Fort Macon State Park

Built between 1826 and 1834 to defend Beaufort Inlet, Fort Macon is one of the best-preserved Civil War-era forts on the East Coast. Walk the brick-vaulted rooms, climb the ramparts, and stand where soldiers stood — the cannons are still in place and the views across the inlet are worth the trip on their own.

But Fort Macon is more than a history lesson. The park sits on the eastern tip of Bogue Banks, where the Atlantic meets the inlet, and the beach here is some of the finest on the Crystal Coast. A full bathhouse with restrooms and showers makes it easy to spend the whole day. Lifeguards are on duty in summer.

Miles of hiking and biking trails wind through the maritime shrub thicket behind the fort, and the fishing along the jetty and inlet is reliably good. Whether you come for the history, the beach, or both, it's a full day out.

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