Exploring North Carolina's Best Coastal Cities Not to be confused with the South Carolina city of the same name (which is pronounced differently), this charming little port city on the southern edge of the Outer Banks has a bustling marina in the center and is dotted with historic buildings that date back to the 18th century. Beaufort is home to the wonderful North Carolina Maritime Museum and is just a stone's throw from the natural riches of the Rachel Carson Reserve. Look for wild horses and dolphins on the other side of the water as you stroll along the downtown promenades. Rent kayaks to explore the islands or take a ferry to enjoy the best bombing at Shackleford Banks.
At the southern end of the coast and just a short walk from bustling Wilmington, this tranquil coastal town on a 4-mile-long barrier island has a lot of charm, from a bird-nesting sanctuary on the southern edge to its iconic Johnnie Mercers fishing pier. Combine an Atlantic surf environment, a world focused on boating and SUP on Banks Channel, miles of wide beaches and a deep bank of old Carolina beach cabins for sale and rent, and you'll get a sense of the magic that makes Wrightsville Beach totally fun. Who doesn't love Oriental, a city with more than three times as many ships as inhabitants all year round? That connection to water through fishing, recreational boating, rowing and boating (Oriental is known as North Carolina's boating capital) defines the maritime charm of this community on the wide Neuse River, which flows into Pamlico Sound. Those who need a beach in their daily plans will find a quick solution in small Town Beach, and the expansive tracts of Atlantic Beach aren't there either far away.
Just south of Beaufort, this quiet fishing community known for preserving the Down East dialect has also become a popular spot for retirees. Harkers Island has a post office, a few restaurants and a grocery store, and is prized primarily for its small-town atmosphere and slow, pleasant pace of life. Stay in a house located next to the strait for great views of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse. Hatteras is the starting point for the ferry to Ocracoke, but there's more to this small fishing town.
Charter fishing trips, kitesurfing and surfing are popular activities here, in addition to exploring the sand dunes of Cape Hatteras National Shore. Hatteras is also home to the Atlantic Cemetery Museum, with exhibits spanning five centuries of maritime history and piracy. Just a short drive away, you can visit the iconic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. This barrier-shaped island town has facilities for the whole family, such as an urban park with a splash area, skating rink and mini golf, and the nearby North Carolina Aquarium in Pine Knoll Shores.
For Ryan Shelton and Josh Lemke, North Carolinians and owners of a vacation rental they call Beach Please, one of the main coastal cities is Oak Island, thanks to its dog-friendly nature. Duck has dedicated a great deal of energy and funds to nourishing its beaches (included among the best-restored beaches in 2015), but it's important to note that access is only for residents and renters of vacation properties. Holden Beach, a mostly residential island, is synonymous with simple pleasures, from biking and kayaking to playing on the beach and hunting ghost crabs at night. For a little more nature, you can go to Carolina Beach State Park for kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and watching Venus's great carnivorous flytrap.
Despite being just 2 miles off the coast of North Carolina, just south of Wilmington, this 3-by-1-mile barrier island seems like a secret hideaway from a Robert Louis Stevenson story. The rest features 22 miles of pale sand, North Carolina's oldest lighthouse, locally-owned stores, and a community of beautiful beach homes. Because North Carolina has 3,000 miles of coastline (including more than 300 miles of barrier beaches), there are many wonderful coastal towns and ports just a short boat ride from the sand. If the phrase “North Carolina coastal town” conjures up images of towering sand dunes, you might be thinking about Nags Head.
Travelers who like to learn something during their travels can spend an hour at the North Carolina Maritime Museum on Front Street or take ship-building classes at Harvey W. North Carolina has more than 300 miles of coastline on the Atlantic Ocean and countless communities along it.
