200 Things to Do on your Crystal Coast Vacation (While Staying Safe)
Whether you’re a first-time vacationer or you’ve been vacationing with us for years, you won’t run out of things to do on the Crystal Coast. And to make sure you don’t miss a minute of fun, we’ve come up with 200 things to do on your Crystal Coast vacation. Go ahead, build your best itinerary and make the most of your time off!
1 – Take an Eco-Tour with H20 Captain
2 – Search for the beach for shark teeth
3 – Fly a kite
4 – Watch for dolphins playing in the surf
5 – Build a sandcastle
6 – Explore historic Fort Macon in Atlantic Beach
7 – Look for the biggest seashell at low tide
8 – Take a tour of scenic Beaufort
9 – Scuba the Graveyard of the Atlantic
10 – Soak up the sun on the white sandy beaches
11 – Start a body surfing or boogie boarding competition with your friends
12 – Order curbside pickup from our local restaurants
13 – Experience the Oxygen Bar at Infuse Wellness
14 – Strawberry picking at Garner Farms
15 – Pack a lunch and have a picnic at Fort Macon State Park
16 – Have a cup of coffee with your pup at Muttigans in Emerald Isle
17 – Visit the local book store on Emerald Isle
18 – Search for murals in downtown Morehead City
19 – Try an online yoga or workout video on the beach
20 – Feed the turtles at Emerald Plantation
21 – Walk the trails in the Emerald Forest Park off of Coast Guard Road
22 – Play a round of golf at Star Hill
23 – Go bowling or play arcade games at MacDaddys
24 – Book a fishing charter with Capt Stacy
25 – Have an in-home scavenger hunt with the kids in your vacation home
26 – Bike the Emerald Isle Bike Trail
27 – Go to a Marlins’ baseball game
28 – Watch the fishing charters unload the daily catch on the Morehead City waterfront
29 – Take lots of photos to enter into our annual Bluewater Photo Contest
30 – Load up on some of the state’s best wine at the Wine Market in Emerald Isle
31 – Take a moonlight cruise
32 – Wade offshore of Bogue Sound to clam or cast a net
33 – Walk to the end of the Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier for a wonderful view
34 – Get a fishing license
35 – Witness the baby sea turtles hatch and make a run for the ocean in the early summer evenings
36 – Drop a crab pot off your sound front pier and check it daily for fresh crabs
37 – Surf-fish from the beach and see what you can catch
38 – Bask in the sun at Hammocks Beach State Park
39 – Host an evening beach party
40 – Take a step back in history on a self-walking tour of the Beaufort Historic Site
41 – Play a game of beach Ultimate Frisbee
42 – Have family ice cream sundae night with all the toppings
43 – Hunt for sea glass along the shore; blue and purple are rare finds
44 – Stroll down the docks at the Morehead City waterfront
45 – Interact with the marine life in tidal pools along the coast
46 – Search for sand dollars in the surf
47 – Watch the military planes fly down the coast
48 – Take a walk through the shops in historic downtown Swansboro
49 – Pick up a few comic books at Book Beach Mart
50 – Whale watch at Cape Lookout and the Bogue Inlet Pier
51 – Take a selfie at The Point in Emerald Isle
52 – Check out the local catch on the Bogue Inlet Pier
53 – Go bird watching in Emerald Woods
54 – Learn about and go clamming from local experts
55 – Spark some romance with a walk on the beach at sunset
56 – Launch your kayak at the Emerald Isle boat ramp and explore the sound
57 – Start a game of beach football
58 – See what gets washed up on shore after a big storm
59 – Take a sequence of photos of the sunrises and sunsets
60 – Watch the big ships dock at the State Port in Morehead City
61 – Chase Ghost Crabs along the shore after dark; they’re pretty fast and tricky
62 – Play volleyball at the Atlantic Beach Circle or the Emerald Isle Beach Access
63 – Rent a jet ski and explore
64 – Spend the day exploring the many islands along the Crystal Coast
65 – Try your hand at paddle boarding
66 – Pick up the Crystal Coast Series by author Chrissy Lessey
67 – Draw pictures in the sand
68 – Shop til you drop at Island Clothing
69 – Go for a ride on an authentic Banana Boat
70 – Walk under the Bogue Inlet Pier and take a family picture
71 – Count the seconds between waves breaking on the beach; you will notice a pattern
72 – Look for shapes in the clouds as they blow in the breeze
73 – Watch the windsurfers battle the ocean’s current
74 – Charter a cruise for your whole party with Waterbug Tours
75 – Play a game of Bocce Ball with those around you
76 – Dig a hole and bury someone to their waist
77 – Grab the Geneva Chase Mystery Series and get them autographed by local author, Tom Kies
78 – Bury your toes in the warm sand
79 – Take a trip to Shark Tooth Island
80 – Take a walk along the Emerald Isle Bike Path
81 – Play a game of Horseshoes on the beach
82 – Catch Sandfiddler crabs in the surf
83 – Throw a cast net into the sound to see what you catch
84 – Walk the path through Emerald Isle and visit the shops along the way
85 – Look for starfish in the surf
86 – Go to an event featured on our event calendar
87 – Visit Blu Sail Golitz Pottery in Downtown Morehead
88 – Create your very own treasure adventure – bury treasures for your friends and family to find
89 – Skip cooking and grab some BBQ at Moore’s Barbeque
90 – Order your “Bring the party home” paint kit from Wine and Design in Morehead City
91 – Rent bikes and enjoy the outdoors like a local
92 – Or, try an electric bike rental from Pedego Electric Bikes
93 – Enjoy the outdoors by bike on Swansboro’s 25-mile bike trail along the water and through the Croatan National Forest
94 – Take your dog on a tour of all the local dog-friendly spots
95 – Enjoy a nature tour on Taylor’s Creek ending at Carrot Island through The Rachel Carson National Estuarine Research office
96 – Put on your bathing suit and hit the Salty Pirate Water Park
97 – Paddleboard the Bogue Sound
98 – Sample locally brewed beer from Crystal Coast Brewing in Atlantic Beach
99 – Visit the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores and explore all the exhibits indoors and out
100 – Get breakfast or lunch catered to you by The Village Market
101 – Plan some playtime at the Splash Pad in the Atlantic Beach Park
102 – Watch the Musket firing at Fort Macon
103 – Walk through the gardens at Tryon Palace
104 – Visit the birthplace of Pepsi
105 – See how many bears you can count in Downtown New Bern
106 – Go to a race at the Carteret Speedway
107 – Visit the Civil War Memorial Park in Newport
108 – Ride the double-decker bus in Beaufort
109 – Have a front porch photo shoot done by a local photographer
110 – Explore the Boathouse Creek Walking Trails in Cedar Point
111 – Play a round of frisbee golf in the Emerald Forest Park
112 – Have a self-care day with an in-home facial mask, massage, or yoga session
113 – Donate snacks and food at the Emerald Isle Food Lion for Backpack for Kids
114 – Have dinner and drinks outdoors at RuckerJohns
115 – Take a tour of Bogue Sound Distillery
116 – Pick up brunch to go at 34 Degrees North in Beaufort, NC
117 – Or have brunch outdoors at Boro in Swansboro
118 – Beaufort Grocery offers daily specials with curbside pickup – including brunch
119 – Enjoy coffee outdoors at Reeds Coffee in Morehead City
120 – Grab some fresh produce at The Market at Cedar Point
121 – Try making a local favorite, Tomato Pie, with a recipe from local blogger, The Blond Cook
122 – Create a hand-drawn beach scene with items you find in the sand
123 – Plan a day in Swansboro with our guide to the best things to do in Swansboro
124 – Grab a Liege Waffle or Hibiscus Iced Tea at Milk Road
125 – Have an at-home movie night filled with popcorn, candy, snacks, and the latest premier
126 – Comb the beach for sea glass to make a one-of-a-kind bracelet
127 – Tour the local historic sites
128 – Taking the boat out for the day? Promise Land Market in Morehead City offers boat snacks to go
129 – Ride the ferry to Ocracoke and take the kids to see the Ocracoke Banker Ponies
130 – Go on a Hungry Town Bike Tour
131 – Have a quiet dinner for two on Intercoastal at Amos Mosquitos in Atlantic Beach
132 – ake the Wild Horse and Dolphin Sunset Cruise with Crystal Coast Lady Cruises
133 – Go hang gliding with Kitty Hawk Kites
134 – Go skydiving
135 – Grab cupcakes or a coke float at Happy Cakes in MHC
136 – Visit the Maritime Museum in Beaufort
137 – Gather unique rocks, paint them and place them around town
138 – Try your hand at Axe Throwing or a Rage Room
139 – Go-kart race at Fun World Motorsports
140 – Order fresh local produce, shrimp, and eggs through our VSA program
141 – Play Pokemon Go all around the coast
142 – Make fresh fruit popsicles to enjoy with family and friends
143 – Pick up one of our local versions of Monopoly and other board games for hours of fun
144 – Visit Beaufort’s Old Burial Grounds dating as far back as the 1700s
145 – Take your four-legged friend on a walk on the bike path or beach
146 – Complete a puzzle or two
147 – Make a Pandora or Spotify playlist for the beach
148 – Play your favorite music and have a dance party in your vacation rental
149 – Learn a TikTok dance
150 – Watch the wild horses run on Shackleford Banks and Carrot Island
151 – Go Geo Cashing around town. It’s like a giant treasure hunt. See www.geocaching.com/play
152 – Learn to surf or stand up paddleboard
153 – Visit Tryon Palace, explore on your own or take a guided tour
154 – Create new family traditions
155 – Have a free taste of Ice Cream or a free piece of Salt Water Taffy at Sweet Spot in Emerald Isle
156 – Pick up some local postcards and mail them to friends back home
157 – Catch a ferry from Morehead City, Beaufort, or Harkers Island and explore to your heart’s content
158 – Gather the family and make homemade pizzas
159 – Plan a Taco Tuesday night with fresh local ingredients
160 – Double kayak with the one you love most
161 – Make a beach bucket list for your next vacation
162 – Wander through the Carteret County Curb Market in Morehead City
163 – Visit Blackbeard’s House in Beaufort to hear some spooky tales
164 – Enjoy the Summer Concert Series at Fort Macon
165 – Camp out at Hammocks Beach State Park
166 – Take part in the traditional cannon firing at Fort Macon State Park
167 – Explore Down East heritage at the Core Sound Museum in Harkers Island
168 – Pick up a plain dozen of donuts and have a donut decorating competition
169 – If the rain rolls in, do the rain clouds in a jar science project with your kids
170 – Spend the day exploring the many islands along the Crystal Coast
171 – DIY candles with a large shell from the beach
172 – Watch the experts slow cook a feast at the Newport Pig Pickin’
173 – Catch the fast boat races in the Crystal Coast Grand Prix in September
174 – Watch a free outdoor movie in Atlantic Beach every Wednesday night starting at dusk in the Circle
175 – Super glue small shells to the end of bobby pins to make a cute new hair clip
176 – Go live online from your vacation home
177 – Try your hand at the Morehead City Seafood Festival Flounder Fling during the festival
178 – Play a game of beach soccer
179 – Plan a sunrise walk on the beach
180 – Skate the bike path
181 – Grab some flashlights and tell ghost stories all night long
182 – Plan a trip to Sunset Slush for classic Italian Ice
183 – Hit up a local wine shop and have a wine and cheese pairing
184 – Paint and design your own Oyster Shell ring dish
185 – Grab dessert or a fancy shake at Dinis Martinis
186 – Try some authentic Atlantic Beach Pie
187 – Build a pillow fort with your kids in a common room of your vacation rental
188 – Use #BluewaterNC on social media to share your photos and videos
189 – Blog your Crystal Coast vacation and add to it each year
190 – Play a game of cards with your family or friends
191 – Take your own culinary tour and try these local seafood and southern cuisine favorites
192 – Plan a pop-up picnic
193 – Have morning mimosas on the beach
194 – Make and enjoy a charcuterie board
195 – Spend the day exploring Village West on Emerald Isle
196 – Explore Rocket Fizz on Emerald Isle and grab a cold specialty soda
197 – Take your boat out to a sandbar island in the middle of Bogue Sound for a beach day all to yourself
198 – Take a sketch pad and pencil and sketch your family playing on the beach
199 – Want to move here? Start virtually house hunting with one of our agents!
200 – Have a blast and make memories that will last a lifetime!
Which one of these is your favorite idea? What did we miss? What would you add to this list?
10 Helpful Tips for Working From Home
/in Vacation Rental /by Amanda GrayToday we’re sharing some helpful tips for working from home to help get you through these unprecedented times. These are some of our favorites and we thought you’d appreciate them, too.
10 Helpful Tips for Working at Home
Have a Separate Work Space
Separate your work and day-to-day life by having separate spaces. Set up your office in a location that you can step away from outside of your work hours. This will allow you to avoid having your work life and every day life run together.
Set Ground Rules
Discuss your expectations for noise-level and distractions during your work hours with your family and friends who may be around.
Establish & Maintain A Morning Routine
When working in an office, everyone has a routine to wake up, get ready, eat breakfast, drive to work, etc. When you work from home, that routine changes. Establishing and maintaining a morning routine for yourself to signify the start of a workday is an important factor. If this means making coffee, going for a run, or making breakfast, be sure to create a morning routine even while working from home.
A Space to Focus
Be sure to set up your home work space in a location you can best focus and “zone in.” Think about noises and distractions that could occur in your selected location.
Don’t sit in bed or on the couch all day – have a flat desk space with a chair to encourage good posture and productivity.
Make a To-Do List
Make a daily and/or weekly to-do list for yourself. This will help you stay on track with your tasks at hand.
Take a Full Lunch Break
When it is time to take a break or your lunch break – take it! Step away from your workspace, walk outside or eat lunch. Take the entire time designated by your organization for these breaks. Do not break for 10 minutes when you have a full 30 minutes. Everyone’s brain needs and deserves a break!
Communicate With Your Team
Communicate with your team and colleagues even more than you normally would. You are still a team and need to work together and communicate to meet your goals collectively!
Be Self-Reliant
Trust yourself and be confident in your work so you can reach your goals. Working from home is a huge change for many – Don’t forget your work ethic, knowledge, and skills in your career will get you through. Stay true to yourself, stay organized, and crush those goals!
Don’t Hesitate to Ask Questions
If you are struggling or have questions – reach out to your supervisor or colleagues! Call, chat, or video conference a co-worker or manager to ask for help or to talk out your problem!
Be Organized
Have a routine and stay organized. Take lots of notes during meetings and calls. Use your time wisely to reach your goals and complete your tasks for the day and the week.
Did we miss anything? What would you add to this list? Are you currently working from home? We’d love to know!
Coloring Contest
/in Vacation Rental /by Amanda GrayBluewater Kids Coloring Contest
Looking for some fun activities to keep the kids busy and entertained? We run a coloring contest year-round with a winner selected each month!
Download and print the coloring pages below for your kiddos to color. Once they’ve completed their masterpieces, you can submit them to us by emailing them to marketing@bluewaternc.com or if prefer, you can send them to us in a private message on our Facebook page. Once you do, they’ll be entered into our coloring contest!
All entries will be given a special spotlight feature on our Facebook page.
Monthly Contest Drawing Prizes:
Don’t forget to complete the bottom portion of the coloring sheet with your information before you send it off to us by email or Facebook private message.
Wish your kiddos good luck from all of us!
Have fun. Stay healthy. Color away.
Coloring Contest Coloring Sheets
Making a Difference – Misplaced Mutts
/in Real Estate /by Amanda GrayMaking a Difference: Misplaced Mutts
We recently had the opportunity to chat with a volunteer at Misplaced Mutts, Stephanie, about the impacts the pandemic is having on local animal shelters and foster care for pets. Stephanie explains in the Q&A how to best help Misplaced Mutts or your local animal non-profits during this time.
We stand together in this!
Q: What is Misplaced Mutts?
A: Misplaced Mutts is a local animal rescue in Carteret County focusing primarily on dogs. Misplaced Mutts is a foster-based program. All of our animals live in foster homes and are treated like our own animals until they find their forever homes. This organization also helps in working with shelters and utilizing all rescue resources to help get dogs and cats out of the shelter and into rescue/foster homes, even if our own organization is unable to take in that animal.
Q: How many years has Misplaced Mutts been serving our community’s doggie population?
A: The founders of Misplaced Mutts, Carrie and Bea, have been saving dogs and finding them forever homes for many years; however, Misplaced Mutts officially became a 501C(c)3 organization in January of 2017. Since becoming a non-profit in 2017, Misplaced Mutts has adopted out over 700 animals.
Q: Stephanie, how did you get involved with the organization?
A: My journey to rescue is a pretty long story, but the short version is I had to move away for a few years from my home in NC to care for my mother. At that time, my heart dog passed away. I was completely destroyed and devastated. I was in no position to adopt another dog and I honestly didn’t think my heart had any room left for another one. I had met this girl through a local yard sale site and we became Facebook friends. I commented on how I loved her beautiful brown pit-mix dog and she responded with “Do you want to adopt her?”. I was so confused! I didn’t even know fostering was a thing at that point! I worked with a pit-bull rescue in Pittsburgh, PA, but all animals were in a facility or kept at the owner’s home, so it was a concept I just wasn’t familiar with! I messaged her and we talked more about it. I figured since I knew I would never be able to replace my dog, I could at least mend my heart some by saving some dogs in his name. Plus, my other dog was severely missing his companion. I sent a Facebook message to Misplaced Mutts and gave my sob story about wanting to save some dogs and completed a foster application immediately. A day or two later, Carrie and Bea were sitting in my living room meeting my current dog and talking to me about what types of dogs I would be able to help with. My answer was ANY, as long as they get along with Monte. I think I still hold true to that statement; I have had all different kinds of breeds, sizes, and ages come through my home.
Q: What is your favorite experience with Misplaced Mutts?
A: This is a tough question! Since beginning to volunteer with Misplaced Mutts over 2 years ago, I have found my people! Not only do I get to save dogs, but I am surrounded by people that want to save them too. I have built amazing relationships with the people that have adopted my foster dogs. The entire last two years have been my favorite experience. Every dog, every adopter, and every “Mutt” volunteer have bettered me and improved my life.
FACEBOOK: Misplaced Mutts
Q: How many dogs are currently needing foster and forever homes in our community?
A: Misplaced Mutts receives multiple messages each day from people needing to re-home their animals & phone calls and emails from shelters pleading for help. Unfortunately, we can only take in as many as we can find volunteers to foster. We’d love to be able to empty the shelters and continue to do so. The number of dogs that need help and fosters to take them in to give them a chance is never-ending. The shelters are almost kept at capacity trying to find places for all the dogs to go. When people adopt from us they are saving TWO dogs – the one that they’ve adopted plus the one that we can now pull from the shelter since we have space.
Q: How can our community best help Misplaced Mutts right now?
A: The easiest way to help us from your own home is to follow us on Facebook – Like, SHARE, and comment on our posts. Sharing our posts helps our animals in need to reach more people than we can on our own. We need help from our community to help the growth of our reach. Donations towards our never-ending vet bills is also a huge help. If you follow Misplaced Mutts on Facebook, you might notice that we take in a lot of difficult medical cases. Our fosters have the skill and experience to be able to do so, but the vet bills can really add up. Any amount of donations help us to be able to take in these difficult cases that most rescues will not.
Q: What is the organization most in need of at this time?
A: We are always in need of donations!
Q: How do you start the process of adopting or fostering?
A: A quick and easy online application on our website!
WEBSITE: Misplaced Mutts
Q: Since the outbreak of COVID-19, what has been most difficult for Misplaced Mutts?
A: Like everyone – the unknown. As a non-profit dog rescue, we rely solely on donations to stay afloat. We have to continue to provide food for all of our animals, vet visits, heartworm medication, flea and tick medication, etc. The spending going out is severely outweighing the money coming in, which is scary for us, but we try not to think about it and continue to focus on getting our dogs adopted.
Q: If you could sum up Misplaced Mutts and your involvement with the organization in 3 words, what would they be?
A: Family, Cynophilist, Advocates
Misplaced Mutts Mission
Misplaced Mutts is a 501(c)3 non-profit, volunteer-based organization, dedicated to rescuing dogs in shelters and less than ideal home situations throughout North Carolina. We are based out of Carteret County, North Carolina, and operate through a network of foster homes. We rescue dogs who are suffering on the streets and in shelters. We created Misplaced Mutts to help animals who suffer and die every year because of negligence and abuse.
Meet Stephanie with Misplaced Mutts
Meet Myron!
Myron is about 5 years old. He was pulled from the Havelock Animal Control when he was dropped off to be euthanized. He was skin and bones and had no fur. He had no energy to do anything but lay and eat. He is now happy, the most loving boy, loyal, leash-trained, house-trained, and he has almost a full coat of fur. He’s a true rescue story. He is searching for his forever home that can look past the scars of his past. He loves everyone and is great with kids.
Meet These Available Pups with Misplaced Mutts!
Smoky
"Great Hugs"
Breed: Heeler Mix
Myron & Waldo
Bluewater NCGiovanni
Bluewater NCBrewski
"Mr. Silly"
Breed: American Pit Mix
Maisel
Bluewater NCWays to Help Misplaced Mutts!
New Check-In Procedures
/in Vacation Rental /by Amanda GrayWe now have new check-in procedures for the safety and protection of our guests, homeowners, and staff. We hope you are ready for your Bluewater Vacation on the Crystal Coast!
We are taking extra precautions by assuring that each property is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized by using top-of-the-line cleaning supplies and following strict protocols to ensure all rental units are safe and clean. We are ensuring our staff is staying well-informed and updated with any changes, taking guidance from the CDC toward our next steps, and asking our guests, owners, and third-party vendors to limit foot-traffic in both our Emerald Isle and Atlantic Beach offices.
No New Check-In Procedures Keyless Check-Ins:
If you are checking into a keyless property, your check-in procedures have NOT changed. Please go directly to your vacation rental and use your keyless code to access your vacation rental property beginning at 3:00 PM on your check-in date.
Important Changes for Keyed Check-In Procedures:
If you are checking into a Keyed property, you will still arrive at our offices during normal check-in time starting at 3:00 PM. Please do not enter our office to pick up your keys. Instead, your key packet will be located in the lockbox to the right or left of the front door. Use the lock code for your designated check-in office to unlock the box and find your property’s key packet. Please close the lockbox afterward.
Emerald Isle Check-Ins:
The lockbox is located to the RIGHT of the front door.
Atlantic Beach Check-Ins:
The lockbox is located to the LEFT of the front door.
Don’t forget to bring toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning products, and bed linens (if your rental property does not already provide linens).
For After-Hours Arrival Emergencies: Please call (252) 354-2323 and follow the prompts to reach our on-call team.
Important Changes for Keyed Check-Out Procedures:
Please do not come into the lobby to drop off your keys. There is a slot at the front door on the right for you to drop your key packet off upon Check-Out.
If there is anything we can help you with in preparation for your trip, please do not hesitate to contact us. Stay healthy, safe travels, and we will see you at the beach!
Bluewater Vacation Rentals
(877) 684-9921 (Phone)
(252) 354-2323 (Phone After-Hours)
(252) 354-2324 (Fax)
email | rentals@bluewaternc.com
website | www.BluewaterNC.com
200 Things to Do on your Crystal Coast Vacation
/in Vacation Rental /by Amanda Gray200 Things to Do on your Crystal Coast Vacation (While Staying Safe)
Whether you’re a first-time vacationer or you’ve been vacationing with us for years, you won’t run out of things to do on the Crystal Coast. And to make sure you don’t miss a minute of fun, we’ve come up with 200 things to do on your Crystal Coast vacation. Go ahead, build your best itinerary and make the most of your time off!
1 – Take an Eco-Tour with H20 Captain
2 – Search for the beach for shark teeth
3 – Fly a kite
4 – Watch for dolphins playing in the surf
5 – Build a sandcastle
6 – Explore historic Fort Macon in Atlantic Beach
7 – Look for the biggest seashell at low tide
8 – Take a tour of scenic Beaufort
9 – Scuba the Graveyard of the Atlantic
10 – Soak up the sun on the white sandy beaches
11 – Start a body surfing or boogie boarding competition with your friends
12 – Order curbside pickup from our local restaurants
13 – Experience the Oxygen Bar at Infuse Wellness
14 – Strawberry picking at Garner Farms
15 – Pack a lunch and have a picnic at Fort Macon State Park
16 – Have a cup of coffee with your pup at Muttigans in Emerald Isle
17 – Visit the local book store on Emerald Isle
18 – Search for murals in downtown Morehead City
19 – Try an online yoga or workout video on the beach
20 – Feed the turtles at Emerald Plantation
21 – Walk the trails in the Emerald Forest Park off of Coast Guard Road
22 – Play a round of golf at Star Hill
23 – Go bowling or play arcade games at MacDaddys
24 – Book a fishing charter with Capt Stacy
25 – Have an in-home scavenger hunt with the kids in your vacation home
26 – Bike the Emerald Isle Bike Trail
27 – Go to a Marlins’ baseball game
28 – Watch the fishing charters unload the daily catch on the Morehead City waterfront
29 – Take lots of photos to enter into our annual Bluewater Photo Contest
30 – Load up on some of the state’s best wine at the Wine Market in Emerald Isle
31 – Take a moonlight cruise
32 – Wade offshore of Bogue Sound to clam or cast a net
33 – Walk to the end of the Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier for a wonderful view
34 – Get a fishing license
35 – Witness the baby sea turtles hatch and make a run for the ocean in the early summer evenings
36 – Drop a crab pot off your sound front pier and check it daily for fresh crabs
37 – Surf-fish from the beach and see what you can catch
38 – Bask in the sun at Hammocks Beach State Park
39 – Host an evening beach party
40 – Take a step back in history on a self-walking tour of the Beaufort Historic Site
41 – Play a game of beach Ultimate Frisbee
42 – Have family ice cream sundae night with all the toppings
43 – Hunt for sea glass along the shore; blue and purple are rare finds
44 – Stroll down the docks at the Morehead City waterfront
45 – Interact with the marine life in tidal pools along the coast
46 – Search for sand dollars in the surf
47 – Watch the military planes fly down the coast
48 – Take a walk through the shops in historic downtown Swansboro
49 – Pick up a few comic books at Book Beach Mart
50 – Whale watch at Cape Lookout and the Bogue Inlet Pier
51 – Take a selfie at The Point in Emerald Isle
52 – Check out the local catch on the Bogue Inlet Pier
53 – Go bird watching in Emerald Woods
54 – Learn about and go clamming from local experts
55 – Spark some romance with a walk on the beach at sunset
56 – Launch your kayak at the Emerald Isle boat ramp and explore the sound
57 – Start a game of beach football
58 – See what gets washed up on shore after a big storm
59 – Take a sequence of photos of the sunrises and sunsets
60 – Watch the big ships dock at the State Port in Morehead City
61 – Chase Ghost Crabs along the shore after dark; they’re pretty fast and tricky
62 – Play volleyball at the Atlantic Beach Circle or the Emerald Isle Beach Access
63 – Rent a jet ski and explore
64 – Spend the day exploring the many islands along the Crystal Coast
65 – Try your hand at paddle boarding
66 – Pick up the Crystal Coast Series by author Chrissy Lessey
67 – Draw pictures in the sand
68 – Shop til you drop at Island Clothing
69 – Go for a ride on an authentic Banana Boat
70 – Walk under the Bogue Inlet Pier and take a family picture
71 – Count the seconds between waves breaking on the beach; you will notice a pattern
72 – Look for shapes in the clouds as they blow in the breeze
73 – Watch the windsurfers battle the ocean’s current
74 – Charter a cruise for your whole party with Waterbug Tours
75 – Play a game of Bocce Ball with those around you
76 – Dig a hole and bury someone to their waist
77 – Grab the Geneva Chase Mystery Series and get them autographed by local author, Tom Kies
78 – Bury your toes in the warm sand
79 – Take a trip to Shark Tooth Island
80 – Take a walk along the Emerald Isle Bike Path
81 – Play a game of Horseshoes on the beach
82 – Catch Sandfiddler crabs in the surf
83 – Throw a cast net into the sound to see what you catch
84 – Walk the path through Emerald Isle and visit the shops along the way
85 – Look for starfish in the surf
86 – Go to an event featured on our event calendar
87 – Visit Blu Sail Golitz Pottery in Downtown Morehead
88 – Create your very own treasure adventure – bury treasures for your friends and family to find
89 – Skip cooking and grab some BBQ at Moore’s Barbeque
90 – Order your “Bring the party home” paint kit from Wine and Design in Morehead City
91 – Rent bikes and enjoy the outdoors like a local
92 – Or, try an electric bike rental from Pedego Electric Bikes
93 – Enjoy the outdoors by bike on Swansboro’s 25-mile bike trail along the water and through the Croatan National Forest
94 – Take your dog on a tour of all the local dog-friendly spots
95 – Enjoy a nature tour on Taylor’s Creek ending at Carrot Island through The Rachel Carson National Estuarine Research office
96 – Put on your bathing suit and hit the Salty Pirate Water Park
97 – Paddleboard the Bogue Sound
98 – Sample locally brewed beer from Crystal Coast Brewing in Atlantic Beach
99 – Visit the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores and explore all the exhibits indoors and out
100 – Get breakfast or lunch catered to you by The Village Market
101 – Plan some playtime at the Splash Pad in the Atlantic Beach Park
102 – Watch the Musket firing at Fort Macon
103 – Walk through the gardens at Tryon Palace
104 – Visit the birthplace of Pepsi
105 – See how many bears you can count in Downtown New Bern
106 – Go to a race at the Carteret Speedway
107 – Visit the Civil War Memorial Park in Newport
108 – Ride the double-decker bus in Beaufort
109 – Have a front porch photo shoot done by a local photographer
110 – Explore the Boathouse Creek Walking Trails in Cedar Point
111 – Play a round of frisbee golf in the Emerald Forest Park
112 – Have a self-care day with an in-home facial mask, massage, or yoga session
113 – Donate snacks and food at the Emerald Isle Food Lion for Backpack for Kids
114 – Have dinner and drinks outdoors at RuckerJohns
115 – Take a tour of Bogue Sound Distillery
116 – Pick up brunch to go at 34 Degrees North in Beaufort, NC
117 – Or have brunch outdoors at Boro in Swansboro
118 – Beaufort Grocery offers daily specials with curbside pickup – including brunch
119 – Enjoy coffee outdoors at Reeds Coffee in Morehead City
120 – Grab some fresh produce at The Market at Cedar Point
121 – Try making a local favorite, Tomato Pie, with a recipe from local blogger, The Blond Cook
122 – Create a hand-drawn beach scene with items you find in the sand
123 – Plan a day in Swansboro with our guide to the best things to do in Swansboro
124 – Grab a Liege Waffle or Hibiscus Iced Tea at Milk Road
125 – Have an at-home movie night filled with popcorn, candy, snacks, and the latest premier
126 – Comb the beach for sea glass to make a one-of-a-kind bracelet
127 – Tour the local historic sites
128 – Taking the boat out for the day? Promise Land Market in Morehead City offers boat snacks to go
129 – Ride the ferry to Ocracoke and take the kids to see the Ocracoke Banker Ponies
130 – Go on a Hungry Town Bike Tour
131 – Have a quiet dinner for two on Intercoastal at Amos Mosquitos in Atlantic Beach
132 – ake the Wild Horse and Dolphin Sunset Cruise with Crystal Coast Lady Cruises
133 – Go hang gliding with Kitty Hawk Kites
134 – Go skydiving
135 – Grab cupcakes or a coke float at Happy Cakes in MHC
136 – Visit the Maritime Museum in Beaufort
137 – Gather unique rocks, paint them and place them around town
138 – Try your hand at Axe Throwing or a Rage Room
139 – Go-kart race at Fun World Motorsports
140 – Order fresh local produce, shrimp, and eggs through our VSA program
141 – Play Pokemon Go all around the coast
142 – Make fresh fruit popsicles to enjoy with family and friends
143 – Pick up one of our local versions of Monopoly and other board games for hours of fun
144 – Visit Beaufort’s Old Burial Grounds dating as far back as the 1700s
145 – Take your four-legged friend on a walk on the bike path or beach
146 – Complete a puzzle or two
147 – Make a Pandora or Spotify playlist for the beach
148 – Play your favorite music and have a dance party in your vacation rental
149 – Learn a TikTok dance
150 – Watch the wild horses run on Shackleford Banks and Carrot Island
151 – Go Geo Cashing around town. It’s like a giant treasure hunt. See www.geocaching.com/play
152 – Learn to surf or stand up paddleboard
153 – Visit Tryon Palace, explore on your own or take a guided tour
154 – Create new family traditions
155 – Have a free taste of Ice Cream or a free piece of Salt Water Taffy at Sweet Spot in Emerald Isle
156 – Pick up some local postcards and mail them to friends back home
157 – Catch a ferry from Morehead City, Beaufort, or Harkers Island and explore to your heart’s content
158 – Gather the family and make homemade pizzas
159 – Plan a Taco Tuesday night with fresh local ingredients
160 – Double kayak with the one you love most
161 – Make a beach bucket list for your next vacation
162 – Wander through the Carteret County Curb Market in Morehead City
163 – Visit Blackbeard’s House in Beaufort to hear some spooky tales
164 – Enjoy the Summer Concert Series at Fort Macon
165 – Camp out at Hammocks Beach State Park
166 – Take part in the traditional cannon firing at Fort Macon State Park
167 – Explore Down East heritage at the Core Sound Museum in Harkers Island
168 – Pick up a plain dozen of donuts and have a donut decorating competition
169 – If the rain rolls in, do the rain clouds in a jar science project with your kids
170 – Spend the day exploring the many islands along the Crystal Coast
171 – DIY candles with a large shell from the beach
172 – Watch the experts slow cook a feast at the Newport Pig Pickin’
173 – Catch the fast boat races in the Crystal Coast Grand Prix in September
174 – Watch a free outdoor movie in Atlantic Beach every Wednesday night starting at dusk in the Circle
175 – Super glue small shells to the end of bobby pins to make a cute new hair clip
176 – Go live online from your vacation home
177 – Try your hand at the Morehead City Seafood Festival Flounder Fling during the festival
178 – Play a game of beach soccer
179 – Plan a sunrise walk on the beach
180 – Skate the bike path
181 – Grab some flashlights and tell ghost stories all night long
182 – Plan a trip to Sunset Slush for classic Italian Ice
183 – Hit up a local wine shop and have a wine and cheese pairing
184 – Paint and design your own Oyster Shell ring dish
185 – Grab dessert or a fancy shake at Dinis Martinis
186 – Try some authentic Atlantic Beach Pie
187 – Build a pillow fort with your kids in a common room of your vacation rental
188 – Use #BluewaterNC on social media to share your photos and videos
189 – Blog your Crystal Coast vacation and add to it each year
190 – Play a game of cards with your family or friends
191 – Take your own culinary tour and try these local seafood and southern cuisine favorites
192 – Plan a pop-up picnic
193 – Have morning mimosas on the beach
194 – Make and enjoy a charcuterie board
195 – Spend the day exploring Village West on Emerald Isle
196 – Explore Rocket Fizz on Emerald Isle and grab a cold specialty soda
197 – Take your boat out to a sandbar island in the middle of Bogue Sound for a beach day all to yourself
198 – Take a sketch pad and pencil and sketch your family playing on the beach
199 – Want to move here? Start virtually house hunting with one of our agents!
200 – Have a blast and make memories that will last a lifetime!
Which one of these is your favorite idea? What did we miss? What would you add to this list?
Spring Gardening Tips
/in Real Estate /by Amanda GrayWith all that is going on in our world right now, we sincerely hope that you are healthy and practicing the recommended social distancing strategies. With so many staying at home right now and the beautiful weather of Spring in the air, we thought this would be a good time to share some helpful gardening tips. Cathy Sheaffer, our Emerald Isle Broker in Charge took some time to share the secrets she’s used to helping her plants live their best lives!
Spring Gardening Tips
Many of my friends and family are amazing gardeners and have shared tips with me over the years. My husband got his love of gardening from his mother, who is 94 and still producing the most beautiful flower gardens ever!
I started composting last year by putting most food scraps, peels, newspaper, cardboard, non-colored paper, dried leaves, etc into a big container outside and toss it around occasionally. It takes time to break down to usable dirt but really helps the quality of the soil. Did you know that you can add dryer lint and hair to your compost? Read this for more tips on composting:
If you don’t compost, I’ve been told that Black Kow is one of the best to buy. It is organic composted cow manure and helps hold moisture and nutrients around the roots.
I try to plant seeds inside to get a head start and add some outside later as well.
Some of my favorite flowers that do well here along the Crystal Coast are zinnias, sunflowers, impatiens, (annuals), Shasta daisies, lantana, verbena, hydrangea, knock out roses, Mexican sage (salvia), Mexican petunia, muhly grass, Vitex (Chaste tree) and spiraea bush. My most favorite, but a little tough to grow here, is statice, which is used as a filler in flower arrangements. It also dries and keeps its color extremely well. Some statice flowers are perennials and come back heartier each year (unless you have a hurricane- which is what unfortunately killed mine after 4 years). I just ordered more seeds to start a new batch this season and look forward to seeing which colors I end up with. The purple seems to be the hardiest, although I had a couple of white, pink, and yellow that showed up the first year.
It is recommended to put mulch on top of your soil to hold the moisture in and prevent weeds from sprouting up. The soil here is sandy, so in the summer you will most likely need to water your plants daily to keep the flowers at their best. Fertilize your plants with Miracle Grow or Triple 20 once a month and get the container that you can put on your hose to make it easier, but be careful if you use 10-10-10 or 8-8-8 because it can burn your plants if you use too much!
Of course, you’ll be able to enjoy the sights and smells of your flowers, but one of the best things about having a healthy garden is noticing how quickly the butterflies, bees (some can come from up to 5 miles away), dragonflies, hummingbirds, and more come to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Hopefully, you won’t have problems with grasshoppers- as they can chew through leaves, stems, and petals. One summer my grandson and I grabbed 90 grasshoppers of all sizes from two of my flower beds in two days! Our chickens were so excited when we emptied each jar-full into their area. Only a few escaped and probably made their way back to my flowers.
With that being said, patience is probably the most important thing to remember when finding your green thumb. Be open to explore a few different options before figuring out exactly what plants work best in your area. If something is not working in a specific area of your yard, remember that it can usually be replanted somewhere else. With so many local landscaping experts and Garden Centers in our area, it’s easy to maintain a beautiful garden throughout the Spring and Summer months!
I love growing flowers that you can pick and really enjoy making arrangements for my home or better yet, for giving away to someone to brighten their day!
Thank you for reading! – Cathy Sheaffer
Ways to Be Safe While Vacationing on the Crystal Coast
/in Vacation Rental /by Amanda GrayWays to Be Safe While Vacationing on the Crystal Coast
The state of North Carolina is currently operating under a three-stage phase to lift the restrictions across our state to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Like other towns and cities across the nation, restaurants, bars, and non-essential shops are not open for normal business. Restaurants offer curbside pick-up and delivery, and some non-essential shops offer pickup for online and Facebook purchases. In the past 30+ days, Bluewater has worked hard to adjust our business practices to protect our guests, owners, and staff.
How this Vacation Might be Different
Our local stores are experiencing shortages just like other stores nationwide.
It would be best to bring the following items with you:
If you feel more comfortable with your own bedding, we invite you to bring your personal comforters, blankets, and pillows.
Ways to Maximize Your Crystal Coast Vacation
Bring plenty of games and toys for extra entertainment, such as:
Get as much exercise and Vitamin D while on vacation. Don’t forget, when setting up at the beach, ensure that you are keeping a safe distance from the people around you. We suggest 20 feet apart from each other to allow yourself plenty of space. We have provided you with a list of 200 ways to enjoy your Crystal Coast vacation while social distancing You can still enjoy the coastal fare! Here are local restaurants that are offering curbside pick-up and or delivery. Host an indoor Scavenger Hunt from your vacation rental! Participate in our Coloring Contest and email your submissions!
How Bluewater is Helping Stop the Spread
We have adjusted our business’s operations to protect our most valuable assets – our guests, our owners, and our staff.
We have changed our check-in and check-out procedures to eliminate the foot traffic in our offices. We are offering keyed check-ins pickup outside of our offices. You will not need to leave your car when picking up your key packet. We have drop boxes at each office to drop your key packets off when you depart. Keyless check-ins will continue directly to your vacation rental property and bypass the office. Keyless check-ins will continue directly to your vacation rental, and use your keyless code to access your vacation rental property beginning at your check-in time.
We continue to provide bed linens and bath towels that have been laundered in our linen facility, and our staff continues to follow CDC guidelines.
Our housekeeping staff is taking extra precautions by assuring that each property is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized by using top-of-the-line cleaning supplies and following strict protocols to ensure all rental units are safe and clean. We are ensuring our staff stays well-informed and updated with any changes and follows all CDC guidelines.
How You Can Help Stop the Spread
Try to stay in your vacation rental home, enjoy the beach, partake in outdoor activities, ride bikes on the bike path, and pick up food from the local restaurants, all while avoiding the public and practicing social distance.
Order your groceries ahead of time and choose pickup instead of going inside the grocery store. These local grocery stores offer grocery pickup: Walmart in Swansboro and Morehead City, Harris Teeter in Morehead City, and Lowes Foods in Cape Carteret.
If you have any questions or concerns during your stay – please contact our offices by phone, email, and/or text. While our offices remain open, we ask everyone not to physically come into our offices so that our employees and other guests can remain healthy.
Get in Touch With us Without Coming to the Office
Email Us: Rentals@bluewaternc.com
Call Us: (877) 684-9921
Text Us:
Reservations: 252-429-5447
Linens: 252-429-5494
Housekeeping: 252-429-5464
Maintenance: 252-429-5441
Please note that these numbers are text-only numbers and can’t accept calls.
Please reach out if you have additional questions.
Carteret County Schools Delivering Breakfast and Lunch While School’s Closed
/in Real Estate /by Amanda GrayCarteret County Schools Delivering Breakfast and Lunch While School’s Closed for COVID-19
Carteret County Schools Deliver Meals
While Carteret County schools have been closed due to the worldwide concern of COVID-19, school cafeterias have not closed. Carteret County Schools are delivering meals, well–balanced breakfast, and lunch for county kids. In an initiative to ensure all school–aged kids are provided their school meals each day – elementary schools across Carteret County are providing meals and meal deliveries.
Meals have been served and will continue to be served at Beaufort Middle, Bogue Sound Elementary, Morehead Primary, Newport Elementary, Smyrna Elementary, and White Oak Elementary from 11 AM to 1 PM on weekdays.
In addition to the meals being served at the schools, they are enlisting the elementary buses to deliver 2 meals on weekdays and 6 meals on Fridays. The elementary buses will be driving their normal routes delivering both lunch and breakfast at each stop on weekdays.
Parents are encouraged to use the “Here Comes the Bus” app to view the bus schedule and know when the bus will be arriving to their neighborhood stop for meal delivery. Parents of Middle and High School students will need to partner with an elementary neighbor to learn the bus delivery time as the “Here Come the Bus” app will only report to the elementary routes.
The Carteret County public schools announced they served over 4,800 meals on Friday, March 20, 2020.
A special thanks to all those teachers, bus drivers, and Child Nutrition Staff for all your hard work to reach these children, some of them who rely on their school-provided lunch each day. This is an incredible thing for our kids to look forward to each day!
Here comes the bus app
To Our Valued Guests Regarding COVID-19
/in Vacation Rental /by Amanda GrayA Note To Our Valued Guests
To our valued guests,
Taking into consideration the heightened concern with coronavirus (COVID-19), we understand that many of you may be experiencing stress with rapidly changing information on travel restrictions and public event cancellations.
Here at Bluewater, your health and safety are always top-of-mind and our first priority. We are diligently monitoring the situation, operating our business as usual, and doing everything in our power to ensure that the last thing you need to worry about is your vacation on the Crystal Coast.
We are taking extra precautions by ensuring that each property is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. Bluewater Housekeeping Specialists are using top-of-the-line cleaning supplies and following strict protocols to ensure all rental units are safe, clean, and welcoming for all guests.
In addition to our cleaning and sanitizing efforts, we are encouraging our employees to stay home if they are feeling ill regardless of what symptoms they may be experiencing. We are ensuring that our staff is staying well-informed and updated with any changes as well as taking guidance from the CDC for our next steps. We are also asking our guests, owners, and third-party vendors to limit foot traffic in both our Emerald Isle and Atlantic Beach offices.
If you have questions or concerns regarding your rental property or upcoming reservation, please do not hesitate to reach out to us by phone at (252) 354-2323 or by email at rentals@bluewaternc.com.
Best regards,
Amanda Gray
General Manager