Morehead City

Morehead City is a tourist destination found in North Carolina's Crystal Coast region. Best known for its sport fishing, this port city of 9,000 residents is also an excellent base for beach vacations, as it provides access to the barrier island of Bogue Banks and its miles of sandy stretches. When visitors aren't fishing or relaxing on an area beach, they often find themselves dining at waterfront eateries, perusing the goods at gift shops, and checking out the works that are on display at the local art galleries.

No discussion about Morehead City North Carolina would be complete without mentioning the fact that it is the largest tobacco exporting port in the world. This isn't what tourists care about, however. Instead, it is the chance to indulge in offshore fishing trips and serious beach time. When hitting the beach is the main goal, a trip to Bogue Banks Island might be in order. A bridge from Morehead City links to this thin barrier island, and once you make it across, you can choose from numerous public beach access points. Five main communities are found on Bogue Island, and they include the resort towns of Atlantic Beach and Emerald Isle.

The beaches on Bogue Banks are wide and sandy and provide facilities such as picnic shelters, showers, and restrooms. Hotels and vacation rental properties line parts of the island's beaches, and there are a variety of beachfront attractions to enjoy between the various communities.

If you want to enjoy a more pristine beach with fewer crowds during your Morehead City vacation, Bear Island is the place to go. Passenger ferries depart for this uninhabited island from the town of Swansboro, which is a short distance southwest of Morehead City. Private boats can also be used to visit Bear Island, and regardless of how you arrive, desolate beaches that bear no signs of humanity await.

Bear Island is part of Hammocks Beach State Park, and primitive camping is available for those who wish to stay overnight.