Fort Macon State Park
+1-252-726-3775, (http://ils.unc.edu/parkpr...). Daily 9AM-5:30PM except Christmas Day. Fort Macon is a five-sided brick and stone fort with 26 vaulted rooms, which was used during the 18th and 19th centuries to protect the area from naval attacks by pirates or enemy warships. Today the site features exhibits about the fort's history, restored quarters, and occasional re-enactments. Guided tours are available. Visitors can also fish, hike, swim and picnic in the park grounds surrounding the fort.The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
1 Roosevelt Blvd, +1-866-294-3477, (http://www.ncaquariums.co...). The newly expanded Aquarium takes visitors on a tour of North Carolinaâs amazing aquatic life âfrom the mountains to the sea.â The journey is arranged in five galleries: Mountain, Piedmont, Coastal Plain, Tidal Waters and Ocean.Among the 38 innovative exhibits are re-created shipwrecks that showcase the diverse marine life attracted to these sunken vessels. The 306,000-gallon Living Shipwreck display in the Ocean Gallery features a three-quarter-size replica of a German U-boat that was sunk off Cape Lookout in World War II. The Queen Anneâs Revenge duplicates the 18th century artifacts in Beaufort Inlet thought to be the wreckage of the pirate Blackbeardâs flagship. Visitors also get a view of a pair of playful river otters, a roaring mountain waterfall, a sea turtle rehabilitation area, and a jellyfish gallery. Touch pools allow personal contact with stingrays, hermit crabs, whelks and other creatures. The Aquarium offers an array of activities and field trips, and has facilities for weddings, celebrations and meetings. Visitors also will find a large gift shop and a snack bar.
