View Full Version : "Must do" in North Carolina?
Sweetbriar
02-19-2005, 12:47
It appears that I may be making a rather fast trip thru North Carolina next week. I was wanting to find 4 days at a sunny beach anywhere on the lower East Coast, but rain is all that is available. I'd appreciate two kinds of recommendations:
1) Anything "must see" for the general public civilian type as regards Fayetteville or LeJeune. I know the Airborne & Special Operations Museum would fit that list, but I don't know what else might.
2) Any recommendations for beaches or beach hotels. I'd really like a room facing the sea and a short walk to the water's edge. This trip is something of a personal retreat and loud bars and chaos wouldn't quite be my thing.
Thanks
alphamale
02-19-2005, 13:07
Sweetbriar, check out the Outer Banks.
http://www.outer-banks.com/
http://www.outer-banks.nc.us/
FrontSight
Sweetbriar
02-19-2005, 13:45
My online searching continues. Wilmington/Topsail Beach is looking pretty. Outer Banks is up there, but I might be going to Norfolk this fall, and I hadn't thought of taking a beach detour then before. Hmmmm
STR8SHTR
02-19-2005, 14:36
Topsail, Wrightsville or Emerald Isle. They have plenty of hotels that are ocean front that are GTG.
I stayed several times in a resort area called Sunset Beach very close to the SC border near Myrtle Beach. A lot of Ocean view. We stayed at a small, pleasant motel 100 meters from the beach and the fishing pier. The earliest I was ever there was April though.
My wife and I are thinking about moving to the NC Coast within the next couple of years. I was wondering if anyone currently lives nearby, or is familiar with the region. We are checking out the Wilmington and Oak Beach area on line, but we haven’t developed a feel for the AO.
The coastal plains and small communities that don’t cater to the summer tourist crowd are a major consideration for us.
Any info/suggestions would be appreciated.
The Reaper
06-29-2008, 13:11
My wife and I are thinking about moving to the NC Coast within the next couple of years. I was wondering if anyone currently lives nearby, or is familiar with the region. We are checking out the Wilmington and Oak Beach area on line, but we haven’t developed a feel for the AO.
The coastal plains and small communities that don’t cater to the summer tourist crowd are a major consideration for us.
Any info/suggestions would be appreciated.
Penn:
The first question is what is your hurricane sensitivity? The Outer Banks is in the beaten zone for some big storms, and due to the limited number of bridges and ferries, it is a bear to get out of, especially if you wait to the last minute.
Beach erosion is another concern.
The sound side of the Banks, or the Intercoastal Waterway, are water front (but not oceanfront), significantly less expensive, and are substantially safer and easier to evacuate, in the event of a big blow.
The NC coast, from Corolla in the north, to Southport and the surrounding area in the south, was in a major real estate boom for years, primarily with people with money coming down from the North. That has slowed tremendously with the bust of the housing market, particularly in vacation spots like the coast, and real estate prices have dropped. A friend of ours has advised that now is the time to buy there. I am not convinced that the bottom has hit yet, but it may not be much lower.
The northern portion of the coast goes to Norfolk to the nearest "big city", and tends to be larger, single family homes. There are very few large towns in the area.
The south area beaches around Wilmington tend to be more smaller homes, condos, etc., and Wilmington has many of the city amenities.
In between tends to be close to the Jacksonville bases, like Camp LeJeune and New River Air Station, if you like hanging out with Marines.
The area south of Wilmington near Oak Island, Shallotte, Southport, etc. are among the less developed remaining areas of the NC coast, but that is not to say that they are undeveloped. In addition, Southport has a nuke power plant, as well as proximity to Sunny Point, one of the largest military shipping facilities in the US.
Hope that helps.
TR
TR, Thank you. We attempted to check out the coast in Sept of '01, but turned around due the hit in NYC. With the info provided it will focus our trip this fall. I think the NC coast is beautiful, we're excited. d
The Reaper
06-29-2008, 14:37
TR, Thank you. We attempted to check out the coast in Sept of '01, but turned around due the hit in NYC. With the info provided it will focus our trip this fall. I think the NC coast is beautiful, we're excited. d
I would drive the Outer Banks, from north to south, then on down to the SC line, then come up the inland side of the sounds on the way back north.
If you really want to know how it will be, schedule the trip during the summer peak vacation weekends and check the tourist density of the various places you are considering.
Lots of B&Bs along the way, and most of the towns are very quaint.
I would allow a couple of weeks to complete the task.
TR
Topsail First choice for beaches
AngelsSix
06-29-2008, 21:06
http://www.visitkure.com/
I hear that this is the place to go on the beach. Weekdays is best, all of the beaches are full this time of year with youngsters (during the weekends).
Go see Ft. Fisher area, hear it is nice.
Have fun for me!!;)
Brunswick county gets my votes. Mainly the Holdens beach area. My family has been going there since before I was born. It is a very family oriented area without alot of Commercialization. It is also the half way point between Class and Crass (Wilmington and Myrtle beach)
Red Flag 1
06-30-2008, 08:05
Penn,
My son lived on Emerald Isle for two years and loved the place.
Mind TR's advice re: evacuation plans!
RF 1
ZonieDiver
06-30-2008, 10:36
Brunswick county gets my votes. Mainly the Holdens beach area. My family has been going there since before I was born. It is a very family oriented area without alot of Commercialization. It is also the half way point between Class and Crass (Wilmington and Myrtle beach)
My family has vacationed each summer, and sometimes more often, at Ocean Isle in Brunswick County - not far from Holdens Beach. As stated, it is not too commercial there, yet close (45 min or so depending on traffic) to the madness in Myrtle Beach. (In fact, my daughters will be in Ocean Isle tonight with my sister and her sons - but dad is stuck working in the Phoenix heat.)
Brunswick county gets my votes. Mainly the Holdens beach area. .....
Our In Laws place is mainland side behind Holden Beach. In one of the many Double Wide places. The whole greater S/E NC beach area has the older towns with the established homes, upscale new/newer subdivisions, older subdivisions, Double & single wide parks, vacant land, pine plantations and easy access to beaches.
$ is location - location - location.
The Holden Beach/Sha has easy access west (yes west) to Myrtle Beach or north/east to the Wilmington area. The Ft Fisher ferry is a nice trip.