Beaufort has its roots in the pirate past, having been home to Edward Teach, the legendary Blackbeard. It is the third oldest town in North Carolina and one of the oldest towns in the US. The modern town celebrates its past with the annual Pirate Invasion festival, and pirate cruises on Taylor Creek along the historic waterfront. Across from the waterfront is the famous Rachel Carson Reserve, home to Banker ponies and a lot of other wildlife. The Reserve is a great area for kayaking, hiking, and birding. The town of Beaufort is renown for its restaurants and shops, and the waterfront creates the feeling of having been transported to the islands. What a fun town!  Travel and Leisure named Beaufort "America's Favorite Town," and Southern Living chose Beaufort as "The South's Best Small Town." We couldn't agree more!