Swansboro, North Carolina.

We were instructed not to miss Swansboro during our January 2024 stay in Emerald Isle. I recommend visiting the small town on the intercoastal waterway and the White Oak River for anyone visiting the Crystal Coast. The Crystal Coast, an 85-mile (137 km) stretch of coastline, has become known as the Southern Outer Banks. The laid-back atmosphere of the area is no more evident than at Swansboro. Its strategic location provides excellent fishing grounds for both commercial and recreational anglers.

From our condo rental on Emerald Isle, it’s only about a 15-minute drive across a coastal bridge to Cape Carteret. From there, we crossed the Swansboro Bridge into the mainland town of Swansboro.

There were few parking spaces available in downtown Swansboro, but we got lucky and snagged one. Our goal for the afternoon was to explore the downtown area and grab lunch at one of the restaurants we walked by.

We started our walk near Olde Town Square and the Harry C. Pugliese Jr. Pavilion. This charming outdoor venue is a popular gathering spot for locals and visitors. Patrons enjoy live music, annual festivals, weddings, and holiday celebrations against the picturesque backdrop of the White Oak River and marsh.

We wandered through Bake Bottle & Brew, a coffee shop, bakery, and cafe on Front Street. The bakery was busy, and we weren’t hungry, so we did some souvenir shopping and continued our walk down Front Street.

The Olde Brick Store, also known as the William Pugh Ferrand House, was built in 1839 and is the oldest brick and commercial structure in Onslow County. Over the years, it served as a general store, post office, and drug store. In the 1890s, it was also used as a church and school.
The Olde Brick Store was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. In recent years, efforts have been made to preserve and restore the building. It was not open when we visited, and Google says it is permanently closed.

Directly across the street from the Olde Brick Store, a large house converted into apartments was built directly in front of a dock. I don’t know the status of the flats or any of the structure’s history, but Google Maps told me three street addresses are associated with the building.

Near the end of our walk, our hunger got the best of us, and we stopped at the Boro Restaurant and Bar for lunch. I often capture photos of the places we eat, especially if the food is good. Unfortunately, I completely gapped out of taking a picture of The Boro. That’s no reflection on the restaurant. Their food is good, and the staff is friendly. We walked back along Front Street to our car and then did an exploratory drive around the rest of the small town before returning to our condo at Queens Court in Emerald Isle.

John Steiner