Oct 23-25: Touring Beaufort
Sunday was our first morning in Beaufort. Church service wasn’t until 11am so we enjoyed breakfast on the upper deck at the dock restaurant with a beautiful view of the harbour and quaint downtown. After a smorgasbord of southern treats we took the long way to church, a nice long walk along the boardwalk and through historic downtown. The parks and community areas have been planned so effectively pulling tourists in to meander through and support the town while creating engaging events for the local community.
The morning service was a lively sermon on the joys of sex in marriage…which Andrew really appreciated…lol. Actually it was quite refreshing.
We spent the afternoon exploring town further, wandering back to an olive oil shop to sample a wide variety of rich, infused oils and balsamic vinegars. I was a bit leery at first with the idea of sampling oils and vinegar but it was a surprisingly flavorful experience.
The town simply begged for exploring. The sailing shop had additional books, a Bermuda flag (customarily flown on the boat when you are in the region) and some gear that we needed; quaint clothing and jewellery shops called from down the street; and heavenly strudel (peach and blueberry today) had Andrew hooked for the duration of our stay.
With over 20 restaurants to pick from, all with their own specialties, we wrapped up the night at the Black Sheep, an Italian restaurant (surprising as their name suggests Irish roots.) Starting with a flavorful charcuterie platter, then on to simple yet delicious freshly made tomato bisque, Caesar salad and white sauce pizza. Wow! That hit the spot for the evening.
For the next two days we explored local sights. This fascinating area is one of the favorite locations for Marine biologists to study and is home to Duke University Marine Lab.
It is also home to herds of wild horses which were once stranded by shipwrecked Spanish Galleons but continue to thrive on their own, un-aided by human intervention. It was bizarre watching them feed on their favorite food, sweet grass, which grows at the edge of the island half submerged in ocean water.
The town itself is rich in history. Over half of the homes in the historic area have been lived in but are well maintained, and remain original structures tracing back to the 1800’s. One home had a particularly interesting owner, Black Beard the pirate (at the time known by a more common name.)
A favorite stop for Andrew was the maritime museum where they showed historical detailed progression on the shape of hulls, types of ships, engines, lighthouses and even rescue boats (among many other things including Black Beard’s story.) It was also a wealth of information on fish caught locally (our fishing list for the Bahamas.) However, the most interesting add on to the museum was a working watercraft centre where you could not only see historic designs but also watch craftsmen restore old ships. Fascinating! Love watching work.
Of course we had to fit in a few more restaurants recommended by the locals and they did not disappoint. Most had more of a greasy spoon type of presentation but the seafood was amazing. I ordered tuna tacos expecting the standard tapas style with a small amount of tuna. Instead I received 3 soft tacos, with a beautifully seasoned and perfectly cooked tuna steak in each.
With still much history, new sights and many restaurants to explore, this town has definitely become a highlight spot for us!