Public rest stops are so hit or miss, we have driven cost to coast and up and down many times…read more Often state or county run rest stops are poor, dirty and smelly. But some states like IN, NC, KY, WV, and OH all have very clean rest stops, many are like nice parks worth stopping at to have a picnic, some even have really nice free museums and activities for kids so everyone can stretch after a long drive. This one looks like a resort from the outside, sits in front of a boat launch and has a park like setting. Locals come and park by the water and watch boats coming and going during lunch breaks and there is a nice visitor center too. The whole place is relaxing, clean and feels safe. I have stopped here a few times and always feel relaxed when I leave. Thanks for using our taxes right!

Beautiful location! We stopped by use restroom before heading to big rock tournament and see what…read morevisitor center was. A very nice employee named Steve greeted us gave us some great info on the area happenings . The bathrooms were very clean and grounds well maintained. Outside they have covered picnic spot to grab bite enjoy the sea breezes. There's a boat ramp and dock to go down see the waterway..

We wanted to go see the lighthouse so we stopped by the visitor center to purchase ferry tickets…read moreand wait for it. They have a little gift shop inside, a video you can watch, etc. The staff was pretty friendly and engaging. As it is basically a mobile dead zone way out there, they do have WiFi inside. 2025-08 #559

What a cool place. Never been here before. It's about an hr and half from me and I got so much…read moreinfo! You can get pedestrian ferry over to shackleford island and cape lookout from here! Sounds like great day trip if you plan early enough. They are doing new displays in month so all exhibits are in lobby. Cute gift shop too! My hubby has a national park passport and you can get stamped here and at lookout! I'll have to bring here soon. Took a walk on nature trail it was so quiet and freshly air was perfect! Found few shark teeth on gravel path but views were so nice! Staff was incredibly helpful and I was grateful for all the info.

When you travel, do yourself a favor and see if the town you are visiting has an actual visitor's…read morecenter. I do this when I can and usually you can find out some unique and interesting points about the location you have chosen. This time when we visited Beaufort we encountered some of the local people who gave a run down of the town. These ladies were also dressed in period outfits of the early 1800s which added to the narrative. In addition to the displays we saw a flag that was in great condition and very old. I truly appreciate the information that was given and hope you take the suggestion.

When I returned to Beaufort, NC, I knew that the Beaufort Visitor's Center would be my first stop…read more I bought a ticket for the Double Decker bus tour as that seemed like the best way to get better oriented. Seating on the bus is either on the lower level or the top level and it is possible to switch if it gets too hot up top with the sun. It is a 1967 bus. A tour guide narrates as we went along discussing Beaufort's culture and history. The tour covers a lot of areas and the bus driver did an awesome job of getting us into tight spaces. I was fascinated about the spy Emilene Pigott who was a spy for the Confederates during the Civil War. She hid items in her hoop skirts. She even ate documents so they wouldn't be found. The Josiah Bell house was a Victorian styled house built in 1825. The Leffers cottage was built in 1778 and is an example of a story and a jump. It had a demonstration of weaving. I also got to visit the Courthouse which is where people came to be entertained. It was built in 1796 and is wood framed. I saw the Old Jail where one person was hung. It has 28 inch walls and was a home as well as a jail. The building was built in 1829. It has a pillory outside. The Apothecary Shop and Doctor's Office, was built in 1859 and has various items sold in the shop and the doctor artifacts. The bus tour and the historic sights are must sees while in Beaufort.

Nice welcome Center chock full of local info for visitors. Clean facilty and restrooms. Friendly…read moreand helpful staff! The Crystal Coast awaits you!!

Are you like me ... meaning you have never been to Emerald Isle ??? Well start here first . The…read moreCrystal Coast Welcome Center . Information overload is what you have in here . There is information about all the local areas . From Beaufort , Emerald Isle , Swansboro , MooreHead City , Salter Path and so on and so on ! Nice area to sit and look over the things you'd like to take. Husbands there is a T.V. in there as well . No beach access here those are at : Western Ocean Regional Access ( 9003 Louise Ave) Eastern Ocean Regional Access (2701 Emerald Dr) Station St (11001 Station St) 3rd Street (301 Ocean Dr) So stop by and take a minute to grab some books and pamphlets on all the great things to discover and do here on the Crystal Coast. I know it really aided me in making my short stay here count .

One of our mornings while at the beach, my wife and I got up early and drove down to Fort Macon…read moreState Park. We were told this would be a good spot to find trails to go for a short run, and it was true. There was plenty of trails, to safely walk and run on, rather than along the busy road with beach bums driving by at crazy speeds. There is plenty of parking and nicely maintained trails we found. After our run, we decided to poke into the fort it self, which was free to enter, and we explored some of the space, and some of the educations exhibits. They had a little bit of something for everyone, and tried to make the visitors center exciting and fun for kids. I'd 100% visit this spot again, maybe when it's not so hot, but either way, we enjoyed our visit. The park and fort are well maintained, and preserved, with clean restrooms, and staff to answer any questions you might have.

Okay, this place is quite the gem of beaches in the area. Tons of free parking. Lots of shelters…read morewith grills. Convenient and clean bathrooms. Even a massive covered shelter with a snack bar and lockers to keep your stuff in. Oh yeah, did I mention all of this is FREE?? Even at 3:00pm, the beach wasn't over crowded and there was plenty of parking. On rainy days, you can forgo the beach and check out the Fort Macon museum. There are even trails you can walk! Not hard to spend an entire day here! There were park rangers patrolling to keep everyone safe and maintain the beauty of the park. Not much more you can ask for.

The Visitors Center of Surf Center is small with a ton of amenities. Arriving was a bit confusing…read morebecause the parking lot said spaces were $5 which seemed steep for a 10 minute visit, but there are several spaces devoted for people going to the Center and limited to 15 minutes. The staff in the Center is friendly and eager to assist. She provided pamphlets and recommendations for sites. The Center has an event center that can be rented for special events. In addition, there is a walkway outside to the beach with bathrooms and a covered deck to sit. The walkway provided us with our first views of the beautiful beach and pier. The Center is worth a quick trip if you are first timers, like we were.

Great place to learn about ALL that Surf City has to offer! Nice covered porch and wooden walkway…read moreconnecting to two public restrooms and Public Beach Access #18. They allow you to park here for free to enjoy the beach, too! Be sure to stop in here first when you visit Surf City, the staff are very warm and welcoming, as well as being very informative! Surf City has so much to offer everyone staying in the area and the Visitor Center helps you plan your current and future stays, too! The sea turtle hospital is probably my favorite part of Surf City's atmosphere but the surfers add a lot, also. You will find plenty of information about the sea turtle hospital here and you can witness plenty of surfing from the adjacent Public Beach Access #18! Enjoy your stay in Surf City but don't forget to educate yourself while there! The more you know...

Cliffs of the Neuse State Park is located in Seven Springs, NC. The park is named for the 90-foot…read morecliffs that overlook the Neuse River. I first stopped at the Visitor Center. I like visiting these as they are like a little museum in each state park. This visitor center was very interactive and had bright colors with the storyboards. I like that they covered the local ecology, the history of the river and also how we can help make better choices to keep the water safe. In the lobby, there are some taxidermies; you will see a black bear, an owl, a fox and a bobcat that lived in the area. When the fault formed, the water created the cliffs. The cliffs are unique in the layers formed. The white and yellow layers of sand and gravel are remnants of ancient beaches. The Atlantic Ocean once covered the area. Then the dark gray and black layers were made of clay likely deposited by ancient marshes. Between these layers are marine life, seashells, shale, and gravel. These got left behind as the sea levels rose and fell. These formations are 90 feet high and 200 feet underground. Native Americans gathered here, the Tuscarora and Saponi tribes. The river acted as a transportation route and a source of food. They used canoes to go from the coast to the inland forest. The high ground served as a lookout point, allowing them to see anyone approaching. They hunted deer and turkey. The museum has stone tools and other artifacts that were found in the area. During the Civil War, in the Battle of Whitehall (now Seven Springs), the Union soldiers used the higher ground to fight the Confederates. The Confederates were building an ironclad ship (the CSS Neuse). They thought being upriver would keep them safe from the Union ships. They had hoped to retake New Bern with it. The ship survived the battle with only minor damage and was moved to Kinston to have an engine and heavy iron armor added. (The ship can be seen at the CSS Interpretive Museum in Kinston, NC) I liked the phones available for a glimpse into the past from people who were part of the park, and the viewer glasses. The building is air-conditioned, and restrooms are available. There is a small gift shop too. The staff were friendly as they were expecting campers. There is an Overlook for a beautiful view. It is just steps away from the parking lot. The view was stunning. The signs make it easy to find from the visitor center. There are some trails to follow as well if you want to explore more.

Love this park!! In the summer you're able to swim and kayak. Trails aren't that hard and scenery…read moreis nice.

I love coming here on a cloudy/rainy day! It's beautiful, definitely recommend you to check it out!read more

Wonderful area, great for all. Area is very well maintained and signs are full of great…read moreinformation. A hidden gem off of a busy highway.

Every vacation town needs a visitor center and for Ocracoke Island this is the place. Everything…read moreon Ocracoke is fairly small and compact which is cool because in premise everything is easy to find and this place is no different. Just head towards the Cedar Island & Swan Quarter Ferry dock and you'll find a small parking lot with the visitor center located across the road. The one odd thing worth mentioning is that this visitor center is managed by the NPS. This is due to the large presence that the NPS has on the island with the pony pens, the lighthouse and all of the beaches falling under it's jurisdiction via the Cape Hatteras National Seashore umbrella. So if you come what will you see here? There are two buildings with public restrooms on the right and the actual visitor center on the left. The visitor center has exhibits on the main island attractions like the British Cemetery, the Ocracoke Ponies, the lighthouse and the history of pirates in the area which of course involves Blackbeard. Also note the large map on the outside wall of the building which puts everything in the village in a good context as to where it is and how far. The VC also serves as a gift shop with a plethora of books being the main offering along with a good display of pamphlets, brochures and catalogs for Ocracoke accommodations, restaurants, shops and attractions. This is also the launching point for any and all seasonal ranger activities that take place on the island for adults and children. The day we visited we didn't see any ranger presence but the manager who was at the visitor center was great. She was a funny as hell and a great resource for information. She was also a great help in particular with how to find the best parking for going to Spinger's Point. If you need some help getting around on the island (help but not recommendations for lodging or food as policy dictates anyone working here can't do that) or for some kind of trinket of Chinese plastic to take home with you this is your stop. According to the below page the visitor center is open daily 9-5 with the exception of Christmas Day. www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/hours.htm

Bottom Line: Free parking, a nice bathroom, friendly people and a decent gift shop…read more The Ocracoke Island Visitors' Center is run by the National Park Service and is proportionate to the size of the island - small. The facility is nice but there's not much to it. I enjoyed looking around the gift shop and picking up a few items to commemorate my trip to the island. I also got a map of the island and I always appreciate a nice, clean bathroom! I suspect there are periodic ranger talks but I didn't see the schedule for them.