The best beaches in the world
The North Carolina beaches are quite simply some of the best beaches in the entire United States. This helps to explain the state's healthy tourism industry. Along the North Carolina coast, barrier islands abound, and they offer the very best beaches in the state. On the eastern side of these islands especially, the beaches are divine, as they offer soft, white sand and the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean. When visitors to the North Carolina coast aren't hanging out oceanside, they can see what's happening on the sound side of things. Waterfront eateries and fun water sports activities are just some of the things that can be enjoyed in the coastal sounds of North Carolina.
The Outer Banks region, which extends approximately 90 miles along North Carolina's northern coast area, is home to many of the most renowned North Carolina beach destinations. Barrier island communities such as Roanoke Island and Bodie Island provide quaint atmospheres and public beaches with various facilities, and Outer Banks photos show off just what a beautiful area this is. In busier Outer Banks towns, such as Nags Head and Kitty Hawk, the atmosphere is still laid-back, though you will find increased amenities and facilities. If you want your beaches as pristine as can be, then the Cape Hatteras National Seashore is the place to go.
With more than 300 miles of mostly unspoiled coast, North Carolina offers beaches to fit all kinds of tastes and preferences. Heading south of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Moorehead City provides access to the best Crystal Coast strips of sand, which are found on Bogue Banks Island. A few beach communities call this island home, and they include Atlantic Beach and Emerald Isle. Even farther south, the Topsail area provides even more options for North Carolina Beach vacations, and there's also the Wilmington Beach-Kure Beach area and southern islands like upscale Bald Head if you wish to add to the possibilities.
Ocracoke Island has pristine beaches and a wild and wooly past. On the same beach where pirates once ran aground, families and others make their way to the North Carolina coast to enjoy the sun and scenery. The entire island is a part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and is accessible only by ferry. [...]
Ocean Isle Beach is nestled on a barrier island in the southern tip of the North Carolina shoreline. Year-round, this family-friendly resort town has a few hundred residents, but when you add in the number of visitors, the population swells. Some of these are daytrippers adding some beach time to their Wilmington or Myrtle Beach [...]
Kure Beach, a part of North Carolina’s Crystal Coast, looks much like the beach of your dreams might. There’s a wide stretch of sandy shores, lapped by gently rolling waves—all bordered by a pier, a perfect place to watch the sun set, and many North Carolina beach photos highlight this beautiful aspect of the area. [...]
Topsail Island is a 26-mile-long barrier island long on the North Carolina coast, nestled as close to Wilmington as it is to Jacksonville—the one in North Carolina, not Florida. Few islands anywhere boast as beautiful scenery or such an interesting story. The very beginnings of the US space program took place here after World War [...]
Sunset Beach NC, with three miles of beautiful beaches, is located off the mainland on a small island close to the South Carolina line. Sunset, which neighbors Ocean Isle Beach, and the others of the Brunswick Islands, feel off the beaten path, but are never isolated. With hotels, restaurants, and plenty of things to do, [...]
Holden Beach is a quiet little hamlet along the Intracoastal Waterway, halfway between Wilmington and Myrtle Beach. With pristine beaches and unspoiled natural areas—the island is both a family-friendly destination and a naturalist’s dream. You won’t find high rises and neon lights here—in fact, a city ordinance requires that no building exceed 35 feet. What [...]
Bald Head Island may have an unusual name, but it is home to the kind of beaches typical of the North Carolina coast. The state’s southernmost barrier island is home to more than fourteen miles of beaches and a lush maritime forest. This scenic island lies at the mouth of the Cape Fear River, which [...]
Oak Island is a part of the Brunswick Islands, found along the southern edge of the North Carolina coast between Wilmington and Myrtle Beach. While the area has a long and rich history, the city’s story only stretches back to 1990 when two towns merged to form the seaside town. No matter what you call [...]
Wrightsville Beach, just minutes outside of Wilmington North Carolina, is home a wide stretch of beach—an alluring mix of white sands and blue water. This quiet little island off the coast, accessible by a modern bridge, has a welcoming atmosphere and beautiful views in spades. Whether you’re coming to soak in the views, go surfing, [...]