Head to the very western edge of Emerald Isle to discover an iconic spot that’s been popular with longtime vacationers and locals alike – The Point. This informally named stretch of beach is where the borders of Emerald Isle ends, and where the Bogue Inlet begins, and the surrounding shoreline, which circles from the ocean to the Bogue Sound, is renowned as a paradise for fishermen, beachcombers, sightseers, birdwatchers, and anyone who enjoys a miles-wide and on-the-water view.

Accessing the point can be a little tricky, and generally entails a bit of a long walk along the beach, (although vacationers will find a number of vacation rentals that border the inlet-facing beaches as well.) Depending on the time of year, the area is a Mecca for a wide variety of waterfowl and shorebirds, as well as countless big saltwater catches that regularly cruise through the adjacent inlet with every tide. Visitors are free to stroll and explore, but are cautioned to avoid swimming in the immediate area, as currents through the inlet can be especially strong. A fun and scenic destination for beach-lovers of all genres, The Point is arguably the most popular local beach in the coastal community of Emerald Isle.


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Emerald Isle
Awful Arthur's Oyster Bar

Welcome to the home of the happy oyster where for over 35 years the oyster has been our world. The Outer Banks only authentic oyster bar is the place to enjoy sensational fare from the sea washed down with your favorite brew or cocktail. We serve by the peck, pound, and dozen, raw or steamed to perfection. Kicked back casual, down to earth friendly staff, and reasonable prices make Awful Arthur’s Oyster Bar the all-time favorite of locals and travelers alike.

The idea wasn’t to set out and establish a new concept restaurant on the Outer Banks, but that’s exactly what Awful Arthur’s owner Jo Whitehead and her late husband, Jay, accomplished more than 35 years ago when they opened the area’s first authentic oyster bar.

 

Awful Arthur’s opened in May 1984 on the Outer Banks. “We embraced the concept of an authentic copper top bar with the idea of it being a major drawing card and it still is,” explains Whitehead. “I get oysters wherever they are local. We follow the warm waters.” 

 

Just across from the ocean, in Kill Devil Hills, oyster season is year-round at Awful Arthur’s. Diners can take a seat at the copper-topped bar to observe the staff shucking oysters, served raw or steamed, along with shrimp, crab legs and clams all steamed to perfection. 

 

It’s not just the raw bar that’s earned Awful Arthur’s both local and national recognition, including being named one of America’s greatest oyster bars by Coastal Living magazine. The restaurant is a seafood-lover’s paradise, offering the freshest catches available.