Runners in the Tuna Run 200 will cross the finish line on the oceanfront boardwalk in the heart of the town of Atlantic Beach, N.C. Atlantic Beach is part of North Carolina’s Crystal Coast, an area that has a lot to offer race participants whether they are coming for the tuna, the running or other action sports. The region’s excellent restaurant scene is balanced by many action sports outlets, including surfing, sport fishing and some of the country’s best diving.
Atlantic Beach is home to Fort Macon State Park, a Civil War-era fort and nature preserve. On the other end of town, the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is a world-class facility that allows visitors close-up views of sea creatures of all shapes and sizes, including several sharks in a 300,000-gallon tank containing a three-quarter-sized replica of U-352, a German U-Boat that was sunk off the Crystal Coast during World War II.
If this scaled replica won’t suffice, you can visit the actual wreck, among others, in the Graveyard of the Atlantic with the help of the award-winning Olympus Dive Charters (www.olympusdiving.com). Olympus is located nearby on the waterfront in downtown Morehead City. Along with the dive boats, the Morehead waterfront hosts one of the largest working charter fishing boat fleets on the East Coast. The area around this waterfront is also a dining and nightlife hub that is representative of the area’s well-regarded culinary scene. (www.downtownmoreheadcity.com)
Accommodations around Atlantic Beach can be found in hotels, motels, vacation rentals or bed-and-breakfasts a few minutes away in the historic harbor town of Beaufort, N.C. Visit www.crystalcoastnc.org for a complete listing of accommodations, restaurants and attractions.
