By J. Clark
North Carolina Beaches Information
North Carolina's 320 miles of coastline features a number of great
beach options, from the Cape Hatteras National Seashore in the north to Cape Fear in the south.
Outer Banks
The Outer Banks are a 90-mile stretch of barrier islands that include the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The islands' eastern shores feature white sand beaches that are especially popular with windsurfers, kiteboarders and hang gliders. The beach at Ocracoke Island was named America's best beach in 2007 by DrBeach.com
Crystal Coast
The big beach attractions of this central section of the state's coast are at Atlantic Beach and Indian Beach. There are also a number of scenic beachside parks, including Hammocks Beach State Park and Fort Macon State Park.
Cape Fear Area
Frommer's listed Wrightsville Beach, six miles east of Wilmington, as one of North Carolina's two best beaches, while nearby Carolina Beach State Park has 712 hiking trails, campgrounds and picnic sites. As its name suggests, Surf City, located on Topsail Island, is a haven for surf enthusiasts, while Kure Beach is one of the few beaches that allows four-wheel-drive vehicles onto its sands.
Brunswick County
The website NCbeaches.com states the following of the white powder beaches in this southernmost stretch of North Carolina coast: "Sapphire blue waters and blazing red and gold sunsets make these islands among the most beautiful on the east coast."
When to Go
North Carolina's coast gets very hot and humid in mid-summer, and the Atlantic hurricane season begins in June. Therefore, the months of April and May are the ideal times to hit the North Carolina beaches.
About the Author:
J. Clark is a freelance journalist who has written news and feature stories for a number of newspapers and magazines in the United States and Mexico since 2004. He has covered topics ranging from politics and business to sports and entertainment. He has a Master's degree in history and a special interest in Latin American cultures.
Photo Credits:
Robin Taylor: Flickr.com
