Discover the Americana Town in North Carolina, So Charming You’ll Want to Keep It a Secret

From mountains to sea, the Tar Heel State is brimming with small Americana towns, and Swansboro, North Carolina, is no exception to the rule. Located along the Crystal Coast, the main draw to this coastal haven is boutique shopping and mouthwatering seafood restaurants. Visitors often stumble on Swansboro while exploring other popular destinations along the Carolina coast, like Emerald Isle, or for the famous Mullet Festival which takes place here every October.

The backdrop to Nicholas Sparks’ novel, The Guardian, Swansboro is an Americana town at its finest, featuring a downtown that’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Originally built around the plantation of Theophilius Weeks, one of the first European settlers in North Carolina, you’ll find evidence of Swansboro’s history in every nook and cranny of the town. Pay close attention to homes near the heart of this little village, and visitors will see plaques stating how old the homes are, with many dating back to the early 1800s. 

With the town slogan as “Friendly City by the Sea,” it isn’t difficult to see why Swansboro is such a beloved hidden gem. Pop into delicious restaurants like il Cigno Italiano. Located just across from the downtown historic strip, il Cigno dishes up homemade Italian cuisine like fresh pasta and freshly prepared mozzarella with a heavy nod to local seafood in their clams linguini and grilled halibut. Boro is another popular dinner spot, perched on a dock. You’ll find classic coastal staples like crab dip, oysters Rockefeller, and pesto pecan grouper that pair perfectly with views of the Intracoastal Waterway.

For those that are visiting with shopping in mind, you’ll be spoiled for choice with several cute boutiques. Ogle all things shiny at Silver Line Jewelry, which highlights fine silver necklaces, rings, and earrings. The Mercantile is another fan favorite, housed in a pipsqueak sized cottage. You’ll find everything from local artwork to t-shirts and nautical tchotchkes that make for the perfect souvenir. For more of a wild card, stop by Poor Man’s Hole Antiques. While it’s a toss up as to if they’ll be open on any given day, you’ll find incredible nicknacks if they are.

If you’re staying nearby and looking for the freshest seafood in town, head over to Clyde Phillips Seafood Market. This iconic pink building is attached to a dock where you’ll find the second generation of the Phillips family’s shrimp boat. What they don’t catch fresh, they have flown in (never frozen) from as far away as Nova Scotia. As if that wasn’t amazing enough, their prices are also some of the best in town. 

But it’s not all about delicious restaurants and shopping. Swansboro is also in close proximity to several stunning beaches and protected areas. Visitors can hop the ferry to Hammocks Beach State Park, one of the best places to find seashells in North Carolina. You’ll find hiking and paddling trails scattered around three different barrier islands, including the four-mile-long Bear Island, along with remote, windswept beaches that are great for shell hunting. For those who prefer a more rustic experience, Bear Island has undergone recent renovations to its oceanfront campsites, which are nestled among the dunes.

Feeling inspired? Try planning your own trip to Swansboro using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.