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The Crystal Coast stretches for 85 beautiful miles along North Carolina's Atlantic Ocean coastline, extending from the gorgeous Cape Lookout National Seashore to the banks of the New River. The popular tourist area, which is named for its lovely crystal-clear waters, is home to pristine beachfront stretches like the Circle, home to amusement rides and souvenir shops near the causeway to Morehead City. Excellent opportunities for diving and fishing line the region's coastline, which has been acclaimed for its near-perfect diving conditions by Scuba Diving Magazine. Historic Beaufort, located on Harkers Island, is home to the North Carolina Maritime Museum, which houses artifacts from the Queen Anne's Revenge shipwreck, and the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum, which preserves local decoy carvings. More than 100 restaurants line the region's tourist areas, along with full-service hotels such as the Doubletree Atlantic Beach.
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