From heart-racing adventure to soul-soothing calm, the beaches along North Carolina's Atlantic coastline deliver what traveler seek. Here's a rundown of choice destinations from north to south.

Corolla/Carova

Location: Northernmost part of the North Carolina coast includes the 4WD-access-only beaches of Carova and Corolla, a laid-back beach town with a, where a herd of Colonial Spanish mustangs runs wild, and Corolla, a laid-back village with upscale appeal.

Why visit Corolla: Join a tour to see the herd of Colonial Spanish mustangs roaming from Carova's beaches to the Currituck Sound.  Historic Corolla Park is home to Currituck Beach Lighthouse, the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education, and Whalehead,, a storied 1920s hunting retreat with Art Nouveau decor. For nature lovers, Currituck National Wildlife Refuge shelters shorebirds, waterfowl and raptors.

Recent developments; The 12-room Corolla Village Inn opened in 2019, which extended lodging options beyond the Inn at Corolla Light, the Hampton Inn and vacation rentals.

Nags Head on the Outer Banks

Location:  Junction of U.S. 64 and the Outer Banks Scenic Byway 

Why visit Nags Head: Fishing piers, famous dunes and family-owned businesses make travelers feel at home. From here they can venture north to Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills or south to historic lighthouses and the natural marvels of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Key attractions to the north include the Wright Brothers National Memorial, where interactive exhibits instill belief that anything's possible; Jockey's Ridge State Park, home of the tallest dune on the East Coast and the world's largest hang-gliding school; a wind-powered pier and America's first wind-powered brewery. To the south, six distinctive villages dot Hatteras Island within the national seashore. Surfers, kiteboarders and other adventurers find their jam and indulge in seafood fresh from the docks.

New developments: Kitty Hawk Kites, which famously harnesses wind and water for coastal adventures, opens a rebuilt/updated Whalebone Watersports Center. The new store and launch center will be a departure point for the Nags Head Dolphin Watch. 

Ocracoke 

Location: Island accessed by ferry from Hatteras, Swan Quarter or Cedar Island

Why visit Ocracoke: The favorite getaway beach of Blackbeard and Dr. Beach, Ocracoke casts a spell with its harborside village, Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches, and histories so fabulous they can only be true. Unofficial island drink: the Ocracoma. Also of note: This is where the ferry departs for visits to Portsmouth Village, a ghost town on the Cape Lookout National Seashore. And if you're in the market for a pirate wedding, book a cruise on the Schooner Windfall II with Capt. Rob Temple.

Cape Lookout National Seashore

Location: Southernmost stretch of the Outer Banks with access from Beaufort

Why visit Cape Lookout National Seashore: Travelers take the ferry to see the herd of Colonial Spanish mustangs on Shackleford Banks and the Cape Lookout Lighthouse and to sleep under the stars. A favorite place for collecting seashells.

New developments: Island Express Ferry Service, the NPS-authorized service to the lighthouse area, is offering 4WD Kubota UTV rentals. The vehicles add to the fun and also make it easier for travelers to reach the historic Cape Lookout Village and lifesaving station.

Atlantic Beach area

Location: Across the causeway from Morehead City

Why visit Atlantic Beach:  With a broad beach for sandcastles, a neighboring fort for learn-as-you-play fun, and the N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores nearby, Atlantic Beach rates high with families. Grown-up pursuits lie across Bogue Sound in Morehead City and Beaufort and in a south-facing beach's appeal for watching sunrise and sunset over the Atlantic. Speaking of Beaufort, the N.C. Maritime Museum is the repository for artifacts from Blackbeard's Queen Anne's Revenge, which ran aground in the inlet. Atlantic Beach shares a barrier island with other appealing beach communities, including Pine Knoll Shores, Salter Path and Emerald Isle.  

Recent developments: The pandemic prompted the non-profit Beaufort Picture Show to create a drive-in movie experience on the waterfront at Gallant's Channel, where screenings continue. Lighthouse Inn & Suites, a luxury boutique property with 25 rooms, opened in 2019 at Emerald Isle. The Core Sound Waterfowl Museum, which carries on the rich tradition and artistry of wooden decoy carving, reopened on Harkers Island in 2020 after rebuilding post-Hurricane Florence. 

Topsail Island

Location: Between Jacksonville and Wilmington

Why visit Topsail: The 26-mile barrier island is home to three old-fashioned beach towns. Surf City is home to the volunteer-fueled Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, one of the nation's largest operations of its type. At Topsail Beach, the Missiles and More Museum (closed for the duration of COVID-19) reveals the military secrets of Operation Bumblebee and showcases pirate history. At family-friendly North Topsail Beach, the Ocean City Jazz Festival honors the history of a community that once was the only place in North Carolina where Blacks could own coastal property. 

Wrightsville Beach

Location: Across the causeway from Wilmington 

Why visit Wrightsville Beach:  Starting with an expansive beachfront and picture-perfect piers, Wrightsville Beach draws appeal from an alchemy of surf culture, stylish shopping, memorable dining, nightlife, ecotours and a wealth of recreation. Travelers can venture by water taxi to Wilmington's downtown riverfront or to pristine Masonboro Island.

New developments: The Holiday Inn Resort Wrightsville Beach is undergoing a major refresh that will include renovations to the lobby, restaurants and bars plus enhancements and updates to the 184 guest rooms and outdoor amenities. The historic Blockade Runner Beach Resort, which reopened in 2019 after a major restoration post-Hurricane Florence, adds inshore fishing excursions to its sea-to-sound Adventure Program, and Wrightsville Beach Scenic Tours will offer a new Restaurant Tour and Island Luau.

Carolina Beach

Location: Twelve miles southeast of Wilmington

Why visit Carolina Beach: Families come here to fulfill the yearning for an old-fashioned beach vacation. On the classic boardwalk, they'll line up for a worth-the-wait doughnut from Britts, spread their blankets on the beach, and enjoy such uncommon amenities as Carolina Beach State Park, where the Venus flytrap grows in the wild, and drive-on-the-beach Freeman Park, which allows oceanfront camping.  

New developments: Travelers will find new scenic appeal with the first three installations of the Carolina Beach Mural Project, celebrating the area's diversity and eclectic history.

Kure Beach

Location: Fifteen miles southeast of Wilmington

Why visit Kure Beach:  Carolina Beach's laidback island-mate immerses travelers in elements of wonder, from the serenity of Fort Fisher State Recreation Area to the sea life at the N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher. A low-tide walk to see the coquina outcrop makes a natural trip highlight while history lovers will insist on a visit to the Fort Fisher State Historic Site, scene of the Civil War's largest amphibious battle. 

New developments: The Kure Lighthouse Inn recasts the former Darlings by the Sea as an all-suite luxury property with nine units. (For the record, the lighthouse is part of the island's past instead of its present.)

Sunset Beach

Location: Fifty miles southwest of Wilmington on North Carolina's southern coast

Why visit Sunset Beach: As if a south-facing island with glistening white sand weren't enough, Sunset Beach lights up a golfer's eye with stunning courses. On nearby Bird Island, the Kindred Spirit Mailbox holds enough wishes, prayers and dreams to inspire a Nicholas Sparks romance. A short drive away, explore nature via swamp boat, ATV or zipline at the Shallotte River Swamp Park, which also has an aerial adventure park. At nearby Ocean Isle, the Museum of Coastal Carolina and Ingram Planetarium add dimension to a visit.

Bald Head Island

Location: North Carolina's southernmost tip, accessed by ferry from Southport

Why visit Bald Head Island: The community of 1,120 luxury vacation homes is plotted to harmonize with the surrounding salt marshes, tidal creeks and estuaries. With a pace defined by golf carts, bicycles and walking (no cars allowed), the island connects vacationers with pirate history and an 1817 lighthouse, nesting sea turtles, endless beaches, golf, club dining and upscale services. 

Recent developments: 2020 marked the first full season for the Bald Head Island Club's new aquatics center, which includes a new leisure pool with chaise lounges, a children's zero-entry pool with splash features, a large splash pad area, and water slides from a tower that ends in a plunge pool. The club's original pool has been redone as an adults-only space with private cabanas. Club membership is generally provided as part of vacation rentals.