Your go-to playbook for NC & SC beaches! A great coastal guide covers where to stay, what to eat, when to go, and which hidden gems to seek out. Think of it as your insider friend who grew up at the beach, pointing you past the tourist traps
Here is the thing about Emerald Isle that I hear from people who have been going there for twenty or thirty years: they don’t really want to tell anyone about it. I understand the impulse. There’s a particular satisfaction in finding a beach town that is genuinely excellent but hasn’t yet been overrun, one that … Read more
Atlantic Beach is a charming North Carolina beach town known for its family-friendly atmosphere, maritime history, and beautiful coastline. Key attractions include Fort Macon State Park, the Oceanana Fishing Pier, and a range of dining options. With its clear waters and community events, it’s a top spot for repeat visitors seeking relaxation and adventure.
There is a point on the drive south through Hatteras Island when the Outer Banks stops being a beach vacation and starts being something else entirely. Somewhere around the village of Buxton, you catch your first glimpse of it: a towering black-and-white candy cane stripe reaching up above the horizon, visible long before you can … Read more
Welcome to one of the Outer Banks’ most beloved spots. A place that perfectly blends laid-back beach days with enough adventure to keep everyone buzzing.
Kill Devil Hills is the heart of the Outer Banks, offering a blend of history, beach access, and diverse dining options. Known for the Wright Brothers’ first flight, it features wide, well-maintained beaches and a variety of rental accommodations. With numerous family-friendly activities and local eateries, it ensures an engaging experience for all visitors.
Corolla sits at the northern tip of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, about 30 miles north of Kitty Hawk, and it operates by its own rules. There are no traffic lights. No chain restaurants on every corner. No hotel row. What it does have: wild Colonial Spanish mustangs roaming the dunes, miles of remote 4WD beach, a stunning 19th-century lighthouse, and some of the most spectacular scenery on the entire East Coast, is more than enough.
I have been going to Carolina beaches for over forty years. I have watched spectacular sunrises over the Atlantic and eaten too much soft-serve and dug my toes into sand from the Outer Banks all the way down to Hilton Head. I love these beaches with my whole heart. I have also had my car … Read more
Let me paint you a picture…It’s a perfect summer Saturday. You’ve packed the cooler, slathered on the SPF, loaded up the kids or the friends or the dog, and driven two hours to the coast. You can literally smell the salt air. And then you spend forty-five minutes looking for parking. Been there. Done that. … Read more
Let me paint you a picture. It’s 7am. The kids are already awake. Someone is asking for cereal. Someone else has lost a flip flop. And you, well you are standing on a wide, quiet beach on Oak Island, North Carolina, coffee in hand, watching pelicans glide low over the water while the Atlantic turns … Read more
This list brings together the very best beaches across both North Carolina and South Carolina from iconic destinations to quieter hidden gems. Some are perfect for families. Others are ideal for romantic escapes, surfing weekends, or nature-filled adventures.
Whether you’re planning a summer road trip, a long weekend getaway, or a full coastal escape, this guide will help you find your perfect Carolina beach.