With such beautiful views and unique places to visit its no surprise that there are a plethora of fun places to pose for great pictures on the Crystal Coast! Since I’ve been visiting my entire life and have lived here for over a decade I have found some of the best places to snap a picture! I’ve rounded up some of the best Instagram spots in Emerald Isle and the surrounding areas that you won’t want to miss on your visit to the Crystal Coast!
1. Morehead City Murals
Morehead City has done a great job of beautifying their downtown in the past few years and the murals they’ve added are beautiful! This one is located downtown directly across from the Morehead City Gulf Docks at: 611 Evans St, Morehead City. In addition to the geometric wave it also features a lighthouse, bright sun and ocean scene! You’ll also find a Welcome to Morehead City Mural at: 604 Evans Street, Morehead City, NC.
2. Sol Bowls
One of the newest restaurants on Emerald Isle is Sol Bowls and is a perfect place to checkout if you’re looking for a delicious Acai Bowl AND some of the cutest spots to snap a picture! The whole place is decorated in such a happy vibe and beachy feel. Be sure to add it to your list of places to visit while you’re here! For some of my favorite restaurants be sure to checkout my post on the best places to eat on the Crystal Coast!
3. King Neptune
King Neptune used to be located at the base of the Atlantic Beach bridge but was purchased and moved to Olympus Dive Center in Morehead City, NC. He is gigantic and fun to go pose with for a picture- he was one of the best instagram spots near Emerald Isle before instagram was even a thing! You’ll find him on the dock outside Olympus at 713 Shepard Street, Morehead City, NC. And if you’ve ever thought about getting your dive certification be sure to stop inside and learn about the world class SCUBA diving in the area!
4. Big Rock Landing
Right down the waterfront from King Neptune you’ll find the weigh in location of the most iconic fishing tournament in Morehead City, NC, the Big Rock Tournament. You can pose with The Big Rock landing sign, located at 709 Shepard Street Morehead City, NC.
BONUS Spot: If you’d like to pose with a “Marlin” head to Big Rock Stadium and watch the Morehead City Marlins summer league baseball play!
5. Cape Lookout
The most iconic background in the area is hands down the Cape Lookout lighthouse! The lighthouse is only accessible by boat but a great day trip and totally worth it to visit! You can pose for pictures in front of the lighthouse and then spend the day looking for shells and walking the miles and miles of undeveloped beach!
6. Beaufort Boardwalk
Not only is Beaufort one of my favorite areas to explore on the Crystal Coast, it also is one of the most Insta-worthy places in the area! The boardwalk is great for a pre-dinner stroll, enjoy choosing your favorite boat and checkout the most epic sunsets! Read about all about it in my favorite things to do in Beaufort post! If you’re lucky you may even spot some of the wild horses on Carrott Island!
7. The Double Decker Bus
The Beaufort Historic Society uses a double decker bus to give people tours of the city. While the bus itself is a fun place for a photo-op, there is also a super cute mural tucked on one of the back streets in Beaufort. You’ll find this beautiful mural at: 103 Middle Lane, Beaufort, NC.
8. The Periwinkle
This fun bottle shop in Beaufort, NC is such a fun place to grab pictures and hangout in the sun for the afternoon. While small, the building is packed with color and bold patterns!
9. Flowers at the Bridge
The NC DOT plants flowers during many parts of the year on the mainland side of the Emerald Isle Bridge. (Look for them at the intersection of Hwy 24 and 58). The array of flowers include orange and red Peonies in the spring, and Sunflowers and wildflowers in the Summer! Be on the lookout as you come over bridge!
10. Carolina Home and Garden
If you’ve read my post on the Hidden Gems of the Crystal Coast then you know that Carolina Home and Garden is one of our favorite places to visit near Emerald Isle! The Garden center turned coffee shop/bar/hangout spot is filled with lush green plants and has so many beautiful photo ops you’ll find one everywhere you look! They even have Llamas and other farm animals on their property!
11. The Pier
Did you even go on a beach vacation in North Carolina if you don’t get a picture with the pier? There are three piers located on the Crystal Coast, including the Bogue Inlet Pier in Emerald Isle, the Oceana Pier in Atlantic Beach (pictured here), and a small Pier located at the Double Tree Atlantic Beach.
12. The Market at Cedar Point
The Market at Cedar Point is a local market that sells goods from local farmers. It’s a great place to visit to support local and enjoy more sustainable food! The murals they have outside always leave me so happy and make excellent backgrounds for your Instagram pictures!
13. Live Oak Tree’s
Beaufort, NC is absolutely beautiful and you’ll find the most beautiful Live Oak Tree’s in this historic town. If you’ve been around for a while you probably know that Beaufort, NC is one of our favorite towns in the area- read about all of my favorite places here! At the end of front street you’ll find these iconic Live Oak tree’s! They make the perfect Instagram background! You can park for free at the Wildlife Access at: 2370 Lennoxville Rd, Beaufort, NC. Follow the road along the water to the west and you’ll run into the beautifully lined street. (Beware this is an active road with a sharp turn at the end, so please beware of traffic)
14. Dancing Barista’s Cafe
The Dancing Barista’s Cafe at 823 W Beaufort, Beaufort is a super cute beverage place located in a neighborhood in Beaufort, NC. The mural on the back shed is the absolute cutest and you can grab a coffee or beer and wine while you take pictures at one of the best instagram spots Emerald Isle! For more of my favorite places to eat and drink on the Crystal Coast checkout this post!
15. Tideland Trail
The Crystal Coast is home to some unique coastal trails and the Tideland Trail, pictured here, is one of my favorites! It has some beautiful boardwalks overlooking the marsh and is a great place to grab some pictures! For more of my favorite trails be sure to checkout the best trails on the Crystal Coast!
There are so many fun and Instagram worthy places in Emerald Isle, NC and the surrounding towns of the Crystal Coast that you won’t want to miss! Is there somewhere that I missed that is worthy of being added to the list? Let me know in the comments below and I’ll add it as a reader favorite!
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