North Carolina's coastal beaches are premier vacation destinations. The mild temperate coastal climate and pristine, uncrowded natural landscape are sought by harried travelers seeking tranquil, natural surroundings to relax and refresh. Beaches in and near North Carolina, especially on the Atlantic coast, offer unique wildlife, scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, fishing, beach combing, shelling, lighthouses, historic areas and the slower lifestyle of coastal communities.
Outer Banks
The Outer Banks of North Carolina are a small group of barrier islands with blue water, secluded, sandy beaches and a temperate coastal climate on North Carolina's northern Atlantic coast that attract visitors from all over the world. The Outer Banks are made up of Bodie Island, Roanoke Island, Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island plus uninhabited Portsmouth Island. Beachfront towns like Kill Devil Hills and Kitty Hawk offer history, and the islands are home to wild horses thought to be descended from Spanish Mustangs that survived shipwrecks. State parks, national seashores, national wildlife refuges, lighthouses and national historic sites await travelers to the coastal beaches and islands of the Outer Banks.
Crystal Coast
North Carolina's Crystal Coast lies along the state's southern Atlantic coast, the southern part of the Outer Banks barrier island system. Beach areas in the Crystal Coast include Atlantic Beach, Beaufort, Emerald Isle, Morehead City, Down East Villages and the Cape Lookout National Shore. The area's natural coastal beauty is showcased in many state and national parks and forests. More than 80 miles of endless shoreline beaches, blue skies and bright sun let vacationers leave work behind and enjoy rest, relaxation and outdoor activities.
New Hanover Beaches
The coastal communities of New Hanover are south of the Outer Banks area of the coast and slightly north of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The beach communities of New Hanover, around the Cape Fear coast of North Carolina, are more populated than the other coastal areas of the state yet the beaches remain uncrowded. Wilmington, Surf City, Topsail Beach, Figure Eight Island, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach and Kure Beach make up the New Hanover area and offer numerous marinas and piers for boating and fishing for snapper, red drum, mahi mahi and flounder. Wilmington offers riverboat cruises, the largest historic district in the state, a downtown area with Victorian architecture, mansions, museums, landmark buildings and live oaks. Nearby towns offer fine dining, educational and environmental activities, adventure and fitness activities in a beautiful coastal landscape.
Brunswick Beaches
In the southeastern coastal region of North Carolina is Brunswick County, made up of the Brunswick Islands between Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Wilmington, North Carolina. White powder beaches and sparkling blue waters combine with burnished red and gold sunsets in this peaceful stretch of Atlantic coast. Visitors to Ocean Isle Beach and Holden Beach at night can see loggerhead turtles hatching with the help of the Turtle Patrol monitors. Brunswick County's nickname is the "Golf Coast" and it has more than 30 area golf courses, most of them championship courses, providing year-round golfing. Local festivals and historic lighthouses provide interesting activities for visitors.
Beach Accommodations
Beach accommodations in North Carolina range from campgrounds in state parks to beachfront condos to luxury golf resorts. Every kind of travel accommodation a vacationer might consider is available while visiting North Carolina's miles and miles of Atlantic coastal beaches in any season.
References
- Coastal North Carolina: Its Enchanting Islands, Towns, and Communities; Terrance Zepke; 2004
- North Carolina Off the Beaten Path, 9th ed.: A Guide to Unique Places; Sara Pitzer; 2008
- Moon Spotlight North Carolina Coast; Sarah Bryan; 2009
- Coastal Fishing in the Carolinas: From Surf, Pier, and Jetty; Robert J. Goldstein; 2000
- Coastal South Carolina: Welcome to the Low Country; Terrance Zepke; 2004
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