Beaufort, North Carolina to Belhaven, NC

Monday, June 2, 2008 We departed the marina at 7:40 AM. The skies were cloudy with a few intermittent rain sprinkles, but quickly cleared by mid-morning for a beautiful and sunny day. We traveled on the inside with winds NW 10 - 15 with gusts up to 20. Temperatures were in the mid 80s. We arrived at Belhaven Waterway Marina at 12:30 PM. It is a small marina that is beautifully maintained. After lunch on the boat we walked into the small town. There were a few businesses and about four stores. We then walked along the waterfront to see the homes, bed & breakfasts, and the River Forest Manor. (http://www.riverforestmarina.com/) Not much to do in Belhaven. Only a few restaurants were open, so we grilled and had a relaxing diner on the boat.

Debbie in front of the local shoe store

The crab artwork created by local artists and businesses

displayed throughout the town

A Beautiful Harbor It's pretty obvious how Belhaven got its name: the translation is "beautiful harbor." Rich with old forests and clear streams, it was originally called Jack's Neck in the late 19th century when it was a farming and fishing village. The first house in the area was built in 1868 on the site where the River Forest Manor now stands. The structure was used chiefly as a hunting and fishing camp, which is why so many people have come to Belhaven over the years. In 1899, lumber and railroad baron John A. Wilkinson constructed a Victorian mansion here, home now to the River Forest Manor, which still draws visiting yachtsmen. The hurricanes of the late 1990s brought flooding to the town, so many Belhaven houses had their foundation walls raised in hopes of avoiding another disaster.

A newly constructed home

A Beautiful Sunset in Belhaven