6 Historic and Pristine Beaches on North Carolina's Coast

Standing on the shores of the Outer Banks, it’s easy to see how the Wright brothers were inspired by its massive sand dunes, ocean breezes, and open skies to test their glider planes here more than a century ago. The Outer Banks (OBX on many bumper stickers) is a 200-mile narrow strand of sand sheltering a trio of Sounds (Currituck, Albemarle, and Pamlico) from the Atlantic Ocean. Leaving the mainland and turning left on Highway 12 will take you through Nags Head (with the tallest dune on the east coast in Jockey’s Ridge State Park), the Wrights Brothers Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, the nature preserve in Kitty Hawk, and eventually up to Corolla and the Currituck Banks, kissing the Virginia border.

Just before Corolla is the resort town of Duck, beloved for its low-key beach tourism free of high-rise hotels and food options that go beyond fried clam strips and ice cream cones. The relative isolation of this north end of the Outer Banks keeps the crowds from getting dense, yet there is no shortage of sophisticated dining with waterfront seating.

The Blue Point has set the standard for thirty years with farm-to-table cuisine (think: Carolina she-crab soup or ramen with green-tail shrimp from the Pamlico Sound) in a down-to-earth setting with out-of-this-world views. Duck Donuts’ made-to-order treats are now a national indulgence, but started here; top a hot and fresh donut with a drizzle of chocolate or crumble of bacon (I keep it simple with cinnamon sugar).

Turning right down Highway 12 on the Outer Banks leads you further along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, with the iconic black-and-white striped Hatteras lighthouse (the tallest in the US), federally protected beaches free of development, and abundant wildlife and nature trails.

Playing most hard-to-get of all the beach towns in the southern Outer Banks is Ocracoke Island, accessible only by ferry (or private plane or boat if you roll that way), adding an hour or two onto your trip.

This remoteness not only limits the amount of tourists, it’s also part of the fun of visiting this small island, as you may spot seabirds and dolphins along the way. The island was also a busy shipping harbor in the 18th century and a popular haven for pirate ships, including the legendary Blackbeard who met his end here in 1718 (and may have buried his treasure here).

The Crystal Coast is a more accessible Outer Banks, known for family-friendly beaches and ocean fishing. Crossing the bridge from mainland Morehead City, Atlantic Beach is the first town on the Bogue Sounds peninsula, which also includes Emerald Isle (mentioned frequently by author David Sedaris as his family vacation spot) and Fort Macon State Park with a restored Civil War-era fort.

The quaint village of Beaufort (say: BOW-fort, not to be confused with South Carolina’s BEEYOU-fort) is also just across the sound, where Blackbeard’s ship Queen Anne’s Revenge ran aground and has been excavated by historians. It’s also a short ferry ride to spot wild Banker horses and do some serious seashell collecting on Shackleford Banks.

Not many beach towns come with a 400-year-old unsolved mystery and its accompanying long-running outdoor drama. But Manteo is pretty special – as the earliest American settlement, known for Sir Walter Raleigh’s failed “Lost Colony” of early Europeans on Roanoke Island in the 16th century, and the birthplace of the first English child in America, Virginia Dare.

Manteo satisfies visitors seeking culture at the Waterside Theatre, where the “Lost Colony” dramatization has been performed outside for more than 80 years, and at the Elizabethan Gardens featuring hundreds of native plants, Renaissance statues, and Tudor-style buildings. It will also satisfy water thrill-seekers with ample opportunities for fishing boat charters and kayak or paddle board rentals.

Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Cape Fear River, the historic downtown and beaches of Wilmington have made it an idyllic cinematic backdrop and given it the nickname of “Wilmywood” for hosting productions of teen soaps Dawson’s Creek and One Tree Hill, as well as Nicholas Sparks’ romantic sagas (including Message in a Bottle and A Walk to Remember. Nights in Rodanthe was filmed in the Outer Banks).

Of Wilmington’s beach towns – including Wrightsville Beach, popular for water sports, and Kure Beach with its Ft. Fisher Aquarium – Carolina Beach comes closest to the classic summer hot spot, with an old-fashioned boardwalk. Stop for an old-timey snap at the crescent moon cut-out, and hit mainstays like Britt’s Donuts and Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar. It also offers an amusement park and arcade.

While just over the border from South Carolina’s Myrtle Beach, Brunswick Islands are a world away with undeveloped beaches, an active variety of birdlife, and small-town charm. Sunset Beach is renowned for its wide, powder-soft sandy beach, as well as the unique opportunity to watch the sunrise and sunset over the water in fall through early spring.

From Sunset Beach, it is a peaceful walk to Bird Island, where visitors can read or leave messages in the Kindred Spirit mailbox. Southport rivals Wilmington for movie locations, including more Nicholas Sparks adaptations like Every Breath (which features the Kindred Spirit mailbox) and Safe Haven. Calabash-style seafood, served lightly battered and fried, is found in more restaurants than you can shake a shrimp at, but this is its birthplace. Ella’s may not be fancy, but it’s been the real deal since 1950 and is our number one pick.