Coastal North Carolina
With more than 300 miles of exquisite shoreline, the North Carolina coast is as picturesque as it is diverse. From Corolla to Calabash, a trip to any of North Carolina’s coastal destinations can offer endless vacation possibilities.
If you’re on a family vacation in the Outer Banks, take a day trip to the town of Hatteras, known for its top-notch fishing and historic attractions. Learn about North Carolina’s maritime history at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum while you’re there. A few miles north, climb more than 250 steps to the top of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the tallest in America at an impressive 198 feet. A visit to Kill Devil Hills can also be worth your while, where you can tour the world famous Wright Brothers National Memorial and visit the point where Wilbur and Orville first took flight.
For a little urban flavor, explore the port city of Wilmington in the coastal southeastern region of the state. Wilmington is affectionately nicknamed “Hollywood East,” and film aficionados will find the EUE/Screen Gems Studios and Hollywood Location Walk tours to provide an interesting glance into the city claiming more than 400 film credits. For history buffs in the bunch, visit the USS North Carolina Battleship, one of the most decorated warships of World War II.
If you love the great outdoors, spend an afternoon hiking in the only true coastal forest on the Eastern seaboard, Croatan National Forest near New Bern. The animal lovers in your family may go wild for a nature tour in Corolla to see the Spanish Mustangs that have freely roamed the Outer Banks’ northern region for 400 years.
A trip to the coast may not be complete without some quality time on the beach, so take a few days to relax on many of North Carolina’s exquisite, serene beaches. If you are looking for more places to dig your toes in the sand, check out our other beach vacations.
