Situated on the western end of Bogue Banks, Emerald Isle features 12 miles of largely undeveloped shoreline offering stunning views of both the Atlantic Ocean and Bogue Inlet. While plenty of beach goers come simply to soak up the sun, the beach and Bogue Inlet Pier are popular for fishing as well.
Photo courtesy of iStock / StillFrameStoryteller

Situated within easy driving distance of Wilmington, Oak Island's beaches offer more than 60 public access points, as well as two fishing piers, a marina and several boat ramps, making it a favorite for water sports enthusiasts. 
Photo courtesy of iStock / alex grichenko

Holden Beach, ranked among the best family beaches in the nation, blends small town charm with a beautiful and unspoiled beach situated at the southern tip of the state. The wide beach is uncrowded, even in the height of summer.
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A charming seaside town on North Carolina's Crystal Coast, Atlantic Beach sits on Bogue Banks barrier island – popular among families for its clean water and soft sand beach. The town is more private homes than big resorts, giving the beach a quieter, more laid back vibe.
Photo courtesy of James Willamor / Flickr

For a laid-back and down-to-earth beach vacation on the Atlantic coast, look no further than Carolina Beach. The vintage Carolina Beach Boardwalk bustles in summer, as families stroll past shops, restaurants and bars on the way to the seaside amusement park.
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With only 500 residents, Topsail Beach has plenty of sandy shore to go around. A boardwalk takes visitors down to the beach (noticeably lacking in high rise development). Beachcombing is a popular pastime – it's common to find shells and shark teeth, as well as  conch shells in the late summer and early fall.
Photo courtesy of Pender County

Ocracoke is rife with natural beauty; minimal development has allowed much of its native flora and fauna to flourish – it’s wetlands are a haven for birds, turtles and other beautiful, diverse residents. Its beaches? Well, they’re a haven for human visitors, who come in droves eager for active and staid relaxation that could come as easily in the form of sandcastle-building as boogie boarding.
Photo courtesy of NPS Photo

The shape of the coast at Wrightsbille Beach, north of the Cape Fear River, creates ideal waves that attract surfers from all over the East Coast. The town of Wrightsville Beach has enough stuff to find everything you need without all the tourist traps you don't particularly want.
Photo courtesy of iStock / Muratani

Beach goers won't find boardwalks or high rises at Sunset Beach, but what they will find is a seemingly endless stretch of sand. Since the beach is south-facing, it's possible not only to watch the sunset from the aptly named beach, but the sunrise as well.
Photo courtesy of Keith Kissel / Flickr

Kure Beach has a little something for everyone. Show up early for sunrise, stay late for sunset, kiteboard or windsurf on the gentle waves, fish from the towering pier or explore sunken shipwrecks just offshore.
Photo courtesy of Red / Flickr