Where Is a Great Beach to Visit?

Hi Paula,
I highly recomend the Emerald Isle area. The beaches are beautiful and quiet. It is about 3 hours from the triangle area via highway 70. The NC aquarium is nearby too. If you go have a great seafood meal at The Ice House-I think it's in Swansboro. The Wilmington area is nice too. Enjoy!

we go to carolina beach all the time. its low key and very close

Hi Paula-
Hands down, the Outer Banks are where you want to go-- Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, Buxton ... all fantastic areas, and although it's grown drastically since I was a kid, it's still a beautiful unspoiled beach area and very family-friendly.

Good luck!
R.

Wrightsville Beach is a great place!!

Hey Paula,
I live in Durham now, but I grew up in Wilmington and spent all of my summer days at Wrightsville Beach. If you're looking for a place with a boardwalk and lots of touristy entertainment, it's not the place for you, but if all you need is sun, sand, and salt water, it's perfect. And if you go there, make sure to stop at the Trolly Stop for some hot dogs. The Outer Banks are fun too, but Wrightsville is the shortest drive from the Triangle (2 1/2 hours) and easy enough for a long day trip.

Welcome to NC! :)

Hi Paula,

We enjoy visiting Topsail, NC. Many families enjoy Wrightsville Beach and Emerald Isle. Check out the webpage below for info on NC beaches:

http://www.ncbeaches.com

Hello Paula,

Go to the internet and look up sights for Mrtyle Beach
South Carolina which is about 3-4hrs away, but it is a great beach to go to with your family. Also Wilmington Beach is nice as well, just go to the internet sites and pull them up they should be very helpful.

HI Paula,

A wonderful beach is Okracoke Island, just off the NC coast. It's a small island with many locally owned shops, hotels, restaruants, and bed and breakfasts. It's perfect for family vacations--no spring break/crazy college kids--very low-key, no crowds and family-centered. There's a 2 hour one way ferry ride to get to the island from Swan Quarter or Cedar Island (depending on which way you go). All told, it takes about 5-6 hours to get there from the Triangle (including the ferry). Once you're on the island past 9pm, the ferries stop running until early mornining, around 5:30. So it's definately not a day-trip, but it's a wonderful place to vacation close by with the family. My husband proposed to me on the starlit beach at midnight there, we spent a week of our honeymoon there, and try to get back there anytime we can. It's really a wonderful little island.

The web address for Ocracoke is:
www.ocracokeisland.com/

We really like southport and Oak Island. 30 minutes south of Wilmington, and it is a lot less hectic.

If you need a place to rent, my parents own a condo at St. James Plantation. It is about a 10-15 minute drive to the beaches of Oak Island. St. James has indoor and outdoor pools, golf courses, etc. ____@____.com

We just moved from here from the Outer Banks. If you are going to go there stick to Hatteras Island. Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, and Nags Head are congested during the summer and not that great. Also try anything in Coralla or Duck. Though there are not as many conveniences in these areas they are much less populated and the beaches are cleaner.