class size is limited, and all tools and materials are provided. Classes are generally offered on the weekends.

The museum’s education staff has provided environmental education programs for the public since 1975. Coastal habitats are highlighted in trips to barrier island beaches, maritime forests, salt marshes and tidal flats. In addition there are trawling trips aboard a research vessel, bird-watching, fossil hunts and kayaking trips. All museum trips and programs are guided and presented by natural science curators with many years of experience in the field.

The Cape Lookout Studies Program offers learning opportunities on the coastal waters and islands near Beaufort. Managed by the N.C. Maritime Museum, the program utilizes the museum field station on Cape Lookout National Seashore, 10 miles southeast of Beaufort. The field station was formerly a Coast Guard Station, which was built in 1917 and decommissioned in June 1983. A wide variety of programs and field study opportunities are available for individuals or small groups through scheduled museum calendar programs. Educational, environmental or other special interest groups can custom design a program for workshops, retreats or conferences.

The museum’s annual programs and field trips attract all ages, all interests, all year. The Wooden Boat Show held the first Saturday in May features wooden boats of all kinds, races, workshops and demonstrations for the enjoyment of everyone who appreciates wooden boats. The Junior Sailing Program is a basic-through-intermediate sailing program open to children ages 8 and older. Boat-related program offerings also include Adult Learn to Sail, Beaufort Oars, Sea Scouts, kayaking and Traditional Boat Handling.

Museum and Watercraft Center hours are Monday through Friday 9 AM to 5 PM, Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM and Sunday 1 to 5 PM. No admission fee is charged.

Be sure to take time to visit the Museum Store, (252) 728-7317. It's the best place to find a special book on natural or maritime history or a navigation chart or topographical map.

Playland & Lighthouse Golf
MM 20.5, 204 Islander Dr., Emerald Isle
(252) 354-6616

Playland in Emerald Isle has super-fast water slides and several rides for toddlers and youngsters, including bumper cars, bumper boats and grand prix tracks. Adjoining Playland is the Water Boggan and Lighthouse Golf, an 18-hole miniature golf course. Playland also has a snack bar and a picnic area to keep the kids completely happy and give the adults a break. Playland is open seasonally April through September.

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