Morehead City Waterfront is in downtown Morehead City. It is lined with a number of restaurants and shops. Yellowfin Pub and Redfish Grill are great restaurants with good seafood. Jack's is a fun beach bar with food and the Arendell Room has fantastic cocktails. If you are staying at Bask Hotel, you will be on the Waterfront!
Fort Macon State Park is located on a restored pre-Civil War fort that offers daily guided tours of the fort. In addition to the historical fort, the state park has an awesome public beach access staffed with lifeguards. Make sure to arrive early for parking. There are great walking trails throughout the park as well. Highly recommend!
The Pine Knoll Shores aquarium is located a few miles from Atlantic Beach. It is a really cool aquarium showcasing thousands of aquatic animals including otters and sharks!
Beaufort is about a 10-15 minute drive from Morehead City. It is a cute, historical town that offers plenty of restaurants, shops, and museums. They also provide a number of guided boat tours. Fun place to spend the day!