We’re proud to share that this spring has brought not just one—but several exciting honors and partnerships to H2O Captain Eco-Tour Private Boat Excursions!
From being named Best Boat Excursions in the 2025 LUXlife Travel & Tourism Awards to features in two prominent blogs and a new partnership with NC Tripping, this season has truly been exceptional. March started strong, April was phenomenal, and we’re hopeful May will be our best month yet!
None of this would be possible without the continued support of our passengers. Your trust and enthusiasm have made H2O Captain a beloved experience on North Carolina’s Crystal Coast—recognized for being safe, educational, comfortable, and fun. We’re also proud to be operating with a National Park Service permit for the 6th consecutive year, and to have earned over 100 5-star reviews on Google!
Thank you for being part of our journey.
Check out our latest media mentions:
· 🛥️ H2O Captain Eco-Tours: An Aquatic Highlight on North Carolina’s Crystal Coast – Vino-Sphere
· 💍 It’s Wedding Season Along the Crystal Coast – Crystal Coast Hospitality
· 🏆 Winner of the 2025 Travel & Tourism Award for Best Boat Excursions – LUXlife Magazine
· 🌞 Spring Break Getaways in NC – GetDrip Broadcast
We look forward to welcoming you aboard for another unforgettable season on the water!
With gratitude,
Captain Mark
📧
🌐 h2ocaptain.com
📞 202-369-1063
Photo: Captain Mark on his chariot (the H2O Captain boat!) by Dave Nershi
A Handful of Weekend Outdoor Day Escapes at the Crystal Coast located in the Southern Outer Banks, North Carolina
1. Rent a bicycle, scooter or boat on the Morehead City Causeway from Beachside Boat, Bike and Scooter & Boat Rentals. Ask for Leisa or Hilbert. Whether you’re riding a bike on the ocean, which is only 2 blocks from the water, or a scooter on the island’s roads, and, if you can skipper your own boat, you could go all the way to the Cape Lookout Lighthouse! ½ day, full day, multi-days or weekly. Ask for Hilbert or Leisa.
https://beachsidebikes.net
252-626- 2294
2. Immerse yourself in the experience of seeing the wild horses on Shackleford Banks with H2O Captain Eco-Tour Private Boat Excursions. They go where the ferry does not go – right in the middle of the island. Take a 45-minute walk with the H2O Captain Boat Captain, looking for the wild horses and discovering great shelling. All parties receive a reusable shelling bag. Offers trip insurance and a waiting list. Ask for Captain Mark.
https://h2ocaptain.com
202-369-1063
3. Theodore Roosevelt State Natural Area is a Dedicated Nature Preserve for a peaceful time with very few sunbathers and swimmers around you, and your family can enjoy the seclusion of this beautiful area right on the ocean. Located between Indian Beach and Pine Knoll Shores. Plenty of free public parking in various lots along Route 58. Friendly and leashed dogs are welcome.
4. Putt-Putt Miniature Golf
Day or night, bring the entire family and take a miniature train ride up to two 18-hole courses.
Lost Treasure Golf & Raceway
https://losttreasuregolf.com
(252) 247-3024
5. Walk the trails in the Patsy Pond Nature Trail in Newport
The almost 4.5 mile Patsy Pond Nature Trail is managed by the North Carolina Coastal Federation in cooperation with the Croatan National Forest. It winds through an area called the “Longleaf Pine Flat Woods,” which is an open woodland of longleaf pines with low-growing herbs and shrubs. Friendly and leashed dogs are welcome.
https://www.nccoast.org/resource/patsy-pond-trail-map/
Pulling off a surprise trip is a little like orchestrating a magic trick: timing, subtlety, and the element of wonder are everything. Now imagine pulling that off against the serene, sun-drenched backdrop of North Carolina’s Crystal Coast—where the Atlantic stretches into quiet horizons, wild horses graze beach dunes, and small harbor towns hum with just enough life. This isn’t the kind of getaway that needs glitz or flash. The magic lives in the salt air, the small details, and how it all makes your partner feel seen. So if you're dreaming of pulling off a swoon-worthy escape, here's how to plan a memorable, not-at-all-obvious surprise that feels like you thought of it.
Start the Lie Early (Yes, Lie, But Sweetly)
The best surprises don’t come from thin air—they come from a believable decoy. Start weaving your web a few weeks out. Maybe you’re heading to visit your cousin in Raleigh or scoping out wedding venues. The key is to have a boring-enough story that won’t raise eyebrows. By the time your partner realizes they're not going where they think they are, they’ll be knee-deep in packing cubes and half in love with you all over again.
Pack for Them, But Don’t Play God
Sure, packing their bag seems like the chivalrous thing to do, but nobody likes arriving somewhere beachy only to find four sweaters and no swimsuit. You’ve got two solid options: you either pack together under the guise of that fake trip, or you ask a trusted friend to “casually” find out what they’d bring to a hypothetical beach weekend. Either way, don’t forget their go-to comfort item (everyone has one—even if it’s just a weird sleep shirt or a specific type of gum).
Book a Private Boat Excursion—And Make It Count
You could wander the shoreline with a plastic cup of rosé like everyone else—or you could lean in. That’s where H2O Captain Eco-Tour Private Boat Excursions comes in. This locally run boat charter doesn’t just slap a price on a dolphin sighting and call it a day. They offer fully customized excursions with a seasoned Captain who actually knows the backwaters, patterns of the wild horses on Shackleford Banks, hidden sandbars, and quietest corners of Cape Lookout. Whether you're into shelling or just sightseeing the beautiful waterways and quaint towns of Morehead City or Beaufort, this is the kind of quiet luxury that feels wildly intimate without ever trying too hard.
Keep the Routine Without Killing the Vibe
Just because you're sneaking away doesn't mean your wellness habits have to disappear like footprints in the sand. Planning ahead—whether it’s packing resistance bands, bookmarking a few beachside yoga flows, or possibly choosing a hotel with a fitness center—helps keep both of you feeling centered. It’s not about strict discipline; it’s about creating tiny anchors that let you indulge without unraveling. Plus, there’s something unexpectedly bonding about breaking a sweat together before breaking into brunch.
Skip the Hotel—Rent the House That Feels Like a Secret
Sure, you could go full resort with room service and infinity pools. But the Crystal Coast isn’t Miami, and that’s the point. Look for a tucked-away Airbnb or coastal cottage where the porch has a swing and the coffee tastes better because you brewed it yourself. Bonus points if the bedroom has windows that face the marshes or ocean so you can crack them open at night and fall asleep to the sound of wind through seagrass. That's the kind of luxury that doesn't come with a mini bar.
Plan One Wild Card
One of the biggest mistakes people make when planning surprise trips? Doing too much. You don’t need a color-coded itinerary or seven dinner reservations. Pick one unexpected activity—a sunset beach walk, a ghost tour in Beaufort, maybe a yoga class—and let the rest breathe. Leave space for lazy beach mornings, spontaneous roadside ice cream stops, and getting stuck in conversation over oysters somewhere weird and wonderful. That’s the stuff they’ll remember.
Hide the Clues in Plain Sight
If you’re playing the long game, drop a few Easter eggs in the weeks leading up to the trip. Let your Spotify shuffle “Carolina In My Mind,” leave a coffee table book on coastal hideaways sitting around, or start cooking more seafood than usual. It doesn’t have to be obvious. You just want the surprise to feel more like a perfectly built crescendo than a total ambush.
Craft the Perfect Invite Reveal
There’s something quietly powerful about a tangible invitation, especially one that shows up when your partner least expects it. Instead of blurting out your big surprise, hand them a sealed envelope with a custom-designed card inside, teasing just enough without giving away everything. You can use an online tool to make printable invitation designs that reflect your vibe, from coastal-themed palettes to playful fonts, and even have it professionally printed.
Give Them a Moment to Catch Up Emotionally
When the reveal hits, whether it’s at the airport or a random roadside diner where you finally spill, give your partner a beat. Some people need a second to mentally adjust—even to a good surprise. They might be thinking about work, wondering what’s in their bag, or just stunned that you pulled this off. Smile. Let it sink in. That’s part of the joy: watching them arrive, slowly, fully, and completely.
The Crystal Coast isn’t overrun with influencers or filtered into oblivion. It’s slower, softer. More about eye contact than itinerary. And that’s why it works so well as a surprise. You don’t need over-the-top moments to make it memorable, you just need it to feel tailored. Like you paid attention. Like you know what brings your person peace. And maybe that’s the point of the whole thing. Not just to go somewhere beautiful, but to go somewhere that makes the two of you feel like you’ve slipped off the map—together.
Photo by Freepik
A Handful of Things to Do on The Crystal Coast in the Southern Outer Banks, North Carolina
From a mountain stream high up in the mountains of Western North Carolina to the clear blue ocean on its coast, this aquarium brings you on a journey from the cold waters of freshwater fish to snakes, turtles, otters, nature walks, gators, and large sharks of its saltwater ocean. Great for kids of all ages. Seminars and two touch ponds! Admission to enter.
https://www.ncaquariums.com/pine-knoll-shores
1 Roosevelt Blvd, Pine Knoll Shores
252-247-4003
Mild evenings, friends & family, skilled and safe Captain, and a big orange ball setting over Bogue Sound. WOW! Up to 6 passengers will delight in the setting sun as they also will travel 4 miles of Shackleford Banks as well as the Rachel Carson Reserve in search of the wild horses, plus go through the quaint town of Beaufort and the seaside fishing village of Morehead City, home of the Big Rock Tournament (see below), before the final curtain goes down over Bogue Sound. 3 hours of WOW!
https://h2ocaptain.com
Located at Coral Bay Marina 4531 Arendell St, Morehead City
202-369-1063
If there is a town square in North Carolina’s third oldest quaint walkable town, it is the Beaufort Historic Site. Originally a fishing village and port of safety dating from the late 1600’s, Beaufort has been visited by patriots, privateers, merchants, and skilled craftsmen who built Bahamian and West Indian style homes and public buildings. Tours, Gift Shop, and the Olde Burying Ground a short walk away.
https://beauforthistoricsite.org
130 Turner Street, Beaufort
252.728.5225
Who says there’s no good hiking at the beach? The 3.2m Elliott Coues Nature Loop Trail takes you from the ocean to salt marshes, to high elevation dunes home of deer and other animals. It starts (and ends) at Ft. Macon State Park, of American Civil War relevance, one of the most visited State Parks in NC. Tours are also available at the Fort along with a Visitor’s Center and Bookstore. Drive east/north on the island on Route 58 until the end just past USCG Station Ft. Macon.
https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/fort-macon-state-park/trails
252-726-3775
This annual event attracted 302 boats, with the winner weighing in at 516 lbs. and a total purse of $7.5m last year. Basketball great Michael Jordan on his own boat has joined the ranks for the last few years vying for the top prize. Just drive to Downtown Morehead City and look up! You won’t miss where to go June 6-15, 2025. Free to watch.
https://thebigrock.com
(252) 725-1568
A Handful of Fun Things To Do on The Crystal Coast in the Southern Outer Banks, North Carolina
1. Hit the Beach(s)
Bogue Banks is a beautiful barrier island, stretching approximately 25 miles. It's known for its stunning beaches and charming communities. Here are some highlights:
Emerald Isle: Located at the western end of Bogue Banks, Emerald Isle offers 12 miles of pristine shoreline and incredible views of the Atlantic Ocean and Bogue Inlet. It's a popular spot for watersports, fishing, and simply relaxing on the sand.
Pine Knoll Shores: This beach is known for its straightforward appeal and minimal frills. It's a great low-cost DIY vacation spot with well-maintained public access points and free parking.
Indian Beach, and Salter Path: These communities offer a mix of public and private beach access points. Atlantic Beach, with amenities like showers, restrooms, a small food court, picnic areas, and has the largest parking areas.
Getting to the island: There is a Causeway on either side of the island (Atlantic Beach and Emerald Isle) to drive to the beach from the mainland.
2. Stay at The Pecan Inn Bed & Breakfast, then walk and shop the quaint town of Beaufort.
Stan and Christine, their innkeepers, prepare delightful breakfast options daily. Enjoy your morning meal in their elegant dining room, on the outdoor porch, or in the tranquil garden patio. Each afternoon, the breakfast menu is posted in the dining room. From 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm, indulge in freshly baked treats, a variety of snacks, and a selection of hot and cold beverages available in the dining room.
They take great pride in maintaining impeccable cleanliness and food safety. Our Inn is NC ServSafe Certified with a perfect 100% rating for cleanliness and food preparation. We have also been honored with the NC Green Travel Three Dogwood Recognition for our sustainable practices and efforts to reduce our carbon footprint.
Contact
Pecan Tree Inn
116 Queen Street, Beaufort
Your Innkeepers: Stan and Christine
(252) 728-6733 or 1-800-728-7871
https://pecantree.com
3. Bucket List Item: Experience the wild horses and discover great shelling
This Bucket List Item can be found on Shackleford Banks or you can visit the Iconic Cape Lookout Lighthouse with H2O Captain Eco-Tour Private Boat Excursions. National Park Service Authorized Tour Guide 6 years in a row!
Contact
H2O Captain Eco-Tour Private Boat Excursions
Located at Coral Bay Marina, 4531 Arendell St, Morehead City
USCG Licensed 100 Ton Master Captain Mark
202-369-1063
https://h2ocaptain.com
4. Good Eats can always be found at Bahia Beach House & Surf Bar on the Atlantic Beach Circle.
What is Bahia in English? Bay [noun] a wide inward bend of a coastline, and you can walk in from being on the AB beach in just 2 minutes. Bahian food is a flavorful mix of African, European, and indigenous ingredients. Seafood specials, aged beef, and vegan dishes are deliciously served.
Although Bahia has wonderful desserts, not to mention a great vibe both inside and outside, toward the beginning of the Atlantic Beach Circle you can finish off your most scrumptious meal with an ice cream cone at Sunset Slush of Atlantic Beach & Ice Cream at 112 West B Drive.
Contact
Don is the owner/manager
208 West Dr, Atlantic Beach
(252) 499-9033
https://bahiabeachhouseab.com/
To keep your stress level low: Parking is costly and a competitive sport in this area. Do not make reservations before 6pm during the main season, unless you are walking in from the beach!
5. Go Fish at the Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier, located in the town of Emerald Isle
You do not need a NC Coastal Recreational Fishing License if you fish from their pier and parking is always free for fishermen. No equipment? No problem as they have for rent your rod, pier pass, bait and tackle! In 2024 16 different game fish were caught from the pier. Want to know what’s going on there, click here for their pier cam https://bogueinletpier.com/pier-cam/
After a few hours of fishing, you’ll want to stop at the base of the pier at Surf’s Up Grill & Bar to quench your thirst and tummy!
Located at 100 Bogue Inlet Drive, Emerald Isle (252) 354-2919
More information on The Crystal Coast at https://crystalcoasthospitality.com
Photo by Captain Mark and Courtesy of H2O Captain Eco-Tour Private Boat Excursions
LoonsGrebesShearwaters & Storm PetrelsGannetsPelicansCormorantsFrigatebirdsBitterns and HeronsIbisesSwans, Geese, and DucksVulture, Hawks, and AlliesGrouseRails and AlliesPloversOystercatchersAvocets and StiltsSandpipersJaegers and GullsTerns and SkimmersAlcidsDovesCuckoos |
OwlsNightjarsSwiftsHummingbirdsKingfishersWoodpeckersFlycatchersSwallowsJays and CrowsTitmice, Nuthatches, and CreepersWrensThrushes and AlliesPipetsWaxwingsStarlingsWarblersTanagersNew World FinchesSparrows and AlliesBlackbirds and OriolesFinchesOthers??? |
Photo Courtesy of H2O Captain Eco-Tour Private Boat Excursions
Photo of the sunset over the Crystal Coast, NC by Captain Mark, H2O Captain Eco-Tour Private Boat Excursions
Embark on an Adventure with H2O Captain! Authorized by the National Park Service, we offer exhilarating boat and guided land excursions to witness the wild horses and discover exceptional shelling on the uninhabited and undeveloped barrier island of Shackleford Banks—our most sought-after experience. USCG Licensed 100 Ton Master Captain Mark eagerly awaits the opportunity to serve you at the intersection of Safety, Comfort, Fun, and Education.
Copyright © 2020-2025 by H2O Captain LLC Eco-Tour Private Boat Excursions. All Rights Reserved. Made with ❤ in North Carolina.