North Carolina has more than 300 miles of coastline for you to enjoy, but what you might not know is that we probably have a beach perfectly suited for your individual taste. Do you like your beach quiet and windswept, or popular and packed with attractions? Do you want your beach to come with tales of patriots and pirates, or perhaps with lighthouses and fishing piers? Do you like a sunrise on the beach or a sunset? All that and more can be found on North Carolina’s Coast, where you can also find America’s Best Beach.
We’re Number One
That is right, North Carolina is home to the number one beach in the US, according to coastal expert Stephen P. Leatherman, better known as “Dr. Beach”. In his 2007 annual survey, Leatherman named Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach the best beach in America, citing its undeveloped coast, golden sand, and charming village. “It is the perfect escape for someone looking to swim or relax”, said Dr. Beach.
Ocracoke is an experience all its own, an island that not too many years ago was largely isolated from the outside world. Today, passenger ferries offer regular service to the island, but do not expect to find wall-to-wall condominiums, fast food restaurants or a water slide here. Instead, you can walk or bike the shady, tree-lined streets, explore more than 200 homes and buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, or experience miles upon miles of unspoiled, pristine beaches.
The Outer Banks
Ocracoke is only one piece of a 130 mile stretch of barrier islands known as The Outer Banks. Here, you can find the popular beach communities of Nags Head, Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills, complete with restaurants, surf shops and miniature golf courses. The Outer Banks also features stretches of more isolated sand where you can enjoy a quiet day of bird watching, fishing, hiking, bicycling or windsurfing. You can climb to the top of historic lighthouses that guided ships through storms and shoals, or see the spot where The Wright Brothers first took to the sky. On the beaches around Corolla, you might catch a glimpse of wild horses, descendants of Spanish Mustangs that survived shipwrecks more than 400 years ago. And, if you missed the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean, you can always catch the sunset on Pamlico Sound.
The Crystal Coast
Another string of barrier islands hugs the central section of the NC Coastline. This part of the state boasts everything from pristine sand dunes to big-time fishing tournaments to Civil War History.
You can start by taking a ferry onto the islands of the Cape Lookout National Seashore. This protected 56-mile stretch of coastline is accessible only by boat, but there are plenty of passenger ferries to get you there. Once you arrive, you will enjoy some of the most remote and wild beaches in America, still much the same as they were hundreds of years ago.
If you crave a more “civilised” beach, there are the beach communities of Emerald Isle, Atlantic Beach, Salter Path and Indian Beach. All these towns have fishing charters, boat rentals, kayaking, and parasailing available, so there is no shortage of things to do during the day, and at night you can dance to some classic Carolina Beach Music while you enjoy a tropical frozen beverage. If you are an expert angler, you might want to test your skills at the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament held each June in Morehead City, one of the largest sport fishing tournaments in the country.
Those looking for educational opportunities will find the Crystal Coast has much to offer. You can explore Civil War history at Fort Macon, get up close and personal with aquatic life at the North Carolina Aquarium in Pine Knoll Shores, or learn all about the area’s rich pirate lore at the NC Maritime Museum in Beaufort.
Topsail, Wilmington, and Carolina Beach
Put on your sandals and do not forget the sunscreen. If you are looking for the type of laid-back beach experience that Jimmy Buffett sings about, then Topsail Island is your spot. The 26-mile-long island is connected to the mainland by two bridges and consists of three towns: mostly residential North Topsail Beach, active Surf City, and quiet Topsail Beach.
Down the coast a little more, the beach meets the city lights at historic Wilmington and the Cape Fear Coast. There are, of course, the beautiful beaches that attract surfers here, but there is also great shopping, dining, attractions, historical sites, and museums. Film buffs can take a tour at the EUE Screen Gems Studios in Wilmington, site of the largest full-service motion picture facility east of California and home to more than 300 film, television, and commercial productions, including Dawson’s Creek and One Tree Hill. Those more inclined toward historical drama can visit the Civil War stronghold of Fort Fisher or the World War II battleship, USS North Carolina.
Further south, you can step back to a simpler time at Carolina Beach, complete with an old fashioned boardwalk packed with ice cream parlours, an arcade, and a fishing pier.
Bald Head & Brunswick
Leave your car and your worries on the mainland when you board the private passenger ferry to Bald Head Island. Here, the only vehicles you will see are boats, bikes, and golf carts, but you will be able to observe an amazing array of wildlife, waterfowl, and loggerhead turtles, as the island is renowned as a safe haven for all things natural. Be sure and also take the time to climb to the top of “Old Baldy”, North Carolina’s oldest standing lighthouse.
Tucked away in the southeast corner of the state, the 45 miles of beaches on the Brunswick Islands offer an experience unique to other seaside towns. Since this entire stretch of coastline faces south, the sun rises and sets on the water. Oak Island is a great place to canoe, kayak, or hike, while Holden Beach is a well-known fisherman’s paradise. At Ocean Isle Beach, enjoy seaside marinas, shopping, and the Museum Of Coastal Carolina, or come to the wildly popular North Carolina Oyster Festival in October.
Whether you like your seaside experience natural or civilised, busy or laid-back, or adventurous or educational, the North Carolina coast has a beach tailor-made for you. Come to NC and find your personal bit of sand!
Interested? Find out more:
Visit NC
Come see the State of North Carolina's official tourism web site! With listings of upcoming events and facinating stories of our people and places, you'll find everything you need to begin planning your NC experience.
North Carolina Golf
Whether you're trying your hand at the professional courses of Pinehurst, teeing off against the backdrop of the Great Smoky Mountains, or rolling a putt along a seaside green, NC is a golfer's paradise.
North Carolina Film
From The Last Of The Mohicans to Leatherheads to Dawson's Creek, come see why NC is the perfect backdrop for many of your favorite TV and movie productions.
