Masonboro Island Reserve The pristine barrier island beach south of Wrightsville Beach. With eight miles of beach, you can walk away from it all. A haven for quiet beach getaways, Topsail Beach is highly prized for its small, quiet beach community on the southern tip of Topsail Island. The city is also known for its focus on the natural environment and conservation efforts.
Stay in a vacation apartment with just the ocean and a handful of nearby restaurants to keep you entertained. Located in the Outer Banks, Nags Head, North Carolina, is nationally recognized for its oceanfront hotels, excellent food and entertainment, and the welcoming atmosphere that characterizes the Outer Banks. The beach is pet and vehicle friendly all year round, and hosts numerous annual events, such as Taste of the Beach, Nag's Head Bike Week and the Outer Bank Seafood Festival. With the music and the oceanfront views, it's the perfect place for a romantic getaway or family vacation.
A treasure of the Outer Banks, this is one of the most pristine and secluded beaches in the state. The 9.5-square-mile stretch of sand has been haunting people (in small numbers) since the beginning of the 18th century. Thousands of shipwrecks have been recorded in the surrounding waters, and a British cemetery has even been installed in the center of the town, after a German submarine sank a British ship on the high seas during the Second World War. This seaside town offers fresh fish and seafood from the area served in locally owned restaurants, in addition to exclusive shops, fishing and beautiful sunsets.
And just a short walk or bike ride away is the Ocracoke Island Lighthouse, the oldest operating lighthouse in North Carolina. From ferry trips, boating and horseback riding, this island has something to offer everyone. Widely known as the center of Hatteras Island, this beach in Avon, North Carolina, is known for being clean, quiet, and ideal for families on vacation. Exceptional fishing and fishing can be done just a mile or two from the city limits, but you'll have to take a four-wheel-drive vehicle to get there.
Because the area is so remote, shell hunters will find lots of undisturbed shells to rummage through, even at high tide How low. This area offers secluded and private vacations without sacrificing modern amenities in its beautifully maintained classic cabins. Livability explores what makes small and medium-sized cities great places to live. Through exclusive research studies, interesting articles and original photographs and videos, we examine issues related to community services, education, sustainability, transportation, housing and the economy.
We then used that experience to draw up city rankings on a variety of topics, including small cities, college towns, and our annual list of the 100 Best Places to Live. Wrightsville Beach and the surrounding area are ideal for visitors looking to retreat to a private island paradise. The Masonboro Island Reserve, which is only accessible by boat, kayak or canoe, is home to the longest intact barrier island ecosystem in southern North Carolina. The reserve, which serves as a sanctuary for diverse birds, fish, sea turtles and more, protects coastal habitats for research, education and long-term management, and provides visitors with a first-hand view of pristine examples of barrier island ecosystems, salt marshes and tidal streams. Carova Beach is located on the northeastern edge of North Carolina.
The beach is relaxing and Carova itself is a suitable space for a family vacation. The place has minimal development but a lot of amenities. Carova has multiple entertainment options for dining, shopping and water sports. Wandering along the beach, you'll see a herd of wild horses from the Spanish colonial era.
The Currituck Beach Lighthouse is another incredible attraction here. Cape Lookout National Seashore, one of North Carolina's most secluded shorelines, offers 56 miles of pristine, uninhabited beach. At the north end is Portsmouth Village, a former whaling town that was converted into a historic site; at the southern end is the Cape Lookout lighthouse; in the middle there is nothing but a beach. Take a ferry and enjoy a day at the beach without neighbors or a weekend (or more) camping, fishing and surfing.
Bring your van (driving on the beach is allowed here). Don't forget to bring enough water and sunscreen for the trip. If you've visited Wilmington, you're probably familiar with Carolina Beach, with its classic waterfront and extensive entertainment opportunities. However, you may not have heard of Kure BeachOnly 15 miles from the city center, this beach offers a quieter retreat characterized by sandy shorelines and small-town charm.
Stop to stand in line from the oldest pier in the Atlantic. See the creatures at the Fort Fisher Aquarium. Or take off your sunscreen and dance the night away at one of the free concerts in the Boogie in the Park series. Bald Head Island has one of the best beaches, including North Carolina's South Beach, to go to if you want to de-stress.
This is probably the most accessible beach on the list and is one of the best beaches near Raleigh, North Carolina. Image source Another one on the list of North Carolina beaches is Oak Island Beach on Brunswick Island. For the best views of the ocean, you should hike the pine trails that will take you to Carolina Beach National Park. Image source Another beach on Hatteras Island is Canadian Hole, which is a paradise for surfers and beach lovers.
The narrow beach widens into a monstrous mouth, offering infinite space for beach volleyball or frisbee tournaments. The beach is ideal for family vacations, as the whole gang can enjoy learning about North Carolina's marine life at the aquarium, dining at family-friendly restaurants, fishing on one of the oldest piers on the Atlantic coast, and enjoying water activities such as swimming, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. There are only two ways to get here: you can drive to the Surf City drawbridge or you can use the high-rise bridge from North Topsail Beach. With few amenities except primitive camping, drinking water, and a small concession and picnic area, Hammocks Beach State Park offers one of the best beaches in North Carolina.
Nags Head, a coastal town located on the outskirts of North Carolina, is a great place to spend time at the beach with the family. On any summer weekend, the beach is teeming with vacationing families, groups of friends going on day trips, and college students from the nearby University of North Carolina at Wilmington. With 300 miles of coastline that range from uninhabited beaches to family-friendly coastal cities, from the first national coast of the United States. To exclusive islands that can only be reached by boat, from secluded state parks to popular surf spots, finding the best beaches in North Carolina is no easy task. The city has a population of 575 and is a very quiet place for a perfect relaxing vacation with your family with the best climate on North Carolina's beaches.
North Carolina's coastline is full of barrier islands that jutt out into the ocean with beautiful beaches everywhere. The 5,600-acre Masonboro Island, the largest intact barrier island in southern North Carolina, is a nature reserve and a favorite of surfers, artists, anglers and those who want a a bit of solitude on the beach.