The Best North Carolina Beaches

Ocracoke Island is the southernmost of North Carolina's barrier islands, the Outer Banks. Frommer's states that this beach consistently ranks on the nation's top 10 list of beaches. You must take a ferry, private boat or plane to reach the island. There's not one hotel chain in sight. Rent private cottages, use campgrounds or stay in family-owned inns, run by one of the 800 year-round residents. The beach is only 16 miles long, but you won't have to share or rub elbows with a crowd every day. This island is pristine, secluded and tranquil. It is part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, a protected area, under the National Park Service. It provides a safe home for native wildlife and plants. Recreational activities include fishing, boating, windsurfing, bird watching and enjoying the sand and surf. Visit the Ocracoke lighthouse site, the oldest in North Carolina and second oldest in America. You can climb to the top of Cape Hatteras lighthouse nearby, from mid-April through mid-October. See Resources for a link to the Outer Banks Visitor's Guide.

Each coastal city has its own beach, but for family fun, Atlantic Beach at Pine Knoll Shores gets top ratings. Here, at one of the most visited parks in North Carolina, Fort Macon runs tours from mid-April through mid-October and Civil War reenactments during summer. The fort hosts free summer concerts (bluegrass, pop, zydeco, orchestra), fishing, nature tours and, of course, a great beach for swimming. Nearby Pine Knoll Aquarium is home to many aquatic species. Free daily programs include fish feeding, a Living Shipwreck exhibit where divers and live sharks mingle and educational features in the Big Rock Theater. Additional family activities in the Crystal Coast beach area include children's sailing classes in Beaufort, miniature golf in Morehead City, wild horses on Shackleford Banks Island. This area is part of the Cape Lookout National Seashore, protected by the National Park Service. Ferries from the mainland are the only way to visit the horses.

Brunswick County lies at the southern end of the string of beaches along North Carolina's coastline. The main points of interest in this area are Cape Fear and the city of Wilmington. These islands are between Wilmington and South Carolina's famous Myrtle Beach. The Brunswick County beaches stretch for 45 miles. The area is nationally known for its golf courses and year-round golfing weather. Fishing is also a popular attraction. Visitors can watch loggerhead turtles hatch at Holden Beach nightly. The Holden Beach Turtle Patrol also conducts educational programs about endangered coastal species during summer. "USA Today" readers rated this beach as one of America's top 10 beaches. See Resources for a link to Brunswick County beaches.