A Trip to the Coast
School’s out and summer is upon us! If you haven’t already, it’s time to get a move on planning your summer trip.! As North Carolina residents, we are so lucky to be home to some of the most beautiful beaches on the East coast! Whether it’s for the week or for the day, checking out some of these North Carolina beaches must be on your Summer to-do list!
Carolina Beach
Carolina Beach is located on Pleasure Island which runs along the Cape Fear River.If you’re looking for a beach destination with TONS to do, Carolina Beach is the perfect spot. One of the more commercialized beaches in North Carolina, you can spend the day hanging out on the water and then hop on over to the boardwalk to enjoy all the restaurants, shops, and amusement rides! While visiting, you can also check out the Carolina Beach State Park, a great place to observe different types of wildlife and even stumble upon some cool fishing spots. Carolina Beach offers so many unique activities for families with kids of all ages and can make for a trip of a lifetime!
Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach
Known for its historical background and features in many popular TV shows and films, Wilmington, North Carolina is one of the most popular places to visit on the North Carolina coast. The most popular destination within the town is its beach known as Wrightsville Beach. This beautiful beach is known for its amazing piers, excellent surf conditions, and cleanliness. The downtown area of Wilmington is lined across the river where you can enjoy many different shops and restaurants. What makes this beach destination so special is that it is home to the North Carolina Battleship, where tourists can walk through the battleship and experience some of North Carolina’s history. Wilmington is also home to many parks and museums for visitors to enjoy.
Topsail, Surf City and North Topsail
These three North Carolina beach towns are located on Topsail Island in Pender County, North Carolina. These beach towns tend to be more quiet and less commercialized so it is perfect for visitors who are looking for a more quiet and relaxing place to vacation. Even though it tends to be quieter, there are still tons to do in and around the island. There are many places to take day trips to such as Bear Island at Hammocks Beach State Park and Shackleford Banks. You can visit the inter-coastal waterway for a day of kayaking and paddle-boarding or to rent jet skis or a boat! If there is a day of overcast on you vacation, spend an afternoon indoors with the sea-turtle rescue and rehabilitation center!
The Outer Banks
The Outer Banks is the true diamond of the North Carolina Coast. What makes the Outer Banks so special is that the reason people vacation is for its true natural beauty. There are no commercialized activities or nightlife, just you and the beaches.
The Outer Banks is made up of multiple beach towns and destinations. Many of the popular beach spots are:
Nags Head
Kitty Hawk
Avon
Ocracoke Island
Rodanthe
Salvo
Waves
Corolla
Sandbridge
Portsmouth Island
If you’re visiting the Outer Banks, there are so many things to while visiting such as touring the famous lighthouses, visiting Jockey’s Ridge (home to the tallest active sand dune structure in the Eastern United States), strolling the beautiful state parks, enjoying the local restaurants, visit the wild horses in Corolla, enjoy the history of the coast at the local museums, take a stroll through the aquariums, take the ferry to Ocracoke for the day and MORE!
Emerald Isle Beach
A very popular beach destination for family vacations and gatherings, Emerald Isle is again another perfect beach location tucked away in a small town in Carteret County. Emerald Isle is very quaint, filled with local beach shops and restaurants and quiet beaches and sounds. This is a great town to enjoy relaxing water activities such as kayaking and paddle boarding. You can
Also enjoy some great fishing spots at their inlets such as Bogue Fishing Inlet.
Ocean Isle Beach
Located in Brunswick County, this quaint beach town is perfect for a quiet get-away! Enjoy the sites and sounds of Ocean Isle Beach hanging out by the water, visiting the local shops and restaurants, fishing by the piers, and more!