The 8 Most Beautiful Places On The North Carolina Coast

Wrightsville Beach
Photo:

Lisa Corson

With 300 miles of sandy shoreline, North Carolina claims seventh on a list of states with the most coastline and number two when you winnow that list down to just the east coast. Beaches on the Outer Banks and in the Wilmington area get plenty of attention, but they’re far from the only place in the state to spend time on the water. From the tranquil Topsail area to the impressive Crystal Coast, North Carolina’s seashore is a treasure trove of beautiful places. Stunning sunset views, wild horses galloping through the salty spray, and majestic sand dunes rising into the clear blue sky—every scene is more spectacular than the last. Here are eight of the most beautiful places on North Carolina’s unforgettable coast.

Brunswick Islands

View of beach from Oak Island Pier at sunset, Oak Island

NC Brunswick Islands

Flanked by two vacation powerhouses, Wilmington and Myrtle Beach, the six beaches that make up the Brunswick Islands are a welcome escape. Places like Oak Island, Bald Head Island, and Sunset Beach each offer a small-town feel with beaches every bit as beautiful as its more well-known neighbors. The entire stretch of oceanfront communities is stunning to say the least, but one sight you can’t miss is the Kindred Spirit Mailbox at Sunset Beach. The mailbox, which surprisingly pops up from a landscape of sugar-white sand and sea oats swaying in the wind, creates a scene straight from a movie.

Jockey’s Ridge State Park

Jockey's Ridge State Park
Jockey's Ridge State Park. Jockey's Ridge State Park

As the tallest dune system on the Atlantic Coast, Jockey’s Ridge is a bucket list destination for all venturing to the state’s famed Outer Banks. The otherworldly dunes here resemble the iconic mounds at New Mexico’s White Sands National Park and are magnificent enough to take your breath away. Punctuated with bright pops of color from kites and hang gliders, the beauty Jockey’s Ridge will remain engrained in your mind far after you’ve returned home.

Wrightsville Beach

Harbor Cruise Wrightsville Beach

Wilmington and Beaches CVB

This sunny community is the posterchild for great beach towns. There’s crystal-clear blue-green water, white sand, and seemingly ever-present sun. There are local restaurants, bars, and shops just steps from the shore. And there’s a glorious selection of rental homes and condos situated on both the ocean and the harbor. One of the best ways to experience the unbridled beauty of this place is to take a sunset cruise along the Intracoastal Waterway, where you can spot dolphins peeking out of the water and coastal birds flying overhead.

Shackleford Banks

Shackleford Horsex

Courtesy of North Carolina’s Crystal Coast

This barrier island is part of the Cape Lookout National Seashore, a protected piece of land that encompasses 28,000 acres of land and water along the North Carolina coast. While the entire National Seashore is known for its pristine, undeveloped beaches, Shackleford Banks is famous because of its only residents, the Shackleford Horses, a herd of wild Spanish horses that roam freely on the island. Accessible only by boat, take the Island Express Ferry to spend time at this incredibly scenic spot.

The Point at Emerald Isle

The Point at Emerald Isle

Courtesy of North Carolina’s Crystal Coast

North Carolina’s Crystal Coast is sometimes called the Southern Outer Banks since it trails for 85 more miles past the Outer Banks termination point. Emerald Isle, located on the western end of Bogue Banks, is one of its most magnificent communities. The crown jewel of Emerald Isle is a spot known simply as The Point. This tailed-off sandbar on Emerald Isle’s southern tip is a popular spot for shelling and sunset walks that offer panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, Bogue Sound, Bogue Inlet, and Bear Island—all at one time.

Topsail Island

Topsail Island, North Carolina
A&B Saltwater Adventures

Surrounded by water on three sides, it doesn’t get much more scenic than Topsail, an under-the-radar barrier island that sits about an hour north of Wilmington. Its three communities of Topsail Beach, North Topsail Beach, and Surf City each have their own signature sparkle. So no matter which part of the 26-mile-long island you choose to explore, you’ll be in good company and among stellar views.

Currituck National Wildlife Refuge

Horses trot on the beach
Currituck Outer Banks Tourism

The Outer Banks stretch for 175 miles along the eastern coast of North Carolina, and there are gorgeous views along every last mile. At its northern precipice, the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge is one of those places you have to see to believe. The area sandwiched between the Atlantic Ocean and the Currituck Sound is packed with maritime forests, sand dunes, and shrub thickets, all untouched, all wild, and all waiting patiently for visitors to explore. Of course, the main attraction in Currituck County are its wild horses, which are easy to spot on a safari-style tour of this area’s beaches. 

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse at Sunset
Zach Frailey / Getty Images

The iconic black-and-white spiral striped lighthouse on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore has certainly graced its fair share of postcards and screensavers—but there’s nothing quite like seeing it in person. Cape Hatteras, which is located on the southern end of the Outer Banks, became the nation’s first national seashore in 1937. There’s so much to see here—from a diverse array of ecosystems, plants, animals—that you may find yourself stopping for photos every couple steps.

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