Culinary Connoisseurs Flock to the Crystal Coast to Celebrate the End of Swimsuit Season

EMERALD ISLE, ATLANTIC BEACH, MOREHEAD CITY, BEAUFORT, CAPE LOOKOUT, N.C., Aug. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrating the end of swimsuit season, this fall the Crystal Coast Tourism Authority invites culinary connoisseurs to take their taste buds on vacation at the Crystal Coast along North Carolina's Southern Outer Banks to discover a place with a long list of indulgences. Offering unmatched local "foodie" excursions and events -- from "Toast to the Coast" Restaurant Week, Sept. 30 - Oct. 13, and North Carolina Seafood Festival, Oct. 4-6, to true docks-to-dish experiences with the area's Carteret Catch program -- the Crystal Coast's savory selections promise to polish off the perfect Coastal Carolina stay (CrystalCoastNC.org).

With more than 80 locally owned restaurants, including outdoor bistros, southern fried seafood shacks, upscale cafes and coastal barbecue joints, culinary exploration begins as visitors dine their way through the sea towns of Atlantic Beach, Beaufort, Emerald Isle, Harker's Island and Morehead City. Exploring the tastes of the area's most popular coastal eateries, the Crystal Coast has the ideal mixture of dining delights tailored to satisfy a hungry vacationer's every eating whim. From casual fare and fresh seafood at Amos Mosquitos to tapas and cocktaileria at Circa 81, as well as exotic stir-fry and succulent soups at Bistro by the Sea.

As the sensory journey continues, venturing far beyond the palate, dining aficionados learn the destination provides the highest quality seafood due to Crystal Coast's Carteret Catch program, a joint venture between local restaurants, retailers and the fishing industry, guaranteeing fresh seasonal seafood caught by local fishermen off the Carolina Coast. Whether blackened, seared, fried or sauteed, area sea specialties from red drum to snapper and wahoo to yellowfin tuna are fresh-from-the-Atlantic and straight to the plate.

After a day spent meandering along the Crystal Coast, travelers looking for a place to rest tired eyes before their next edible adventure find lodging options to suit every lifestyle and budget. From seaside cottages and massive beach mansions to oceanfront hotel accommodations and quaint bed and breakfast inns. Sprawling across the picturesque Southern Outer Banks, the Crystal Coast offers a true escape from the typical hustle and bustle found at other vacation destinations. From gazing at sunrises and sunsets on perfectly positioned south-facing beaches, to watching wild Spanish horses run free through windswept dunes, to engaging with a fascinating history, visitors leave feeling full and happy.

Dangling like a delicate strand of pearls off the coast of North Carolina, the favored Atlantic beach destination of generations represents one of the only remaining natural barrier island systems in the World. The Islands are strung together with 85 miles of silken coastline along the southern Outer Banks, 56 miles of which are in the protected Cape Lookout National Seashore. Miles of shimmering water reflects countless tiny suns during the day and shatters the moon into a thousand pieces at night.

To experience North Carolina's Crystal Coast, call (800) 786-6962 or visit www.crystalcoastnc.org or www.facebook.com/crystalcoast.

SOURCE Crystal Coast Tourism Authority